Itzal let out a wry smile as the trials Hagumi had to undergo were described in detail. They weren't exactly a secret, but few seraphim had the skill or power to pull off such feats of magic anyway. A curious part of him wondered how they would test someone like him, whose gifts were hardly common. Though he knew that the Council would never let a shadowkin even attempt the seven wonders. Mistrust of the element of darkness aside, shadow magic was almost exclusively offensive in nature - there was little to no way for one to push the limits of shadow magic without wreaking havoc upon the city.

Though when the feral wolf was brought out, he could not help but cluck his tongue in disapproval. "It's one thing to remind her of the possibility of having to do that to Torva some day, but to simulate it like this." He remembered Zilla dying in his own arms, and the pain it brought back caused a shudder to run through him. No, no one should have to know what it was like to lose a loved one, and it was sick to force them to undergo something like this. It wasn't as if they were training killers or assassins. Though, a pragmatic part of his mind argued, it was far better for someone in a position of power to understand the burden of taking a life before granting them the means to order it upon others.

When the ice princess began her attempt, Itzal had to admit a sense of apprehension. He had seen firsthand what happened to her when she pushed herself too far, and while undoubtedly it was far less pressure to pull off such magic when imminent death in battle wasn't looming overhead, the importance of winning a vote and preventing a war had to be on her mind. "I don't envy her position." He commented to no one, sighing as he pulled his cloak tighter around himself as the temperature of the room dropped drastically. He even summoned a ball of flame around himself and the others to provide some warmth, and while the guards seemed annoyed by the use of magic, it seemed they could hardly fault him for it.

When Hagumi grasped the blade, however, was the real test. The trial was oversimplified, of course. It was hardly about opposite extremes - her blizzard was proof that ice could be just as fierce as a blazing fire. Though it was true that seraphim who specialized in certain branches or elements of magic found themselves quite at odds with opposing schools of magic. Itzal was never going to be able to cast light magic, not in the way light users could.

"Typical." Itzal drawled as Hagumi collapsed upon finishing the Seven Wonders, though a smile graced his features. She had just performed a whole slew of exhausting spells one after another, and fainting at the end of the process was not uncommon. Though it happening to Hagumi was becoming a cliche at this point. He glanced in the direction of the Council, to gauge their responses and awaiting the declaration. At the same time, he began planning for the next step in the short term - finding Vates' assassin.

Loud running footsteps can be heard outside the council's chambers, accompanied by numerous grunts, a howl and many forms of ”You cannot go in there!” and such yells that belong to the Council's Guard echo through the halls. Fergus Bluerock, The Loyal Hound who just yesterday had been calm bodyguard of Lord Vates bursts through the door with multiple guardsmen hanging on his back and left arm where he's also carrying a large bottle of something, most likely and according to the smell, very potent alcoholic beverage. He stops five steps after rushing inside and pants heavily, he lifts his arm and tries to take a sip from his bottle, but two guardsmen along the bottle prove to be too heavy, he tries to shake them off few times before resorting into headbutting them right in their faces and finally getting his sip. He then stands up straight, locks his eyes at the council and takes a deep breath. ”WHAT THE HELL IN THE BLAZES DO MY EARS TELL ME?” He yells and stomps his armored foot down to the ground, causing the final guard fall off his back, few more of them limp inside, obviously they have been either thrown or smacked out of the man's way.”MY MASTER HAS BEEN ASSASSINATED YOU NUMB-BRAINED PIECES OF-” He gets cut out by the bottle on his lips once more.”AND YOU ARE HERE VOTING ON A WAR AGAINST ALL DAEVA?” One could easily question how Fergus has gained his knowledge about these evens that have been occurred in such a short time, but the man doesn't let anyone speak, his voice calms all of a sudden to humane levels.”You all are sitting here in you're nice and bloody comfortable chairs, planning on enlisting each and every man and woman able to pick up a weapon and cast few spells aren't you? Eager to send them into a war against someone, WHO HAS A CRAP TO DO WITH THIS THING! TO ERADICATE WHOLE ENTIRE SPECIES OVER ONE PERSON? MY MASTER IS SHEDDING TEARS OVER YOUR...YOUR..IDIOCY!” He begins to yell again all of a sudden, maybe he was briefly out of breath since his voice calms again very soon.

”I have a better idea for your spare time oh HIGH and MIGHTY, WISE and GOOD Council. You could spend that time looking for the Assassin, and I'd look from INSIDE these walls that are filled with secrets and lies, just like all the living. Oh but no, that would be too difficult, wouldn't it now, huh?” He asks and takes one final sip from the bottle before shaking it few times to make sure it's empty. More of the guards has been gathering behind and slowly around him as he speaks.”Yeah, I dare you to try me. I am not even well drunk yet, run home to mama!” He snarls at them.”AND ANOTHER THING!” He looks back at the council.” I SECURED MASTER VATES' SURROUNDINGS PERSONALLY! FIXED UP LOCKS! SET UP PATROL ROUTES! SCHEDULES! AND I WAS THERE UNLESS HE ASKED ME NOT TO! YOUR EVERYDAY, CASUAL, DAEVA ASSASSIN WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO SNEAK PAST ALL THAT! 'Oh but that happens even to the best, everyone makes mistakes' AM I RIGHT? YES, I AM RIGHT, YOU ARE NOT! YOU KNOW NOTHING!” He huffs and growls out in anger.”You...numbed...pieces of..” He mutters and tosses his bottle down to the floor, shattering it completely and turning his back to the council.”You can start your war.” He speaks once more calmly.”You can join my kin in their stupid, ignorant, fearful campaign. You can hunt down, you CAN LYNCH, IMPALE, BURN, HANG AND TEAR APART EVERY LAST, EACH SINGLE DAEVA YOU FIND IN THIS WORLD! BUT THAT WILL NOT BRING MASTER VATES BACK! And for that matter, you dumb bastards, will that not bring you your assassin. I saw the corpse. For a feral, the claw marks and wounds were too accurate. And I am sure that no assassin that has an agenda could NEVER fake a wound caused by a claw, that'd be UNIQUE, RIGHT? Stupid bastards...OUTTA MY WAY!” He starts to walk towards the busted down door, the guards move to stop him, and he slams them aside. His strike would kep them down, but none of them would suffer fatal injuries. The encounter lasted less than ten minutes, and no matter who and what anyone says to him as he leaves, the man does not respond. The heavy footsteps echo across the halls as the man heads for the exit, one last angry yell can be heard echoing around.”BOOZE!”

The operation had been much quicker and much less painful than Cadogan had imagined, though he was a bit pale and weary he couldn't stop himself from smiling. After all everything had gone perfectly for a change - apart from a broken wine bottle, which reminded the Great Inventor that it would take a while for him to get used to the new arm. He had politely bidden farewell to Alonzo and his healer friend and headed back towards the building where the Council was meeting.

Surprisingly the white haired man managed to reach the Council building without further incidents and had purchased a short gray cape to cover the metallic arm of his. As he glanced up the stairs he came to the conclusion that some kind of a ruckus had ocured moments before - a ruckus he was not keen on exploring - besides the guards would most likely just detain him at the door if he'd try to approach.

Very casually Cadogan seated himself on one of the steps and lit his pipe. "I wonder what's going on in there?" He asked from himself after blowing a ring of smoke. He moved two small switches on his arm and some of the runes stopped gleaming. Then the white haired man very cautiously took hold of the pipe with the metallic fingers of his left hand. "Hmh... Atleast this thing works... Now what could I add to it?" The Great Inventor's mind began racing again.

"Maybe a brush?" Chii teased as she appeared from seemingly out of nowhere and seated herself on the steps next to Cadogan. "Studying The Great Inventor's new mechanical arm, Chii tilted her head slightly to the right and then peered at Cadogan curiously. "Did it hurt?" the diminutive dragoness asked as she reached out to ru the forefinger of her right hand along Cadogan's metal forearm. "I would think it hurt," Chii mused as she pulled her hand back and folded it on her lap, right hand laying over left. "So you don't know what's going on either? It's the council chambers, so a meeting, I think. Maybe the one to decide whether the seraphim will be joining the war... probably on the human's side," Chii mused aloud as she lifted her head slightly, her gaze sweeping from right to left.

"If that happens... I wonder how many of us will survive?" Chii asked, her question directed partly at Cadogan and partly at anyone else within earshot. "My race, I mean," she added while glancing down at her hands, turning them over and flexing her fingers-claws slowly. "Before I started this trip, before I came looking for Neon, I had my own ideas about humans and seraphim.. anyone would." Chii paused to look up at the vast expanse of clear blue sky overhead before adding softly, a touch of sadness in her voice, "I can't say I have been friends with everyone, but I would miss you, and Garran... even the others. I wouldn't enjoy havimg to fight any of you." Lowering her gaze from the sky, Chii looked to Cadogan, her golden-silver flecked eyes showing a sudden warmth. "I mean that."

"I shouldn't have come here." Morrian regretted. Garren would likely feel just as out of place in a soft and gilded city like this. "The weak gather in hordes and murmur or whine while the strong do everything. It's why I left my homeland to begin with. I wanted to be stronger, surrounded by weakness I could only get weaker. Here it permeates everything and I cannot fight back or they will take it as a national offense." Finally he confessed, "I wanted to see how Torva and the tiny dragon have grown. Should I stay and endure this humiliation?" He asked Garren. He felt an odd comradery with the human, a comfort he had left when his crew betrayed his ideals.

Torva could hear the pace of his heart increase as each trial was described, the thunderous boom echoing in his head as he came to regret more and more his decision to speak up. They had fought side-by-side before, and the risk of death was ever present, but this somehow felt more... visceral. Perhaps it was knowing she would have to push beyond her limits, or perhaps it was the faint pulsing of Arach in the center of the room, almost taunting Hagumi to draw its power out.

“Torva has seen this once, long ago” Hagumi said, drawing Torva's gaze to hers just as his fur began to stand on end. He stood there, enduring the cold as freezing winds picked up, tearing through the small chamber as if searching for a way out. Frost formed along the tips of his fur as the mages in the chamber all cast protective barriers. The guards, too, began placing shells around each of the observers in the room. When it was his turn, Torva simply waved the guard off who, confused, simply moved on, not particularly concerned if a crazy daeva had a death wish. It was not that he felt he could endure the blizzard, far from it. He had seen it freeze men in their tracks. Rather, it was his unwavering faith in Hagumi. The knowledge that, even in a blizzard, he could trust her. Her magic would protect him from the worst of it. He just knew it.

The room was white, visibility no more than a few inches beyond one's face. To most, the roaring winds of the blizzard drowned out all sounds, and yet deep in this blinding chaos Torva remained, ears alert and eyes starting right where Hagumi was, as if gazing through the storm itself. He could hear every tiny whimper as she struggled, smell the faint change in her scent as the ice began to coat her very body. His every senses were attuned to her. It was not until the snow began to fade that he allowed himself to relax. Her breath, however sharp, remained constant; her heart steady. The weight of a race sat on her shoulders, and it had driven her resolve to surpass their limits.

The frost on his body quickly melted as the final and most dangerous trial began. Arach burst into life and Hagumi drew out its power. A great red dragon, made entirely of fire, burst from the blade, lingering like a genie over the ice mage. It's great claws reached forward, as if to draw out Hagumi's life energy. It hesitated, recoiling slightly just shy of touching her before swirling back into the blade and vanishing.

Although the party would never know, Ardal gave the slightest of glances towards Neon during the final trial. As Arach had begun to consume Hagumi, the queen's eyes had turned a pitched black, and she gave the faintest of shakes towards the flame dragon, as if to tell it “no, this one is not yours.” Neon was hardly aware of it herself, as was her intense focus on the trials, if not for Hagumi, than for the vote they knew she would cast. She felt ashamed, knowing her vote weighed just as heavily in her mind as Hagumi's life, but this was bigger than all of them, and she hoped the others would feel the same way if the situation was reversed.

Before Hagumi had even hit the floor, Torva was at her side monitoring her vitals. Neon, meanwhile, had not moved, her eyes locked now with Justica. She had no love for the council, nor for tradition. What Neon believed in was results. “Has she passed?” she asked bluntly.

“It will take some consideration before we can fully determine...” Justica began to say, somewhat humbled at the unexpected show of talent. Hagumi was certainly not the most powerful mage she had ever seen, not by a long shot, but for her age she was clearly far above the average, and her determination was among the best. The councilwoman had not expected one among the ragtag group to be so... qualified.

“Yes or no.” Neon belted, surprising even the guard.

Justica's almost trademark snark was nowhere to be found. She had, for the moment, rediscovered what it really meant to stand on the council. “If she survives, she has passed.”

As if responding the the news, the doors swung open and a madman entered the chambers, shouting at the top of his lungs about “master” this and “idiocy” that. It was enough to bring the somber nature of the trials come crashing down. Startled, Neon turned to see who was crazy enough to just come crashing into the chambers. Even more confusing, the guards at first did nothing to stop him. Clearly whoever he was, the council guards were familiar with his presence. It wasn't until they noticed he was inebriated that they moved to restrict him, even then moving with the presence of one taking pity on an old friend. Fergus crashed back out of the chamber and into the hall, nearly tripping into Chii, Cadogan, and Morian as they sat waiting.

Fuming, Neon stormed after him, leaving the council to resolve their matters for the day. No vote would be finalized until Hagumi had recovered, but it was obvious that the winds had turned. There would still be war, no doubt about it, but at least it would be against humans, and humans alone. Catching up to the drunken vagrant, Neon spun him around and grabbed him by the collar. “I don't care who you are. I don't care that Vates was your master. What I DO care about is that you nearly interrupted my friend at the most crucial moment of her trials when her life was most at risk!” She shouted, shaking him slightly in an attempt to get his glazed over eyes to focus. “If we hadn't just prevented the seraphim from going to war, I'd probably rip your arms off right now!”

“...but you caught me in a good mood.” Neon added, lowering her voice significantly. Hoping that the severity of his actions had penetrated however slightly the rage fueled brain of the man before her, she finally released her grip on his clothing. “Chii, Hagumi needs you right now.” Neon said, not breaking her gaze on Fergus. “Whoever killed your master, they had a very good reason for doing so. I happen to have a very good reason for needing to slowly melt his fingers off until he tells me who he works for.”

Neon reached back into a pouch, and pulled out a fresh bottle of strong-smelling booze. She placed it into Fergus' hands, clasping them together. “Tell me everything you know.”

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Torva took no notice of the scene that unfolded as the doors swung wide and Fergus charged in. Sunlight poured into the room, illuminating Hagumi's body held gently in Torva's arms. Her pulse was faint, and the daeva dare not move her for fear of further injury. Her wings were frostbitten in some places, singed in others, and her sweat-drenched body looked surprisingly gaunt and frail. It was not until medics arrived on the scene that he dare move.

As they carried her off, Torva simply sat there, trying to remember the weight in his arms; lock into his mind the smell of her hair. Hagumi has passed the test. She was now a member of the council.

And the council never leaves.

"Though I think a brush might indeed make a worthy addition I doubt it would be of that much use." Cadogan smiled faintly as he glanced at Chii - who had just sort of appeared next to him. "To tell the truth it hurt much less than I had imagined - or maybe my headache took most of the edge off from the pain." The white haired man shook his head ever so slightly and glanced up at the sky as he gathered his thoughts for a proper answer to Chii's ponderings.

After a brief while the Great Inventor straightened his back slightly and fixed a surprisingly serious expression on his face. "First of all you'll have to take in to account that there is still the possibility of NOT going to war. The seraphim are a wise bunch - if a tad bit self righteous and cold at times, not to mention heartless and bigoted. I still think they'll make the right decision." Cadogan smiled a little - it was a joyless smile. "Besides I'm not on the human's side any more - got banished from the kingdom, remember? I could just go where the money is good and all that, since I do have a knack of building things - but that just wouldn't feel right."

He again paused briefly and very gently poked Chii on the forehead with the cold, metallic middle and index finger of his left hand. "I'm in Neon's service now, remember? I go where she tells me to and I ain't turning my back on her just because there might be a little war coming in the future. Oh... and I'd also wouldn't want to fight you - I saw what you were capable of back in Dumont." Cadogan smiled warmly, pulled his left hand back and ruffled Chii's hair with his right hand. "You know, I really havn't made you that armor I promised - though you can keep the leg guards and the coat I made during the Games... I was just... uh... If you'd want me to make you a... properly fitted set of armor?"

Fergus was suddenly yanked around and was already going for a strike until his eyes noticed that his would be target was not a guard, nor a male. Thus he lowers his arm and blinks few times rather confused as she's being ranted at by this woman he has never seen before. Most of the words are simply sliding through his ears, but he manages to catch few of them, apparently he had stumbled upon something important just now, and apparently just now the war would be canceled, for now at least. He was going to shrug it all off though and simply move the woman aside so he could get into the nearest tavern to get some alcohol from there, but what do you know, she's now offering him booze. Thus he decides to calm down for now, and drops down on his rear, shaking the floor slightly around him before leaning against the wall. He pops the bottle open and takes a short sip before he starts to talk."There is not much in it for now. You'll have better luck talking with The Loyal Hound tomorrow. Today, I am the best you can get Lady. A wreck." He states and takes another sip."Either way." he continues with a short pause."You might've heard bits and pieces of my yelling already." he laughs slightly and sips again."It was a darn good assassin. I've had to deal with multiple during my days. It really looked like a daeva. Bloody nearly bought it myself. But some of the cuts were simply too clean. Not to mention that-" He burbs loudly and smacks himself across the face shortly after.

"Pardon me. Not to mention that your everyday daeva could not sneak past everything I had prepared to keep my Master safe. The only thing that wasn't there, was me. I..I screwed up big time. But he told me I could go to participate in the games and the freakin' celebrations after that. I should have known better than to. What kinda guardhound leaves for such common fun anyway?" He grunts slightly."And someone knew to expect that. But, it had to be someone special. Either from the inside, or a ghost." He states and takes another sip."No one saw anyone entering Master's room. The guards were apparently patrolling as ordered. Of course since I made the grand mistake and left his side, I can'ttell, maybe they were just lazing off and staring at the skies. But I trust the boys enough, so, they were patrolling as told. The assassination had to happen in less than five minutes. it takes 4 minutes and 21 seconds for the patrol routes to bypass Master Vates' room even if they'd walk slowly. There were no signs of forced entry either. Thus, someone ether had a key, had someone to open the door, or could pass through walls. And I still got mine." He states and lifts the key from his belt, looks at it and tosses it across the hall before emptying the bottle with one last gulp."It was the first time I failed by being careless and idiotic screw up. Never leave their side. Stupid mutt." He mutters and looks up at Neon then."I hope that helped you out Lady." He then speaks and starts to stand slowly."I know it's not much. But don't feel bad. Let me do that." He shakes his head and heads for the exit again, dragging his shield along like it would weight the world on him.

Off in the distance from the Queen, Chii, and the Great Inventor was a small red light glimmering in the distance, it seemed to get brighter with every passing moment. "Well well..." Spoke what is assumed to be the voice of a lispy male with a nasily voice.
The red glimmering erupted into sparkles of a sort that seemed to radiate above, as if was discharged up into the air. Under the sparks, the frame was clear. A brunette with glasses wearing a full bodied grey suit of what looked like rubber, with rather large boots with metallic knee pads that shimmered a bit from the red reflection was walking forward.

As the male came into clear view he tilted his head forward a bit as if he was saying "hello" with his body language. "That man running the kingdom has me questioning intentions... But... It gives me an excuse to seek you out... Your highness." The male smiled as he looked to Neon, and then to Chii. "It's so nice to be able to see you two again." He looked to the other two strangers he had not met before, the Inventor being one of them, as well as the drunk one by him.

"I am Inquisitor Cassius Alexadros Svent. Quite a long name... I know..." He somewhat took a breath in before coughing into his shoulder. "Someone has been drinking since noon..." he jested.

He recomposed himself before pushing his rounded square framed glasses up before turning his attention to Neon. "I might have overheard something about you tearing someone's arms off..?" His feline like ears twitched, but the position of them was quite different. A human typically had ears in such a spot, but rather than a human set, it was a feline set of ears, pointed at that.
At his waist his tail was seen flickering, and near his tail was an object similar to a baton, but had a spear head on it with what looked like a mechanism of some type.

"Whatever the case... how is the trial or whatever...?"

"Do you really think so?" Chii asked, turning slightly toward Cadogan. Chii mused silently that perhaps Cadogan was right. Hagumi was nice and seemed reasonable. The ice mage did not seem as aloof as many seraphim Chii had met... though she, Chii, had not met all that many. Most of the Seraphim Chii had met had been when she was with Neon. "I hope you're right," Chii added after a long pause in which she stared silently out across the city. "I wouldn't want to fight you either," Chii replied after another pauses of several minutes, giving Cadogan a brief but friendly smile. "Just don't... do that again, okay?" the dragoness added, gently taking Cadogan's hand from atop her head.

The pair fell into silence again, each lost in their own thought. At some point, medical persons rushed into the council chambers and shortly after that rushed back at with a unconscious Hagumi laid in a stretcher. Looking after the departing Hagumi, Chii then looked to Cadogan, a mixture of some worry and curiosity showing on her face. "What happened? They were just taking a vote, yes?" Chii asked, glancing toward the council building again. The answer to Cadogan's question concerning her armour had been on Chii's mind, but the flurry of activity had pushed it aside for the moment. She was in the midst of saying, "Well; I wouldn't mind new armour...," when Cas made his appearance.

" Inquisitor Cassius," Chii replied, offering the tall lanky man a brief smile as she stood. "Yes... a very long time," Chii would add in her next breath, taking note of Cas again. refreshing what he looked like in her mind. When had she seen him last, Chii wondered as Cas turned his attention to Neon. The Inquisitor didn't look much different, maybe no different at all, Chii mused silently, shrugging the thought aside and turning her mind toward a more important topic. "The trial?" Chii asked, honestly baffled. Chii was sure she was forgetting something, and it most likely had to do with Hagumi, and putting things together, the council vote? "Is that what happened to Hagumi...?" Chii asked, moving to stand between Neon and Cadogan... fixing her golden-silver flaked eyes firmly on the daeva queen...*

When Fiora woke up the next morning, she was entirely unsurprised to find that Garran was long gone. She hadn't expected him to stick around when they had business to attend to, though he could have at least left a note for her. After all, he was the one responsible for tiring her out last night, and the reason why she was waking up so late in the morning, with only sheets shielding her modesty and some very pleasant bruises.

She got dressed, thankful the servants had yet to come wake her or clean the room. Perhaps they heard the noise from last night and figured it was best to leave the guest chamber alone until both its occupants had left. The thief certainly didn’t expect an assassin's hired hands to be big on discretion in that regard. Though she supposed the seraphim had no use for such information save to tease them at opportune times.

If she recalled the plans the group had for today, Neon would be speaking to the Council, along with all their seraphim companions. The rest were likely going about their own business, and the thief doubted anyone else would still be loitering about the house. Of course, she hadn't expected Ruby to be waiting right outside her room. "One of the Council has been assassinated." The young girl began, ushering Fiora to follow. "The initial reports claim his injuries resembled the marks of daeva teeth and claws, so you can imagine the most conspicuous group of them in this city will be targeted at any moment."

Fiora did not like where this was going. She knew the human emissaries were more than willing to use underhanded tactics to undermine the credibility of the group, and incite war, but to actually assassinate someone… No, it couldn't have been them. They were in a foreign capital built on mountainous terrain and navigated by air travel. Their agents would be hard pressed to stage an attack and hiring an assassin here would be too dangerous if one did not know their way around the underworld well.

The two of them ended up in Ruby's workshop, where the young girl passed the her a pair of gloves. "After what happened with your biological father and almost getting caught stealing that book, I figured it would be best if I made you something to augment your abilities a little." It was black leather, much like the rest of her outfit, but Fiora could make out the engravings of what had to be magical runes etched into the gloves. She could feel metal plates underneath as well, which somehow didn't remove the flexibility of the gloves at all. In fact, the metal seemed almost liquid in nature, as if it had no form.

"As you probably noticed, the plating is made of a special metal that is extremely malleable. You should still have the same amount of dexterity even with the added protection. It's a little weightier, but as long as you don't try to stop anything heavier than a blade, it should hold. The runes focus the magical energies you absorb through your touch and amplifies it. I'd probably practise a little before trying to blast anything, however. I tend to go a little overboard on the offensive capabilities." Ruby explained the functions of the gloves, and Fiora couldn't help but think the girl got a little more from her father than intelligence. The blacksmith started to work on a similarly black leather outfit, which Fiora presumed would be the rest of her gear. Given that they had only really been in Adalrich for a night, she probably hadn't had time to do much else. Fiora appreciated the help all the same.

Now, it was time to get to work. She had no idea how much longer the meeting with the council would take, but there was no reason why she couldn’t get a head start on finding leads. Plus, she had to find Garran and give him a lecture about simply leaving a lady alone in bed the next morning.

---

Itzal could not have honestly said he knew Hagumi was going to pass her trials. They were difficult for a reason, and talented as the girl was, she had a bad habit of pushing herself past her limits for the sake of others. Knowing that the fate of the Council's decision on war rested on her shoulders, it was unlikely she would behave any differently than in their previous battles.

Still, a sigh of relief escaped his lips as she passed the trials. Not with flying colours or ease, perhaps, but she was alive, and that was more than most could say. Itzal suspected the last trial had not been as intense as it should have been, but he was not about to call anyone out on it. Her vote could prevent war - or at least keep the seraphim out of it - and that was enough for now. As for how the Ice Princess was going to deal with having to stay behind as a Council member instead of continuing the quest, it was not his problem to solve.

"I trust we have permission to leave now?" Itzal asked the Council, getting permission as the guards opened the door and permitted them to pass. "We shall return once we have finished our investigations." It was more of a formality than a promise. Some members of the council would no doubt retain suspicion that it was them who were responsible for the assassination. They would keep a watch on every member of the group. Itzal expecting nothing less of them. If they didn't, it showed a great amount of trust in Neon's diplomacy, but not much else.

"Kayla, I'll leave the crime scene to you. With your knowledge of magic and attunement to the elements, it should be fairly simple for you to figure out what went on in there. I'm making a detour to get some leads - and hopefully some additional eyes scouring the city. Anything you miss, I'll find later." Itzal instructed the group as he made sure his weapons and gear were all in good condition. He checked their surrounds to make sure there was no one within earshot to hear what he had left to say before continuing. He was kind of hoping he would not have to return to that place again, but it seemed necessary. "If there's one place in this city where you can find out who would want to murder a council member, the headquarters of the Specters would be it. At the very least, I'll be able to find out if one of them did it. If you don't hear from me in two hours… don't come looking."

"I will excuse myself during your little tribulations," Caelum as with a slight tone of exasperation, turning around and exiting the council chamber, pushing the doors closed behind him with a flick of his wrist, "tell me when you want to find the killer.". Honestly. A council member has already died and they were already replacing him. Granted it was necessary to stem the tide of war, but Caelum still could not help but sigh as he folded his arms below his robe and flexed his old, yellowed wings. He half considered making his way to the scene of the crime himself but he knew that the others would throw fits, the council included. While he was musing, he saw a large daeva come crashing through the halls, a bottle clutched in his hand and the earlier guards dangling from various limbs. If he could have raised an eyebrow, he could have. Gently, he stepped to the side before he, in his mad rage, slammed the doors open and entered, the guards still trying to pull him down. Usually he was quite reasonable, but he was beginning to remember why he had left the city in the first place. The caconophy, the stupidity...the politics... In fact, sometimes he simply entertained daeva and humans because of their straightforwardness and nothing else. Casting his unwavering gaze into the room, he started to listen to the daeva's tantrum...and he agreed with most of his points.

"I will assume the trial is passed then," Caelum stated as he flowed in behind Fergus like a shade, "in that case, it might be prudent to chase up the trail before it cools down too much, no?" His words were measured, friendly and carefully chosen, but they still contained bite and venom worthy of one who possessed the title of Master of Security. Hearing Neon's words, Caelum looked up at the comparatively gigantic daeva, folding his arms together again. "I too would like to hear of your deductions," he said as he drifted in front of him, fixing him with his gaze. If magical security failed, the assassin would still have to go through the physical security afforded by the guards, although he suspected someone who was powerful enough to shatter even rune magics was way beyond the reach of the physical realm.

"Blame not only yourself, Guardhound," Caelum said after his story, "I believe I too shoulder some of the blame for incomplete warding." With that, he lifted up a finger and pointed at Munus, not over looking, knowing that he would interject, "which would have been complete had I had access to the forbidden tomes." Slipping his finger back into his robes, he closed his eyes. "Nevertheless, we now know that this assassin is way beyond anything we have encountered before." Starting off, Caelum began to move towards the exit, his footsteps even and measured even as his eyes were closed. At the mention of others, he stopped. "Send who you will, I require only the hound and the daeva queen...and the elemental master," he added as an afterthought, "but be aware that too many mages spoil the ritual." With that old adage, he started off again. Stepping in beside Fergus, he looked up. "Guard hound, show me to your master's chambers...I have not stepped foot in Adalrich for a long time..." he said as he took a step out into the morning light.

After a while, his eyes adjusted and he spotted another figure on the council steps who was not part of Neon's company...at least, not as far as he remembered, but it seemed that it was growing by the day. "She'll have a mercenary wing before not too long," he mused as he stepped aside to avoid them. He had no more time to idle talk. They had already wasted too much time in the council chambers and any linger trace of magic could have disappeared into the surrounding aether. "Continue leading," he said to Fergus as he walked past the Inquisitor, "the sooner we get to the site, the sooner I can leave this cesspool..." he muttered quietly under his breath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Tha' makes two of us," Garran replied as he fell into step with the Daeva, the sea mine dangling nonchalantly from his shoulder, "ye don't exactly see an ocean 'round here do ye? All I be knowin' is tha' th' worlds ginna be goin' t' the latrines and yer queenies th' only one tha' can reduce the death count." The two gigantic figures drew many eyes as they roamed down the main street, keeping within eyeshot of the council chambers. "Our kind don't seem t' be welcome here, aye," Garran laughed as he tipped his head up towards the sky, letting the suns rays hit his face. He missed this. Now if only the seas salty spray were to follow. Dragged out of his reverie, he looked at the daeva and listened to his little tale.

"T'aint weakness that fills th' air matey," Garran said as he stopped, "tis th' politics and backstabbin' tha' makes the city cower." He chuckled. "Th' high seas h've one rule, lad," he said as he banged his chest, "trust yer mates t' yer left 'nd right an' damn all those tha' try t' break 'em." Oh how he missed that simple life...The wash of the gentle sea breeze, the gentle rocking and creaking of the ship agaisnt the waves...He felt slight nostalgia fill him as he remembered the fate of the Bleak Dawn. "Eh? Torva 'nd wee dragon? Did we have a wee dragon?" he asked as he picked his nose, flicking the product away onto the ground. He closed his eyes and tried to think but perhaps it had been pickled in the ocean salt he had always been surrounded with, for he could not remember. He shrugged. "Well, l'ts go see th'n" he said as he about turned and started heading back toward the chamber, "I be shure tha' the folk won't be messin' with BOTH ye and me ey?" he said with a hearty laugh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Oh! Now I be rememberin!" Garran exclaimed as he drew closer to the steps of the chambers, "I can't be believin' I fergot ye ye cheeky little lass!" Ignoring the inquisitor entirely, he ruffled Chii's hair with his gigantic hand which could fit comfortably around a melon. Turning around, he flinched as he saw the inquisitor. "Who be th' fop?" he asked as he pointed at Cas, looking down to Cadogen and Chii, completely ignorant of the tone, mood and title. It was almost childlike...

Cassius smirked at the Individual.
"Ask and you shall receive." he responded to the jive sounding male.

"I am Cassius Alexandros Svent. Though there is a lot I can say, I rather withhold such details in a foreign land. But what may I call you?" He crossed his left arm under his right, while his right rested over it, hand cuffing his chin.

The male was certainly a curiosity. Do all people in this region talk with such thick accents? Either way, he offends naught here. he thought to himself before extending his right hand out.

"You can simply call me Cas if it makes it easier. I also find it funny how it is the abbreviation of my first name, and then my full name." he chuckled at the word play.

"But... mind explaining what that man's deal was...? The one who smelled of a brewery with the rather uppity fellow?" He was trying to not be demeaning, but it was getting rather hard seeing as he just arrived to what he could only call it an urban chaos.

Mokk drew in tow behind Garran. The eloquence of the building surpassed any architecture he had beheld before. Were he an artist and not a marauder this place would be even more of a wonder. The gilded walls and fancy furniture only added to the scene. The seraphim didn't mess around when it came to aesthetics. It made sense why the most valued items in the world were funneled from these lands.

"I'd love to see a fighting ring. Bring the real art out. They can have their gilding. I want to see strength. Power." Muttered the brute in the spacious and bright hallway. It opened up to a rotunda of sorts where the others had gathered outside of the council chambers.

Mokk looked up at Chii and the other unfamiliar faces and remained silent. Chii would know him. Perhaps she would even remember his name. Memories came back of the time he considered kidnapping her to prove her and teach her in ways he considered only a veteran killer could. Her savagery in combat was inspiring, it was poetry.

The crocodile grinned. Something that few could recognize as an actual smile.

Chii looked up as Garran's massive hand came to rest atop her head, the pirate's hand indeed of enough size so that he could have probably picked Chii up by the head, if the dragoness would have went for allowing that, "Garran...," Chii started to say something more before stopping and looking past Garran's hulking form. Cas went on to ask what was going on and who the massive alcohol smelling daeva had been. Whoever he was, Chii mused silently for a moment, he could probably give Garran a run for the money in a drinking contest. It was nice to see Garran again to be honest, Chii thought silently. As much as the little dragoness was on good terms with most seraphim, she still felt closer to her own kind and to a select few others such as Garran and Cadogan. Having received no answer from Neon about what was going on, Chii looked to Cas and replied quietly, "Inquisitor Cassius Alexandros Svent meet Garran, pirate. He really is pretty nice.. for not being a daeva and for being a pirate and all."

Something else then caught Chii's attention, or rather some-one else. A hulking crocodile daeva. "I know him... I'm sure of it," Chii mused silently, allowing her golden-silver flecked eyes to rest upon Mokk for several long, perhaps to long moments. Realizing that she was staring, Chii looked away, watching Garran and Cas a bit more, curiously, until she would glance Cadogan's way. The Great Inventor had fallen silent, very silent. Perhaps he was pondering his next invention. Maybe Cadogan was thinking about what had occurred, unseen by he and the others outside, in the council chambers. Or the man could be thinking about the possible war to come and what role(s) he might play. Again pulling herself from her musing(s) Chii shifted from one foot to the other and then back again, glancing about from Cas to Garran to Mokk, and then again at Cadogan. Something seemed about to happen, or washer restless for another reason? Was it Mokk? Chii frowned to herself briefly as she glanced at the crocodile daeva again.

Cadogan had momentarily sank in to his own thoughts again. Thoughts of profit, war and war machines. He only half listened to Chii as the tiny dragoness politely stopped him from ruffling her hair any further. Then he heard the word 'inquisitor'. Something about that word had always rubbed him the wrong way. Still, the white haired man stood up properly and fixed his most neutral expression to his face.

As Chii introduced Garran in a manner that was in the Great Inventor's opinion rather a lacking one he coughed politely. "Terribly sorry to butt in to the conversation like this, sir inquisitor..." Admittedly Cadogan did not sound like he was sorry to the slightest. "Since there are some introductory happenings going on, and since the li'll miss here isn't doing a proper job of it." The white haired man gave Chii a little apologetic glance and a relatively polite smile before turning his attention to Cassius. "Now then good sir." Cadogan moved his hand in an overtly polite little flourish while motioning towards Garran. "Allow me to introduce you to captain Garran Versathalon - the scourge of any winehouse from here to the farthest reaches of Dumont and one of the most stubborn fellow's I have ever met."

The Great Inventor smirked as he made the most overtly polite and well rehearsed bow towards Cassius - after all you'd have to be polite to inquisitors if you didn't want to get in to trouble. "I on the other hand..." As he straightened up Cadogan moved the metallic hand of his to rest on his hip. "Sir Cadogan Decimus Feraldo, the Great Inventor - formerly of Dumont, now under the service of Her Royal Highness, Queen Dralina Blazion." The white haired man glanced at Chii and Garran as if to ask if he had forgotten something important about the introductions.

Cassius turned his attention to the man- he somewhat smirked at the formalities.
"Not to burst your bubble, though I do enjoy this... spectacle... You can treat me and address me as a civilian. So... no meed for these massive formalities." he chuckled and turned his head trying to hide his blush- the situation was quite embarrassing to him. Even if a tad bit fun.

Cassius recomposed himself a bit.
"But um... It's nice to meet you all. And this dragoness is acctully one of my closest friends. She might show a bit of a mean streak, but you'd be surprised at how kind she can be. Unfortunately she has expectations of herself time to time about how to act when 'appropriate...'" he whispered. The Queen was his friend first and foremost, his queen secondly.

"As for the little one... I know her slightly. It's just nice to see her out of chains..." he said a bit blunkly; blank with a flat expression, probably because of the horrors she may have went through that he wasn't even fully aware of. At heart, he wishes the best for Chii. Sighing, he turned his attention back to the group.

"It's nice to meet you however Cadogen. We are people, not tools of formality." He smiled as he extended his hand out.

Fergus was already on his way out and to nearest tavern when he was interrupted yet again, this time by a sudden realization that someone had been following him all the way from the council to here and that he had answered to him as well as the lady from earlier. This person had a very Seraphin looks, that was to be expected quite naturally. However, unlike most Seraphim, he seemed actually somewhat reasonable, or maybe that was the alcohol thinking for him. Whatever the case would be, he wanted to see Master Vates' chambers and apparently catch the assassin. The large male shrugs and turns, walking back and picking up the key he had tossed away earlier, he then begun to guide Caelum to his Master's chambers, even in his current state the trip went smoothly and he did not even stumble around that much. Upon reaching the door it still seemed completely unharmed, but unlocked for now. Fergus looks at the key with irritated look and then opens the door, stepping inside and leaving the door wide open. Without waiting for the Seraphim at all he walks over to Vates' desk and places the key down on it before turning around.

”Alright. Come on in and do your sniffing, searching, whatever it is you people do with your magical shite.” He laughs lightly and looks around the room himself once again. He had been investigating the room over and over and over again earlier, but he had been unable to find anything out of ordinary. It troubled him greatly, but the Seraphim had suggested faulty warding to be part of the reason. To Fergus right now, that did sound just as logical as wearing boots when going outside. Still, something was bothering him about the case, something he could swear that he knew of, it was just this tiny whisper at the back of his head that tried to reach his mind. But no, in his currect state, not to mention the one he most likely would end up being later on, there would be no chance for that to happen.

As soon as the rune encrusted door swung open, Caelum nose wrinkled and his eyes squinted. "HOLY BLEEDIN' SHITE FARMER!" exclaimed Garran as he tossed his head back, covering his nose, "DID TH'S MAGIC SHITEIN' DOVE EMPTY H"S BOWELS 'R SOMETHIN'!?"
"That does happen often in death, Garran," Caelum said matter of factly as he strode into Vates' abode, "but I don't think thats the case this time." It was too...ferric to be faecal matter. In the center of the room was Vates lying supine, his jaw locked down in terror. His old, yellowed wings were now soaked red with his own blood and his right arm was outstretched, as if grabbing for something. Keeping his eyes locked on the corpse, Caelum began to pace around it, examining it from all angles. The most obvious culprit of course was the three gaping chest wounds torn into his chest, the center one being much alrger than the others. Only...something seemed slightly off about them. Then again, he was not really an expert on Daeva attacks. Looking up to the gathered party who had slowly filtered through the door to Vates' chamber, Caelum gestured to the gashes. "What do you make of these?" he asked a little pondrously as he started to levitate a few rune cards out of their holdings.

Garran stomped closer as he rested his sea mine on the floor. Kneeling down, he placed his hand to his chin and grunted thoughtfully. "I be seein' a great many wounds in me time on th' seas, b't tha's defini'ly no daeva wound," he said confidently as he suppressed the urge to gag. He'd drunk things which were TEN times worse than this. How could this be happening now? There was definitely something deeper here. "I've seen bites, claws, tal'ns 'nd 'll s'rts a other attacks, b't this don't fit non'a 'em." Caeulum nodded. It was what he had suspected, but he didn't engage in combat theory too much. Turning away, the Seraphim began to move towards the walls, his cards floating around him. He would leave the others to their speculation.

Not many seraphim were willing to admit that just like any other city, Adalrich had its dark corners where crime thrived and sin was currency. Especially not the guards who were charged with protecting the city. They would never publicly admit that one of their most reviled enemies, the Spectres, had their headquarters right in the capital. Of course, they could never admit it as long as they had no clue where the actual headquarters was located. Detailed sweeps of the city by the guards, no matter how discreet or thorough, had never turned up anything.

That was because they all thought like seraphim. For a race that could fly, they would never think to look underground. Or among their own dead. Itzal strolled through the cemetery, stopping at the statue of Mercy. It was so named for it stood guard over the graves of those who had died too young, or of terrible illness. As detailed as the statue was, a closer inspection of the statue would have revealed that there was a missing feather on one of its wings. The missing feather was the key to the door, so to speak. Each member of the Specters had a feather that matched the missing one and placing it upon the wing would reveal a flight of stairs that led straight to the entry.

Of course, stealing a feather would not guarantee one access. Ancient magic tied the feather to the life of its holder. If a Specter were to be killed, the feather would cease to function. If the feather were to be used by anyone else, the thief would find themselves joining the dead in that graveyard. Unsure if the magic was still in place after his "death", Itzal unlocked the entrance and braced himself for the pain. None came.

He descended underground, appearing in an elaborate hall carved right out of the mountain. It was supported by huge marble and obsidian pillars, a testament to the prosperity and brazenness of the founders who built the organisation. Alcoves and balconies also lined the wall, so that floor of the main hall also became a killing floor in case someone managed to breach the entrance. It wasn't crossbows and magic that met Itzal's arrival, but the head of the organisation himself, along with those who were present in the headquarters at the moment. A welcoming committee, or execution squad?

"The prodigal son returns." Veles commented, spreading his arms open and embracing Itzal. The old man sure had gotten sentimental in old age. "A bittersweet moment for me, I suppose. You swore never to return until Halden was brought to justice for his crimes, and that oath was fulfilled. A pity my son would not see reason, but at least I did not lose the one I adopted. Even if he returns with a new face."

Itzal gave a pained smile. Halden was a brother to him once, but the man's death was a weight off his shoulders, not some grudging mercy kill of a man he could not save. No, the bastard made his choice, he reaped its reward. "Come, we have much to talk about."

---

So passed an hour where Itzal detailed the six years of his journey, or however much of it Veles had not heard through his own agents. Even the part with Neon's quest. Including the events of the past two days. Veles furrowed his brow in frustration. "To murder a councilman in his own home. I suppose you came back for answers more than a reunion."

Itzal nodded. "This was where... she died. I found it hard to return even after the blood debt was paid. I might not have, if the situation were not dire. We are killers, but not warmongers. We do not assassinate a member of the Council and throw the city into chaos. Those are important tenets of our organisation. I cannot imagine Vates had any information that might endanger us that would warrant his death, no matter how much he loved reading ancient tomes."

"No, we have not needed to take such extreme measures in a century. After Halden's treason, I kept a close eye on our operations here. No one could have taken a contract on the councilman without my knowledge or permission. Someone else wanted him dead, though whether it is to incite a war, I cannot say for certain. It seems we need to ferret out this killer." The old man answered. The Specters were assassins and spies, but they thrived in the midst of law and order, not war and chaos. Armies on alert and soldiers on every street were bad for their business, after all.

"Though there is another thing that worries me. The fact that you returned with a new body." Veles got went over to his shelf of books, and pulled out a thick tome that looked like a religious text. "The spell you performed can only be done by a select few. It's not just ancient magic, Itzal. For all their knowledge, none of the ancient races that walked our earth could truly cheat death. It seems my fears are confirmed at last, when I first found you in that burned down village."

Itzal was confused. When he was first taught the spell by Veles, it was described to him as ancient magic only available to shadow users, those who could directly manipulate spirits and the life force unleashed upon death. There was more to this power he was given? What was the old man talking about?

"Perhaps it might be tied to the state of our world at present..." The old man was musing to himself, under his breath.

"Spit it out, old man." Itzal's patience was wearing thin. He had died to achieve this spell and rise anew. The cryptic talk of the old man was pissing him off, and when Veles got in such a mood, he could talk for hours before getting to his point. No, the black seraphim wanted answers now.

"The magic only works for those who have a spark of divinity within them. Individuals chosen by the gods."