What is to be regained!? || Open to 3-4

[Reks]

[atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=cellPadding,0,bTable][atrb=style,background: url(http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx24/cyyne/fg_bg.png); width: 500px; border: 2px solid #000000;,bTable] [STYLE=background-color: #010101; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: justify; width: 85%; opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8; padding: 10px; color: #ababab; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;]Darkness, the inner pain of non being filled his soul. The burning sensation in his belly, that of a blade lingered for what seemed years. Words filled the void around the soul, filled with the replays of what occurred to it last. Captain Why. . His majesty was a traitor!. . . But the war is over my dear captain. . . We will never bow to you Yes, this soul's last moments while it's mind was still active. Betrayal and death. This soul was that of a young soldier, a brother, a son. . A hero to some. This soul belonged to a young man named Reks. Since his passing, the regret of failing his king and the burning hatred from his betrayal has kept his soul in anguish. The moments of Dalmasca's surrender was now the only thing that remained. . . That is until a dark feeling crept into the soul's inner being, releasing it from all the pain and yet solidifying it. His soul slowly began to phase from a ball of light to his body before his mortal wound had been placed. It only took moments for his skin to feel the cold breeze of Zanarkand. "V-Vaan. ."

[/COLOR] The words came out, barely even as a whisper. The boy's eyes opened to find himself in a very unfamiliar place. Ruins were around him with thousands of tiny bright lights in the air. . The cold breeze of the ocean hit his face, something that was very new to him.

"W-what? . . [/COLOR] He questioned himself as his slowly stood up upon his feet. His body was shaken, confused on what process just happened. It remembered death, yet was functioning perfectly. Slowly his mind began to recollect the event as well.

"The King. . . Captain. . . Everyone. . . they . . he killed them all."[/COLOR] His voice trailed slowly as a hand clenched against his skull, his mind was in pain. He could barely register what was happening, he couldn't believe what had happened before.

"And. . . He killed me?"[/COLOR] It was more of a statement then a question. It had some bitterness, he had been killed by a man he trusted with his life. The man had betrayed everything he lived for, he wasn't even sure his brother was alive because of that man.

CREDIT `` template by KONYA☆[/style][/center][/td][/size]

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[Caren Bathory]

She felt at home in the city of the damned. The fallen city reminded Caren of her own conquests. Of the terror she once wrought over the world. It brought a smile to her lips. The memories flooding back to her. The smell of freshly burnt villages, with a hint of blood filled her nose. The sound of villagers screaming in terror as she taught them their place. Ah, these were the sweet memories, the precious ones. The ones Caren would treasure till the day she died.

They made her feel alive. That dream kept her imprisoned for two thousand years. Her body ached for release, ached for the chance to fill the streets with terror again. To show the world, her world that she was in control. Oh, how she longed for control. Her own spell, gone haywire, was the very thing that entrapped her in that wretched dreaming state. It would have been forever too, if it was not for the rush of energy that freed her from her prison. It was the rush of energy that excited her. It was powerful enough to crash entire worlds together. Yet so subtle enough that it's very nature eluded Caren's grasps.

How she longed for such power for herself, if something was powerful enough to crash all the worlds together then surely it would make Caren a god if she commanded such powers. Yet it was not power that drove Caren back to these ruins time and time again. It was the dream. This was the place that she broke free of it's chains. This was the site of her liberation, and no matter how much she failed to grasp power in the outside world these ruins always comforted her. Reminded the wicked Sorceress of her own powers, and reinvigorated her.

A new smile, one perhaps more wicked then the last, formed on her face. This Zanarkand, the city of eternal slumber never stopped giving her gifts. A young boy was muttering to himself in the difference. Speaking of death, killings. He looked to be a warrior, perhaps he himself had found the cold embrace of death. Just as this city had? No, it didn't matter. As long as the boy was willing to be a pawn in her own plans. Caren, she needed muscle. She had plenty power yet the curs of this world did not respect. So she now needed an army of her own.

But where was she to start? The typical ruse felt unnecessary for once. She was fond of the old woman whose image she stole. That woman was strong, confident. Strong enough to stand up to Caren, just to give her family a few more seconds to run from the Sorceress. It was heart warming really, which is why Caren made her death nice and long. So the woman would know that her little plan worked. It was probably the only kind act that Caren did in her entire life.

Casting the thoughts of one of her favorite victims behind, Caren made her way towards the young warrior. She was sure to let the butt of her long oaken staff hit in the ground, which featured a small sickly green orb at the top. The wooden clank echoing through the other wise silent city. It was rude to barge in on a grieving solider unannounced, and rather stupid. Who knew what the boy would do if caught by surprise? He may even attack her, and if that happened then the Sorceress would have to put him down. And that would truly be a pity, who else would be her pawn? And one so conveniently placed into her lap.

"Hello, my dear." She said to Reks, the smallest hint of seduction in her voice. This man, now she could see him in a better light, was not half bad looking. If he could not fight, the he may make a fine addition to her own personal collection of boy toys. Which did need to be restarted, her old ones were rather dead. But those things happen after two thousand or so years. Those that did die of old ages were the lucky ones, even if they were few and far between. Bathory saw that any man who did not live up to her expectations was swiftly executed. And there was oh so many of them too.

Perhaps it was because the Sorceress as a whole was intimidating, even if after you strip the woman of her vast command of dark arts. She was tall, very tall. Six feet, and two inches to be precise. She towered over most people of her time, although they were rather short. Her black robes clung to her like shadows, the same way her long delicate fingers clung to the twisted oak staff in her hand. Aside from her pale green complexion, which afflicted her body as a whole and gave her a classical witch feeling, her fingers were bare. Save for the single large golden ring on her finger, adorned with with a jet black oval gem. Her yellow eyes, which could only belong to a demon from the deepest pits of hell, bore into all that feel within in their gaze. Which was paired from the piercing little eyes of her raven, Briar, who occupied her usual place on top of the oak staff.

Her right hand, the very same one with the ring on it, rose to her chest where it found it's home. She leaned ever so slightly towards Reks, her wicked smile becoming one so soft and gentle. The very same kind a mother would give her own child. "And what brings such a tender young soul to the city of the damned?" She cooed, her voice become soft and pleasant to match the fake smile on her face. Caren was good at this, these little pleasantries and fake smiles. It's what she had to do long before she gained the power to simply rule. It was this very same smile that helped gain her the power to rule in the first place, and it's what she would do to gain that power once again.

[OCC :: ... I think my muse wanted this post to happen. As a warning I dun goofed and didn't proof read, normally I don't care but it's like 4:30am. lululul. ]

[Reks]

[atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=cellPadding,0,bTable][atrb=style,background: url(http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx24/cyyne/fg_bg.png); width: 500px; border: 2px solid #000000;,bTable] [STYLE=background-color: #010101; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: justify; width: 85%; opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8; padding: 10px; color: #ababab; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;]Was it sorrow or regret the boy was feeling? After all he had to go through in his life, he had every right to break down into tears on the spot. However Reks did not do this, his gaze met the stone floor with a clenching fist. He felt. . . Angry, rage filled his soul at the thought of his killer. "How can humans be so . . . revolting?"

[/COLOR] He asked himself, not knowing the presence of anyone near by. He had never thought of the human race in such a way before, his mind had always been on how to make things better. . . But after death, had it changed him that much?

The voice of a woman snapped the boy back to his senses. His head flew back up to find a tall woman cloaked in what seemed shadows. She was both intimidating yet beautiful at the same time to the former soldier of Dalmasca. Yet he had nothing to fear now, with this feeling. . . It was so different, he had always worried about a many of things. . His brother, parents, friends, himself. . But it was like none of that mattered now, the only base image he could think of was Basch.

He quickly shook his head to remind him of this situation. When he was in his own little word, he DID hear clanks of what seemed wood. The staff the woman held in her hands seemed to justify this, he would have easily seen her coming if he had just payed some attention. His gaze fell upon the bird that had been perched on top of her staff which was quite beautiful indeed. He had never seen such a magnificent bird in all his life, then again the only ones he had seen were the one's he killed.

His eyes then focused on the womans face once she spoke once more. "I know not of why I am here myself."[/COLOR] He answered with a matter of fact tone of voice. "I had been . . Killed before this instance and yet now find myself in this city of souls."[/COLOR] He knew what the lights were as he spent much of his time as one.

He gazed into the woman's eyes with something of a challenge. Her appearance was very well timed and her words meant something deep. She had to know something of why he had been revived.

"My name is but Reks, my lady."[/COLOR] He added the last of his words with pause, she seemed outfitted with the robes of royalty. "It seems like you know something of this . . . area, would you be kind enough to share your knowledge to someone like myself?"[/COLOR] He asked her, he was very confused on the situation and had to know what had just occurred.

"If I am really back in the world of the living. . .[/COLOR] Rek's thought to himself as his brow slightly curved. "Then I have a chance to have revenge for those who have died."[/COLOR]



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[Caren Bathory]

"Reks," she said. The power behind the voice was clear. It was one she learned to harness ages ago, along with the pleasant little smile. It showed she was dominant, in control, the one with power. Of course it came naturally to the Sorceress, simply due to her nature and the fact that the embers of a dragon burned within her. "Reks," she uttered again, testing his name on her lips. She allowed the powerful voice to be backed by the deep rumbling of the dragon that slumbered with in her. It made Caren feel good, happy, proud and most of all powerful. This was all his name truly was, a simple display of her own power. The power of her voice that is, Caren was foremost a socialite.

Although held onto her throne with her vast commands of the arcane art, she made her way to that throne with her voice. And now, when she had nothing but her own drained strength, she would use her voice once again to find control. This boy was only the first, the first of many. Rek's own voice played a key part in Caren's next move. His confusion, a tone that he did not bother to hide, proved that he was truly helpless in this world. Lost. Which made him a fine creature to recruit, or at least use for the time being. At worst she would acquire his blood, to use for own means in the future. But of course that was not her primary concern, now she just wanted to find how useful this boy would be first.

"You parents named you well," She cooed, allowing her voice to return to the soft motherly tone that she greeted this Reks with. She had to comfort him first, make him believe that she was truly on his side. It was the only way to fool him completely, and take from him all that she wished. "It is a shame that you had to arrive in my realm at such a young age," she went on. No one could here could prove that this wasn't her land. After all Reks own confusion proved that he knew nothing, and there was no one else around to prove him wrong.

"This Zanarkand, the city of the dead," She paused slightly tilting her head to the side, letting her words linger in the air for only a few seconds. Simply wanting to Reks's reaction. He knew it was the city of the dead already, but a name did much for a place. Perhaps he did know Zanarkand... No. He would have recognized the title of the city alone. Ah well, a risk was always worth it if you won, and Caren intended to win. Her head resumed it's previous position and she began to speak once again. "And I am it's lord!" She said dramatically, hoping the words would weigh heavy upon the warrior.

"All within this world are dead, sent here from their worlds. Zanarkand is simply the focal point, the center of which all death revolves. As such it is the closet point to the realm of life." She stopped once again to let her words linger. She wondered if Reks would buy her bait. Caren really hoped that he would. It would make her next game all the most interesting. "I am the only one allowed to let the dead pass once again into the world of the living, and I take it that is what you wish? Few come to my realm who do not wish to feel the sweet embrace of life once again." She finished, the kind motherly smile never betraying her true emotions of twisted pleasure.

[OCC :: MOVES LIKE JAGER! ]

[Reks]

[atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=cellPadding,0,bTable][atrb=style,background: url(http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx24/cyyne/fg_bg.png); width: 500px; border: 2px solid #000000;,bTable] [STYLE=background-color: #010101; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: justify; width: 85%; opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8; padding: 10px; color: #ababab; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;]His name was uttered through her lips once. He looked at her, wondering if she was going to ask him something since she had called his name. His gaze fell upon her when she spoke his name once again, this time more powerfully and to him . . it sounded slightly seductive. His body wanted to get closer to the woman, it yearned for her touch but his mind resisted the temptations. His gaze just fell upon the woman in . . many ways, he hoped she would not notice the vulgar act. She then spoke of his parents, which snapped his eyes back to her own. Rek's bit his lip slightly at the memory of his deceased parents. The plague took them both, leaving himself and Vaan alone in the streets. "Indeed . ."

[/COLOR] He agreed when she spoke of how young he had died. It was true, he had only been a man for a single year before his death by Captain Basch. Never married, never able to have a true home, never able to feel a womans soft embrace. . . Everything that he had waiting for him, had been torn away.

Zanarkand . . .[/COLOR] He barely whispered, it was a brilliant name. Beautiful yet mysterious, it rolled off his tongue pleasantly. He did not care for it being of the city of the dead, he had already come to terms with his death. His eyebrow arched when she spoke of being it's lord. He meant no disrespect, but his one lord had died due to his own lack of strength and haste.

"It is indeed what I wish for and I thank you for such, my lady."[/COLOR] He nodded with a slight bow. Yes, he did not like death. . It was lonely and agonizing with regret. "This new life . . . I am not proud to admit, but I will be putting it towards something that should not be done in much haste."[/COLOR] He looked into her gaze with determination and slight anger. "Vengeance will lead this new life for the moment."[/COLOR]




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[Caren Bathory]

A new smile spread on her face, replacing the previous motherly one. This new smile could only be described as joy. Blissful joy that the boy bought into her game so easily. She eyed his body, wondering what else she could take from this gullible youth. It was then that she spun around, the end of her cloak twirling around her. "Follow," she said once again in the powerful voice that she originally addressed Reks in. It was then that Briar took flight. The jet black bird blending into the dark sky as if he was part of it.

She walked towards the center of the Zanarkand. Each long step taking her closer to her goal. She already had a place in mind, but course that was Caren's own nature surfacing. It would serve her rather poorly if she did not have a glorious place to bring this Reks too, and she had just the place in mind. She had to keep the illusion full. So as she made her way to the tall towering building that once served as a statidum Caren kept him engaged in a conversation. It was important for him to talk, so that he would grow comfortable with her. It would make the Sorceresses job the easier, not to mention she could weave her lies around him.

"Tell me, about you home Reks." She cooed once again. She had no shame in tantalizing the young boy. The more he paid attention to her own beauty, the more he would allow secret information to slip his lips. Perhaps important information, the kind that would give her an upper hand in the lands outside of Zanarkand. Her yellow eyes glanced over to Reks's own hazel eyes. The joyful smile still on her face. "I must hear your own words, in order to pass judgement. Only the worthy may return to the world of the living, but do not fret. Your life was take from you prematurely, you stand a much better chance then the traitors, murderers, and thieves that wish to steal their lives back."

[OCC :: MOVES LIKE JAGER! ]

[Reks]

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[/COLOR] He spoke with truth, he had no idea where Vaan was living or doing without him. . Had the old Baanga helped him? He shook his head, this wasn't the time for such wonder.

It is without a king from what I suspect now, since the previous had been killed in war. .[/COLOR] Rek's recounted his failure in life which caused his fateful death.

In fact that is how I died . . My captain, he. . We went to a fortress to save our king only to be betrayed by the very man who set us out for such a venture. . . Captain Basch.[/COLOR] His anger began to show in his tone, how he wanted to murder that man with his own hands.

"I'm afraid I will be no better then a Murderer when I see Basch once more."[/COLOR] He purposely left out captain as he believed the man no longer deserved such a title.

CREDIT `` template by KONYA☆[/style][/center][/td][/size]

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[Caren Bathory]

Dalmasca, she heard of such a place before. Six months ago Caren awoke, since then she has explored the world. Discovering it's weaknesses, ways for her to become it's ruler. Dalmasca was one of the many kingdoms she found. She even knew of this Basch, he was a subject few within Dalmasca would forget. The traitor, the scum of the world to them. This boy shared the feelings of Dalmasca, yet amplified due to his own murder. It would make him easy to manipulate.

"Now, now. Captain Basch has been damned by the gods, he shall suffer in the darkest dungeons of my realm," Caren replied, sure to use his title. Reks left it out, perhaps a test? Or simply due to the fact that he possessed a hatred for Basch that few could rival. Regardless, it proved that Caren was knowledgeable. She just hoped that it wouldn't enrage the boy anymore. "He has stolen your time, a primal sin that must never be broken. The gods have called for his own time to end, if you were to find to end him then the gods would be most pleased. Yet admitting your own flaw, your weakness, was good. I could not let you back into the realm of the living with out knowledge of your actions. "

"So tell me," Her eyes slithered from the front of her over to Reks's face. Curious to see what his reactions, no more then curious. The Sorceress had to know what Reks was saying with his face. After all words were hollow with out emotions behind them. As she spoke the pair grew close to a giant Colosseum. The thing was in ruins, destroyed centuries ago by it's own creation. Small little wisps of light floated around. They twisted and turned, making the most beautiful light show ever. Only to be challenged by the moonflow at night. "What will you do with your life if Basch is already dead?" She asked, returning to her sof tand gentle voice. The slightest hint of lust buried beneath it all. The sentence itself was a simple hint about Basch's public execution. One that Caren would did not know was true or not, but due to her own nature she would reveal as little as possible to Reks. The less he knew the easier it would be to manipulate him.

Her yellow eyes turned away from Reks to face the pyreflies lingering in the air in front of them. They danced as before, yet grew larger and larger in number as the pair arrived at the entrance to the stadium. It was a single large gate, the doors cast aside on the ground. Moss grew on the crumbling statues that adorned the sides of the entrance way. "Follow, the gateway is beyond." Caren said, as she forged on ahead. She did not look back to see if Reks would follow. She knew he would, he was too hell bent on answers. And Caren had those, albeit they were false. Not that Reks would know that nor would she tell him.

Just beyond the entrance, only a few feet away the pyreflies amassed. Together their lights twisted and turned in ways that most could never imagine. Caren was only lucky enough to be one of those few because she has witnessed this event before, and knew how to describe them to Reks. In her favor of course. These specific pyreflies showed two images, both of women. One was in long beautiful robes that were fit a Queen. A long delicate staff in her hands. The second woman was in armor, typical to that of Spira. She was next to the first, pleading begging. Make me for the sacrifice Lady Yucon, she begged over and over. It was the same memory, repeated time and time again. "Those are pyreflies." Caren said, speaking again. The image of the two women dissipated in the air as Caren spoke.

"They are lights that loom above us. Memories are their food, unable to control themselves they record all they see and when they see fit tell the tales to those that pass." She explain, for once she was telling the truth. They was no points in lying about the pyreflies. They were simply another factor that she was able to weave into her lie. "That pair were part of a war effort, the woman a powerful mage. Together they died but it was before the warrior's time. The warrior sacrificed all that she had, and all that she was so that the magician could walk the land once again." This lie, seemed far greater then the last to Caren. If Reks would ever enter a temple of Spira once again. She would have to solve that. She was sure she would find a way, but for now she would have to lead him along.

[OCC :: Caren is going to try to kill you. Just letting you know. I'm sure your smart enough to find a way out of it. ]

[Reks]

[atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=cellPadding,0,bTable][atrb=style,background: url(http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx24/cyyne/fg_bg.png); width: 500px; border: 2px solid #000000;,bTable] [STYLE=background-color: #010101; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: justify; width: 85%; opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8; padding: 10px; color: #ababab; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;]A sigh of much relief but sadness came from Reks as the woman spoke about Basch being damned forever by the gods. It was a just reward for the bastard who betrayed him and his country but Reks couldn't help but feel regret. . . He had wanted to be the one who slain the man for his crimes! Reks wanted to shove his own blade into the man's belly, an eye for an eye and a death for a death. "I-I . . . Thank you."

[/COLOR] The young man barely managed to say the words, it was true that he was grateful but he was wish she hadn't done so. "Such a fate is deserved by that bastard of a man, betrayal is greatest sin in my opinion."[/COLOR] He spoke true, one who betray's has no sense of self nor pride.

She began to speak once again as the reached a large structure that shone beautifully in the light. Reks thought it looked like some kind of arena where men fought one another for reward and glory, had Zanarkand done the same once before? But she spoke again, yet something did not make sense with her words.

"If?"[/COLOR] He questioned her. "Did you not speak of that Basch was now damned by the gods and in your darkest dungeons?"[/COLOR] Her words were questioning now, he wondered if he could believe every word she spoke. . . But she had knowledge on things he had never heard of before and knew of Basch apparently. Maybe she just misspoke? He carefully watched her move now while he followed her.

It was then he watched a scene played out, for a moment he thought it had been magic used by this woman. But it could not have been, no words were spoken nor had she made any kind of movement to do so. He wondered what this could have been, until she explained the situation to him once more.

Memories?. . .[/COLOR] He wondered on the idea. They seemed so alive, so fluid and full of emotions . . . Could it be that he was a memory as well? He looked at the woman and her structure, maybe they were both the same? Just memories wandering this land of Zanarkand, and she helped ones like herself along in such a place.



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[Caren Bathory]

The soft and pleasant smile on Caren's face persisted, even as Reks's anger grew at the thought of the slightest chance that Basch was still alive, and walking this world. She knew she would have to say something, and quickly. Lest she loose the trust that Reks had already given her. "Basch, he is a sly one. Already was he able to defy the gods and end your life before it's time, no tell what his black heart may be capable enough." She said, her eyes facing forward, as if the thought of it did not bother her.

"Yet, I also wish to know what you shall do with your new life without your vengeance of Captain Basch driving you." Now her sly eyes turned to Reks, a hint of something more within them. Something lethal. "After all it would be in bad tastes of me to let you go free without knowledge of what you intend to do. It would make me a rather poor guardian of this realm, to only send you out to end the lives of others early." Caren paused to think, was she truly telling him that murder was bad? No... Everyone had their time. Perhaps she should explain this to the boy.

"Everyone has their time to die, much like the meat and breads you have eaten to live. If you let them sit too long, they become covered in mold. A diseases in your home. Yet if you dispose of them to early, then you have wasted something precious. You must partake in it at the right time, death is much the same way. Too early and a soul has been wasted, too late and it becomes something dreadful." With this she raised her staff into the air, using the tip to point at one of the shambling bodies in the distant. "They are the product of being disposed to early, their bodies live on until the proper time. Only a mere shadow. Of course this does not happen to all. Some, like you, are lucky enough to be given a second chance to simply be left to rest in peace." She paused once again, as the stadium gave way to a large hall way. Stone pillars collapsed here and there, forcing Caren to walk around them.

She seemed to pay no mind to what Reks was doing, if he wanted to follow her or not. She simply went on, climbing the stone steps to the large doors that hung ajar at the top. She stopped in front of the doors, blocking Reks's entry. "Now tell me, what do you wish to do once you have been brought back the the realm of life?" She asked, pressing the question. It was important that she got it, just to maintain her facade. She could not let up on something like this, something that seemed important to the higher being that Caren was pretending to be. Now she just had to see if Reks would take the bait.

[Reks]

[atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=cellPadding,0,bTable][atrb=style,background: url(http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx24/cyyne/fg_bg.png); width: 500px; border: 2px solid #000000;,bTable] [STYLE=background-color: #010101; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: justify; width: 85%; opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8; padding: 10px; color: #ababab; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;]The woman's words were . . . He couldn't describe it, they felt like lies yet also a piercing truth. What if Basch had defied them and was alive right now? Fooling someone else into trusting him with they're life and paying for it like he did so long ago? The very thought made his body tremble with anger. "Yet, I also wish to know what you shall do with your new life without your vengeance of Captain Basch driving you." She spoke again, breaking him out of his silent rage, giving him something to ponder upon once more. He thought about what he would do with Basch gone, out of his grasp forever. The thought was agonizing but very possible. He couldn't think of much to do. "I suppose. . "

[/COLOR] He began slowly. "All I know how to do is fight and take care of others weaker than myself. . ."[/COLOR] He spoke truly, he was not very talented in many aspects. "Maybe I'll become a mercenary. . One who will stop and kill those who betray kingdoms and friends."[/COLOR] Reks might have just been speaking about speaking about Basch but those were true words. He would like nothing more to slay more humans who were like his former captain.

She began to speak once again, about life and death. Everything she spoke of made sense to the former soldier as he nodded to her words. She was very wise indeed, but very mysterious in every sense. She began to move once more and Reks had no choice but to follow. What could he do? He had nowhere to go and no one to guide him but this woman.

But she stopped once more, blocking his way from moving further on. Was it salvation and freedom behind her? It was. . . It was something he very much wanted. "In truth . . I believe I will search the world to find out the truth . ."[/COLOR] He spoke silently but looked into the woman's eyes. "I will search the world to find out if Basch is truly dead, and if not . . I will hunt him down and slay him like he did to my comrades and I!"[/COLOR] It might not have been a saint's saying, but it had been the truth.



CREDIT `` template by KONYA☆[/style][/center][/td][/size]

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[Caren Bathory]

A warm smile spread on Caren's face upon hearing Reks's words. It was one of approval, both gentle and reassuring. Her smile, her face, said far more then words. Perhaps it was the way her eyes looked softly down upon Reks, like a mother would to her own young child. Or her smile, which always seemed to be persistent on her face, but always changing it's meaning. Or even how all of it came together, into one cohesive piece of art that worked in harmony to fool all that looked upon it. "Very good," She cooed. Her face maintaining the illusion of someone that actually cared, someone that actually had Reks's best interests at heart. But above all else the illusion of someone who was actually telling the truth.

"Your intentions are as pure as your words." She added. For a brief second she worried that Reks would find another loop hole in her words. After all the average person thought that killing was actually wrong. As weird as it was, Caren felt like she had to implore the use of a higher power. One to captivate Reks, and assure her victory over his trust. "The gods care little for kingdoms, or nations." She went on, barely sparring a breath between her sentences. "They care for the actions of men, and their words. A traitor is one that deserves death, and surely if you act within your words the gods shall guide your blade."

A loud clank echoed within the hallways as she slammed the butt of her staff against the stone floor. "Yet now is not the time for words, we must move on. Your reincarnation draws near, the Gods approve of your lifestyle." She paused to laugh, a dainty little laugh. Yet one that held the joy of her tricking this young man behind it's innocent nature. "And you shall be granted with a new chance at life, to walk the land of the living once again." Then with a twirl of her midnight black robes, she turned around and entered the small room behind her. "Follow me." Were the only words she said, as she disappeared through the doorway.

The small room was circular. Although the walls were bare stone, the floor was highly decorative. With twisting stones forming into one hole master piece adorned with various jewels and gems.Caren would wait for Reks one last time, knowing that he was about to loose his only chance to turn around. Then she would be able to act out the last part of her plan, and she would be able to walk away the victor. Once Reks joined her in the small room she would offer no explanation, instead slam her staff once again on the ground releasing her magics into the room. A small wave of emerald green fire erupted from the butt of her staff, almost immediately being sucked into the jewels and gems. They erupted in light, each glowing like a miniature green sun.

The floor lurched and rumbled as it slowly began it's descent to the chambers beneath. It was a long and slow descent, one which Caren choose to remain silent which added a flair of mystery. Then finally the elevator, which was the only thing the floor could possibly be, came to a grinding stop. Nothing was around them save to a single door. Bright energies flowed withing the doorway, which seemed to bar any passage to the hallway beyond. Yet Caren knew better. She created it herself to ward the room beyond from intruders. She had much to investigate in that room, it was very odd, very supernatural. Yet the wall was nothing but a farce, and illusion to prevent people from going through.

The Sorceress quickly moved to stand next to the glowing door way. The light giving an odd illumination to her face, one that added a supernatural sense too her. Not that she already possessed such a feeling. "Beyond is the entrance to the realm of the living, and your chance to be alive once again. Yet one last obstacle remains." She paused as her eyes snaked to the door way, one ringed hand motioning towards it. So that Reks could not mistake her intent. "It requires blood, a toll for passage you could say. It demands to know that you have a right to live, that you have the flesh necessary. You have already been blessed with such a gift, as the gods have deemed that you are to return to life. So only one thing remains, your blood."

With that her hand dove into her robes, and produced one long slender silver dagger. She held the hilt out to Reks, an offering. "Worry not my child, the gate does not require much." Then she took out a small jar, offering it to Reks once he accepted the dagger. "Be sure to pour it into that, so I may complete the ritual for you. Then, your life shall be returned to you. You will be free from the chains of death!"

[Reks]

[atrb=border,0,bTable][atrb=cellSpacing,0,bTable][atrb=cellPadding,0,bTable][atrb=style,background: url(http://i738.photobucket.com/albums/xx24/cyyne/fg_bg.png); width: 500px; border: 2px solid #000000;,bTable] [STYLE=background-color: #010101; text-shadow: 1px 1px 1px #000000; text-align: justify; width: 85%; opacity: 0.8; -moz-opacity: 0.8; padding: 10px; color: #ababab; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16px; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;]An eyebrow was raised at this woman once again. How she confused him yet reassured him at the same time with her . . . explanations. For now he would have to believe in her, as he had nothing else to hope for at the moment. He nodded her lightly as she spoke to follow. His steps were quiet now, as his mind grew curious on the woman's true intentions. They fell upon a small room, decorated beautifully with designs that Reks had only dreamed of seeing. But his joy was short lived as a large wave of green flames came from the woman, Rek's reacted automatically. His arms were already covering his face yet he felt no heat, his eyes looked at his arms and saw no scorch marks. The glow of what seemed small green stars surrounded them as his eyes began to look around for an explanation. It was yet again, a beautiful sight that the young man would only hear in tales from the old man in the slums. "Amazing!"

[/COLOR] He whispered quietly to himself in awe of the scenery before him. But once more, it was short lived. The woman began to speak again, yet this time it was much more . . . sinister.

"Blood?"[/COLOR] His eyes narrowed at what she described, this was not right. Such an act should not be needed if the gods truly thought him to be pure. Rek's had his blade drawn now, pointing it at the woman.

"Such a thing would not be needed in a pure act."[/COLOR] He spoke out as he did when he was a Knight, with a voice that told others to give him respect. "This ritual of yours is impure and tainted. And my blood is my own and I have none to spare to those I do not know of!"[/COLOR] He was ready for a battle if need be, he had killed many men of evil before and he would not hesitate to kill another if need be.

CREDIT `` template by KONYA☆[/style][/center][/td][/size]

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