P.S.S. "The Legend Of The Primal Keys"::Ch.1- A Bit Of Deception [Completed IC]

[Supernovae]

"I ... I don't know." Rodriguez was the first good man Maximus had met in the city. He had been a completely stranger at the time, but the bartender had taken Max in and given him food and drink for the night. "He disappeared shortly after the Sky Slayer began his attack. I thought he'd gone to look for you."

Maximus looked away, his face beginning to redden with anger. Why did such a good man have to die? It was that dark god's fault. His appearance alone must have killed thousands of people on this night. Hell, maybe even millions. How many daughters were wondering where their fathers were? Sons wondering the fate of their mothers? Wives wondering if their husbands still drew breath?

Maximus didn't care what his spear told him to do anymore. Nor, did he care for the opions of Atton, Boho, or hell even the Sky Slayer himself. Maximus knew what he had to do. He wouldn't let children be separated from their parents again.

A feeling of confidence washed over the young Ekarder as he turned back to face Esmeralda. "Your father escaped, don't worry. And I swear to you that we will find him."

[Felicity]

As they began marching, Darius frowned. " Sir, don't you think the whip is a bit much? The man has to travel in those infernal bindings, there's not much point adding to the torment"

[Sutoratosu]

Boho's group

(Hukuna, Dobby, Exlink, Typhlosion)

"What's it matter what my name is?" Lucian replied. He could already feel the restraints cutting into his wrist. "If you decide to kill me along the way, it won't matter, you'll just dump into some road side ditch and be done with it..."

"That is precisely what we will do if we kill you," Boho interjected. "But if you don't try any funny business, we won't have any reason to kill ya. so just keep walking." He turned his attention to Darius.

"And to answer your question, ma frien," he continued. "No, the whip isn't a bit much. Hell, traveling with us, he'll get treated much nicer than if we went and dumped him in some town... besides, he did try to blow off someone's head not long ago. It's either this, or death... I don't think he has much room to complain about things. Actually, we could've all traveled together, us and him, buddy and buddy instead of the way it is now with him as our prisoner. He's the one who drew the gun."

"Oh, please..." Lucian muttered. "Like you all weren't going to kill me first... I know how mercenaries work."

"Well, that's well and good," answered Boho. "But we ain't Mercenaries." Lucian said nothing in response. the group continued down the long dusty route, Their prisoner in the front with Boho following, and the others behind him. it was going to be a long walk...

At the Nix Gate

(Murdoc, Snap, Super, Kenny, Chimchain)

Es said nothing in response to Maximus's reassurance. She was honestly having a hard time getting herself to believe it. Finally Cesealia spoke up, having seen enough of this. If Esmerelda was a Light walker, then obviously someone had to have taught her. And if this Father of her's had been the only person she had left in the world, then It was likely to have been him. There was really no point mourning someone who was probably still alive and well.

"Who taught you how to Light walk?" she asked pointedly. Her voice was a bit colder than she intended. She had never really been that gifted with the boon of Tactfulness.

"He did..." Esmerelda responded.

"Then stop Worrying," Cesealia ordered. "If you could light walk out of that situation, what makes you think that he wouldn't be able to as well?"

Esmerelda forced herself to calm down, realizing just how much sense the Magistrate's argument made. She hadn't even considered it, that Rodriguez could've gotten out of there with even more ease than she had. She had seen that Maximus was here, but not her father, and had immediately jumped to the worst possible conclusion... not considering that maybe the two of them had just been separated before... whatever the hell that light flood was happened.

"I'm sorry, you're right," she said "I was too quick to assume him gone..."

"Don't apologize," answered Cesealia her voice had warmed up a little. "It happens to us all... would you mind helping me up?" Es didn't hesitate, offering her hand and pulling the other young woman to her feet, catching her when she nearly lost balance and feel over. She placed one of Cesealia's arms over her shoulders and wrapped her arm around her side, supporting her weight and making it easier for her to stand. If one looked down, they would see why the young Magistrate would have trouble walking. the lower part of one of her legs was cloaked in a bright, blue tinged white light, identical to that which the Sea of Light pulsated with. unlike the other things that the light touched, however, her leg didn't seem to be breaking down into shinning shards and fading from existence. but apparently it was painful, as she was visibly cringing whenever she put weight on it.

"Now that that matter is settled..." She began "Would anyone care to explain what the hell happened? Preferably starting at why that light destroyed the city?"

[Felicity]

Content with the answer, Darius simply nodded. Soon enough his attention turned to the devices he was holding. Curious, he inspected the fusil, taking care to not hold the trigger nor point it at one of the others.

[Ragnar]

"You're a tough nut to crack aren't you?" Gideon frowned at the gunman's answer "It's a long trip my friend, you wouldn't want to be known as the nameless guy who died alone in this huge dessert. now would you? at least someone gotta to know your name." Gideon continues to walk with the others.

[Supernovae]

Maximus made a gesture over to Atton. "That guy over there is in the magistrate. He's likely near the top as well, possibly even the Arch-Magistrate. I'd ask him about what's going on, he seems to have all of the answers anyway."

[Chim]

Trystane tried to compose himself. It wasn’t like him to lose control like that, but to be fair, the entire night had been a disaster and he wanted to leave it all behind.

Suddenly a stranger kneeled down next to him and told him not to worry. And the man had a point. Onyx was pretty fast even compared to other horses and really smart. From time to time Trystane felt like his horse was smarter than him. He felt little hope again and wiped his face clean. “If Onyx is still alive, he’s headed toward Zrazara. I must go there. I need to know for certain if he got out or not…”

[Sutoratosu]

On the road again, I can't to get back on the Road Again, Heading places that I've never been.~♪

Boho's Group...

"Lucian" The prisoner responded to Gideon's question abruptly. He said nothing more after that, simply kept walking, not wanting to get struck by the bull whip Boho kept concealed under his cloak. While Darius fiddled with the man's weapons, nothing of significant note occurred. Boho seemed to have had the fore-sight to completely unload all of them earlier.

At the Nix Gate...

(Octavia, Murdoc, Super, Chimchain, Kenny)

"I know who he is," Cesealia responded, her voice a bit Curt. Again, People skills were not exactly her strong suit. "He's my commander..."

"And he can hear you two from a mile away," Atton interjected, turning his attention to them. "Honestly, try to minimize your volumes..."

"What the hell happened her tonight?" Demanded Cesealia. Atton reached into his armor, searching for something, but apparently not fiding it, as his hand was empty when he brought it back out.

"Seems I've...lost a certain piece of Evidence," He said. "But I shall do my best to explain it... and hope that you choose to believe my words."

"You've never given me any reason not to believe you," Said Cesealia. "Go on, I'm listening."

"Very well then," Atton scratched his chin for a few moments, thinking about where he should start. up until now, he had been given the luxury of being able to simply hand Tactalli's Ancient Journal to people and let them see the truth for themselves... but now that he had to explain it all himself, he found it hard to formulate the right words... oh...wait. That's right, he didn't have to. The journal could still be of use even if he didn't physically have it...

"Cithalocism is nothing but a lie, Cesealia," He continued. Cesealia didn't seem phased in the least bit by this statement, simply kept listening. Atton carried on. "It has always been a lie, since the day that Azuaqyar descended from the skies. Rodrac Tactalli, the first High Priest of the Theocracy, actually stumbled upon the truth, many, many years ago. He discovered that Azauqyar was not a god or a savior of man, but instead merely an avatar being use by a being who seeks the destruction of all creation... a being named Rossephus. And before he could spread the truth, he was murdered... right in the middle of penning his account on his findings. I used to have his Account, but it seems I lost it during...well during what just happened to the City. I'm going to guess that you don't believe a single bit of this, do you?"

"I'm honestly hurt that you'd think I wouldn't take you at your word," Said Cesealia. "But that still leaves my question unanswered."

"I honestly have no idea why this happened to the city," Atton admitted. "But I can only assume that it is related to Rossephus. The Resurrection tonight, it was not meant to bring back Azauqyar, it was meant to bring the enemy of humanity forward into this world. Stratos, you like so many others probably know him as the "Sky slayer" attempted to slay Rosse when he saw this... long story short, the bastard escaped before we could finish the-"

"there's something about that story that doesn't add up," Esmerelda interupted. Atton simply raised his brow, not knowing what she meant.

"which is...." He ployed, drawing out the 'is'.

"Why would this 'Rossephus' Wait till now to do this?" she answered. "Why wouldn't he have acted sooner, just gone and been done with it. He could've destroyed the world back thousands of years ago when everyone had the veil over their eyes; he should've struck before Stratos was ever born, he wouldn't have any resistance if he had."

"Interesting Question," Atton Chimed. that's when something in Tactalli's journal rang through his mind. "Tactalli wrote something about a... a seal, or a barrier... something that prevented Rosse from ever physically setting foot in this world... Actually, I do believe he said that they were..."

The Magistrate's eyes widened as he made what was apparently a stunning realization.

"They were what?" Cesealia asked impatiently, trying to get him to continue. Atton simply shook his head.

"they were... He said they were the Spheres..." His voice was barely above a coarse whisper. "the seal...that kept him out. They were the very spheres of creation themselves... when he was brought forth, it could only mean one thing... they destroyed them all. Some how, some way, they managed to do it."

"And the results were the fall of this city?" asked Cesealia. "If so, It would make sense... if they fueled all the world's magick, they had to have held an immense power... speaking of which..."

"Magick is dead," A voice interrupted. Samiel approached the group as they conversed. "As are the spheres, so is the craft. Have you heard that saying before? It is exactly true. Anyone who relied on the use of Magick in combat, is now completely powerless. If you don't believe me, try to use some right now."

Cesealia was completely skeptical of this man's words. she raised her hand, her palm facing out in-front of her. She concentrated, trying to tune into an Aria...all that happened was nothing.

"Do you see now?" Samiel asked. She had little choice but to nod. The sage then turned his attention to the giant.

"We've been crippled greatly tonight," He said. "Rosse didn't even have to lift a finger to make it happen, his lackies did... but enough on that, we need a plan of action, and we need it now."

"We already have one," Muya called out. Everyone turned to look at her as she addressed the group.

"Stop your gossiping and listen up!" the old woman ordered. "Dark times are ahead of us, my friends. Terrible and truly wretched things are about to befall the human race, things that will prove to be the stuff of nightmares made real! I know that you all are probably confused and vexed by what has occured tonight, but right now I ask that you listen to our plea, for all shall be explained later if you do. What I ask of you all, you, Trystane, you, Maximus, You, matrim, you, Ko'Luki, you, Octavia, and all you three as well, Erick, Cesealia, Esmerelda, is to accompany us north and let us your strength so that we may act to prevent a horrible repeating of history; so that we may prevent another Nix War from starting!" Her voice honed to a razor sharp edge at that point, serious and deadly like a blade. "I ask that you come north with me and my allies to help us protect the only individual who has the capacity to prevent the things that await Humanity in the valley of the shadows and darkness that we have been thrust into tonight... Divinius Chesnii." She pointed a gnarled finger at Aaron, who looked around at the group dreading what ever the hell she had just gotten him into. Samiel's eye's lit up with surprise upon hearing the name 'Chesnii' being uttered from her lips... but then again, of course she would know...

"The offer is yours,' she continued "Either come with us, or don't. But just know this: Cowards die many times before their death, but the Valiant only taste of death but once. If you run, then you might as well just throw yourself from a cliff face and be done with it"

[K_H]

Ko'luki heard that they were heading northwards, and decided to speak up.

"Well, if we're headed northwards, we may as well make a stop at my place. We'll need all the help we can get, and we can use the Prototypes i've invented using Wyrm-Fire to aid us in our task."

Ko'luki then turned northwards, facing the road ahead.

"My home is roughly a mile north of here."

Edited August 30, 2014 by K_H

[Ragnar]

Lucian eh? Gideon though to himself and gaze upon the beaten-up gunman infront of him and funny enough, kinda reminds him of himself if he gets caught snooping around the Diran's borders, the city where he grew up, the city he swore never to return from again, the city where he was exiled from. Surely he was not welcome, if he ever shows his mug near the Diros capital.

"Look...whatever happens to me, just keep moving. Your priority is to meet up with the Sky slayer. I don't wanna jeopardize this mission." He said to the group as the swordsman continues to march towards the dessert road.

Edited August 31, 2014 by typhlosionrulez

[Chim]

Trystane felt torn between two heavy decisions to make. On one side he could go back to his home to –hopefully- find Onyx, while on the other side he could help protect humanity. In any other situation he would go for the second option without thinking about it, but Onyx was his best friend. Even though it would be selfish of him, he really wanted to go. In his mind he could already tell how everyone in his village would react. Especially his teachers would kick his ass for making a decision like that and he wasn’t even sure Onyx would return there, or even escaped that fire.

Trystane got up and sighed. He couldn’t believe he was on the verge of throwing everything he believed in away, but if he thought clearly about it, there was only one real option. Of course he would go with this group to help with whatever he could. He was raised to protect the weak and right now, a lot of people needed protection. He placed the thoughts about Onyx in the back of his mind and ignored them for now. This was no time to be selfish.

“The way you say it leaves us no choice,” he said to the old lady. “I’ll come with you despite the temptation I’m feeling right now to turn my back to all this and just go. Just show me the way, I want to get out of this place.” He looked one more time at the destroyed city before turning away.

[Felicity]

"Look...whatever happens to me, just keep moving. Your priority is to meet up with the Sky slayer. I don't wanna jeopardize this mission." He said to the group as the swordsman continues to march towards the dessert road."

Darius looked up from his idle investigation, curious as to why Gideon would suggest such a thing. "Why would something happen to you? Aren't we heading to your homeland? Shouldn't you be the best suited to survive?"

[K_H]

Ko'luki heard Trystane, and tried to comfort the Hunter.

"Trystane, isn't the Zrazara Grass Sea Northeast of here? we are heading Northwards, after all, so we'll be heading in the general direction of your homeland as a result, right?"

[Chim]

“Yes, you’re right. But we don’t know where we’re going or even go close to Zrazara,” Trystane answered the alchemist. “If Onyx is alive and he’s headed that way, he will be in good hands. If he’s not… well I rather don’t think about that. Anyway, this is no time for me to be selfish. I’ll deal with it when the time comes.”

[Snap Crackle Pop]

After listening to what was being said, Octavia gave a quiet scoff. Said that way, a person would have to be incredibly nearsighted to really say no. She trusted them to be telling the truth, despite how crazy it sounded, nothing would be gained from telling a lie of this size and so far, they were the only ones who could give an explanation as to what was happening. Through her eyes, there really was only one option. If one declined in fear of their own life, that would lessen the chances of their goal to prevent a second Nix war from starting. If a second Nix war began... well, they would be all screwed.

"I will join you guys, but I do have one question for now." Octavia said, glancing at Divinius before looking back at Muya. "Why do we need to protect Divinius?" She decided to prioritize the most important and most relevant questions for now, figuring that the others would be answered later.

[Sutoratosu]

At the Nix Gate...

"A very good question," Chimed Muya. "And one that I was hoping someone would ask before we embarked. Divinius is the key to preventing the horrors that await this world in the near future. He is the key to winning the war that is going to be waged across the face of this entire planet and ravage every living thing. Put simply, he is the only hope humanity has to save itself. But he is in-experienced, he knows nothing about how to use the raw forces at his beck and call... That is where My allies and all of you come in; There is another in this world, an intruder, who has the capacity to wield the same forces Divinius. He will stop at nothing to kill him and take them for himself, and if he succeeds, then he will destroy everything and remake all worlds according to his own vision, and there would be no survivors.

Stratos Valgiri, the man you all probably know as the "Sky Slayer", is the one tasked with this boy's defense, but he is currently... elsewhere, and unable to do so, hence it falls to myself and my two allies here to take up his mission, as well as to those of you who accept our call to action."

Aaron, apparently Divinius now, said nothing as The old woman spoke about him at length. He honestly didn't know what the hell he had been thrown into when that other boy, Marcelos, transferred over these...what did they call these things earlier, Primal keys or something? Now here he was, the center of conversation about a second Nix War and The end of the World and someone wanting to kill him... He was still struggling to piece together anything he could about what the hell was going on, and in all honesty, these people had been told more in the past five minutes about the situation than he had at all. So... what, were they just going to keep him in the dark the whole time and expect him to do all these things they claimed only he could do? He had accepted the task of killing whoever the hell this Rossephus guy was, yes, but not any of..this. He'd been told that Rosse was dangerous, but no one ever said that the fate of the world was riding on his shoulders. From what he had heard so far, He was the most important component of whatever plan they might have, and yet they lacked the decency to even give him any details about anything...

"Fuck this," He blurted out, turning his back and walking away from them all. If this is how things are going to go, he didn't intend to put up with it. they could go find someone else to be their Hero.

"Where do you think you're going?" His father called out.

"I'm done," Replied Aaron. "Go find someone else to play hero, or stand here twiddling your thumbs, I don't much care. But I'm not going to be here doing it with you all, so go find someone else to play Knight in shining armor for you; it's a role that I refuse to play if you're not going to bother telling me anything."

"Get back here now," Muya demanded. Aaron kept walking. She sighed angrily "These tantrums of yours are pathetically immature. You're acting like a four year old who's been told they can't have their way."

Aaron stopped in his tracks at that comment. Immature? How the hell was it immature for him to decline a task when he hadn't been given any information that he needed to do it? How immature was it for him to simply walk away from people who simply refused to talk to him like an adult about things? These were completely reasonable ways for him to react, and yet they were comparing him to a temperamental child?

"The only reason I'm getting like this," He retorted, turning around and stepping back towards the group. "Is because you've all got your heads so far in the damn clouds that it's infuriating." "You're over here talking to these people about the fate of the world and the revival of Ancient Wars and the end of the human race, you keeping saying that somehow, for some reason, I'm the key to stopping all this from happening, but yet you have neglected to explain anything to me about the magnitude of what I've been thrust into.

I've asked several times, yet you keep finding new and increasingly more horse-shit ways of sidestepping around it. you know what that says to me? It says that whatever the hell I'm supposed to do, it must not be that crucial...so, what am I to assume then, but that you're obviously glorifying it and exaggerating it to the point where it's some epic fiction? You can tell this little story about the church being corrupt and the world's coming to an end and someone named Rossephus is running around like a maniac trying to destroy everything, but from what I can see, you lack even the tiniest shred of evidence to prove it."

"The evidence is the god damn markings on your hands!" Bellowed Samiel. His face was flushed red with anger

"What markings?" Asked Aaron. "Oh, you mean these generic looking ones that any simpleton could've drawn in a drunken stupor?" he held up his palms, the two strange symbols blazing to life on his hands.

"Now, I have no proof that there's anything significantly special about these markings," He continued.

"You healed with them, didn't you?" Erick spoke up for the first time.

"You just as damn well as I do that it could be easily explained by a Proxy Healing," He retorted to his old friend. "Hell, I don't have any reason to believe that these aren't anything more than that, just some strange type of Magic that was put on me."

"That's utterly impossible, boy," Samiel said. "The spheres have been destroyed. Magic is dead."

Aaron flung out his hand in a wide arc. a bout of flames emitted from his palm and fingertips as he did so, leaving a fiery trail blazing in the air that faded away a few seconds later. he held up his other hand. A sphere of electricity crackled to life and rotated there silently. He was scowling as he allowed both conjurations to fade and crossed his arms, drumming his fingers impatiently... this little game was beginning to piss him off beyond words.

"Care to explain how the fuck I'm able to do that then, Father?" he snarled. "See, you say one thing, and yet I just proved it to be a complete lie, twice in fact. I can still hear the Spheres loud and clear. Obviously magic is alive and well."

Sam had no response to that... Aaron turned around and started walking down the lonely mountain road lying before him. He was done with this shit.

"Have fun playing your little fantasies," He called back to the group. "But I won't have any part in it."

[Snap Crackle Pop]

Octavia stood still, thinking of the words that Divinius had spoken seconds ago, her eyes narrowed in thought. He certainly did have a point, didn't he. It would be an incredibly ludicrous situation to be placed in; being called the one and only hope for humanity out of the blue. But... It couldn't possibly be staged at this point. That other lady, Cesealia, who was pretty much found by chance, tried to tune into the spheres and failed earlier. And unless someone was intervening with magick in a way Octavia didn't know, she didn't seem to be faking the fact that she couldn't use magick. As far as Octavia could tell, there seemed to be a connection between Divinius still being able to use magick and whatever those symbols on his hand were.

It also wouldn't add up if this was a lie either. If it was, why would anyone say that the entire concept of Catholicism is a lie, tell a person that they were the only hope for humanity, and then try to convince a large group of people to go along with it. It really could only be the truth, and if it was, that would mean that Divinius' life truly is in danger.

Octavia jogged to catch up to Divinius and she slowed to a walk behind him. "Interesting how the magistrate Lady that was found seemed unable to use magick earlier." She started. "Also, it's interesting to think that everything that they said was a lie. If they were speaking out of their asses, I wonder why they would do that? For what point would they get a group of strangers involved with this, if it were not true?"

[K_H]

Ko'luki ran to Divinus and Octavia, and spoke to Divinus.

"Excuse me, Divinus, but i believe that the Keys created the Spheres, so it would make sense for you to still hear the Spheres if the Power was preserved by its returning to the Keys once the Spheres were destroyed, and even though i have next to no experience with Magic, i do remember from my Experiments that Energy is never destroyed, only transmuted or transferred. i think that Magic acts in much the same way, seeing as it's a Manifestation of Energy."

Edited September 1, 2014 by K_H

[Sutoratosu]

At the Nix Gate...

"I don't question the Lunacy of others," Divinius Replied. He kept walking, not even looking back at Octavia. "I simply don't involve myself in it..." He stopped suddenly, turning to face her. there was a look in his eye... something strange... it looked almost like sadness.

"It has to be lunacy," He continued. "I'm a nobody, nothing special...hell, just two hours ago, I was a cripple, someone who most saw and wouldn't ever think twice about classifying as worthless. I didn't have any place waiting for me in the world then, and I sure as hell don't have one now." He turned and began walking again.

"I'm a broken puzzle piece," he said. "If I want to have a place somewhere, I always have to fight tooth and nail for it... nothing has ever been handed to me, so why would things change now.?" with that cynical remark he broke off their conversation, hearing as someone else approached. he slowed a little to hear this one, retorting immediately after.

"This doesn't prove that anything that old crow said about me is true." with that said, He broke off this conversation too, and continued on in his stroll down the barren road.

[Supernovae]

Maximus ran furiously after the boy after he continued to complain about everything that was happening. "The only lunacy I see is a man willing to risk the lives of everyone on this god damn planet because he doesn't think he's good enough. So what if it's not true? So what if you're not the chosen one?" Maximus pointed at the ruined city, "This city is in ruin and if what these people are saying is true, it won't be the last. Are you really going to run and hide as men, women, hell even children are slaughtered in the streets?" Maximus sighed and turned to walk away, realizing he might have gone too far, then stopped himself and turned back to Aaron one last time. "Just answer me this. If you give up now and these people are right, then the world ends. But, if they're wrong and you aren't really the chosen one and all of this is a huge misunderstanding, tell me, what exactly do you lose?"

[Ragnar]

"Why would something happen to you? Aren't we heading to your homeland? Shouldn't you be the best suited to survive?

Gideon ponders before answering Darius' question. The turk sighed and somehow tells the turth. "I'm an outcast. i was exiled from a crime i didn't commit and was sentence to live alone outside the city." The turk said."No need to worry about it. its my problem, besides, I've cause you guys enough trouble already. You just need to take care on what really matters at hand. Unless you're gonna turn me in?" Gideon smirks at the Knight.

[Felicity]

"Unless you're gonna turn me in?

A man is not condemned in my eyes if they are brought to justice. Your punishment was given, and you live with that. After that, I would fight the sky slayer before I turned on a friend" The common use of Stratos' title slipped out of Darius mouth before he could think that was now more of a reality than ever

[Sutoratosu]

At the Nix Gate...

Aaron stopped walking. He couldn't keep up the act of pretending he didn't believe any of this anymore, not after hearing this Ekarder's words. He knew it... but he had hoped that maybe, just maybe, if he had feigned that it was all some lie, that none of it was true, then it would become so. But it didn't work, this was all too real... and that's what scared Aaron, that all of this wasn't a lie. That the fate of the world rested on him...that if he fucked up even a little, then everyone would die. That this, all of this...happened because of him.

"All I've ever wanted..." he began. "Was the chance to prove myself to the world. To make it so that people would actually respect me instead of looking down on me. I wished every single day for the past five years for that type of chance to come to me... and now here it is. But this is... it's far too extreme... I only wanted to give people a reason to stop looking at me and only seeing a cripple, I didn't ask for this... I didn't want the whole world to be in peril just because of my selfish wish... All those people who died in this city tonight, I didn't wish for any of their deaths...I admit it, the majority of my anger was caused by them, but to kill them...?"

He turned to face the three of them. There was grief and shame in his eyes, along with anger.... anger at himself.

"I was selfish," He continued. "I couldn't just accept my lot in life and be done with it... I had to demand more, I had to be some type of hero. And then tonight I finally was given what I'd been bitching and moaning about for years... and these people all died because of it."

"Stop blaming yourself," A voice echoed out. A young man dressed in a blood soaked Black and gold uniform appeared behind Aaron. his face was solemn and his blue eyes stormy. The expression on his face looked as if he had witnessed a lot of good friends die tonight, among other things. He placed a hand on Aaron's shoulder.

"This shit storm was brewing long before you were ever born," he continued. "Long before this world was ever created at all. None of this happened because of anything you did; it just happened to be that out of all the people in the world, you're the one who was chosen to stop it...This would've still happened even if you hadn't been. "

"that doesn't change the fact that all those people are gone now..." Said Aaron.

"You're right," said Gilwyn. "But it also change the fact that you were chosen. These people are dead now, this city is destroyed, along with three others... but you have the power to prevent this. You have the power to save countless others from befalling the same fates." he spun the boy around to face him, gripping him by both shoulders and looking him right in the eyes.

"But that power means nothing if you do not fight to do so!" he continued. "There's no one else who can do this, no one else who can wield the keys, so if you do not fight tooth and nail, if you do not destroy your Foe-man utterly, than the world is finished."

Aaron's eyes were filled with uncertainty. "But if I fail..."

Gilwyn Gripped the boys shoulders even harder, shaking him a little.

"If you fail, then at least you can say that you fucking tried!" he shouted "If you fail, then yes, this world ends, but at least someone will have tried to save it!" he let go of him and took a few steps back, still maintaining eye contact.

"Listen to me," he ordered. "You can not be afraid of mistakes. and when they happen, you can not be afraid to accept responsibility for them. Do you see that man over there?" he pointed his finger back towards the group, right at Matrim.

"I have made many mistakes over the course of my career," he went on. "but by far, the biggest mistake I ever made was against that man, Matrim. I killed his family, burned his wife and children alive in their sleep because I was given intel that he was a sorcerer, a wielder of the forbidden arts. But that man was no such thing. I was lied to, and while I was out committing what can only be called murder, the real sorcerer escaped and continued to evade death. The blood of that man's entire family lies on both my hands and the hands of the one I was pursuing, but far more so on mine. It was I who fired the conjuration the sparked it, it was I who set them to the torch. There is no way I can ever fully right the wrongs for that mistake, nothing I can ever say or do. They will always be dead." He reached forward and grabbed Aaron by the lapels, ripping the colar right off of his robe. seeing this, he cast the thing aside and instead gripped the boy by the shirt. his hold was strong as iron.

"But I do not RUN from that mistake, knowing that I can never fix it," he said. "I take responsibility for it! My intentions in doing it were to keep the world safe, but the world was not made any safer by killing that woman and her children, the world was not made any safer by causing that man grief the likes of which I can probably never comprehend! I don't run, and neither should you. If you care enough to be afraid of fucking up in this mission, then you are more than strong enough to accomplish it without error. A mistake met with regret from the person who wrought it is always forgivable at some point, but a mistake met with Apathy is always a crime. and even if you err, there will be no one to hold it against you." with that said, he let go of the young man. Aaron took a few steps back.

"You're right...." He said. "Fine then... I won't run. even if I fail, I'll try to fix it however I can... I won't give up. I'll stand and fight to the end... I will find and destroy anyone who dares to side with Rossepus. I will show no mercy and accept no surrender."

"Good then," Gilwyn said. He then told his attention to Octavia.

"that man over by the gates," he began "Matrim, tell him to come over here... it's time I pay for the evil I committed that night."

[Snap Crackle Pop]

Octavia nodded, but said nothing as she jogged over to where Matrim stood. "Matrim," she said, hesitating. "There is a person who wants to talk to you," she motioned over to where Gilwyn stood.

[Chevaleresse]

"Well, tonight's been crazy enough. I don't see a conversation getting me into a whole lot more trouble at this point." He walked over to the man -Gilwyn?- with a faint grin on his face.