[center][b]Ares Aeternus || Mystic Forest Forest Center -> Afriel Village -> Nexus Affected Players: Moon234, Xenoko, Wandering Fool, The Imagineer, Lilith[/b][/center] Ares leaned against a nearby tree with his arms crossed. The Dark Knight regarded Wandering Fool ambiguously as the Knife Thrower administered the potion. The female seemed disturbed but even more disturbing was the male’s attitude. “If you care for this girl, you’ll show a bit more resilience, boy,” Ares said with enough empathy in his voice to suggest reassurance. He strode toward the sleeping troll and raised Soul Eater over his head. Ares violently smashed his weapon against the troll in rapid successive blows – Triple Thrust. Ares kept at it, indifference in his cold, emerald eyes, until the troll burst into threads of data and was no more. “Lead by example, Fool. This girl seems to care about you, do not take that for granted like some of us have.” Ares slipped an arm under Imagineer’s legs and another just above her lower back, cradling her gently. He lifted the female and regarded her own eyes with his trademark gaze reminiscent of the aurora. Who knew such violence could emerge from someone that seemed so [i]fragile[/i]? At that moment, Lilith’s smile crossed his mind like a speeding freight train, hitting him hard. This was why Ares pushed forward so hard and kept Aurora at a distance, so she could smile once more in the real world, so this girl he held in his arms and this boy with the knives could live. The path Ares would embark on would be one of pain and he wasn’t prepared to let anyone else carry that kind of weight – he refused to become emotionally attached, no one would want his burden. Ares took the female back to the wagon and placed her lightly against a soft pile of cushioned sacks. The Dark Knight mounted the black steed once more. “Fool, I won’t ask anymore of you than you have done already…I’ll be in Nexus. Seek me if you’re prepared to be a symbol of courage for others.” Ares acknowledged Moon with a gesture that suggested the same applied to him as well. Ares’ eyes shifted from the young boy to the Imagineer, he tried to gage her wellbeing but only drew blanks. Her abilities intrigued him. Ultimately, Ares decided on discretion, he’d message her later. “The village lights are visible from here; you’ll be there soon enough.” And with a light kick and another ‘hiya’, Ares sped away on Baggels’ stallion. --- There was light chatter, audible whispers, at the village entrance. “Is that him?” A player asked. There was a cluster of about three, maybe four players huddled in a group and several others dispersed but all seemed to notice at some point the crimson-hooded stranger as he stepped foot into the little farm village that was Afriel. “They say he’s soloed trolls, it’s true my buddy saw it from a distance!” “No way, why didn’t he help?” “He’s a pu–“ “No way! I don’t believe it!” The comments seemed to be all over the place. Ares remained composed; a quick shot of his cold gaze was enough to silence most spectators. He needed not utter a single word, his stride and the aura that surrounded him was heavy enough to make his intentions clear. The Dark Knight made his way into the village inn and took seat on a stool by the counter. Standing behind the counter was a female innkeeper – an Orcale employee, one of the many that were also tricked into this sick game but with twisted promises that simply were not true. “I need four HP Potions and two SP.” The woman reached for a cabinet and retrieved the vials. “Anything else?” She asked. “Sanity Potions, where can I find those?” Ares meant to send the Imagineer a vial in return for the HP Potion she had given him earlier. “We actually receive a few from Nexus, no one really claims them so fortunately for you; we’re in stock.” Ares nodded signaling the woman to retrieve those as well. This time, the woman disappeared into the inventory room in the back. As he waited, Ares accessed his HUD, he had a new message from Lilith. Hunter wasn’t sure how to begin responding. Was she really telling him to ‘have fun’? [hider= Message Lilith] Aurora, Rest assured, I’m having the time of my life. Stay put and drink your damn potions when your HP is below 50%. I’ll see you when I get back. We can go play games at the festival or something. Hunter [/hider] [hider=Message Imagineer] Imagineer, Expect a red balloon with a parcel attached. I’ve taken the liberty of sending a Sanity Potion as an appreciation of sorts for the HP vial you gave me. My regards to Fool. P.S. I’d like to talk in private at some point. Ares [/hider] Just as the female innkeeper returned with the Sanity Potion, Ares overheard a disturbing conversation. “And no one is doing anything for the two boys?” A player said incredulously. “No, they’re both mages, it just isn’t worth it, not with three raptors. They’d be dead by now…and it’s too bad, so close to the village.“ “You mean by the gorge? Such a shame and not a single person to –” The sound of gold coins hitting hard against the wooden counter and a revolving door was all that was left by the Dark Knight. --- “[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAO1l6juL8w]Play track three[/url],” Ares commanded on the HUD screen as he raced against time. The music helped him think, his strategy and adrenaline worked harmoniously – a lethal combination. A short distance away, Ares spotted the two players in a gorge formed by a hill, their only way out was past three vicious raptors that closed in. The two boys curled as they were mercilessly backed against the wall of the hillside. After crunching into two HP vials and one SP, Ares ferociously leapt off the hillside and slammed Soul Eater – his great-lance – hard against one of the raptors – Earth Breaker. “Get to the hill and snipe them with magic, I’ll keep them busy down here.” Ares burst into the scene with a sly swing of his great-lance, causing a brief distraction. The two boys hesitated on their feet but quickly followed instructions as Ares began to trade blows with the three raptors. They’re as fast as wolves but don’t have as much power as trolls, he noted. As the two mages reached the hilltop, Ares swung Soul Eater igniting a powerful blast of dark magic – Dark Wave. The attack managed to connect with two of the raptors but the third was able to dodge the attack and charged for Ares. He felt a heavy claw slam against his chest plate. Ares found himself against his back with a vicious raptor going for his life. The Dark Knight reached for Soul Eater and backhanded the creature on the snout. Ares rolled out of a second attack from yet a second attempt at his life before magic projectiles started raining, ending the raptors in seconds. His eyes widened to the sight of several players on the hillside. The two boys ran to the village for help and help indeed arrived. He took a long, weary breath. Perhaps not all hope was lost. His plan was to head back to Afriel and use the beacon on the village center to transport himself back to Nexus. --- The crimson-hooded figure arrived at the town gates. He could see the bright lights of the festival. “I’m alive…” he muttered. --- [url=http://tektek.org/av/849560][img]http://imageshack.us/a/img840/6687/fm9r.png[/img][/url] [b]HP:[/b] 92% [b]SP:[/b] 35 [b]Level:[/b] 3 [b]Inventory[/b] Gold x93 Wolf Pelt x2 Wolf Fang SP Potion x1 HP Potion x2 [b]Ares’ Enemies[/b] [s]Forest Troll Level: 4 HP: 0%[/s] [s]Forest Troll Level: 2 HP: 0%[/s] [s]Forest Troll Level: 2 HP: 0% [DoT][/s] [s]Forest Troll Level: 3 HP: 0% [SLEEP][/s] Forest Troll Level: 3 HP: 9% [s]Raptor Level: 2 HP: 0%[/s] [s]Raptor Level: 3 HP: 0%[/s] [s]Raptor Level: 2 HP 0%[/s] [hider=Ares' Hit List] - - - [/hider]