Aidon Haruke - Spiritual Manipulation

It was a shame that Aidon couldn't find himself useful for the Oracle directly, nor truly potent enough to match up against the Yokai about. Thus, he set out for a minor trek about the desert, where he'd find himself surrounded by an endless scene of sand, and dunes. He condemned himself from others so that he may find time to focus on the practice of his people-- His natural people. Unlike Eutan, a Harukean whom adopted his traits from his parent, Aidon had to be marked for such traits to take effect.

It was clearly notable on his person. As he took his seat amongst the sands, crossing his legs into a pretzel formation, attention to his resting arms revealed the transmunic insignias upon them.

A series of runic marks lined up his flesh, though elaborately designed in a number of shapes and artistric formations. To those with actual runic knowledge, they'd come to know that it wasn't even Valmasian grade at all; A sort, completely alien from the mainland altogether, exclusive to Mormegil and Harukean-kind.

Aidon's lonliness was comforted only by the likes of his conjurations: Summoned spirits of past Xsperitan Warriors he lacked direct knowledge of. To him, they were mere soldiers whom had relation to his people, weapons to be used at his disposal and nothing more.

Closed eyes were the sign of evident meditation at work. Adopted silence left the only disturbance of the scene aside from another's careless approach, to be the Sarabbian's ambience-- The winds racing over the hills and knolls in the distance, soothing to a resting man's soul.
(Aidon Haruke)

The woman who had only recently arrived in what seemed to be a rather strange land was already hot and irritated. Primarily because she was lost, passing through a desert in clothes which truly were not appropriate for such a place, and the latter would be due to the fact that the woman had started up in Alteros, and been directed from there to Byson, from Byson to Novstvale, and from Nostvale to Danarium...Only...The young adult had the faintest, strangest feeling that this was not in fact Danarium. She truly couldn't begin to fathom why she suspected such a thing, but could only guess that it was because she was in a desert, not a city. The girl strode through the sands under the harsh sun which she was less than used to with an unamused expression on her face.

Low and behold, her dark green eyes scanning the dunes before her came across a young man himself, who appeared to be sitting in meditation, along with some...Ghosts? Or something of the sort? This left Lilianne hesitant for a few moments, but she had been informed that there were various kinds of things that the magi of Valmasia could do, and something like this...Well, compared to what an elder had spoken of in her example, this wasn't nearly as frightening. The woman approached him, "Aye," She would say, in an attempt to get his attention.

Bringing her hand up to shield her eyes, and perhaps get a better look at the young man who was before her, Lilianne continued, "Sorry to interrupt. I was looking for a few things, y'see, and I was wondering if you might be able to help me out," She had some kind of accent to her voice, one which didn't sound too familiar, and yet her skin nor straight composure gave away any tells that she were some kind of foreigner. In fact, she looked like a perfectly normal human, and could easily be mistaken for somebody who resided in these lands, if it weren't for the fact she seemed so confused.

"Er. Well, I guess I'm looking for people, actually,"
(Lilianne Left)

Aidon's tattoos began to glow. almost exactly when Lilianne approached. He was focusing hard, attempting branch out the extensions of his mana reserves to his own conjurations, strengthening their presence with excess mana, and nigh solidifying them with the passing seconds. To a commoner, this could be percieved as a practice to outright master summoning techniques, though this was never farther from the truth.

The Arbitor's mark branded upon the Harukean's arms, illuminated a faint tangerine glow, leaving hands to fidgit only to merge in a clasping union of interlacing fingers; He was in deep focus.
Albeit, -he- didn't react to Lilanne, the spirits on the other hand did so without hesitation nor obstruction in their speech.

"Hm?" sounded off one, pivoting it's humanoid form to gaze upon the woman with vermillion hues. "Ah, what's this?" It asked, accompanied with the glances of the other spirits surrounding the meditating Harukean. Though, if one was analytical enough, one could take note that the eyes of -all- the summons were a matching vermillion hue. They all locked the same way, yet every individual different in terms of appearance, voice and so on.

"Looking for a few things?"

"Things like, what exactly?"

"You want aid? In what direction do you seek?"

They spoke in succession, taking turns, sentence by sentence without the slightest of flaw, leaving one to assume recital of this introduction.
They all remained stagnant, standing erect like prison bars before their summoner as they heard her reply out.

However, in light of this, only one turned eastward, settling their eyes for where their summoner originally traversed from. Another broke it's gaze from the woman, and pivoted northbound, blankly staring off to where Danarium should've been according to navigation through the desert region. However, unlike before, they -all- spoke in unison in repliance.

"To our west, Mormegil resides amongst the dunes. An invitation to only occultist holds true, leaving outsiders with severe risk of oblivion if not condemnation to the residents within.

To the north, is Danarium. A village once ruled by the Melym Clan, and most recently looked over by Regent Ersa Avharain. Further north, is Frostvale, a frozen wasteland of dragons and their spawn.

Finally, there is the south, where the Empire reigns. The Black gate prevents further passage there, lest you seek arousing suspicion. Then again, there is the Isthmuts to our east..."

They finished, turning to meet her gaze in unison, all-the-while, Aidon lacked the movement of even a finger.
(Aidon Haruke)

The woman listened with her arms folded, closing her own eyes as if it made her feel cooler, and nodding her head as she absorbed each piece of information which came to her, along with the burning rays of the sun as they bore down upon her clothed shoulders, "Ah. Occultists aren't exactly my cup of tea," The woman uttered, scratching the back of her head and finding herself a little bit confused, "Nothin' against them, just don't neccesarily agree with their uh. Religious perspectives - Not that I have any of my own, but you get it. Complicated stuff, that. As for the city, I'll thank you as I was looking for Danarium, but..." The girl's expression scrunched up as she opened her eyes and gazed up at the sky, as though having expected something to have changed.

Nope. It was still broad daylight, and she was still in a desert. But, granted the serious nature of her former inquiry, she had to take this with a grain of salt and a more serious tone herself. If she was looking for an abduction, then she would have to consider everywhere - Even this...'Mormegil' place which Aidon spoke of, although she thought it better first to find a town to settle down in and find a home for a while or an Inn of sorts, "...Have y'seen a girl? Might've been uh. Fifteen or so by now, but she was around these lands when she was, er, ten or so - Blonde like me, brown eyes? Name's Annabelle, and if you happen across her, please tell her I'm lookin' for her. Second f'all, I'm looking for a blacksmith - One which does custom weapons, made from scratch,"

She readjusted her posture, looking away from the spirits and the man and making a somewhat annoyed expression as she did so, reminiscing on things having apparently spoiled the woman's mood, "If you'd be so kind as to tell me where I could find someone like that, by all means, I'd be in your debt,"

Lilianne turned her emerald gaze back to the spirits, calmly running her gaze across each and examining each and their features as she did so.
(Lilianne Left)

A hum of wonder escaped the likes of one spirit, crossing his arms behind his back as he paced back and fro as though taking it to serious memory. It was all a puppeteer's game, and Lilianne was in this act. "We haven't exactly seen a girl about, so I'm sure such can't be recited by memory..." started one, taking their sights off for the north.

"But--" Interjected another, "I'm confident that perhaps we can aid you in the travel northbound to aid you in your search? Assuming your friend isn't in Imperial territory." The third finally approached her directly, "Though the blacksmith should be easy. A brief travel to villages systmatically should grant us with the answer you seek."

Finally, Aidon's eyes opened up, revealed to the a pure blood-ruby, the original to the copies of eyes that gazed upon Lilianne.
"Yes." He spoke, sounding far deeper than the rest. "Such is something I can aid you with, assuming you can help me with my own mission. A mission I intend on covering in the future. Until that date, let us carry on now, shall we?"

He took a step for the north, surrounded by his ethernal bodyguards.
"...I wish not stray from Mormegil for too long. A few weeks at the most. This journey will not be short, but must not drag."
(Aidon Haruke)

"Ah," The woman said, sounding somewhat disappointed as she slipped her hand into the pocket of her coat, extending her other arm and waving her hand dismissively, "Sorry, but I won't be agreeing to anything I don't know the contents of. All the same, I thank you duely, and will be on my way now. Hopefully, I'll see you around or something," Lilianne had no real motivation to create excess commitments, as she had come to the state of Valmasia with two purposes, the former being to get a sword forged, having been attracted by the promise of fine Valmasian metals and a wealth of magic, and the latter being to find the teenager Annabelle who she had previously mentioned before hand.

The two were certainly related, but Lilianne seemed a bit too young - Albeit older than the girl she mentioned - to be able to be the mother of Annabelle, but one could easily assume that this woman was some kind of cousin or sibling. Without further ado, the woman made her own movements in the direction of Danarium, waving idly to Aidon before doing so. It seemed as though she had turned him down, and was now urging to participate in her travels by herself, doing so rather casually and trying her best not to get sand in her shoes.

How very troublesome, indeed. It was difficult to gauge whether Aidon was telling the truth or not, simply due to the fact that his spirits spoke for the most part - The woman shook her head. 'Lying'? Where were thoughts like that coming from? Indeed, she tried to keep herself calm, but couldn't help but feel weighed down by a heavy, sick feeling that something bad had happened to her younger sister while she had been away. Only time would tell, however, the woman found herself struggling to keep optimistic about the situation she was in. Valmasia was a very large land, after all, and she wasn't entirely sure whether she was alive and well, alive and not well or...

...Dead.
(Lilianne Left)

Aidon was a bit disappointed at the woman's choice, sighing somewhat at her denial. He was actually prepared to take up a journey for purposes that lied outside his personal wishes and needs. Though, what were the odds of this woman ever coming to realize what he could possess.

To her, he was probably an average joe, atleast when compared to another magi with summoning capabilities, if she had ever come across one. Not to mention, his powers were far from grandiose when compared to other magi, leaving without much to offer should she lack interest in him as it was.

He slipped his hands into his pockets, lowering his head to allow the few threads of hair that hung loose form his masculine ponytail to drift over his face. Without an announcement of the deed, he quietly tailed Lilianne, keeping relatively to himself in the act.

He didn't want to proclaim his stalk-ish behavior, yet didn't really want to lose the only attention he had for just a few seconds in total. Despite the fact he came out here to be alone, he was truly suffering from it. Harukean-kind were typically a cold assortment of people, with twisted origins and convulted lifestyles. The presumable life he took up in Mormegil alongside the loss of his twin brother years back left him with agonizing longing. The puppeteering, a mere act to attempt surrounding himself with his own fabrications, though it was never enough... Not until he could find himself with unique purpose.

"Wait up." One of his spirits blurted, breaking whatever silence may've taken shape amongst the two.
"...Would you like us to accompany you?" asked the spirit for Aidon. It was almost as the spirits were reading his mind...

Could it have to do something with the matching pupils? Or perhaps the glowing Harukean transmutation markings lining up his arms.
(Aidon Haruke)


=================================================================================================================================(Transition to Mormegil)
=================================================================================================================================


Ulrik looked at Historiel with a expecting gaze. She had obviously been practicing on her own, she had even gotten herself a proper fencing blade. He lowered his head, glaring at her slightly, not sure whether to root for her or wish to see her get mauled to death by the yokai. He disliked her, yet for her to lose in front of all these people... it'd make him look bad as a teacher.

Ulrik looked towards Trillie, grumbling at him before speaking then turning his attention back towards the spar.

"I don't care, he-she. Root for whoever you wish. I just pray to Azrael this inept child, shows /some/ form of improvement..."
(Ulrik Haruke)

A charge, how pathetically predictable of a Lesser Yokai. She waited in place, plotting her movement for a counteract, waiting for the last possible moment to act against the charging beast - And then much like those whom dueled with bulls for sport, she ducked and spiraled to the left, underneath and away from the trampling amphibious humanoid. At the end of this spinning movement, she shot forward, her weapon pointed towards the soft bellt of the creature.

A thrust! Historiel was attempting to end this quick, in a single and elegant blow, just like all those fencing books had described! Perhaps this newfound skill was simply memorized footsteps and patterns out of a book, but they were still potentially deadly things! The Yokai would certainly have to get out of the way of this blow, or suffer being skewered!
(Historiel Melym)

 The venture from the seemingly endless bounds of the Sarabbian Desert brought the Harukean back to the depths of the cavernous abyss that was Mormegil; The underground village was his only refuge from a land that refused to accept him amongst their ranks.

Aidon's most recent departure left him outright ditched in an attempt to make connection with one of said outsiders, leaving him condemned with no other company upon rearrival aside from his own ethernal conjurations.

Spirits surrounded his person, taking a triangular formation, yet moving without a sound from their likes. Their pairs of matching vermillion hues scoured the stalagmites, peering to a mild gathering in the distance. Another duel? It appeared so, and earned Aidon's interest for the moment.

The Harukean observed from a distance, failing to communicate with any others amongst the audience. His appearance was rather revealing of his nature. Exposed arms allowed for others to identify his clan name at a mere glance, runic markings of the Xspertian language lined up his arms, starting at the shoulders and ending at the palms: The Arbitor's Mark.

"...Though, it is redundant to take it to question, I ask regardless-- What sparked such a challenge amongst these two?" Aidon questioned, his eyes flickering over to whom would be closest in this instance, another Harukean, Ulrik in this case, standing beside a Malpercian.
(Aidon Haruke)

Historiel screamed in pain as claws dug into her side, but the Yokai was in a far, far worse position than she was. Yeah, she had been clawed at, but him? He was stunned from her blow, and she was inside his guard. And she still had a weapon up her sleeve. Into her pouch her free hand went, drawing out the large, bible-sized journal she carried with her at all times.

And straight into the Yokai's face it went, knocking it out cold.

That book had to pack more of a punch than the Melym herself did. It was pretty much a solid brick of pain and punishment, that had been her finishing move against the beast. She shook her head, holding her side as she breathed heavily. "Tch. Books and practical applications. Who said they have to be different things!"
(Historiel Melym)

The attempt to contact Ulrik failed, apparently he was busy doing something else; The overall result of the realization left Aidon to turn his sights for another. This new victim of his interest happened to be a far more superior entity: A Koar, idling amongst other Yokai-kind. He knew not of it's reasoning, nor purpose, but it's presence. He approached, with inspecting crimson hues looking it over.

The spiritual manifestation spread out somewhat, taking their sights upon the other Koar, and a nearby Ventus. Though, the synchronized movement invoked the activation of the Arbitor's mark upon his flesh, leaving the tangerine illumination to crawl down his arms and emanate light from his palms.

The collection of crimson hues glanced over every and any detail from multiple angles. The Harukean was taking grasp of his practice, learning to inspect multiple instances simultaniously, effectively wielding 4 pairs of eyes to his leisure.

"So, you Yokai sort... Do you fight on a basis? Is that--" Aidon himself turned to face off to the area that was often times used as an arena. "-- What the others have taken up after? Or is it means to amass in strength?" He asked, succumbing to silence, keeping his glow amidst the cave like a saffron candlelight amidst the darkness.

This time, the spirits he conjured turned to face Ja'ido in unison, speaking all at once.
"Why do you fight, Koar?"
(Aidon Haruke)

Ulrik shook his head, him having fallen asleep with his eyes open once more. His light snoring could have been heard by everyone around him before he had forced himself to awake. Moving his sienna-red gaze to the older Harukean, Ulrik said to him, a bit grumpy from having woken up from his nap.

"Huh? What is it that you want?"
(Ulrik Haruke)
[14:22:14] Edit: Uskor* (not Ja'ido, accidental misidentification)
(Aidon Haruke)

Ulrik Haruke: ... You going to speak to me anytime soon or did i waste my time acknowledging you when I could be sleeping?

For once, Mormegil was peaceful. Well, relatively speaking. Uskor hadn't had to fight or squabble with his lesser kin, nor did he have to butt heads with that insufferable cublet residing here. He was enjoying a little bit of rest in the corner of the room, when a human addressed him.

Uskor turned his gaze over to the Harukean that had spoken, eyeing the man for a little bit. He glanced about the cavern, looking through the other figures around before turning back to the human.

Tha Kaor got up to full height, staring down at the man for a bit. After a moment of thought, he responded:

"I fight to advance my goals, and to gain strength. What concern is it of yours, human?"

He folded his arms, leaning back against the wall as he waited for a response.
(Uskor)

The Yokai was easily far beyond the Harukean's size, capable of casting his shadow several times beyond his stature, though the sheer mass he harbored wasn't something that'd shy him from his stern beliefs. As drilled into his mind by several other Harukean sources, time and time again, he was under the mindset that none of the sort were capable of the classification of 'Human'.

"First of all, Yokai. Do -not- label one of Harukean calibur down to the lowly ranks of Human." Aidon spoke in a serious, growling tone. "Second, I merely hunger for the knowledge of it all. Simple as that..." He finished. Meanwhile, a spirit caught ear of Ulrik's awakening, beckoning both it, and another's attention, approaching him rather than Aidon himself.

His words were responded to by the spirits as though they were extensions of himself. Perhaps Ulrik could've heard of the ability Harukeans weilded aside from those whom harbored the Oracle's Mark. This use, however, was being practiced on simple ethernal conjurations.

"We happened to carry on to another conversation, however the original conversationalist was going to be -you-." They spoke in unison. "The reason of your urge to fight was the question, though we got our answer." They finished. Finally, deprived of the puppeteer's game, Aidon directed a sole spirit to continue the conversation with the fellow Harukean, actively participating in two conversations at once.

"Though, I'm sure your answer would still be desired. Why fight for mere practice, when you could simply feed and strive alongside your new comrades that co-exist here within these caverns? The darkness is our ally, our shield and cloak, though we can easily achieve much more than the likes of petty feeds amongst the sand dunes and banditry, wouldn't you agree?"
(Aidon Haruke)

Uskor: <*Rolls his eyes and goes back for a bit of rest.*>

Ulrik cross-examined the Harukean before him, smirking a bit. He had not actually spoken with another Harukean aside from Eutan in years, especially not one with the Arbitor's mark... if one did not count his father that is. Ulrik looked at the spriit, sneering at it when it came close to converse with him while Aidon continued the conversation with the koar-ling.

A tendril crept out to try and strike the spirit's throat, ending it's existence upon the physical plane once more like when it had first died. If the hit was successful, it'd dissipate after what it spoke had been finished. Ulrik's gaze would set upon the leader of the hive-mind, saying to him.

"If your going to speak with me, do it yourself, old man. I demand to be respected like the yokai to have you speak to me /personally/. If you cannot show me such mutual respect, you are better off steering clear of me, for I will not stand for such disrespect whether or not you think yourself better than me for being older or not."

Ulrik squinted his eyes lightly at the "fellow" Haruke, continuing to speak towards him if he accepted the terms Ulrik demanded if they are to comence in trivial chatter.

"I fight for Mormegil, not because it is my home, I am not bound by honor or to this place. I fight because it fits my needs... because this it eh only place where true villainry can arise and flourish. My cause for fighting, is to create chaos. This place is my haven for achieving such acts."
(Ulrik Haruke)

The demise of the first spirit was rather unexpected, leaving the two others to soon fall to the fate of encroaching serpents of Lyperion Utovex. Their backs were turned to Ulrik, thus granting the opportunity of a lethal blow without so much as a struggle.

However, Aidon's attention was pried from the Koar the moment a spirit was extinguished, leaving his vermillion pupils to settle upon the attacking Haukean in a moment's notice, his lunging strikes harbored by Lyperion Utovex were analyzed as they closed in on his conjurations, yet he was too far to defend them with any power he could possibly possess....

Yet, even as they closed in for the kill shot, the spirits bent and turned, diving out of the trajectory as though clearly observing the strike in the making A sort of precognition was adopted in their sway, shifting out of the immediate strike zone to preform an acrobatic arrangement of somersaults in retreat to their summoner.

Aidon stood stagnant, refusing to take his eyes off of young Ulrik for the moment, eyes narrowing with evident distaste portrayed upon his visage at the opinion spouted off by his person.

"Such an inane cause, to say the least." He responded. The transmunic markings that lined his arms ceased their glow, leaving the spirits more free-bound, no longer commanded by the telepathic commands that siezed their figure from the Harukean.

"To create chaos? Was it not written by the many before us to capture land to comfort our dying people?" He spoke angrily, approaching the Harukean directly.

"We are to fight for Mormegil, not for the destruction of others as a direct cause but the creation of us." He continued, "The downfall of other opposition is but merely a byproduct to our growth. It is. To be expected... In a world where a hierachy is locked in chains, we shatter the balance. 'Villiany' is simply a title the surface dwellers brand us because they fear our power. Such as been proven time and time again, why you have failed to realize such, is beyond me..." He finished, turning his back on Ulrik to retrieve his original standpoint.

The tattoos upon his arms rekindled their glow, leaving his remaining spirits to take his sides as he reclaimed his post. A light gleaming of a crimson-violet manifested in the closing grasp of his palm, resisting his will to clutch a fist. Surrender to the expansive creation within his palm gave way to light, emanating with such brightness that even the darkest of crevices nearby were revealed from their former shroud of ebony casting-- Albeit, for only the moment.

The result? A new spirit conjured, replacing his lost one...
"Also? I'd prefer you didn't strike my spirits... It's a matter of respect... 'Mutual' respect."

(Aidon Haruke)

"Hmph..."

Ulrik glared at the old coot, the serpentine tendrils which had gone out to strike the spirits withdrawing back under Ulrik's cloak, the sound of wind breaking as they retreated with haste, audible to those around the depraved youth. Ulrik continued to speak towards Aidon, his voice devious, and minacle... and breaking every now and then in high-pitched tones.

... Stupid puberty.

"We have the land, we have the growing power, and the leader we need. I do what /I/ want, when /I/ want. I don't need some random Haruke telling me what to do. Eutan can take care of our needs, for I have no say or power over my people. I will cause as much chaos as I wish... "

Ulrik turned, his cloak kicking upwards in the cleche villain sort of way, glaring at Aidon from the corner of his eye before moving closer towards Ja'ido, his yokai "friend."
(Ulrik Haruke)

] "Hm." He stared off into distance, leaving his spirits to idle about, "Harukean." He corrected, prior to drifting back to thought on another unrelated matter. To bring closure to this conversation, he left Ulrik with a final statement:
"Take yourself to your cause at your own volition, but find yourself lacking of resources to strive onward to for true achievement, and your chaos will inevitably consume you in the process. Let it not be a goal, but realize it as a byproduct to true progress, Evolution." He stated.

"Though, you're also free to let these words pass you by. I wouldn't expect a kid to truly take them to thought with an attitude such as yours."
Finally, he was lost to the possibilities he could condone to with the Arbitor's mark. However, first he'd need to grow on the ability to use it with greater manipulative-capability; Spirits were only the first subjects to his control... Soon, he'd take up the practice of more useful individuals.

A bench caught up his attention and he took it up as a resting place for the moment, falling limp to focus his concentration upon his conjurations rather than his physical form. The intensified essence he poured into their likes left them with more tangibility, growing opaque, yet far from mortal.

"If you need us." The spirits and Aidon spoke in unison, "We shall be taking up studies amongst the tomes and books of our library."
Aidon seemed to meditate with a drowsy facade, but the spirits? They moved as though capable of self-control, bee-lining for the library, and leaving their summoner in solitude.
(Aidon Haruke)

The underground village's tomes and books began to bore the Harukean, leaving him to escape the depths of the earthen caverns to embrace the light of the surface world. It left him with the pain of wincing, cringing at the warmth and light the sun blessed the world with.

"The light... Burns.." He muttered in disgust, resisting it's warming touch to traverse the sands. The goal today was to traverse even further from Mormegil, to eventually meet the likes of travelers, if not civilization to pray upon. Indeed, Aidon came across the sight the Melym tower in the distance, having traveled hours away from a particular cavern amidst the Sarrabian.

He was accompanied with three of his ethernal partners, all of which categorizable by their identical crimson hues, scouring the surroundings one passed on by.

He wandered with relatively revealing apparel, matching the enviornment he resided within: Skin-tight shirt, sleeveless to reveal his bare and marked arms. Transmunic marking lined down the flesh, leaving shapes and lines filled with what could appear to be runic writings, albeit written in a foriegn method, alien to Valmasian likes.

They took up a vibrant tangerine glow, followed by the turning glance of a spirit for a silhuoette in the distance-- A new arrival from the north? One couldn't truly make out the details from where they stood, though it wouldn't take too long before such was made clear.
(Aidon Haruke)

Walking down the path, His hands in his jackets pockets, He'd notice the person heading from the south toward the plains. Of course, He didn't have much of a choice when it came to going around the desert. It was a one shot path. Not very linear, Infact, You HAD to pass through the desert to get to anywhere. In any case, He wasn't heading anywhere important. He was more just heading south for a walk. His cigarrett hanging out of his lips.

A stream of smoke would escape from his mouth, And begin to float upwards. He would breath in more smoke, Before stepping closer to this random person, Unaware if he was indeed a bandit or something of the sort. But first impressions are always the most important, And as such, He would walk toward this person, And give him a light upward nod before speaking. "You headin' toward Danarium?" He'd ask. "'Cause that place is boring."

With that he'd walk to the wall, And lean on it, Crossing his arms, His cigarrette still hanging from his mouth. Smoke, Floating from his opened mouth.
(Kaiverei Nullion)

Aidon's blood-ruby pupils flickered over to Kaiverei's own, attempting to pierce his gaze to sought out knowledge of what the very individual stood for. The very details upon his person, attitude, personality, lifestyle were taking to question with a mere glance.

Height was taken into account to guess one's weight and mass, almost as though sizing him up.
"That cigarette..." spoke a spirit in place of Aidon--

"Soothe Reed, I assume." stated another, circling around the man as though to scan his backside for concealed or sheathed weaponry. The third approached the man directly, placing himself between Aidon and Kaiverei with crossed arms.
"We don't have too much to go by on terms of first impressions but..."

Finally, the lot spoke in unison, leaving only Aidon to fall mute

"We'd predict you're moreoff the quiet sort looking for trouble."
A spirit behind the man spoke up, speaking individually once more, "An observer of the passing scene-"

"-Hoping to partake in action-"

"-At the cost of others, without a care in the world." Finished the final one.
The puppeteer of the hivemind had sustained distance, merely looking on from the near distance.

"How else would you come to the conclusion of a village being boring." They finished together, leaving only Aidon to conclude with a distinct, and deep:
"Hm?"
(Aidon Haruke)

The appearance was interupted by a sudden washing wave of sand, bellowing over their heads and crashing amidst their ranks, leaving the imagery of each other rendered blank with only the aubrun walls of sand granules.

Aidon forced his way forward more, eventually finding himself departing from the likes of the desert and traveling into the try grasses of the northern prarries. Danarium was just a few miles away, leaving plenty of opportunity to take up his practices on entities from this setting to the next.

Throughout the blizzard he never dropped his concentration from the markings upon his flesh. Whilst the sands forced his eyes shut for their protection, it did not phase the likes of his ethernal conjurations, allowing him to swap over to their sense of perception, using their eyes as his guidance. The mark's power may've proven weak due to his lack of potency, but more than strong enough to dominate his conjurations.

The domination of his own conjuration was no impressive feat however, it's results? Another subject altogether--
Though, the thought of taking something far more grandiose under his power was indeed driving.

To imagine controlling several magi of capability made the Harukean nigh giddy, contained by his chill personality. Though, if such could be made possible... Could it be extended to -other- entities of Yokaikind? Perhaps shared to aid his fellow Harukean brethern? Or... Mayhaps expanded upon the legion of humans that strongly outnumber the magi populace. The possibilities were endless; It was a matter of meditating, stalking, and analyzing that would be needed, and with such at thought, Aidon had all the motivation he needed to encroach upon the village of Danarium.

"Let them all, come to learn our name... Hades."
(Aidon Haruke)


=================================================================================================================================(Transition to First Encounter)
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The air was sliced by a giant battle axe as a fifteen year old golden haired youth grumbled to himself. Malachai was out training this morning just like any other, getting stronger and getting bettering then he had been the way before. Sweat trailed down his forehead as the teenager sighed, gliding around on the earth as the axe stuck a rock or a tree, cleaving whatever it made contact with in two.

The boy was bored as all hell. There was nothing to do in Dana, all the time really and wychwoods were 'oh, so dangerous'~ like he was a baby who couldn't defend his bloody self. This really limited the young man, but he wass sure that his time would come soon enough...

"... Damn it all.."
(Malachai Ryozo)

Unable to develop the next step of his dark magic, Emphir would tone his studies down a bit in order to focus on bonding with some yokais and finaly managed to form a contract with three of them. His mana in exchange of their loyalty and now, the boy had thralls to serve him. It wasn't so bad but the sadness from failing at the other task left a bitter taste between his ashen lips.

Wandering through the whychwoods while searching for a 'willing partner' to test and enhance his arts, the lad ended coming accross a blond guy way older than him (like mostly everyone) who seemed quite lonely and in need of some companionship.
Approaching him, the growing occultist would say with a smile.
"Hi sir, care to train with a young and weak lad?"
(Emphir Balmaria)

The encroachment on civilization was rewarding the Harukean greatly,; Miles away from the underground city he crawled out of, the hivemind manipulator scattered his ethernal forces, leaving his spiritual conjurations to wander aimlessly into Wychwood, and the prarries, a four-way split amongst the lot.

Many scenarios and encounters were open to their eyes, leaving a sense of omnipresence upon the Harukean. A quadrupiled route to perception, all with the aid of the Arbitor's mark seared upon his flesh. The transmunic tattoos illuminated in his wake, glowing a bright tangerine in it's unique runic language.

"This surface world..." He started, settling his eyes on the closing distance, finding a duo reflecting off his vermillion gaze.
"Is filled with abnormalities..." He hypothesized, at Malachai's sight.
"Perhaps opportunity lies within such unique instances..." The cold tone of his voice, seemingly deprived of fluctuation to adopt a nigh monotone property.

"Perhaps a test subject lies in these two?"
By now? He was standing idle, several hundred yards away--
In clear view, and fairly approachable, however distanced to allow himself clarity on the potential options he could take up.
He was audible due to the close proximity, albeit some words didn't travel the distance clear enough, which could easily beckon forth attention for him. However, he didn't seem all too pressed to exercise such caution.
(Aidon Haruke)

Voices and words came at Malachai with suprize. The golden haired boy had been mid swing, and accidently loosened his grip. The mighty battle axe that he used flew into the brown bark of a tree, lodging itself in the oak wood furiociously and making a loud 'Thunk' sound. The teenager in the blue jacket blinked, looking at his mistake quietly, making sure that he was faced away from everyone so that they would not see the quickly growing amount of blush that spread across his face.

The golden boy quicky walked over, removing the axe from the tree after gripping it tightly with both hands, and attaching it to his back via a strap. Once his weapon was stowed, Malachai turned and looked at the two voices that had talked to him. One appeared to be a white haired young girl, a lot younger then himself. The other voice was a black haired dude who was older then he was. Malachai's eyes darted around at both, trying to detirmine who or what they were.

"... Train?.. Sure.." Malachai muttered at last.
(Malachai Ryozo)

This clearly was an all around genaration gathering.

Emphir's eyes would go from Malachai toward the newcomer. Observing the last one through his silver hues, the lad then began wondering what he was that he sought. Brushing off his concerns upon hearing a favorable answer, Emphir would let his stare drift back to the golden boy and replied, still keeping a smirk.
"How should we do this then? Old fashioned spar or something else? I would prefer a fight until one of us no longer can stand but I guess I can let you decide that."

Meanwhile, the boy already began chanelling his mana, calling it from deep within his lungs and allowing it to surge out of him in order to merge with the negativity floating in his mind. This would have to be fun.
(Emphir Balmaria)

Aidon was listening from the distance, merely standing silently and observing to survey the two without words leaving his person. He beckoned no answers to his internal questions, allowing the two to depict themselves through their actions and interaction amongst each other. He was analyzing them, studying them like animals in their natural habitat. To him? They were the most dangerous game, taken to practice by many other Harukeans before him...

Though, he hadn't the exact intention as many other hunters of his kind, this was still an benefitting scenario in itself. He knelt down, rocking into a pretzel-stance on the earth, resting himself into a meditative stance. Althroughout, the transmunic tattoos upon his flesh never let up their saffron glow, signalling that Arbitor's mark was still active.

A sigh escaped past his lips, and he seemingly drifted into meditation, leaving the duo alone altogether.

As one might assume that such was the end of the oddities playing out, it was soon proven wrong. Arriving from the horizon, and the treeline northbound, were the ethernal entities conjured by the Harukean in his travels. They moved no longer in the cover of the enviornment, eavesdropping in silence but defiantly towards the youth.

Spirits, ghastly and armed as though soldiers of a former military, alien to Valmasian soil. To each their own appearance and weapon choice, with the exception of their eyes-- Each one's set of optical appendages were identical to their summoner and one another, sharing the same set of eyes, and unbeknownist to them? The byproduct of a hivemind at work.

"Hrmm... Children taking up battle?" spoke out one from the north.

"We would suspect it only so amongst those of a similiar age range." finished another.

"Though, it shouldn't be too unexpectant. You surface dwellers are an odd bunch of unruly personas." finished the third. All the while, not a peep from their silent conjurer in the distance, perhaps even leading to the conclusion that they lacked connection to him in the first place.

"Is that why you sort come out here? So far from the village you hail home?" They spoke in unison.
(Aidon Haruke)

Malachai didn't really notice the spirits much as he grabbed his axe and hefted it into the air before catching it in a hand. The boy was rather thick headed after all, and all that was on his mind was battle and spars. The golden haired boy prepared to fight this white haired indivsual and that was all that mattered to him right now.

"Well.. i guess we spar till one of us says uncle or something.. Don't really know. I don't fight a lot so... uh..."

Malachai lifted his axe onto his shoulder.

"Yeah whenever I guess."
(Malachai Ryozo)

For another brief moment, Emphir's gaze would be focused on the Harukean. More like focused on the spirits he brought forth. It was a rather entertaining sight. So entertaining that the boy would let the remarks pass above his head and once back to reality, would reply toward the black haired spirit summoner with a somewhat annoyed tone.
"I'm just having fun with a new friend. It's not forbidden yet right?"
That said, the occultist's attention is immediately brought back on Malachai and as his darkness is released in a cacophony of negativity and corruption, the little mage would add.

"I have other friends who wish to join the party."
His right hand would then be raised into the air, glyphs appeared from the ground at three different spots and from them would erupt a trio of yokais surrounding the white haired Balmarian as guards. He would then end up saying.
"Hope you don't mind."
(Emphir Balmaria)

The time of war was approaching, the forces of the rebel army were all bunched up together and ready to march through to Sarab desert for the encroaching battle. A decicive battle that will decide what the future of Valmasia will be for the years to come, the battle that will either topple the Empire or topple the rest of Valmasia.

In the plains the Adain moved freely through, she went on short trips back and forth between Danarium to finish up small business before the forces of the army march. On her return trip to the plains she came across a small scene with a child using occultic powers and summoning yokai.

"Now whats going on here?" She asked, though the tone of her voice was more demanding than anything.
(Ria Renato)

Malachai breathed in and out, opening his eyes and noticed the ones that Emphir had to join the fray. A couple of yokai stood beside the white haired young one, but that was just fine for the youth. Earth would come up and gently surround the blue jacket wearing boy as he took two steps back to give himself a little working room.

Malachai came up with a simple plan. Step one: Attack. Step two: Win or lose. Easy and just his style. The boy held his axe wrong, grabbing it near the head of the weapon rather then the rest of it and prepared to duke it out.

"Nah, I don't mind at all. This is all fine by me."

The golden haired boy didn't sense anyone anymore. it was just him and his sparring partner.
(Malachai Ryozo)

The meditating Harukean failed to respond to the child's response, apparently they failed to realize that he wasn't the persona speaking to them. He was too much involved in the amassing of his personal pool to draw from. The spirits he telepathically commanded took up the deed in making moderate distance from the clash of a mere nigh toddler and full blown teenager, magi matching up against one another in sn oddity that topped all this Harukean has seen thus far.

Albeit, there was something else that caught the eye of one of the many spirits about.
Exercising his omniperception amongst his conjurations, a single spirit branched off from the rest, observing the conflict between Emphir and Malachai. The individual spirit that left the immediate scene closed in for Ria, vermillion hues matching that of it's fellow manifestations.

"...That is a question that many of us would like to know." The spirit stated, in place of Aidon.
(Aidon Haruke)