IC: For Love

[Kalamos]

His expression sort switched to one of shock or near embarassment, he wasn't expecting to be addressed in the manner of a son. It was very unnerving for him. He listened to the praise her father gave him, "All that power, and yet I hadn't the willpower to keep myself from harming her... All the amazing might you speak of, it's the instrument through which I've acquired more sadness than I could imagine one person bearing." It seemed, her demon father was good at stirring up all in him that was worst. The darker sides to his mind were easily brought forth by the demon's words. Many sad and angry thoughts were called to mind, but his face didn't take the expression of an offended man or some kind of defensive act against these words. They were horrible things to hear, but they were truth to his ears. " I don't intend to bother such an easily opened wound as her past if it will stay closed on its own. Besides... I've seen some of the horrors she's had to face." The stark horror of her loss; It caused his blood to boil, made the rushing rivers of power he was empowered with flood his veins with a burning anger of his own. His body language conveyed these thoughts, his clenched hand and grimacing face testifying to his mood. But he didn't lose the calm and collected sense of self he had, the gentle spark of reason was clear in his eyes. "I've no real questions for you or her anymore. All the questions that had bothered me before, have already been answered." He didn't know how much Nall knew they had shared or how much Star had shared with Nall about their experence in the world of thought, but he was implying that during the mental link he felt as she fed from him: He was not only fully alert and awake, but he had taken time to enjoy her company. The mere thought of that seemed to wash away all the terrible feelings in him. Her power still coursing through his body, made a cycle; and instantly it was like all the tension he felt had melted away. "I will be satisfied continuing to learn about you as we travel.

[Zoycite]

Wolf head tilted to the side, watching Kalamos's mood change. He could so easily shatter through the barrier and invade his mind, pulling what he wanted. He could have pulled hated memories and caused rage in thie being. TOngue licked chops, just thinking of all the havoc he could unleash. Hidden behind this anger was pain though, almost sorrow. "Child... what is it?" It was as if God Himself was speaking down to a person, calling them 'child.' "Anger boils your blood, how magnificant..." Another chuckle, "You are a wonderful creature, Kalamos. I thank you for keeping that part of her secret, and my identity is to remain secret." In fact, her father didn't surface much, only in her mind did he speak;The majority of the time, however, was Nall. "You should go find her, she wanders the halls in this place of holy power. She could be seriously damaged just from the essance alone. But as for me, I will rest, hidden beneath this blanket of white fur."

Red markings disappeared to snowy fur, eyes changing back to icy blue. Nall laid his head down upon the lap of Kalamos. Giant yawn escaping him. It drained the wolf to allow her father to take over his body so completely, that and he hadn't slept in a long time. Star had to live without sleep sometimes, nightmares shaking her violently anyway; Nall needed sleep for surival. He forced his head under Kal's hand and eyes closed. He would rest for now.

[Kalamos]

As Nall was restored to his normal state, the demon fire fading from his eyes; Kalamos laid him gently down. "I will do just that." He put some bedding underneath Nall's head and collected his armor. Latching the pieces he once more assumed his knightly guise. He moved to the door and placed his hand upon it, closing his eyes and feeling out what supressed the holy power within the room. [Radiant Sight] He noticed the demon power that was counter-balancing Validrir's godly presence. His vision narrowed down, as he began to reach into his own power. His hand went across the chest piece of his armor and with a single swipe, the rune drawn there was erased. The enhanced physical strength instantly faded slightly. He removed the torso plate and placed it before him. He placed his hand upon the armor and began to move his fingers, drawing arcane symbols upon the armor he wore. Symbols that began to glow just as the rest of his armor was. These runes were glowing in a sickly black, much like the demonic powers of Star. It was gathering the minimal, albeit ambient demon energy of the area around him and creating a small neutral zone around him; No more than a 5 ft radius either way. [Runecrafting] He adored knowing how to use runes, they made his life much easier. Once he was finished, he pushed his palm against this rune; and the archaic markings spread. These markings, were unlike that of the one he drew though. They formed along the walls, the floors, and the ceiling. They were glowing in a gentle azure. Their light faded as they became transparent, but the power was still there. These runes were balancing the elements of the atmosphere. Given the quality of the runes he could draw, this would last for a matter of days. The aligned powers in this room were now neutralized. Comprising neither demonic or angelic energy. The rune on his armor served the same purpose and did just as the runes in the room did. He would be able to move about the white tower freely now. The demon markings upon the doors seemed to just disintegrate. Falling to the ground as black dust and being swept away by the flow of air the windows outside created. From the room, Kalamos emerged. He looked around and reached his senses out, looking for her. No doubt she would feel his presence now that he was out of the room. He was adjusting to the godly presence here; It wouldn't be long before he wouldn't need the defense of the rune he just placed upon his armor. He wouldn't remove it though, it would help lighten the strain on Star's body when he was close to her. He started moving, following the trail of her power. It was easy for him to feel out, she was bursting with such energy that she was slowly losing the incredible boost her feeding was giving her. The drain was getting weaker though, as no doubt the power was steadily coming down to a level she could handle and contain. He would catch up before much time would pass or he had no doubts she would come running to him. It helped that Validrir was allowing them on these grounds, if not; surely the auras would be pressing against them much much harder.

[Lord Validrir]

Validrir looked out a window and saw the sun rising into the morning sky. A servant came into the room and bowed deeply. "Breakfast is being served my lord." The servant said. Validrir smiled in return and looked back at Anderen.

"Well, when our guest here is ready, will you bring him down?" Validrir asked. The servant nodded and stepped further into the room. "Good, I am sorry Anderen but I must get down stairs. I hope to see you soon." Validrir then turned and left the room, heading down the hall. He soon arived in the main hall and made his way in the direction of the dining room. Just when he was almost there, he felt a strange pressence down one of the halls. It was god like, yes, but he was the only god around. Was another god's messenger here to see him? He went down the hall and stopped just outside the trophey room, the pressence coming from within. Validrir looked down at his clothing, he was still dressed in his armor from that night. Snapping his fingers the armor lost shape and definition and then resettled into some dress clothes. It was always best to look presentable while meeting a messenger of the other gods. His shirt was a brilliant white, and his pants and vest a golden yellow, almost the color of lion's fur. He also had a coat of celestial blue and a small scarf, of the same color, folded into a tie about his neck. On his feet were a pair of black leather boots that were polished to a shine. He pushed the door open and walked in to find the young woman who had summoned Kalamos, but she was in the guise of a godly messenger.

Validrir was, needless to say, surprised by this and was rather taken aback. No doubt she had adopted this physical appearance to better cope with the holy power of his home, but he did not know she had such power. Esspecially since she had been in such bad shape earlier. She was looking at a picture of him fighting demons. One that had been painted years ago, by a famous artist. Validrir came up to her quietly so as not to alert her to his pressence. After a moment though he spoke.

"Do you like the painting? It's not my favorite, but an artist gave it to me as a gift. All the painters seem to take the ugly, death filled part of my legacy to recreate." Validrir sighed. "Except one, that is. Would you like to see that painting?"

[Anderen]

He had passed out, falling asleep again in the middle of Validrir’s sentence. Apparently Anderen was much weaker then even he was aware of, so, against his will, he was unable to respond to the kind hosts question. He drifted once more and ever further into his vivid, message like dreams as he was embraced first by darkness, and then the images that had always plagued him and had always been on his mind. Though the images were the same as always, they did, however, have a new feeling of peace and acceptance to them. Almost as if he had finally come to terms with the pains of his past, both felt and inflicted, and as if he had finally grown to accept that in the past, he was much different from now. With that conscious realization on his mind, even though he was sound asleep, Anderen felt as if a massive weight were being lifted from his shoulders.

For the first time in years he felt almost free, and at peace with himself and his bloody history. It was then that his dreams switched from the images of his pain and suffering and his past sins to the image of the beautiful woman that had blessed him with her presence earlier. Anigav, the angel within the sword, she was there standing before him, with a look of love and happiness emanating from her face and even her mere presence. Her lips parted as she began to speak, “Well done, Anderen. You have finally learned to forgive yourself and stop judging yourself, even punishing yourself in search of some sort of forgiveness, when all along you were forgiven for your sins long ago. Now, take the final step away from the darkness, Anderen. It is easy to stay here and sleep until you die, but it requires great strength of mind, body, and spirit combined to survive your sorrows and travel the path of righteousness.  You must be strong, Anderen. For yourself, before others.”

Once she finished speaking, she again drifted forward towards him and gave him another kiss, this time on his other cheek, and as she pulled back she spoke again, “I have now blessed you twice. Thrice done and you will be akin to an Angel in power and understanding yourself, yet as things are now you are still unworthy.  When the time comes, we will both know and I will appear before you again. Until then, you must find your own way to me on your own, at which time we will be in a perfect union. Until then, you are alone, though I am still with you within yourself and the sword. I am the inner light all beings possess, buried by the endless layers of darkness, and I have been granted the pleasure of shaping your destiny. Rest easy, child.” she said as she vanished. Though she herself did not speak it in his vision, he heard the following words in his mind as clearly as if they were spoken face to face, “Remember, however, that all powers and blessings so easily granted are just as easily taken away. Be strong, Anderen.”

After that, there was silence in his mind, as he began to wake up after what he felt had only been a few minutes, but certainly not the hour it had been. His eyes opened and though he was still laying on his back on the floor, his head was still turned towards the doorway, so the first thing he saw was the servant that had remained. “Who are you?” he asked, and the servant told him, saying his name and what orders his Lord Validrir left him with. Anderen nodded, and rolled over, remembering the message Anigav had given him. It hurt like hell to move, but as she said it was easier to stay here and die then it was to stand up and survive. He had to. He had no choice. He needed food, nourishment, water, and human contact. He needed to stop regretting his past and his inner demons and open himself up to his new life, and the new chances to be at peace that were endlessly presenting themselves daily, if only he had the courage to notice. He would let his past and his hate weigh him down no longer, and with that thought he pushed himself to his feet, reborn in mind and spirit, though not in his body.

His body would have to die before he could be physically reborn as the cycle was designed to do, or so he had been taught in his childhood. Instead, he now realized he simply had to take his life one day a time and build his happiness himself, while spreading happiness and peace through the world as well. “ Well now, servant, bring me some water and food, if you would be so kind. I am not too weak to go myself, I just want to eat and think in silence and peace. After, I will come out from this room. Tell the Lord Validrir for me, if you don’t mind? I should speak with him, it seems.” he said, as he fell silent before walking over to his shield, lifting it and then placing it back on the ground, only flipped over. After that he sat within his shield and as he crossed his legs, he rested his shoulders on his knees and sat in the stereotypical meditative position as he closed his eyes.

He had never done any of this before, but he felt compelled to for some reason, and now that he sat there in his shield, he felt something strange. As if he were separated completely and entirely from the physical plane, and as if he were no longer within Validir’s tower. It seemed to him as if he had been transported to somewhere far beyond existence or reason, to the void where the creator exists, and the void within that being in which it’s creator existed. An endless, repeating cycle of birth, life, death, rebirth and birth again happening instantly and eternally all at once. He felt as if all knowledge and all the power one could ever fathom and even more were just outside of his reach, but still, he was slowly granted access to the endless annals of knowledge and experience within. In that instant, the expansion of his mind ended as returned to seeing and feeling as if he were simply in a bluish sphere of energy, surrounded by the endless unknown but still at peace.

Anderen did not feel regret or fear either, however, because the words Anigav had left him with were ever present on his mind, so even in oblivion, even in this abyss that was created somehow as a result of the shields concave shape and blessed nature. Strangely, he no longer felt weak, tired, or even hungry; he just felt thirsty, and that was it. At that thought he wondered what had become of the servant and his eyes opened, casting all of his visions and thoughts away as he looked to the doorway, now empty and with the door shut. However, there was a plate of food and a silver pitcher filled with what hen hoped was water.

He wanted the water, but he also didn’t want to move, and because of that he sat another moment and thought. Finally, a thought flashed through his mind that made sense to him, though if he would have ever thought it before he knew he would have thought he was just crazy. Anderen realized a simple fact, but not why or how, and that fact was; If he focused, and wanted it enough, he could fold the space between himself and the glass and do two things, either reach out and grab it, or have it come to him. He chose to try the former, and after that he simply reached out with his right hand to grab the glass even though it was much too far away for him to reach.  It was then that something happened that surprised him, and yet he knew it would happen. His hand vanished from his view and even from his forearm, and almost instantly he saw something move by the silver pitcher.

When he brought his gaze up to look at the source of movement, he saw it was his own hand, taking hold of the pitcher’s handle. He could even feel it in his hand, yet, the pitcher and his hand were across the room!? He could not explain how this was happening, but he was not afraid of it. Anderen knew this was what he was trying to do, though even with all of his faith and belief, there was still a sliver of doubt in him that it would even work. It did work, however, and now all of his doubts were gone as  he pulled the pitcher toward him while watching his hovering hand holding the pitcher across the room. Just as soon as he had thought it, his hand began to slide back into emptiness, pulling the pitcher with it, and reforming instantly back into his sight as well as returning to his arm, pitcher in tow.

When his hand reformed before him with the pitcher in his grasp, he felt a pride with himself that was almost childish and conceited, and he realized these were not his own powers and abilities. These must be what Anigav had blessed him with, and with that thought he felt a sense of humility. Still, it doesn’t mean I don’t have my own inner powers and abilities that just need to be awakened as these were. I still have much to learn and live for… he thought, as he lifted the pitcher to his lips so he could drink. The pitcher was empty in one large gulp, and  felt only slightly refreshed, but certainly much better then he had felt only seconds before. With that thought, Anderen got out of his shield and rose to his feet, lifting the shield as he did and strapping it to his back. He needed more water it seemed, so he would have to get it himself. He took hold of the door handle, and pulled the massive wood door open as he made his way from the room and down the hall to where he detected other life forces. Another of Anigav’s gifts, I suppose. He thought, continuing to walk down sunlit hallways.

[Zoycite]

Hand upon the painting, the screams of her fallen kin invadingher mind. 30 legions of screaming all inside of her head. She could feel their pain, feel their fear, swam in their hate. This was an awful place for her, but perhaps Kal was better here. The God had quietly came behind her, she was lost in the pain that she hadn't noticed. He spoke to her, the screams shattered within her mind and she listened to this murder. Her hair was hiding her face for the moment. "How can others hang such death upon their walls?" her voice was like an angel sighing. She slowly turned to look up at the formely dressed Validrir. Her eyes showed such pain and concern, she could make a mountain cry with such sadness upon her face; purple lines from her eyes down honey coloured skin. "What more paintings could you show me? More relics of fallen beings? A hall of trophies! You have a place dedicated to murder!" Her voice was raising in decibal, yet she kept the look of grace and heavenly beauty. "And I suppose it is your duty to rid the realmz of the demon kin? Angels... you are all the same." She pulled her cloak around her more, she was giving off an incredible power, her emotions drove her power. Deep breath in, slowly she let it out as her mother danced through her veins. She pulled strength given to her from Kalamos, his power would be the dominate aura coming from her. She stared at Validrir, angry at him, but tried to hide it from view... although the air around him would be sufficating with anger and sorrow. "Show me these other paintings..." She enjoyed art in general, it is a thing she loved about Kalamos, his map making.

She stood in the hallway with the murderous God. Out of the beginning of the hall she could feel something pulling at her power, souls connecting and creating a symphony withing the God's house. She knew it was Kal, she was all too eager to push past the God, but as her flesh touched him she felt the holy energy collide with her demon blood and she fell to her knees, eyes flashing quickly from bright turquoise back to emerald. It was like injecting fire straight into her. Star didn't make a sound, just motioned for him to not touch her. She was trying to calm it down, calm the evil in this drunken state of power.

[Lord Validrir]

Validrir looked at Star with an expression of curiosity as she sat apon her knees. He could not, for the life of him, understand why she felt so passionatly about the demons he'd slain so many years ago. Maybe it was that she abhored the idea of death in any form. As he watched her on the ground, every mannerism he possessed told him to help her up, but he obeyed her wish and did not touch her. Instead though, he spoke.

"A hall of murder." He spoke the words slowly as though testing how they felt. "I suppose that could be said. After all murder is defined as the taking of one life by another. But then again this could also be called a hall of liberation. Here I'll show you." With that he crossed the hall and removed two paintings from the far wall. Returning with them he set the first down in front of her.

It was a horrible sight. The picture was an angry red and bore the image of hundreds of people. All were dead, dieing, or being mistreated by demon overlords in any way thinkable. Women, men, children, all shared the same ruined exsistance. "This is how things were. What you felt when you saw the slaughtering of demons, I feel when I think of this. I was there, and this is just how it was." He then set the other picture down next to the first and bid her look at it. The painting bore the image of many, many people. All of them happy and dancing or being helped as they needed. Validrir was in the midst of them, a laughing child up on his shoulder. He was smiling in the picture, obviously happy for the joy of all the people. "That is how things became. That is my legacy, not all of this." He said, gesturing around the hall. "My real success is the freedom of this people, not the destruction of demons. Although Gorbrack was an evil one, and needed to be dealt with. If I have one regret about that war, it's that he escaped."

[MirrorTornBeauty]

Walking with Pensworth out of the room, she removed the cloth from over her face. The breath of cleaner air was more then she could ask for. She was led and sat down at a table. Her plate was filled by the servants. The smell from the food was tantalizing. She all too eagerly began to eat, reaching for her food quickly, but every bite was taken slow. The flavours melting across delicate tastebuds. She looked up, no one but servants around her, no one to hold a conversation with. None the less, she was enjoying her meal even in quiet.

There was new energy all around her though. She could feel it in the air. Things were changing drastically. Mystic and now a burst of demon energy, in a God's house! How absurd! She wondered if Validrir could feel the changes happening within his home.

She finished her meal and took a bunch of grapes with her. She moved with grace down the pathways to the garden where she would sit in the sunlight and listen to the fountain. Her eyes were burning, stinging with pain. She would need to collect herbs and make a balm. Soon... but for now she was enjoying the fresh air.

[Anderen]

Anderen was simply wandering aimlessly through the hallways, making his way down one though for no particular reason, until he finally came to a spiral staircase the led down to the next level. He heard voices down the stairs, in the floor under him, one was female and certainly sounded almost angelic, and the other sounded like the Lord of the tower, Validrir himself. Anderen couldn’t help but hear the womans tone wasn’t one that sounded pleased, and infact he heard her accusing him of being a murderer, and having a Hall of Murder or something akin to that. Their topic piqued his interest, and he began to make his way down the spiral stair case, and as he came closer and closer to the bottom, he was able to see what looked like colorful ghosts, or something, through the walls. Finally he realized that it was just the aura around Validrir and whoever accompanied him, and as he realized that he finally came to the bottom of the stairs to hear echoes of Validrir speaking, talking of some man who had escaped a battle after he speaks of something he must be showing her.

It all makes very little sense to Anderen, but of course that’s the case since truly, he has simply butted in on a conversation he wasn’t a part of. As he made his way down the newest hallway he had arrived at, he couldn’t help but notice all of the paintings on the walls, and having an affinity for art himself, he decided it couldn’t hurt to examine the art of an unknown artist. He glanced at each painting as he came to it, though he looked at them more objectively then either of them had. Where they saw the slaughter of either demons or humans, Anderen simply saw the wake of death that an endless war such as the one between good and evil could only continue to repeat. He did not see humans in need of help, or demons in need of killing. Anderen saw, rather, a bigger picture. One that requires such bloodshed to occur so that after however long it must take, when finally the battle ends it will truly be a joyous occasion, and such joy is all perspective.

Human joy will result in demon anger, and demon victory will only bring more suffering to the humans, but neither will cease the violence until the other is dead, and all because of a lack of understanding of one another. The angels were the only race in this war that seemed to be aware of the greater picture, and though Anderen has know idea why he knows any of this, he happens to know it is indeed true. The war will never end, not when the legions of warriors continue to rise ad be replenished with each passing generation. Finally, he snapped out of his thoughts as he rounded  a corner and saw the two of them before him. He stopped and looked at them for a moment, and then he looked at the two paintings on the floor before Star. “Sir…Miss…I hope I’m not intruding. I just happened by, and it does seem like a good day to appreciate art.” he said, trailing off as he waited for some sort of approval or sign that he should just leave from either of them.

[Zoycite]

The power surged through her veins, her flesh crawling with fire. She sustained it though, the radiance from Kal calming it for her. Her shields were growing weak in her state of mind. The Lord came back and placed a painting in front of her, and then another. He explained them to her. "So you show me humans? You show them to me as if I had a care for them. They have hunted me for years, for their shot at fame..." Deep breath in, Kal was coming to her. That is the only reason she cared for humans, because her Love cared for them so; he must have seen some hope in them that she couldn't. "You... show me... these humans, these... cattle," for that is what they were to her for a long time: cattle. "They probably deserved it. Humans are so easily swayed. The demons would have never came if evil wasn't in their hearts. They must have sinned in their lives... there are rules for wars such as these. Discussions between Gods before it is all played out..." she shook her head slowly, trying to cover her rage for this man and the one watching them now. "There is no good without evil. Everything happens for a reason. Without evil in human hearts, so easily molded these creatures, there can be no good. Without the suffering of these people..." she turned to the God, "You would have never came to glory... and none of this would be," arms made movements so as the two would know she was referring to the tower, "You wouldn't be a God, you wouldn't have this peaceful land... perhaps... it was all for you." She sighed deeply as she stood. "Wouldn't it be ironic if it was the will of the God and Demon Lords to have you rise to power? And how would it be played out? How would the chess game go? The human pawns of course... but they had to believe in evil for the demons to show." It was almost matter-of-factly, the way she said things. Still, elegance lined her voice, cushioned with care and slammed with pain. Perhaps she was a messenger of the Gods, in an ironic twist. "It will never stop. Hate and Love, Evil and Good. One needs the other to thrive. Angels and Demons, humans and vampires... humans and demons... Humans and Humans. They kill their own kind, they don't need help from the demons. But oh, to have a Savior, the demons need to play." Star had chosen words that would cut through and bring out a bit of hate from the two in the room. She then did the most curious of things, she turned to the stranger and looked him up and down; it must be un nerving to have a woman that looked like a messenger of the Gods stare at them. "And you... slaughterer... I can smell it all over you. I can hear their screams, I can taste their blood. Disgusting, you humans..."

Without Kalamos and around these paladins she was growing angry. But Validrir would know something more was wrong. Was this even the same girl from before? The one that looked as tough she was dying? The same green haired one that loved the man in armor? She didn't even look the same, even her aura was different. Emotions controlled her every move, she hated it. Fingers ran through emerald hair as she turned to Validrir. If she didn't see Kalamos soon she wasn't sure what would happen next.

[Lord Validrir]

Validrir did indeed realize that somthing was very wrong. The way she spoke, what she said, it all sounded like a demonic point of view. Then somthing happened that had not occured in a very long time. Deep and powerful anger began to rise in Validrir, his temper coming to the surface. A look of deep resentment crossed his face before he again regained his composure. This girl was decieved, or at least in his eyes she was.

"No good without evil?" He said disbelievingly. "In the begining there was no evil." He came forward a few steps, his eyes boring into star. "There was peace and all things were as they should be, until Satan ruined every thing! With his pride and his unwillingness to do what he should have done, he destroyed that balance forever!" His anger had risin to the surface again and his voice boomed around them. "I would give up everything I have ever accomplished to regain that balance! Humans are a far greater and nobler race than any set of demons!" He stopped then, for he suddenly saw somthing in Star he had not before. A glimmer of another one of her souls showed through as her shielding weakened. With out a warning, Validrir grabbed her arm and lifted the girl off the ground and held her in the air. "What are you?" He whispered as he looked at her.

[Kalamos]

As he walked through the halls, the impending powers of darkness and light that collided between Star and Validrir were like ripples in the vast ocean of holy power that was his tower. Kal's vision picked up on this, and the rising frequency and punch they had. When he felt the paladin god's power spike his body simple dissolved into a silver mass that shot through the halls; Riding the threads of energy that Star was releasing. [Conduction] This silver mass of light sailed past many indviduals, leaving a gasp of surprise and shock at the speed and force that was behind it. This power exploded between Star and Validrir, pushing them apart from each other to make enough room for his body to form out of the silver burst of light. This wouldn't harm either of the two in any way. He was close enough to hear the last few words between them before he burst forth from the halls. "So short an amount of time before you both fall into your roles of Demon and Paladin." He raised his eyes to Validrir, "I do not believe in what either of you say; But I won't raise my sword or use my tongue to slash at the hearts of others over something as petty as instinct." Spoken to both, his words would likely cut as deeply as their own between each other; More than likely, it would douse the flames of racial hatred between them. He turned to Star, "I'm sorry I took so long." All that he said was said calmly and in a composed fashion, to point out the obvious. That neither of them were really like this, that neither of them were here to harm the other. It was part of what they were, and not who they were that was causing the problem. He pulled Star into his arms and whispered to her his words. "Star... Why did you come to this kingdom?" Again... Pointing out the obvious, she would be staring at the eyes of the reason she was here. Pulling back from his embrace he looked around the room. Noting the many pictures of demonic battles and massacres. "That explains it..." He waited for them to regain themselves, hoping Validrir wouldn't betray his trust and strike at him with his back to the paladin.

[Anderen]

He didn’t know what they were arguing about or why, but he couldn’t help but feel compelled to join their little conversation, but Anderen held his tongue instead, not sure of what he would have to offer this little debate. No, it wasn’t a debate; it was a far more serious argument, he could fill the womans power rising, like pressure pushing him back, and the same could be said of the Lord Validrir as well. So he just stood there, remaining in silence as he waited to be spoken to, or even acknowledged. He listened as the woman spoke of humans being cattle, and he couldn’t help but feel as if he had gotten a deeper look into who or what she truly was, but still she spoke, adding to his mental imagery. Yes, humans were cattle, always led to battle or led on a quest for power, but almost always it was to fulfill a single person’s goals and dreams, and the masses simply followed.

True, humans were like cattle, and they would follow their chosen leader to the ends of existence, where only suffering and oblivion await, and even then, some of the masses that had followed everyone there would still be too ignorant to realize they had damned themselves for a lie. Yet demons and devils were not much different. If it weren’t for the devils to lead the weaker and less capable demons, then the demons themselves may never have been compelled to destroy life. However, that could all be wrong, as well. One could not know the thoughts and plots, the desires and envies that others felt long, long ago before the Eternal War had begun. It was strange, none of these thoughts seemed to be his own, but they both instead seemed to be coming to his mind not only from Anigav, but also from the devil within the blade as well. He had never heard it’s thoughts so clearly as now, now that he was surrounded by pictures of demons and devils being slaughtered, as well as pictures of humans dead by the dozens, all causing an emotional circus within the devil.

Yes…now you see the other side of the story clearer, Anderen. Listen to me, mortal. I am the great Devil Lord Kenoras, and perhaps a million of your kind has fallen at my hand, perhaps more, yet not without reason. The Angel’s were the ones who started this war, they misled the humans into attacking us because the angels and their creator fear what we are, what we might become and be capable of. They forced our hand to slay endless numbers of your kind, and they started the war that rages still. You know I speak truth.. flashes through Anderen’s mind, and as he listens he doesn’t disbelieve what he is being told, though he also doesn’t believe it. He is simply open minded to the possibility, until a familiar voice echoes harmoniously through his mind, No! Do not let his lies sway your new found faith, Anderen. The devil speaks lies, though there is truth to what he says as well.. Listen to your heart, and you will see the truth and the lies for what they are. He is simply gaining strength from being so near to such a strong demon or devil energy. Do not let him fill you with doubt again, Anderen. is what he hears in his mind, before silence again returns and all that remains is his thoughts.

Anderen began contemplating what he had just been told by the two of them, but his thoughts were interrupted as the woman looked at him directly and spoke out in a vicious manner, calling him a slaughterer, making it known that she could smell the death and bloodshed his hands had brought in the past, that she looked down on him as another cattle like all the others humans. He couldn’t ignore the truth of his past actions, or escape them it seemed, but he had only recently began to stop punishing himself for what he did. Still, he listened, until the raging energies of the Lord and the holy looking woman surged yet again, and it was then that Anderen felt the rage and joy of Kenoras, and he knew what had happened. Kenoras had gained the upper hand, at least for the moment, and he couldn’t hear her voice or feel Anigav’s presence. He was alone, and at that thought he looked down to his hip, as the sword began to shake very violently in it’s sheathe, almost as if it was calling to be drawn, or even trying to draw itself so it could shed blood.

He moved to grab the hilt of the blade, so that he could keep it in it’s sheathe, but as he was about to touch it, and only for a moment, he felt Anigav’s presence again as one word flashed violently and vividly through his mind, as she seemed to scream NO!!! before being overpowered again by Kenoras. With Anigav screaming in his mind, Anderen stays his hand from grabbing the blade, just as it shudders one final, extremely forceful time, before shooting out of the sheathe and flying end over end through the air above Validrir and Star both, before finally landing behind Star, sticking tip first into the stone floor. Almost instantly, a black aura begins emanating from the sword, as if calling out to any and all nearby demons or devils to come and take hold of it. Anderen felt like walking over to the sword just so he could replace it in it’s sheathe, but for reasons he didn’t understand, and also because Anigav had told him no, he knew he shouldn’t touch the blade. At least not until Anigav regained control of their mutual prison in the sword. For all he knew, the moment he took hold of the sword he might go on a rampage and try killing everyone he came upon. It was then that he watched Validrir step forward and grab Star by her neck, lifting her from the ground and holding her up in the air, and Anderen heard his whispered question to her.

He didn’t know how the situation had come to this, because he was lost in his thoughts and his own inner struggle while they argued. He felt the aura emanating from Star, and he could feel the evil within her power, as well as good, but he did not recall her doing anything to merit being grabbed as she had been by the Lord. “Let her down, Validrir. She has done nothing I have seen to deserve this. Violence is the last thing any of us needs here..” he began to say, before he was cut off mid sentence by a brilliant silver light as it forced it’s way past him, and in between Validrir and Star before a sudden, powerful shockwave seemed to come from the silver light that pushed him back. It even knocked him off his feet, but it didn’t send him flying so much that he got hurt. As the light faded Anderen saw the form of a man begin to take shape, and he saw that it was the same one from earlier, the one who had been carrying the girl when they had all arrived at the tower.

He got back to his feet as he looked at the two of them now, as the man held the woman in his embrace. He felt like watching things unfold further between all of them, but he couldn’t get his mind off of his sword, now a little down the hall from the group. Anderen sighed, unsure of what he should do as he walked around and past Kalamos and Star, making his way nearer to the sword before coming to a stop and looking at it. It’s black aura had even begun to affect the floor, turning a small portion of it into a similar black, almost like the floor had been burned. Unsure of how to approach the peculiar situation before him, he simply decided to stand and wait, so he could watch and see if the sword showed any signs that Anigav had regained control. As he stood there, he took off his helmet and placed it on the floor beside him as he sat and watched his sword.

[Zoycite]

She listened to Validrir. He was getting angry, how delicious. He spoke of the beginning, to which she laughed. "In the beginning there was life that is all! And noble... NOBLE? He couldn't even watch her, he was given the task to protect her and watch her... which he failed. So the apple was bitten and sin was born! It is because of your noble cattle that sin was born!" She was enraged! And soon enough, he had taken a hold of and lifted her from the ground. She screamed when his Holy flesh came into contact with hers. He was much taller then she, her feet lifting easily. Her hands grabbed at his arm, trying to losen the grip from him. He whispered to her and then pulled back, waiting an answer. Her response was a smirk, eyes flashing a bright turquoise, "I am everything children fear and love..." His skin upon her flesh had caused the demon blood within her to boil like lava running through her veins.

All the while something was pulling at her power. She could warmth along her: love. It was Kalamos. Star watched through angry eyes as a ball of light came between her and Validrir. She was instantly dropped and fell to the ground, landing hard. She turned up her eyes and they fell upon Kal, who was speaking words of wisdom? She was picking herself back up when He embraced her, held her close. Her anger melted away and the hated aura around her and was replaced with one full of love and calm. Star held onto Kal as he asked her the question, "You know why I came to this hateful land to me! I came here for you, my love."

Star couldn't ignore the sword though, she could feels its power, hear the screams of the demons and hate. She shook her head violently. She cowarded into Kalamos. "I don't want to see them anymore... I don't want to hear them..." She rubbed where Validrir had grabbed her, red finger marks bruising silently.

[Kalamos]

To her immediate words his motions were sharp, fast and precise. In snap like motions his sword sang through the air, and he drove the point of it to the sword of Anderen, "If you won't hear them, I will silence them." The runes on the blade immediately lit up upon contact with Anderen's weapon. Powerful waves of the blade's magic tore across the edge and through the tip, into the sword he struck. Normal weapons would shatter upon this, force; but it's main ability was to dispel and disable supernatural effects of objects it strikes. Against un-enchanted weaponry, this means destruction; Against a weapon of the kind and calibur of Anderen's it would mean the temporary disabling of its powers. [RuneCaster> Buster] Oblivious to Kalamos, this would cause a great deal of pain and suffering to the two that were beyond his ability to sense within Anderen's sword; Their domains within the blade would be flooded with overwhelming albeit non-fatal supernatural shock that in all likelyhood would render both of them incapacitated. If this effect failed immediately, Kalamos would hold contact and continue using his sword's power until the blade's darkness would return to its origin. Kal's own weapon would  be promptly sheathed when all was said and done.

 He uttered words over his shoulder to Validrir as he tended to Star, "Do not touch her ever again." He gently moved her hands out of the way so he could see the marks. He looked with a very deep concern as he hastily removed one of his gauntlet's and glove; tossing it aside he pressed his hand so softly to her neck and concentrated. Star would feel her own mystic's power streaming from Kal's hand to her; The healing powers of the water mystic that were temporarily bestowed upon Kalamos by Star, were spent in this one action. No longer was her power swimming underneath his or supporting the delicate stablility that held him together. He pulled his hand away, to see if the power he used had any effect against the wounds delt her by the Paladin god.