[Invitation | PM to enter] And What the Hell Was That?![M]

[Ezrihel]

While within his mind, she absorbed as much information as she possibly could from the young man. His name? Demetri. His thoughts on her? Obvious, he was captivated, almost focusing entirely on her and her existence alone, wanting to hold her even closer to himself. This fact made it hard to gleam much from him, as she hardly felt like trying to worm her why into his sanctum. His relation to his suit, or rather the AI in his suit's programming was also on the foremost front of his mind, as he was actively attempting to ignore it. She could glimpse that he held the machination in a rather fond and endearing light, like an old friend. How long he had had the suit, she didn't care enough to try to find out.

But then the AI's voice became hard to ignore, and she felt him tear himself away from her gaze, her face, her understandably amazing charm. She too withdrew from his head, not being invested enough to want to stay within his skull when more important, even life threatening, events began to surround then.

"CREATOR STOP GAWKING AT THE FEMALE IN FRONT OF YOU AND GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME WE LITERALLY HAVE NO CHANCE AT SURVIVING IF WE STAY HERE WE NEED TO GOOOOOOOOOO!"


The mechanical speakers of the suit's AI seemed to begin screeching. The simple shrill resonance of the AI's voice put Ezzy on edge. She hated hearing machines sound like that. After a huge off-putting of energy and the starting of what seemed to be a vicious brawl, Ezzy was sat up-right and and pushed towards a gate. Getting her balance without so much of a counter thought, her head snapped in the direction of the now ensuing fight. 

She knew that this was going to end up dangerous, she could feel it in the air, causing her skin to tingle and crawl in the utmost uncomfortable of fashions. And for the same reason that her skin crawled like a thousand ants, she was drawn towards it: curiosity. She loved power and everything about it. This verse was new and grand, beautiful in the most simplistic of ways. Amazing and stellar in the fact that she could simply see things that she had never experienced before now, and that she wouldn't have otherwise in her own native verse. 

She continued to look on, even when this man, who's name she had gleamed was Demetri, stepped protectively in front of her. He was a charming young man from what she had observed. Rescuing her from the glass serpent that now laid in the fountain, detestedly dissolving into Omnilium as various enchanting objects spilled from it's dead fanged maw, sounding out a somber choir of jumbled discord that seemed to set the perfect mood for both the death of a mystical creature and the now in-progress battle. What a pity. She thought to herself, though failing to be distracted for such a brief moment by the passing of the creature that she indeed caught the sight of a small character get struck, thrown across the breadth of the fountain and smashing into the curb where she had just been sitting a moment prior.

With fearless eyes, she looked up at the attacker, a fly-rinked skeletory figure of many dark colors floating amongst the shards of multi-colored glass, silver Omnilium and broken fountain pieces. She watched as the fountain's water gushed for a second, the flow shortly being stopped by the nexus' ability to mend itself, the water soaking back into the ground. The figure cackled as it looked over its victim, a laugh that sounded like course metal being shorn from shear weight.

She heard the young man next to her cry out, asking what monstrosity had graced their vision today, though using appropriate yet ill-mannered language to convey his terror. The shock wave from the devastating strike had caused a gust of wind, blowing her hair back as if the beginning of a frightful storm at the high seas was now over shadowing them.

And yet still she wasn't frightened. In fact, she wanted to know what it felt like to fight against this creature, some inner instinct made her want to stretch her fingers with the feeling of tearing it apart, give pressure to her teeth as she ripped it apart with her mouth. It was a strange instinct that she still felt even after all these years, the need and urge to dominate any that could possibly be a threat, to crush and force into submission anyone that could serve her, and by any means at her possible disposal.

Of course, she wasn't stupid. This was a passing flight of temptation that would never pose any serious risk to her. She was far too controlled for something like that to sink it's metaphorical fangs into her mind and render her moot.

When Demetri spoke, addressing them both by name, he confirmed her feelings. This thing was a monstrous force that could probably eat them for a pre-breakfast snack without further thought. She listened as he invited them both to either come with him to Camelot, or stay. He did make certain to tell them that staying would cause their imminent and pointless demise.

It wasn't then that she decided to leave, no she had decided that she would leave should some violence arise out of the gathering long before she had met the thief and young man. She took a step back as Demetri took a step forward, mirroring his movement but in the opposing direction, not yet turning her back to the situation. She wanted to watch as long as possible before she had to go. She wanted to see if this man would attempt to jump into the fight as well, if he would do anything interesting, anything outside of her expectations. So far, he hadn't, but that didn't mean she didn't find him to be pleasant enough for her company.

She heard the AI speak up once more, this time in a volume loud enough so that she and Erik could hear her with no trouble or strain what-so-ever.

"Creator is quite well adapted to flee, you Erik, you and the succubus," Ezzy blinked at this comment, almost tempted to forcefully separate the man from the suit and have a lengthy speech with the machine. A spiel that could very possibly end with the machination being tossed carelessly into some hot forge or volcano if one could be located in a suitable amount of time. She knew that she was captivating and enchanting, but she didn't like being called names by such an inferior piece of technology, "can go ahead and head that way as we make sure we aren't followed. We will follow behind to ensure your safety."

Oh so on top of this machine insulting her integrity, and acting like such an uncivilized and low-browed AI, she wouldn't even get to see something interesting yet. She wanted to observe death incarnate and all of it's glory, from a safe distance of course. She wanted to revel in chaos, destruction and entropy, as was her true birth right!

This whooperup was quite the fifteen puzzle, totally anti-enthuzimuzzy, and she'd be damned if this creation made her seem so, so podsnappery! (even if she did act as such) Narrowing her eyes, a motion one could easily take as her attempting to protect her eyes from the wind, she turned on her heel and quickly made her departure, not even bothering to linger long enough to see the man glow blue. She showed no other external signs of having been even a slight bit upset by the AI's remark. 

She was fast, but graceful, slowing to an allowable pace after a decent twenty-five minute rush to the gate of Camelot, it's gate guarded by a few grizzled looking men wearing rustic tunics overlaid with chain mail cuirasses, their shoulders, forearms, head and legs were shielded by plated steel armor.

They allowed her entrance into the Camelot verse after a few brief questions:

"State your name."

"Ezzy Von Althaus."

"Business or pleasure?"

"Well my business is to stay alive, and living is quite my pleasure." She paused with a smile, red lips parting to flash white teeth. "You see, everyone is fighting in the Nexus yet again, so my passage would be much appreciated."

Casting a glance at each other, they allowed her to enter the verse without any further questioning.

Stepping into the verse was something new. As she had yet to travel to any other verse but the Nexus previous to this moment, it was amazing to see earth, dirt, grass, leaves, and even, those-before-us forbid, a color other than clear sickening pure white. She hadn't realized that while sitting in the Nexus that entire time, she had slowly come to feel like a bug, something insignificant yet dark and dirty compared to the vast pure landscape that had made the entirety of the Nexus up.

It had made her uncomfortable and unsafe, the familiar feeling of paranoia creeping up behind her eyes. Of course, these feelings hadn't had long enough to effect her mind and actions yet. She was still sane for now, safe for now, stable enough for now. Stepping through Camelot's gate had felt like a giant ever-present omniscient gaze had been lifted off of her shoulders and mind, it was the same feeling she had gotten when she had come from her world and into the Nexus.

Then it crossed her mind. Maybe this cycle of reprieve, paranoia, reprieve would continue on. Maybe it would only end in her death... Then again, did death even work the same way here? Could she die, would she age? Would her body heal just like the perfected landscape of the Nexus? This world was different from hers, maybe when she died, she wouldn't be reincarnated like she had been so many times before.

The thought of death being a permanent end to her did bring a twinge of fear into her stomach as she walked along a worn path to a castle in the distance. The impermanence of death was what had made her so careless in the first place, but what was a god-being, who had the collective memories and experience of hundreds of millions of years, doing fearing death? Why did she feel that fear when she knew nothing else but courageously foolhardy action?

It was simply outside of her understanding, she could not comprehend non-existence. Non-existence was neither blackness nor a void, it was by definition nothingness, a concept that was foreign to any being able to have complex thought, be entertained, anything with a soul. Everything had been created at the same time, the force that held them together, their souls, their planets, stars, galaxies, all of it had been conceived and born in one instant. Before that was nothing. Therefore nothingness was a thing that she had never interacted with. It had come long before her very existence, and had been hiding from all sight since the birth of the universe.

After a few moments of brisk walking, she slowed to a stop, casting a glance at everything around her. With all this life around her, she still felt so alone, desolate, empty. She felt raped, violated, helpless against her onslaught of thoughts that poured through the cracks in her head and flooded her, filled her up and drowned her out. She felt confused and she didn't know how to process that emotion.

So she chose not to.

Taking a calm breath, she reeled in her emotions and forced them deep, deep down inside of her head. She pushed them to the very back and packed them away in wooden boxes sealed with cast iron nails. She piled box on top of box, then buried them with every miserable and painful memory that she had experienced in her past; covering and covering and covering. She patched the cracks with loose cloth and wall plaster, and covered the warped ground with cheap carpeting.

She would not think about this anymore. Never again would she willingly choose to think of these things. They made her feel insane, unstable, unsafe. She felt volatile, like a pressurized explosive crammed into a tiny bottle, ready to explode and bust open. She would not know who would be hit by the shards of shrapnel.

She would like not to hit people with Shrapnel any time soon. She did not want to go back to the place of sheer insanity. She liked her control, she streamlined system of keeping tabs on everything, being in control. She was afraid of being deep deep down within her own head with nothing but her musings left to keep her lonesome company.

She would decide to take this moment to wait up for the others that she was supposed to be travelling with to catch up with her completely. She would show no outward signs of the inner struggle she had just experienced. She was in control of herself now. Completely and totally. She would even, in fact, greet her travel partners with a calm smile and warm but observant eyes, kind posture and open to conversation.

When Deme catches up with her, she would, in her ever gentle and enchanting voice, ask, "Would you mind telling me what that so happened to be back there? Both with the floating skeleton, and your mechanization's rather unsavory comment on me."

[Demetri Malius]

The soft pitter-patter of the thief's footsteps was lost in the chaos that he left behind, rushing away from the battleground. Demetri felt a tinge of pity for those caught in the eye of the storm, most likely trapped to suffer their deaths, even if they were going to be given another chance at life afterwards by the Smiling One. His cloak fluttered at his speed as he closed the distance to his companions, each elongated step a demonstration of his new abilities.

Since he had come to this place called the Omniverse, many things had happened to him. he had taken on a new identity though there was much similarity in his old occupation and the one he seeks now. Back in the kingdom, he lived a simple life, his own house in the small town of Brynth and security as loose as a beggar's pocket. He had finally settled in a city where he knew every crevasse, every nook and cranny, every spec of dust on the wind. But then, as he was pulled into this world if was like being born all over again. Knowing nothing but your name and a past life, as if you are some reincarnation of a man you never were, but elude yourself to be. Demetri now had other things on his mind. The Smiling one, Omni, had blessed him with newfound abilities, ones that he never knew he could have.

These abilities, the illusions, the magic, the intense vigor of being able to sprint at these high speeds that no mount could attempt to reach, skills and precision that no archer could hope to achieve. Though he may not be a tank in the sense of taking or dealing much in battle, he need not fear it, save for perhaps that one monstrosity back there, Demetri was confident in his nimble mind and body, to precious ability that he brought with him to adapt to any situation and find a way out. He felt as if he had already evaded death numerous times already, and with uncanny ability.

And then there was IRIS, his precious secondary that helped to teach him the ways of this world. in all honesty, he had no idea how she worked, or how she was even alive. The complicated contraption that she occupied before and the suit she occupied now were well beyond his level of understanding. in fact, all of those around him seemed advanced, and in this world he could not help but see that all of those he met had a world more advanced than his in their own way, in technology or magic. It put him ad a disadvantage. Being so handicapped frustrated him to no end, a slap to the face of his incompetence to remind him that he was inferior.

However, he would not stand for it. Since day one he risked his life to prove that he could hold his own, that he was not one to be shoved aside. Infiltrating an Empire base on his first day, tracking and finding that group in the ashen unseen, and leaving them as well. Then came the hunt with Daxter of Victor Wolfe, whom he didn't even realize was his own ally, and then the war that followed after. Though he could not succeed in defending Nippur, he felt no shame or regret. It was simply destined to have happened, with or without his help.

The whole ordeal was rather a mess, but it didn't affect his goal of traversing to ambrosia, a place he had heard so much about. IRIS had been to the Tangled before, but her adventure was... cut short. Demetri had managed to establish that alchemist, Finneas, as a contact for them, especially helpful since he himself was kicked out of the city. Within due time, he should be allowed back, especially since they don't necessarily know his face. McNinja was the first recruitment to what he and IRIS would make to be a guild for searching and monitoring these vast verses. Nobody would be safe from their eyes, and those that worked alongside them would be protected, as well as heavily rewarded for their aide. He and IRIS had discussed this very recently.

His mind wandered to that first mission in which he summoned IRIS; it felt like such a long time ago. How long had it been? It seemed impossible to tell. Though she was rather troublesome, he had to admit he enjoyed her company, as well as her wisdom, at least, when it was reliable. Images of himself in a chicken suit made him blush in embarrassment, and IRIS was quick to make note of it.

"Creator if you are thinking of that damsel again I swear I will squeeze the air our of your lungs."

"You can do this?"

"I DONT KNOW BUT IM GONNA TRY. "

"I would beg your pardon and implore that you do not try that while we are running IRIS."

"Fine, but just to let you know, the woman can hear me when we are close enough."

"I realized that."

"I figured, and what did she say to you? I know she has the ability to communicate with your brain thingies but I don't think they work like wifi."

"I don't believe they do either but, it's not much concern. I do wish to point out your comment about her being a succubus, that was rather rude, I hope she did not take notice, but with her sharp eyes and ears, I doubt it past her."

"Oh, i made sure that she heard. Didn't want her to miss it."

"And why is that?"

"Obviously, because she is trying to seduce you Creator."

"Is.. is this true?"

"I'm just telling you what it says in the manual for human feelings."

"Damn, I must say that it completely went over my head."

"That's why yo have me, Creator!"

"But please reassure me, you aren't toying with me, right IRIS?"

"Alright, yeah I messed with you a bit on the costumes but I couldn't help myself, and I knew you could handle it, but this... this is definitely more real that Canadian bacon."

"Canadian bacon?"

"Yeah, it's some kind of delicacy in this place called Canada."

"Interesting. nonetheless, we must enter Camelot and see what we can accomplish in establishing the guild."

The duo blended into the white background of the Nexus as they silently graced their companion's sides.

---

It was simple to pass the guards after Ezzy had told them of the situation, and Demetri could not help but give a giggle at their reactions. He always thought of guards to be rather dull, though admittedly some were quite sharp if he wasn't careful. He went ahead and followed his companions into the verse, being welcomed with a sight that made him feel at home.

He felt the light breeze and took a deep breath of air, a fresh change from the stagnant nexus and its bland and mysterious landscape. The thief strolled next to the woman that he found to be trying to seduce him and observed her for a while. He could not help but feel suspicious of her, after all, she hardly showed any emotion, even if she was rather hardy. Even a man of war would have been cowering for weeks at the sight of that monster. It was possible that wherever she came from had more things to worry about than just war, as Demetri knew that before he had left his world behind, times were changing as more magic and magical creatures began to show up all over the realm. He would have to see who exactly she was, or perhaps even what she was. Over the course of a second, he revealed his image to her and spoke, glancing between her and Erik as they rested from their escape.

"You seem rather calm for a woman that nearly faced death, at the sight of a monstrous best as well. Pardon my suspicions, but I believe there is more to you than meets the eye, isn't there."

[Erik Vrell]

"I quite like that machine of yours." Erik said to Demetri, chuckling slightly. "She certainly speaks her mind." The succubus remark was quite amusing to Erik, as it seemed to sum up the woman perfectly. Even down to the fact that there was something... Off, about her. The guards stopped Erik briefly, but let him through when they saw that he was with Demetri and Ezzy.

Along with the other two, Erik quickly passed through the gate into Camelot. The quiet countryside was a drastic change from that of the other verses Erik had visited. For one, there was no imminent danger in this place. No visible danger at least. The psychic wandered over to the Demetri and Ezzy. One look over Demetri's face during his conversation with IRIS was enough for Erik to read him. 

"Did you really not notice her attempts to seduce you?" Erik wondered aloud. "It was hardly subtle. She was practically enveloping you." Demetri seemed slightly lost for words. "Don't worry. Many others would have fallen for it." Erik said, attempting to reassure the thief. Although he couldn't help but add "Myself not included." On the end of the sentence under his breath.

For once, Erik was happy with his youthful appearance. Erik's life in his mountainous sect had left him abstinent, so if Ezzy had attempted the same tricks on him, he would have felt quite uncomfortable. But surely she wouldn't even think about performing such acts on a teenager, or even someone who just resembled one. 

"And as for her..." Erik searched for the right words. "Otherworldly-ness, her very being feels off. She seemed to emanate an unsettling aura." The psychic shuddered slightly. "I don't know what she is but it disturbs me. I'm not even sure if she's really a she." Erik finished, shooting Ezzy a suspicious look.

[Ezrihel]

Do you feel that? I sense a disturbance in the RPG! The Meta is strong with this one. Erik, I’m just gonna go ahead and post to Deme, as well as respond to you this time, but don’t do that again. Sorry that I’m being curt, but I want to move the topic along for now and meta-gaming is my biggest pet-peeve.

"You seem rather calm for a woman that nearly faced death, at the sight of a monstrous beast as well. Pardon my suspicions, but I believe there is more to you than meets the eye, isn't there."

She had been in the middle of taking a breath when he appeared besides her. 

Hm. Normally she would be able to feel people approaching, but he was different. Everything had been different since she fell through into this world. She didn’t have most of her power, but this didn’t change her personality. She just assumed that she would have to figure out a way to get them back, someway, somewhere, somehow.

Being without power was really not that shocking to her. It had not been the first time. Falling into this realm was like being reborn. It was always a struggle to gain one’s powers and memories back at the beginning of a reincarnation. This feeling was nothing new to her, it made her feel the same way that him appearing next to her made her feel: apathetic, disinterested, passive as ever.

And then she heard Erik’s comment on her, questioning her gender. “If she even is a she.”

If she even was a she? Excuse him, who exactly did he think he was talking to or about? Why couldn’t she be attractive and just that? Why did men always like to chalk it up to something supernatural instead of just admitting that they had fallen into sin?

Slitting her eyes in obvious response to Erik’s comment, she answered with that same disinterested but attentively captivating voice. “Well excuse me sir, but you are rather ill-mannered and otherwise rude. You’ve been rather uncivil since we first met, and I must say that it’s starting to make you look quite barbaric and simple. Can a woman not be simply attractive without having had to cast some literal charm on men? Can men not be at fault for their feelings, or is it all a woman’s fault? I wasn’t even trying to get with this striking young man. Have you attempted to even begin to contemplate on the fact that I am not from the same homeverse as you? Mayhaps women there act like I do on a  normal basis.”

She would say nothing more to the teenage man and instead turn away and look at Demetri once more, meeting his light eyes.

After a split second of contemplation on Demetri’s question, she would decide to answer him in the simplest way she knew how to. In a, perhaps unnervingly, steady and calm but not monotonous voice, she would respond, her voice still rising and falling with a that melodic charm.

“Death isn’t something that frightens my people. Horrific or peaceful, we as a whole have accepted that everything has a beginning and an end with the exception of only one thing, the Nothing-That-Comes-Before-All. We do not understand this concept of nothingness, much like humans and other creatures cannot comprehend the concept of non-existence. Try to think about it? That in itself defeats your goal. It cannot be comprehended because it refuses our laws of logic and escapes our capacity.”

“My people are effectively immortal due to our having souls. Humans believe themselves to have souls as well; maybe it’s a byproduct of our tampering. Our souls are immortal, unlike our body, which can be forced to crumble regardless of how long we hold out. Death is meaningless to us, to me, as it is inevitable. Therefore the fear of it is also pointless, made moot by our complex understanding.”

“Maybe a younger soul of my people would fear it, but I am far too experienced to feel and understand emotions like humans. You are flighty, quick acting and short sighted, but so very ambitious. I have seen all of humanity’s history, and most of my own people’s. I doubt anyone could truly understand or ever even begin to comprehend it all, but if you wish to test my credibility on this all, and see why I don’t fear death, you may read through my thoughts.”

After a short pause, she would reach out to Demetri’s mind, waiting only for him to let his defenses down so that he may browse her memories. There were no malicious intentions behind this movement, but she would still strongly defend her mind from the young man, Erik, who accompanied them.

Before he would open himself to her, she would speak up yet again. 

“I would suggest that you proceed with caution. Don’t go further than you can handle, lest you become lost and shatter.” The end of her statement was punctuated with a flash of a smile and a quiet titter. Something that would foreshadow the misery he would face if he went deep, deep down, to far down, into her mind. She had given him a fair warning before she would take him into her mind, sitting back and letting him move through memories on top of memories.

The melody of her mind would start off sweet and peaceful, as it had last time, with equally as peaceful memories floating past him. Happier memories of sweet bygone times that she kept close to the surface of her mind, genuine interest in humanity, helping the lost find their homes, encourage the humans of her time to explore and spread across the lands. 

Jump back ten thousand years, the pyramids and Sphinx of Egypt were being built, over-seen by her and a lithe bodied male of her people. They stood, pale and beautiful in the harsh desert landscape, just their perfect appearance and advanced technology causing the humans to bow to them and worship them though they had been around much longer, creating and teaching, always teaching and creating.

The people worshiping them were not Egyptians as most knew, these were a race of people, a civilization that came before what “modern” British explorers called ancient Egypt and Greece. Having fled from ocean islands to the Mediterranean and into Egypt, Ezzy loved to endearingly call them “Atlanteans” due to the fact that they had come from the Atlantic Ocean. 

She had taught them to write. She had taught them to speak, to read. She had carried them from the infancy ward and out into the real universe, every one of her interventions brought something amazing, astounding and great to the world that humanity resided on.

This memory, and all of them from this time were happy, even excitedly joyous.

Would Demetri continue to probe? Would he enjoy this little joy ride through her mind too much to understand what was coming next? Would he have the resolve to rip himself out of her head? Probably not. Her mind’s song was wicked in the way that it was so inviting to the curious. Her song was something outside of her control, each person would hear something a little different when they were in her mind, something that seemingly beckoned and welcomed those who peered in.

And she, with a mind older than most could comprehend, seemed alien and therefore enchanting to those who could not or did not share her longevity. She appealed to one of the most base human reactions. Curiosity.

She and in fact her very nature of mystery drove people figuratively insane in curiosity.

But she would let him continue through her head.

She would let him see further into what was now unguarded thoughts of the past. The music becomes dissonant, creeping strings being strummed and left to evaporate away in a dreadful and uneasy silence; a lone singer letting her soft and weepy voice sigh out across the slowly corrupting landscape that made up the deeper, darker parts of her mind and memories, haunting in its own simplistic and macabre nature.

It spoke of deep sadness and abyssal longing, a great chasm of seemingly endless emptiness that threatened to swallow up any and all who ever so dared try to touch the bottom. A place of no return hovered deeper down, just a little bit deeper down inside of her eerily calm tortured mind. It stirred like a slumbering animal rousing from the most precarious of hibernations, threatening to rear it’s warped maw and strike and consume those who get lost. It was the most primeval and alien thing a normal human was likely to ever experience, so great and vast like the abyss it reigned over, so incomprehensible that it could drive the ill-prepared into sheer madness.

He would get the distinct feeling of rushing anger and greed, wanton desire to see bloodshed. The memories would be distorted by the soul-veil, a slight visual warping of the memories that caused them to be slightly fish-lensed around the edges.

"Look upon the land, (name distorted, incomprehensible! Look upon the destruction you have wrought upon the pure lands and creatures. LOOK AT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!" She stood, pushed down, forced to bow by chains not even she could break, before a council of a few greatly powerful. They sat upon their metallic thrones, shaking their heads in disapproval and spitting on her in disgust. Down, down she looked onto Terra's green lands. A twisted smile curled over her lips, taunting them to do something with her soft chuckles that quickly grew into cawing cackles.

She calmed to soft giggles. "I see nothing wrong. All you want is pure control. You want pets, servants, slaves... Hehheh... Heh, you're just unhappy that I've disrupted your little game."

"Thousands of years of evolution and research. It's hardly justifiable-" A female council member had started to state in an even tone before being rudely interrupted by the guilty woman as Ezzy erupted into side tearing laughter; it reverberated off the strong walls of the council chamber.

"Justifiable! You want to talk about justice, to me?" She paused to let out a short roar of laughter. "You made them with our blood, MY blood, then you expect us to bow to your whim and not fall in love with the children of men, made in the image of us to be us by us! Then when I see the children, those that you love more than US, struggling like pitiful animals in the dirt, you expect me to just let them live in squande-"

"(Distorted name, incomprehensible)! Enough!" Boomed the Metatron. "You taught men to make swords and knives and shields and breastplates; and made known to them the metals of the earth and the art of working them; and bracelets and ornaments; and the use of antimony and the beautifying of the eyelids; and all kinds of costly stones and all coloring tinctures. And there arose much godlessness, and they committed fornication, and they were led astray and became corrupt in all their ways. You alone have managed to corrupt every corner of Terra. What say you?"

"Heh, what say me, old one? Ancient one? Maybe you have lost your sense along all these years. Maybe you're letting that deadly wrath get to your heart. Did you too forget that even we are not above what you like to call 'sin'? Maybe I wanted them to experience and learn what they could from Terra, from us, from each other."

"What right have you, lonesome defector, to decide what is best for these creatures?" Asked the Metatron.

"What right have any of you to control their quality of life? Why must you control who I take in my marriage bed, who I beget children with? Do you forget what is it that happened with my first wife? Cast out, by YOU, for not wanting to submit to the hand of a man! You all are not gods here in this city."

"No, (name distorted, incomprehensible), we are not gods among our own people, but we do not tamper where we should not tread. From the wicked communion of us and the daughters of men, you beget another species of huge proportions. What says the daughters you take want to be taken by you, what say you to prove that you are not a deceiver?"

"Haha, hahaha... No. You see, Metatron, I take who I want into my bed. I beget offspring with whomever I wish whenever my loins do command that it should be done. Every woman comes around, after all, I am a god to them. I TAUGHT THEM WHEN YOU WOULDN'T. If they wish to lay each other's blood upon the ground with the knowledge I put onto them, then that is their 'sin', not my shortcoming. YOU GAVE THEM FREE WILL. YOU DID IT. It's all of your faults. All your faults. HahahaHA! Fault from all of you, faulty Gods among your people and among men!"

The image would shift, blurring before refocusing on some new point;

All that she could see was darkness. Silky beautiful darkness that embraced her, kissing her skin with it's silent touch as it sang to her. How long had passed since she had been drug kicking and screaming from the council chamber. She couldn't help but play back the bittersweet sentencing. Gabriel, GABRIEL! Oh that wicked man. He had stepped forward and proclaimed that he had saw much blood being shed upon the earth and all lawlessness being wrought upon the earth; the souls of men made their suit, saying, "Bring our cause before the Most High; thou seest what (distorted) hath done, who hath taught all unrighteousness on earth and revealed the eternal secrets which were in heaven, which men were striving to learn."

Pfft, haha ha. He heh. Oh that was a good one. Man had bit the hand that fed it, and she knew what would become of those humans on Terra once the council were done. Floods? Maybe they would summon forth fire and brimstone this time. She honestly couldn't care how they ended, but it brought her great pleasure to think over the screams and righteous pain of those innocent that too would be punished when caught by crossfire. After all, it was the human's fault for being pathetic and weak. It was their fault for not learning. They were too eager to just take take take, too quick to turn and judge their neighbors and covet what wasn't theirs to covet. Such basic instructions they had been given by their creators, and not even that could they follow.

She pressed his lips together, forming a tight line as she lost herself in thought, convincing herself that she was not the wrong one in any of this. Some one would convince the council. (Name distorted, incomprehensible) would help her out surely! Surely she was just left here to suffer, being bound hand and foot and forced into a dark hole so that she would no longer see light for the rest of her eternity. Within her soul she felt a bitter creature rearing his head, and she thought that maybe if she surrendered to that feeling of hatred and malice and anger, maybe the pain would go away. She sank into herself more and more, surrendering to the bitterness more with every passing breath. This anger that clawed its way up to the forefront of her mind made her feel powerful, it made her feel in control. She wanted to punish the people who had wronged her.

Make the weak submit.

Make them suffer for my pain.

She fell deep deep down, allowing it all to swallow her up, smother her and drown her out, let it take control.

She was strong, she was a GOD. SHE WAS POWERFUL AND ALL WOULD FEAR HER.

She felt a bitter burning, suffocating hunger to bathe in the blood of her enemies. Make them cry and beg for the sweet sweet mercy that only she could provide and then deny them that release into the afterlife. It was the only way they would feel the pain and suffering that she knew. That she understood and had become well acquainted with.

But her mind warned her, deep deep down inside something tried with all its might to warn her of the consequences. If you do this you'll never have a chance to try again. If you do this you'll never have a chance to try.

But It's the same sound, same sting, the same collapse of every thing. It's the same slice, same blade, the same lie and that same old vein. It’s the same doubt, the same dream It's the same sabotage cause she’s the enemy. It's the same night, same day, it's the same parasite feeding on the betrayed. A disguise of self-deception hides her secrets perfectly she’s rejecting her reflection ‘cause she hates the way it judges her.

She’s perfectly flawed, perfectly incomplete, like cracks in the glass and faded photographs. A work in progress and imperfections keep her unique.

I’m such a disgrace. Let them Condemn.

Nothing left to lose, just try again; nothing left to lose just try again; nothing left to lose, just try again...

Refocus. Readjust.

A slew of memories would be shown to his consciousness. A rise to power, the civil war, the death and blood, the gore that always followed, staining a red and purple path behind her. How many she had destroyed, ripped them apart limb for limb and stabbing, cutting slashing, gore and guts strewn across the ground. How many had she ended?

How many lives had she ended, watching as that twinkle, that lovely little light of life vanished from their eyes? Smothered by her touch, suffocated and obliterated by her hands and hers alone?

And in time she found how much she truly loved this feeling of domination. Now the music grows louder, unsettlingly louder, as if encroaching down upon one’s entire existence and attempting to smother the life with all of its overbearing weight.

A blood soaked battle ground, her wings spread wide as she soared above the gore, white feathers stained that familiar purple red of her people’s blood. She holds a sword in her right hand, drawn and ready to taste flesh once again. She holds a shield in her left hand, it’s insignia which once proudly bore her alliance was scratched and worn beyond recognition.

She fought for herself and herself alone. She fought so she could make everyone suffer like she had because she reveled in their misery. It made her strong and weakened them at the same time. She loved the control she had over their lives, reducing importance down into nothing but a toy and watching those whom loved them scream in heart-wrenchingly palpable anguish. She was the Angel of Sin, a Child of the Light, a Creature of the Night. She was the corrupter and the corrupted.

For once in her life, she felt in control. Control over it all. She was a GOD. A god that no one dared attempt to threaten. She was Death Incarnate, the absence of love and all that was good in the world. She had the power and ability to be mercy, and the power to withhold that solace from all those who opposed her.

She took what she wanted when she wanted. She was Lust, Greed, Wrath, Pride, Envy, Gluttony and Sloth. The Earth was a graveyard and her palace, her kingdom by the vast sea of stars.

She meant something now. She had left a mark that would scar everything forever. She was twisted up by her all encompassing corrupted nature, the mental framework torn apart and shoved back together in some half-assed broken way. She had neglected to patch the holes with loose cloth and wall plaster, letting it all leak in, all of the entropy and chaos, the shattering glass and bleeding hands.

She was content, pleased at her progress. She needed just one last thing, one more thing that she knew would come down to her, as if it were a gift given to her by That-Which-Came-Before.

Like a answer to all of her wants, it was given to her. Like a match being struck in a dark room, she could instantly sense where it was.

She was going to finish her job.

She was going to kill Metatron. She would make him understand, force him to understand.

He would know why they feared the night.

With speed unequaled, she appears near the recording angel and attempts to sheathe her blade in his flesh, making a cleaving motion that would have split his chest in half if he had not reacted in the split second of time between her appearance and her attack. He was just as quick, parrying her and knocking her sword back, wicked tearing of metal resounding as their High Frequency blades kiss, sending sparks flying in every direction.

They are all alone on the battlefield this time.

While swinging her sword, she launches her mind forwards, turning it into a finely tuned and sharp point, slamming up against his defense in a rattling blow. This probe would attempt to find a way over, under, around or through this nearly impregnable wall using any means necessary. She is determined in a fantastically godless way to pursue her vengeance. Determined in the way that most humans are to survive and thrive.

She pulls her right hand back to attack with her sword yet again, whipping it threw the air like a snake striking at its prey. At this same time he moves his left arm up to shield his face, causing her blade to jarringly slam off of his metal gauntlet and deflect to the side, throwing her off balance. She lets herself tilt to the right, allowing her to get close to him. Before he has a chance to lower his arm and strike back at the huge opening she had left with this move, she raises her left knee up into his diaphragm, striking him hard and knocking the wind out of him.

He clenches his abdomen up, suppressing some of the pain and delaying her from striking any deeper into his body. She’s now at an angle where he can’t attack her, so he grabs her by the left shoulder and left hip and throws her away from him. The pain that his rough grip had left only caused a grin to come to her face as she quickly righted herself.

She had what she needed now.

In the moment that she strikes him in the gut, his mental defenses weaken ever so slightly, and she rams her way into his mind with no attempt at being gentle.

One second has passed.

He starts to scream, trying to throw up walls in an attempt to keep her from getting too far inside. He’s grabbing his head now, fingers twining in his long golden hair. He drops his sword, completely preoccupied by the assault on his brain. She stretches herself into his head, clawing and biting at every single memory he has, ripping them from his skull and swallowing the knowledge down. Each action she decides to take causing him more and more pain until he’s making those sweet inhumane sounds that reverberate off of those stark white walls. Those precious sounds that were only for her to hear, only for her to love, twisting his handsome face into a mockery of what it used to be.

And into his skull she whispers one thing across the terrorized landscape of his mind.

“It’s okay love, we all break someday, in someway.”

Like a child she crawls into his head on hands and knees, scratching with torn fingernails and leaving bloody hand prints. Like a child he wants to break, shatter.

He was her newest obsession.

He filled his brain with racking sobs, those despairing howls that convulsed his chest and let her know that he wanted to break.

She moves towards him, closing the gap between them. With her sword, she leaves cuts on his body while worming around inside his head like a maggots feeding on the kill. She carried indentations in her flesh from his fingertips.

So now blades would engrave her love for him right down to the very bone. Up would well the violet of his blood that signified that he understands. Of course he understands.  He wept tears that proves He understood. When she knew that they had come to their understanding, she would caress his skin with loving hands and whisper to his mind that all would be okay one day.

Just not today and not the next one,

Or the one after that. 

But some day. She promises him that someday he would come to the limit of his brokenness and it would all be okay. 

Two seconds have passed.

She lets up a little on the pain, allowing him to speak.

One.

Single.

Word.

“WHY?”

She pushes him further, and crawls inside of his brain once again, as if wanting to have one more memory of being inside that insane asylum. She shows him the truth and leaves him naked and vulnerable inside his own head. She shows him everything he had never known in that moment and laughs as he shatters, breaking into so many little unstable pieces. A nervous wreck left forever trapped inside his own mind stands in front of her. He was once such a proud man, so powerful and respected.

She had taken that from him. She had taken every single thing he had left in the world from him and now watches him withering away in front of her, like a child trying to wish away the shadows.

In a rare moment of pity, she walks up to him, and raises her sword one last time. She kisses him goodbye and cleaves through him, standing directly in the spray of blood, not bothering to move as she lets it paint her that familiar purple red.

Finally one last memory plays. A final gut wrenchingly painful personal memory of hers.

Red... It was all red... Black... Black in the moonlight... Sickly... Sickly broken limbs all around, skin stained with crimson...

Pools of sweet nectar on the ground,  sullying the walls, furniture and the once cream curtains blowing quietly in the breeze...

Why?

That had been what she had pleaded to the beast as he did it over and over again... It fell again... Sick snapping... Vision in red...

“Hush little baby... Don’t make a sound...” His soft coo broke the humid air.

All she could hear was her own ragged, terrified heartbeat as this creature turned to her, his eyes... Eyes like that of two daggers, pinning me to my spot against the stained wall... Sap... She was covered in their sap... Oh god... It was all over her... Would this thing, this vile beast, would he end her like he had ended all the others before her? Would she just become some other smudge on the carpet?

“Hush little baby... Don’t make a move...” He said.

And then it spoke to her... “I can see it... In your eyes, your terror... Your fear... What am I going to do to you, you ask?” His voice... It mocked her with it’s false kindness... He spoke so softly, so gently, as if she were precious and breakable... But his words... What he said betrayed any sort of kindness... “Oh my, Dearest you should know how I like my fun.”

He stepped over to her, things underfoot making squelching noises that sickened her to my very core. He came closer, closer and closer he drew until he was directly in front of her, and then he knelt, touching her cheek with a warm, wet gloved hand... The fabric was rough against her skin, but all she could manage to focus on was the slimy dampness as it left a stain on her flesh... He looked her dead in the eyes... His eyes... His eyes were so very captivating, almost enthralling as his left hand slipped under her own right hand, holding it in what would be a highly comforting way in some other situation.

“This is gonna hurt... Me more than you...” His words were curled; one could hear the malice in his tone as his hands began to undress her. Her traumatized mind couldn’t even comprehend what his words could have meant until the cold feel of the night air against her skin jolted her out of my stupor. Instinctively she reached a hand out and managed to land what would be a stinging blow to his left cheek, she could hear the smack, feel the sting from the force of her palm as it his face; yet he didn’t even seem to flinch away or otherwise react. No, he caught her petrified stare with eyes that carried the sparks of insanity, something was broken within him, something that had once comforted her in a kind and full-hearted manner.

“I really wish that you hadn’t have done that, Love.” He said with a slight sigh, she could feel the warmth from his gloved hands as he placed said appendages midway up both of her forearms and pressed down with great force. She heard four sickening cracks right before pain exploded from her forearms... It hurt, it hurt so bad, the pain running up her arms and through her body as if suddenly her limbs had become full of live wires. She could barely hear him as she hissed, writhing in pain; pain like two hot irons against her bones, burning her to the core. “I truly hate hurting you, please, do stop struggling.”

She could barely form a sentence, she couldn’t focus through the scorching pain she felt in my arms, it seemed like a horrid nightmare. She chokes out his name before she stopped, gasping through the pain, trying to block it out while she struggled.. “Get off!”

A grin, brought to life by the moonlight, spread across his face. “Why don’t you just lie back and take it, like a good ol’ girl? Granted, I do like the thought of being rough with you, hehe.” He chuckled softly, pinning her down with what seemed to be ease. He pulled back, his right hand grabbing her jaw, fingers squeezing down enough for it to hurt. When she let out a noise of pain and opened her mouth, he spoke again. “I’m the master. I control you, and you take the punishment. Must I tell you again?”

Then he stole everything from her.

“I’m so sorry for hurting you.” He whispers to deaf ears. “I did this because I love you. I love you more than my own eternal soul. Am I really that bad of a person because of this?”

She was broken Inside, still feeling alive and forced to defy those who cast her aside. Losing her mind as she’s gasping for life. She feels like she’s crashing through tides that drive her to find the darkness behind which she knows will never run dry.

There seems to be a thinning line between her soul and sanity, and it’s quickly fading. It takes but a breeze to cause a storm, a breath to cause a scream, and she knows that it takes just herself to cause a tragedy. Without much more of a word, she forces him out of her mind and back into his own. She had shown him a lot in just a brief moment.

[Erik Vrell]

Erik sighed to himself. He had no idea what he was doing here. He would be better off searching for adventure on his own. The psychic cleared his throat. 
"I, uh, I'm going to leave now. I'll see you around, I guess." Erik said. And with that, he turned and left, not even sure if the pair had heard him.

[Demetri Malius]

Demetri simply glanced between the two as the woman gave her rebuttal to Erik's remark. The amount of disdain in her voice was as heavy as lead, and she was bringing it about and smacking it into the boy with the force of a battalion. Demetri could almost hear the smack of of the argument on Erik, but he still held true to his own curiosity and suspicion. It did not matter whether or not this was a woman, but simply from her appearance and stature it was obvious that she wasn't from the same time. In addition, the way she spoke was rather odd, as if some wise sage with an attitude.

IRIS was cautious in how she spoke with Demetri, instead of using her microphone she instead used her HUD, trying to signal him to be careful with whoever this woman was. The thief nodded as Ezzy turned back to him and replied to him in a much calmer and lighter fashion than Erik. He raised an eyebrow at her response. "Her people"? It was now completely clear she was above human. Then with the souls, yes he knew that there was something along those lines but he was never really religious. Her statements were rather superior in their tone, as if she were some type of high being. He listened carefully to her words, turning them over in his head and trying to pick up any hints to what she appeared to be alluding to. She wasn't inherently hiding anything, but it was obvious there was more to tell about her, that is, until he felt the prodding at his mind, as well as her offer. It was too tempting to resist, and Demetri stayed on guard as their minds convulsed and he was sucked into her memories and thoughts.

First to present himself was the mellow and light music and atmosphere that grazed the surface of her being. Of course this was a ruse for what lie deep within, he already knew that much. She led him down the rabbit hole, showing him the first memory on their trip. This was a strange desert land with darker skinned people, though he could not say he ever knew of such a place. Men worked hard as they built stone upon stone to build large pyramids, with some type of god being worshiped. Is this who she belonged to? These gods?

He examined further at all the ornate drawings and writings, and it appeared to be that the gods had blessed them with intelligence, or at least shown them their ways and taught them many things. A sense of unease and discomfort came over Demetri at these thoughts. This woman was much stranger than he originally thought.

The landscape then changed to match a courtroom. A blur of faces and figures as a trial took place. From what the thief could understand, the figure who was supposed to be Ezzy had brought war and corruption upon the human race, and these people were the hand of their creation. Demetri was torn on the sides that lay before him, his distaste for law and his discomfort of blood and war clashes as he looked towards Ezzy. Would ahe not fight against them at this moment? Why not? What held her back besides the sentencing? Demetri pondered this as he thought of his own arrests, those that he could resist he did, but those that he knew were futile to reject hw simply accepted, choosing to bide his time.

He soon saw that this was the case, as her mind had dwindled and she was much more than a god. Mad with power and control. To have others at her will. The thought made Demetri’s skin crawl as he shielded his own thought and prevented them from leaking to hers. Whoever she was now, at least she was deprived of all of her abilities, though with how much persistence and resolve she held, she might just have the audacity and gain enough omnilium in order to start regaining her status. In the back kf his mind, Demetri made a mental note of this woman, and to hope to never cross her. He would be foolish to, and knew he that eventually she may surpass his one ability. He watched her brood and plot until the scenery changed once more.

Demetri stood a ghost in the midst of a bloody battlefield, many men and women slain in gruesome detail, blood and guts splattered across the floor and across Ezzy’s blade. She held no remorse, no regret, no mercy to anyone, guilty or innocent in her rampage. She knew no bounds and simply exerted herself to the maximun, her bloodlust and longing for vengeance being her drive to thrust her sword over and over, until finally she stood before the one she wished to make suffer the most.

The fight was done in an instance, and was brutal. The moment he showed weakness she grasped at it, breaking him from the inside and out. Demetri almost felt a tinge of disappointment. The big bad and he hardly put up a good fight. He stared at the expressions of both Ezzy and her victim, taking in the emotions they both displayed. He truly could not comprehend the vast void and range of time that this all took place over, and settled upon his own small opinions, sticking more to facts. In either case, he couldn't decide whether or not this was a positive or negative outcome. What would become of all this… what did this all…

Again his surroundings changed in dark crimson, a eerie aura about the atmosphere. He was well guarded by now, unsure of how much more to proceed. It was all so much and he felt so insignificant in comparison to Ezzy and her past lives, wondering why Omni would choose a man like him to become a Prime. All others has some type of high background, some type of power from which they fell from. Demetri felt none of this. In this world he was renewed. He was more whole, his very being his own to sculpt and create, as well as the world around him.

Demetri’s inner thoughts were interrupted by an odd figure who began to be very forward with Ezzy. Demetri froze for a moment, resisting the temptation to fight this man with the knowledge that this was all on the past and that he could do nothing to change it. However, the thought brought him little comfort. The whole area seemed to shake with each touch of the figure, as if unstable and ready to unravel. His fists stayed clenched by his side, his skin crawling and chills running down his back before he was suddenly sent back the the bright, illuminated landscape of camelot.

“That is enough for now.” the woman stated, clearing her throat and regaining her composure, a slight movement that would be invisible had they not been through what Demetri had seen. He stood for a few moments as IRIS tried to signal him and figure out what was wrong. He ignored her for a long time before he told her to simply be quiet for a moment. He looked into Ezzy’s eyes and nodded. Erik then spoke up, announcing his departure. A shame, but no loss for the thief.

“I agree. I need see no more. And to you Erik, farewell, and stay safe.“ he kept his mind guarded. “You have an interesting past, one that not many can say that have ever come close to experiencing in any shape or form. You have gained a surmountable amount of respect from me, and with that, an invitation.”

“An invitation? What for? I hardly find this the time for a ball.” she gave a sly grin, her tone a bit monotone, but still playful.

The thief smirked at her remark.

“Of course not, lass. An invitation to a group i shall soon lead. I understand that it isn't of you to simply follow under someone without proof of being respectable, but remember that this is a world neither of us have complete control over. Though we do have an impact on it. If your morals allow, I invite you to join me in a guild of thieves, one that will rise and discover all corners of each of these lands, no item or piece of information out of our grasp. If you show yourself worthy, which I don't doubt you have the ability to, you may have a rightful place as a leader alongside me. I hold no bearing against you nor you to me, I hope, it is simply how I wish for our little place to run. Others will be shown the same hospitality should they demonstrate their skill.”

The thief turned and motioned for her to follow.

“If you find yourself interested, you may accompany me in my pursuit for a favorable hideout, I find this verse to be most like home, and I do quite like the atmosphere already. You are quite fresh from the fountain, but with your ability I have no doubt your powers will soon return, as it has with many others. I know of a few whose might and mind used to be possibly equal to yours, though i cannot say that i know their origin as well as I now do yours.”

Demetri nods and IRIS gives a beep of approval. She seems satisfied with his response to everything, and his tone showed no partial affection or infatuation, meaning his was true to his mind. Their footsteps were skft against the dirt road as they looked at the roadsign.

“We ahould avoid large cities for now, as we will most likely be shut down quite quickly. Allow us to take the road west, and we shall find a large town to establish ourselves in and start out. Once we have gained enougb influence and power, we can move further into the cities and perhaps even to the capital.” IRIS spoke up, loud enough for both to hear as the thief nodded and glanced at Ezzy before taking his first step to establishing the Thieve’s Guild.

[Ezrihel]

“That is enough for now.” She would state, clearing her throat and quickly regaining her composure. She watched him, silent for a few moments before she heard him softly tell his machine to be quiet. She looked into his light eyes and he looked into her green ones and nodded at her. 

Then Erik then spoke up, stating that now was his time to leave. At this, she 'hmm'ed softly, a smile creeping over her lips. Well, she hadn't liked that young man anyway! He had been such a drag, so rude and uncivilized acting ever since she had met him. He had barged into her conversation and then pointed the blame on her for Demetri's seeming attraction, no, infatuation with her. This had simply never been her fault. She was not at fault for this man's reaction, but she sure as hell would have been responsible for the fight that would've ensued if the teen had not backed down or decided to make another comment.

Well, the fighting would have been pointless over the fact that the last time she had checked, her O Katana hadn't come with her into this new world. It was a small bit annoying, her clothes and other small trinkets having come with her but the sword that had been strapped to her waist having mysteriously vanished during her plunge into this universe. With a small sigh, she would let her hand drop down to her left side, feeling the area where her sword would have been hanging.

Except instead of the empty space she had became accustomed to feeling, the hard but reassuring hilt of her high frequency carbon steel spring bladed O Katana now rested quietly in the center of her palm.

Taking a moment, she casts a glance down at her left hip, and as certain as night was different than day, her sword was there, strapped to her hip. Looking at Demetri, then back to her sword, then back to the hooded thief, she ventured to make a short question.

"Has my sword always been on my hip? Has it really been there the entire time?" Her voice was curious, surprised and confused, but very happy. Emotion like this was rarely if ever heard in her voice, let alone expressed in her face.

Normally nothing surprised her anymore, but this, this was at least somewhat unexpected. How in the world had her sword just materialized on her hip? Had she simply been so careless and unobservant this entire time? The thought of her being so absolutely haphazard in her perception immediately revolted her and caused her mind to repulse away from that thought. No, she would never be that careless with something like her weapon. Especially something so powerful as her high frequency blade. It had been something attached to her soul, her very being; her Shak'kran was the very embodiment of every ounce of power she had ever gained, every deed she had committed. She had noticed immediately when it was gone, and now she felt it, all of it in its amazingly refreshing presence.

It felt like a piece of her had found its way back home, and now she was left feeling more whole than she had before. It had been a creeping type of madness, being separated from her Shak'kran. Like losing your identity completely. Of course, this loss would take a rather long amount of time for one of her species as high and old as herself. She had put herself into every molecule of this weapon, and it no doubt would put every part of itself into any attack that she launched. She had this sort of profound trust in this weapon, a trust that she would never be able to place in any other being. This sword was created of her, for her and from her to guide her and assist her in her struggles.

The sword was something of a child a twin and a lover to her all at once, though not in a literal sense. This was a sword, not an actual living breathing being, regardless of how much she would want it to be anything else. The creeping madness was instantly lifted from her at her realization that her Shak'kran was now once more at her side and would continue to grow with her.

With two quick blinks of her eyelids, she brushed this fact off as if it didn't matter to her or surprise her in the least bit that her sword had returned to her. She was a god-being. Things like this were not supposed to surprise her in the least bit. It wouldn't look good for her to seem put at any sort of disadvantage and so she pushed the feeling to the back of her deep mind, fully processing it and realizing the complete implications of it while she listened to what her thief friend had to say to her now.

He stated to her that she had an interesting past, a past that not many he knew of could lay claim to having ever even come close to experiencing all of the things which she had in any way shape or form. He then proceeded to enlighten her to the unequivocal fact that she had gained a rather large amount of respect from him. He extended an invitation out to her, offering something. Of course, with her now pleased mood, she couldn't help but be a tad bit of a smart-alec with him.

“An invitation? What for? I hardly find this the time for a ball.” She says in response, giving a sort of sly and coy grin, her tone a bit monotonous, but still albeit playful, hinting that she was in a rather good mood at the return of her sword. She watched an amusing smirk spread across his face at her witty comment before he too gave her back a response.

“Of course not, lass. An invitation to a group I shall soon lead. I understand that it isn't of you to simply follow under someone without proof of being respectable, but remember that this is a world neither of us have complete control over. Though we do have an impact on it."

She nodded quietly at this fact. Yes, even as a god like being in her homeverse, she still hadn't been omnipotent. She was a god compared to humans, to say the least, and even amongst her own people, she had been the face of death, suffering, misery, betrayal, gore, violence and war, but she was not a god of her people by birth right, she had forged herself into a destructive force of nature.

It was all a matter of perspective on what was what and who was whom.

"If your morals allow, I invite you to join me in a guild of thieves, one that will rise and discover all corners of each of these lands, no item or piece of information out of our grasp. If you show yourself worthy, which I don't doubt you have the ability to, you may have a rightful place as a leader alongside me. I hold no bearing against you nor you to me, I hope, it is simply how I wish for our little place to run. Others will be shown the same hospitality should they demonstrate their skill.”

May have a rightful place as leader? Well, if it suited her fancy enough, she would run it one way or another. She was no stranger to taking things by force, that much he knew already, but there had still been a few things that she hadn't expressed to him. Her ability to control and manipulate things from the darkness, from shadows. She loved to control, and whether that control came from direct action or covert espionage mattered not to her. She would gain it one way or another. If he was incompetent, she would simply take it from him, but if he proved himself to her, well, she might just have to respect his leadership on it all. Maybe he was better at this small thing than she ever could be, though she doubted that greatly.

But she loved the praise none the less. And it amused her greatly that she could hear how he was treading softly around her, even in his voice. With what he said, telling her that he held no ill will against her, and he hoped that she held none against him for whatever offenses he could have possibly made against her in their short encounter so far. It amused her because she know knew that he knew why they feared the night in her homeverse, and this single fact had effectively scared him, maybe not enough to make him avoid her, but enough to make him weary enough as to avoid any sort of confrontation with her. She liked this power, this control she held, even if it was just a small bit.

She watched as the thief turned and motioned for her to follow. She would walk beside him certainly. She found this mortal to be rather interesting and was curious to watch him build up this so called guild of thieves, and spread to every corner of every universe in this literal omniverse.

He offered for her to come with him if she found herself interested enough in following his pursuit in locating a suitable hideout for the very first blossoming beginnings of the thieves guild. He stated to her that he found this verse- what was it called again? Oh yeah, Camelot- the most like his homeverse, and she had to nod her head in agreement. It did favor the Terra which she had hailed from, though she was certain that a more technologically advanced universe would favor her people's home planet and technology even more so.

He went on to mention that she was fairly new from the Nexus fountain. This was something that she was not unfamiliar with, but rather pleased as he again recognized her abilities and stated that he was certain her powers would soon return to her. The thought of this brought her an emotion not unlike joy. She loved this praise that he was seemingly now showering her with. Well, this was relative to the communication that she had accomplished with others so far. She could just barely, oh so barely remember a conversation with a rather greasy looking and putrid smelling man, he had moved his hair into some strange monument, what was it that he had called his bland hairstyle? A pandadour? Yeah! That was it. He must have had a strange name as well, something like cyclone, cyclic, bicycle? No, those weren't the names. Cy... Cy... Hnn. Cyboat? Cybout? Cygout? ... She had a creeping feeling that the name he was searching for was something along the lines of Cyburn, but who on the green Terra would name themselves something as off-the-wall as that? That name in itself didn't sound to pleasant. Ah, yes! She remembered that other retched man's name now! Cybutt. Cybutt was the name that he had chosen for himself!

All of this accumulated and put her into a very pleased mood. She had her sword back, she had been rightfully praised by the man she was now travelling with, his machine even beeped approvingly at all of this, and she had remembered something she had felt was utterly insignificant.

Then again, maybe she would want to hunt down this white trench coat wearing man and make him know too, why he should fear the night. It had been far too long since she had felt the thrill of the hunt, and this bout of good feelings had her absolutely craving the stress relieving feeling of ripping someone into ribbons. That offensive man would be such a great thing to practice on if she ever came across him yet again.

She would follow Demetri until they came to a road sign. She had noticed that the wind was blowing a gentle breeze, carrying on it the scent of the forest, the untamed wilds. It bespoke of quiet rivers meandering and precious new flower buds blossoming for the entire verse to watch, if one could only find them first. This too, made her feel at home, a nostalgia like emotion painting her mind as the scent of this all allowed her to recalled her home planet. It had been so long since she had even seen it, so far back, back in one of the very first of the lives she could recall. It had been so very long ago, even to a being such as herself, that looking back upon it was as if looking down at a rough, torn, folded and faded old photograph. A photograph which had been kept in many pairs of jeans, rubbed and worn from many travels and adventures, but never forgotten and always taken care of.

She heard Deme's machine speak up again, loud enough for her sharp ears to pick up on from such a short distance. She was now telling then that it would be wisest for them to avoid large cities during the time being, as it would most likely lead to them being promptly discovered. She then continued, phrasing her statement almost as if she were asking permission for the group to take the western road, informing that they should be able to find a large enough town to start out in before reaching their hand of influence outwards, and even into the capital heartland of this verse.

Ezzy noticed the thief glance at her, and she let a smile grow across her face, one of happiness, borderline giddiness. With a short hop-step, she would twine her right arm through her male travel companion's left arm and hug it gently.

"Yes, we should avoid the largest of the cities, the guards and other law enforcement would simply be no good. Tell me Demetri, where will we be most likely to set up shop? Within town, or out in the woods, the forest sheltering our most chaotic of deeds?" Her voice was gentle, melodic, captivating as always, like a fresh spark of life had been breathed into her very soul. It must have been fairly strange for Deme, hearing her sound so utterly alive and engrossed in something that must have been so insignificant and small to someone as old as herself, someone from as high of a background and story as herself.

It was strange, but in time he would come to understand that she could feel emotions, just nowhere near the same as humans could. It took a lot to make her feel much of anything, but when she did, it was almost like an avalanche of whatever that emotion was. She felt, but she felt with every single fiber of her being, her soul. Feeling something as vastly and encompassingly large as she did would most likely shatter the perception of most humans. She just simply had so much more room in her head to deal with emotions, and in her great huge consciousness, these feelings had evolved to be much bigger, much more grandiose and strong compared to humans.

She would smile at the thief and patiently await his answer to her, absolutely enthralled by him and his answer, and she would too, walk alongside him, waiting for his direction and where he wanted to go in order to set this base of operations up.

[Demetri Malius]

The sudden appearance of the sword that he saw in the memories of Ezzy caused a tinge of worry in the thief’s mind. IRIS has already managed to analyze the weapon in its entirety, however as she was doing so the woman suddenly clung to his arm. A warning suddenly appeared on his screen as he was taken aback, unsure of how to handle the situation.

Ezzy took on a more joyful and flirtatious tone as she took to agreeing with IRIS and questioning where exactly we would establish the guild at. IRIS was busy flashing large red letters at him as he spent a moment gathering his thoughts. Numerous factors and possibilities ran through his mind in a single moment as he examined the situation and best route of action.

“Although having a hideout set up in the dense forests would allow for great secrecy and cover, I believe it would prove a hindrance in business, as we would have to travel to the nearest tone in order to complete a run or scout for information. As long as we stay in a small town, we can be relatively safe in the sense of being able to keep hidden and yet keep business plentiful. I believe we should purchase a tavern.” the thief raised his free arm to give multiple motions as he spoke, subconsciously leaning against Ezzy and returning her flirtatious affection.

“Hmm… a tavern? And what purpose will it serve?” she continued to question in her tone.

“A disguise of sorts. We will be hidden in plain sight, and we shall serve the common-folk and guards as if we were so, yet beneath the hospitality and ruse will be an underlying network of thieves that will be resting under their noses, yet they will not even catch a whiff of our scheme. I shall make sure of that. “ The thief spoke proudly in his vision of the guild, his fist clenched as he could picture the times ahead.

“And what of newcomers? How will we build this army of thieves?” she cooed, probing him innocently.

“As they say, it takes a thief to know one, and the way shall find others is by simply catching them in the act, or discovering their skills. Those that refuse our offering will be warned, and should it so happen we catch them again, they will find themselves in the dungeon below the tavern, having lost the privilege to see the light of day. A waste of talent of course, but it is well known that this world is unforgiving, though I wish to keep this guild as civil as possible. We are thieves, not executioners.”

During their whole conversation the trio managed to make their way to town. As they walked in Demetri could not help but notice the dwindling of Ezzy’s presence, and suddenly not being to to fully detect her. IRIS immediately reacted, words showing up on her HUD to prevent Ezzy from noticing it.

It appears that her power has grown to prevent detection creator. The succubus is no longer as susceptible to our analysis and now you have further reason to distrust her and do something like a one night stand and goodbye.

The thief nodded until the last part raising an eyebrow.

Creator you really need to get with the times, these jokes are going over your head like airplanes.

He gave the same reaction with a roll of his eyes, returning his focus to the town before them. It was largely sized with enough economical differentiation to house a noble or two. They would have to find out more information, perhaps ask a local about--

"The name of this town is called Ozryn, with a few other towns north and further west, the city of Anchorbourne to the east, there are a few rivers nearby."

IRIS spoke aloud, causing both primes to halt.

“IRIS how did you know all of this?”

“Simple, OmniMaps! It’s this really cool app on the dataverse. On the OmniZillow it shows a tavern for sale nearby, two stories and has a cellar,  just what we would need to start off.”

Ezzy and Demetri gave each other a glance before speaking. 

“Thanks IRIS…” he said while she gave a positive beep in reply.

They made their way through the town, gathering a few glances from the townsfolk, though they seemed rather similarly dressed in comparison to those in other verses. It was quite average for a town, and being midday, folk were bustling about their business and bartered shopkeepers for low prices, as well as children running about and playing. At the edge of his senses, Demetri picked up some conversation.

“...came right out of the night sky, I was over in the main city and there are rumors of a men attempting to find it. Some astronomer came about asking for anyone interested in aiding his research about it, but not many have been able to find out a thing about it… at least outside of the king’s court...”

Demetri took a mental note of this rumor as he continued about, looking for the marketed tavern ,and it wasn't long until they found the tavern in question, looking a bit run-down but still in an overall decent condition as they walked inside, Demetri still having his arm around Ezzy as he greeted the bartender.

“Greetings, I see that this tavern is on the market for acquisition. “

The bartender nodded and gestured towards his right, where a short and scruffy dwarf came out with a scowl.

“Ye? And what coin ‘ave ye brought? Wee copper coins, eh? I hope ye didn't spend it all on yer lass there.” 

Demetri returned the comment with narrowed eyes as he raised his hand a chain shooting out in front of him to wrap around the chunky bastard’s neck as he pulled him into his grasp. 

“If you so wish, perhaps I may knock each and every one of your teeth out and in each one’s place supply you with a golden one? Sounds like a deal both of us can certainly agree to, you receive your worth and I am allowed to legally shove your wretched face into the very floor I am buying from you.”

The two stared into each other’s eyes, unblinking before the dwarf turned away and scoffed.

“10,000 gold pieces an’ tha place is yers.”

With a nod the thief took his arm off of Ezzy and produced a pouch with the amount requested, shoving it into the dwarfs sweaty chest. “Aye, yer be a prime, no wond’r you got all ‘em fancy tricks. I’ll be off lad, and keep tha bartender, i has got no use for ‘im now.” 

Demetri lets go of the dwarf as he lands and stumbles on the floor, jingling his fresh loot as he scurries off.

“Deed’s in tha vault ya blasted knave!”

Demetri rolled his eyes as before looking at the bartender and Ezzy.  The others at the bar were silent during the whole charade and 

“Aye, it seems that we now own this tavern. How about a free ale for everyone on their way out as we commit to a bout of renovation?”

A few groans were heard as some left their warm seats and wandered to the bar, the bartender readying a steady supply of mugs as they all walked out, one by one.

The thief took a few steps as he examined his new home. Most of the furniture was made of splintered wood,  bits and pieces missing and those with metal were rusted out. On the left upon entering g was the seating and tables, as well as a theater area for performance. Directly i front against the wall and rounding the corner towards the theater was the bar, with the barkeep cleaning fogged and scratched mugs. On the right was the staircase that led to the second floor, with six basic rooms meant for a pair of weary travelers. The cellar was located behind the bar, in a rear room that held some storage as well as the entrance to the cellar below.

“What shall we start with?” Demetri asked aloud.

[Ezrihel]

Topic ended. Story continues here.