It was Ella's turn to smirk, "Dwarves on the shoulders of giants, Death. Learning from those who come before and adding for those who come after is a duty, at least I know where I came from. You are right we are not equals, you radiate nothingness and beg for recognition. But I fear not Death, but neither shall I let it claim me easily."

Ella finally reached death and she thrust her flaming lance towards the horseman with deadly accuracy and frightening speed, but she knew it would not be enough, but it was a start. Watch and learn, eventually something would pop up, and while Alysis was in the Chapel, this would be her chance if anything.

----
Vincent walked upto Saver and bowed. "Saver, guide us, please."
Saver smiled, "Young man, you are all safe in my presence, fear not. I am not the one however that would be granting you weapons. But with my blessing Ruber can summon for you tools that may help. Or you can seek out the Forges of Izanami, I am sure they would help you for a price, I see that you are something Special, God has smiled upon you and as such Tia has seeked you out, and no doubt in exchange for examining your secret potential Izanami would help you manifest them."

William raised his eyebrow at this. "You mean they can make origin based weaponry?"
Saver simply looked and nodded. "The choice is yours, but bread and water will be yours in this place of peace, but without a command seal or order from my master I cannot leave the chapel."

----
Shoshin turned to see Shin.
"Shin." She said a faint smirk curling up at the side of her mouth. "Always welcoming help."

Rei silently nodded to Shin as Lancer silently nodded to Shin's Lancer.

"To the desert, then."

"Death does not beg for recognition. It has it, for all things must bow to it eventually." Death replies. With a crack, a thunderbolt lashed out towards the spear, Existence working to prevent any antimagic on the spear from affecting the bolt while Oblivion worked to undermine the spear's own magical integrity.

Meanwhile, the Assassins had carefully picked their way through and around the ghost soldiers, mining as they when, and were now setting about covering the rest of the quad with explosives, unimpeded by a full-on battle.

_______

Shin's Lancer nodded back to Rei's Lancer as Shin grinned. "Lovely. Let's give those pyramid-lovers what good steel tastes like."

Ella was fighting the affect of Deaths dual origin, as it tried to eat through her spear. But Death was weakened by the separation of Alysis, she was fighting with two origins but only one source. Ella was feeding off Gabby, even the very concept of Death's dual origin was regarded by Ella's Gemini origin.

The flames of the spear battled with the bolt death had sent her way.
"Death does come for us all, and fear it not I shall, but you are a facsimile of death itself, I am the Gemini by it's definition I live on in others, you shall forever be alone!" Ella shouted, thrusting and trying to strike at Death, ignoring the lightening that was crackling around her. But she knew she wouldn't be able hold the other horsemen, but she wasn't going to give up.

Rubber and Venetus were still battling Claudia's berserker, and they were being out out played by his dexterity. He was being charged also by an Alumni card and no doubt the gentleman's prana still clung around.

-------

Vincent looked to the others. "You can stay here, but while those psycho versions of us are trying to hack us to bits, I'm going to go to Izanami, I've already sold my soul to Rhea, my origin stolen by Tia, what is my secrets to Izanami. Nicola?" He said turning to her.

"Alright I'm in, if only to get Gram back. You guys?" Nicola said asking the others.

-------
"I like your style, sure I don't have a lovely lancer servant, but that is because I don't need one. Onwards then." Shoshin said smiling as she started to walk towards the door that would take them to the Isis quad and their first test of getting into the Isis dorms would begin.

Vincent looked to the others. "You can stay here, but while those psycho versions of us are trying to hack us to bits, I'm going to go to Izanami, I've already sold my soul to Rhea, my origin stolen by Tia, what is my secrets to Izanami. Nicola?" He said turning to her.

"Alright I'm in, if only to get Gram back. You guys?" Nicola said asking the others.

Robert raised his hand. "Yeah, me and Berserker are in."

Damien nodded, "Juan, go with them as well. I need to chill for a bit and let Caster recharge, but Saber should still be in top condition. Be helpful, and..." Damien leaned close, whispering, "get some good intel."

"Si, sir. I guess I'm going too, guys. Don't know what kinda trouble we'll see along the way..."

"I like your style, sure I don't have a lovely lancer servant, but that is because I don't need one. Onwards then." Shoshin said smiling as she started to walk towards the door that would take them to the Isis quad and their first test of getting into the Isis dorms would begin.

"...If you say so." Rei really didn't give a shit to make small talk. As long as he stood atop the others as the winner, he really didn't care for anything else. "As long as I can prove who the real heir should be..."

"Alysis, are you coming with us, you being here is putting all the others at risk." Nicola said looking towards her brother and the others.

"I guess I'll open a door." William sighing said before walking out of chapel, past Gabby to the nearest viable door, as Saver's ability prevented magecraft within it, shutting it and drawing magical symbols over it as his Arcana Alumni card glowed.

"But know once you leave her and your magecraft returns, your doppelgangers will find you and my protection over you is left behind. At the cost of one command seal I can be summoned in battle to pass my judgement. Travel well and may the Lord bless you.

-------

Shoshin rolled her eyes and opened the door, the arrid air of the Isis Quad blew through and she quickly walked through, the less people that saw them enter the Public quad, the less people could say they broke into the Sand Gate.

"Come on guys." She said turning back.

She could feel her sword pulse, it was hungry.

Alysis nodded. "I'm not going to stay here and quiver in fear; especially not in front of myself."

"Are you guys sure?" Jacob asked worriedly. "Making our enemies MORE powerful just...doesn't seem like a good idea."

"I don't back down. Not for anyone, not even me." Alysis said.
_______

Shin breathed in the hot, arid air and grinned, then prompt start spitting and cough as sand got in his teeth. "I hate this place already." he growled.

Vincent looked to over to Alysis and smiled, that was his tutor and he thought back to Death, this will was something that was fundamental to Alysis in each and every way and he was proud to be within her presence. He turned to Jacob, "Either we fight fire with fire or we wait here until one of use runs out of fuel and to be honest that isn't my style." he said with a smile on his face, Nicola kissed him on the cheek and he blushed.

He turned to follow William out of the chapel before turning to Saver and bowing. "Thank you My lady." As he stepped out of the chapel, he felt the heat return back to his centre and no doubt War felt the surge also.

William had opened the door and soon Izanami's Steel Quad came into view and he walked through following William. The communal Steel Quad, now just to find whoever Saver intended them to find. But as he entered there were lots of Izanami students and undeclared first years, but someone was staring directly at Vincent to which he met his gaze. The mysterious student didn't look like a first year, he was at least a 5th year, the look was one of curiosity but could easily turn to dislike and may already be distrust. He seemed to be the only to notice Vincent had just come from a battle, but that didn't matter to Vincent he started to march towards the man.

----
Elsewhere back in Rhea Quad. A sudden rush of energy flushed into War and flames rolled out from his body. "Looks like the rat's have surfaced for air!" He said ignoring whatever he was doing to focus on Vincent.

"I am alone, for I alone am absolute! I am real, I am undeniable, inescapable, unbeatable!!" Death roared, her strength returning, she slammed her spear against Ella's, reality itself seeming to scream around the weapon of absolute nothingness. "When I find my old self, I'll be sure to cull the life from your brother as well. When I am through with you, House Rhea with be a defunct and broken as the Titans themselves!"

Ella could feel the intensity of Death as a shadow wrapping around her smothering her light. She couldn't define the feeling that her cells were experiencing, without Gabby's energy balancing hers out or without ALysis currently removed from the game, she was sure that Death would have taken her into an embrace.

Watching the explosion from War, Ella knew her luck was running out. "Va fanculo!" She cursed. She jumped back trying to escape Death and focused all her spirit energy into the tip of her spear, releasing all the ghouls and souls she had called to fight, maximising on her own strength. It wouldn't be enough but it would have to do.

She looked directly at Death and smiled. "Titans fall and heroes rise, Memento Mori." She said before she charged at Death, energy lighting up the area as it poured from her spear tip, bright enough it obscured her from view and her prana signature vanished.

-----
The man Vincent started to walk to kept his gaze.
"Cutler-San" He said calmly when Vincent had reached.
"How do you know who I am?" Vincent asked, it was less the creepiness of it that made him wonder, it was more what method this guy had used.

"Your future interacts with mine, and you are one of four. Everyone has been talking about you." The man said with a slight ominous twang.

"And who are you and which pound of flesh do you hope to gain from me?"

"Haha, I am Miraiko Tsurugi. 5th year student, I lost and survived against the Gentleman all those years ago." He said clenching his fist. "I may have no happiness or joy to extend to you, but I still have hatred for that twisted son of a bitch."

Nicola was now standing beside Vincent. "And what does that mean for us?"

Miraiko smirked and looked Nicola up and down. "A fiery girlfriend you got there or is it earthy." He said smiling to himself.

"Erm, shes not, erm. No." Vincent started to blush and heat started to roll off him. "But yea explain, we were sent here by Saver. So we want answers."

Miraiko nodded. "Stone, Steel, Snow, Sand and Wood. The 5 Natures of Magic for the houses. Tia can manipulate the very energy that manages vitality, Rhea is strong and powerful like the stone for which they are linked. But Izanami, we are the steel, the ore tempered and sharpened for the task at hand and so our magecraft follows. We can temper and focus your strengths for a price."

Nicola looked toward Vincent and then to Alysis and Robert. "What is this price?" Nicola asked apprehensively.

Miraiko turned to them. "Your secrets. I need three bits of information from you. Your biggest fear, your greatest desire or goal and something you have never told anyone before, only with these can we proceed."

"Hmm I know many people who were approached to get Izanami forged soul weapons. It gives Izanami an inner look to your person and character. It gives them an access all areas pass into who you are and who you may be." William added.

Vincent sighed. "My honour and loyalty are bound to Stone, my blood and power trapped by Wood my relationships filled with Snow, my secrets and weapons wrapped in steel, why not!? I've nothing to lose."

Robert shrugged. "Fuck it, why not. We gonna do this audibly or do you want me to write a note or what?"

Juan wasn't so easy, "Ehhh, senor Damien wouldn't want me spreading any information... I'll pass."

Saber nodded at Juan, "Wise decision, master. I am one who believes that you can only truly bond with your chosen weapon in the heat of battle!" Juan laughed, it was rare to see Saber so fired up. His regal demeanor was back a second later though, as if nothing happened.

Robert shrugged again, "Be that as it may... My usual weapon is fucking water and small creatures, I think I'll be fine."

"A man's greatest weapon is his companions, my boy! A good unit backing you up is just... Excellent!!!"

"Berserker... To be completely honest, I forgot you were around."

"Me too, lad!"

Elsewhere, Rei wrapped a scarf around his face to shield himself from the sand.

"Shoshin. Where do we go from here?"

Elsewhere, Rei wrapped a scarf around his face to shield himself from the sand.

"Shoshin. Where do we go from here?"

The sand was blowing up, apart from being annoying it was shielding them from prying eyes.
"Well each gate has a special locking system, you either need to hold an Arcana Alumni card, be temporarily or permanently granted access from your prana signature." Shoshin ran her hand along her sword, leading the guys through the sand towards the side of the building.

"Good thing Tenko here absorbs Prana unadulterated. So the choice is yours guys either we sneakily get some Prana to use a key or we do a hit and run, but by then most of Isis would be on our case." She scanned her eyes across the Quad, alot of first years talking to upperclassmen, explaining to them the benefits of joining Isis, 2nd and third years explaining and showing tricks and abilities to the younger years, about maybe 23 people in total. The Sand Quad wasn't a fan favourite, it was too hot and dry at times with the sand whipping up to relaxing to most. The Stone and Wood Quad were the most beautiful constantly, but the Alumni who ruled them deterred visitors. The Snow and Steel quads were the choice for many students from all houses to spend free time, Steel was green grassy and quaint, while Snow was loud, cold but had a social warmth and the drinks never stopped flowing.

If they were to fight, the three first years and two Lancers should be able to deal with them before Damien appeared if he so choose to. The choice was upto Rei and Shin.

Shin smirked. "Lancer's never been afraid of being outnumbered. We came to show them who rules the school, right? We can't say we showed them if they never notice that we were here."

Shin smirked. "Lancer's never been afraid of being outnumbered. We came to show them who rules the school, right? We can't say we showed them if they never notice that we were here."

"Yes. Being sly will give us no glory, no prestige. Battles may be won through stealth, but not war, and we're declaring war today. Although, I do believe it would be better to keep the servants out of it for now, unless there is a need for them. How do you feel, Lancer?"

"Honestly? I dislike the idea of senseless fighting... But I am here to serve you, so I will be your spear if you need me."

"That's very knightly of you."

"Kingly."

"Hey! You can't run away!" Victoria shouted as Ella vanished. Death kept her spear at the ready but walked back towards the others, looking bemused at Victoria's fury. "That's way too boring of an ending! You had this epic battle going on, and then you just LEFT -- argh! Screw it! Assassin, Michael Bay this joint!"

And then Rhea was explosions.

-----

"Conquest it is, then!" Shin grinned. "Let's see if these sand eaters are worth our Servants' time."

As the explosions filled the Rhea quad as the servants vanished, the stone structures usually strengthened by magic were blown apart by Assassin's noble phantasm. The front part of the grand Citadel was blown apart, leaving the Chapel exposed. Ella and Gabby were back inside the Chapel with Damien and Saver.

"Oh Fuck." Gabby said looking outwards from the exposed door to the chapel. Saver stood to meet the intruders.

-----
"Banzai!" Shoshin shouted jumping into action into the centre of the Quad.
"Listen up desert rats, I am Shoshin Yagami, prospect of House Izanami. I challenge any of you to magical combat, if you think you can handle me!" She said drawing Tenko. This was going to be better than she expected, she thought to herself while she waited to see what Shin and Rei would do.

----

Miraiko stood up, "Come here then, the first of you." He said pointing to Vincent. "Let's taste your prana."
Vincent made his way forward and sat down next to Miraiko. Miraiko turned behind him and summoned over a crucible filled with molten metal and clicked his fingers and a small concentrated ball of white crackling energy held the crucible up and molten.

"Give me your hand." He said forcefully taking Vincent's hand. He opened his other hand and small black particles whirled around and formed a small sharp blade in his fingers.
"Tell me what is your biggest fear?" He asked holding Vincent's hand in his.
"My my... my biggest fear...erm...I would have to say...my biggest fear is I would lose my friends and let the pain and loneliness turn me into facsimile of War." Vincent said, slow at fast and then hurried towards the end.
Miraiko stabbed him with small blade and no blood came from the wound only a sort of flowing energy, which he took by the tip of his blade and directed it into the crucible.

Miraiko tapped the spot again closing the wound and then smiled. "Good a truth, only truth can heal wounds of the soul."
"What? Wounds of the soul?" Vincent asked leaning back, but Miraiko held his hand tightly.
"Yes, shall we continue. What is your greatest goal or desire?"
Vincent took a deep breath.
"My greatest desire is to be better than I was before, better tomorrow. I want to have always feel like I have learned something, done something, seen something that made me a better person than I was the day before. I wanted to remembered..." Vincent trailed off as he started to hear what he was saying.
Miraiko listened and nodded and stabbed him again, this time deeply. Vincent yelped slightly and Miraiko withdrew the blade. He used the blade to dance some of the blood into the crucible. And then he tapped the wound again the energy started to reverse and go back into the wound, bring the excess fallen blood back into the wound also.
"Truth of truly where you want to be, mind over matter." Miraiko said looking at Vincent.
Vincent matched his gaze and Miraiko smiled back.
"Ok final part. Tell me something you have never told anyone."

Vincent lowered his eyes and then turned to his friends and then back to Miraiko. "There is darkness in my blood, my magical lineage can be traced back as far as pre-briton, some of the darkest roots. I fear, know I know with this pre-disposition my goal, my virtue may soon become my bane and my pride and lead me to War once again. I covet his powers and I've seen the path that much hatred leads you down and yet still I am tempted. But I am fighting it, I am fighting a living breathing manifestation of a better me, I don't want to die. I'm fighting against myself at every turn and I can't handle it and I would have given up if not for my friends, I can let myself down but I can't let them down."

Miraiko raised his blade and it started to changed shape until it was spinning long point. Which Miraiko then stabbed right into Vincent's wrist connecting with the bone before withdrawing it quickly, the wound healing behind it. The pain was there and gone in an instant and Miraiko tossed a small sample of the bone and it's marrow into the crucible.
"Truth of structure, to steady the bones of fortitude." Miraiko said smiling and letting go of Vincents hand, he stood up and went to the crucible and looked inside. He then opened his palm and summoned a spinning plateau of the white electrical energy and used his other hand to pour the molten metal on top of it, it's super fast spinning and charge, cooling and galvanising the metal until it was just an obtuse shiny blob.

Miraiko then threw it to Vincent. "There you go."
"What?!" Vincent said catching the metal blob in his hands. "What do I do with this?"
Miraiko smirked. "You speak to it, it's you after all. But it doesn't understand human words."
Vincent looked to Alysis for help.

"Banzai!" Shoshin shouted jumping into action into the centre of the Quad.
"Listen up desert rats, I am Shoshin Yagami, prospect of House Izanami. I challenge any of you to magical combat, if you think you can handle me!" She said drawing Tenko. This was going to be better than she expected, she thought to herself while she waited to see what Shin and Rei would do.

Rei was already beside her, but now wearing his armor, stolen from his family before he came here.

(Like this http://i.imgur.com/C6hSb8y.jpg)

The armor and greatsword glowed a brilliant blue, as if filled to the brim with prana. The greatsword was held in one hand, as if it was the natural thing to do. Rei tapped the tip of the sword on the ground, and the sand around them was blown away, revealing smooth sandstone beneath. "I've been here five minutes and I'm already tired of this shit. Let's get this over with."

As the explosions filled the Rhea quad as the servants vanished, the stone structures usually strengthened by magic were blown apart by Assassin's noble phantasm. The front part of the grand Citadel was blown apart, leaving the Chapel exposed. Ella and Gabby were back inside the Chapel with Damien and Saver.

"Oh Fuck." Gabby said looking outwards from the exposed door to the chapel. Saver stood to meet the intruders.

-----
"Banzai!" Shoshin shouted jumping into action into the centre of the Quad.
"Listen up desert rats, I am Shoshin Yagami, prospect of House Izanami. I challenge any of you to magical combat, if you think you can handle me!" She said drawing Tenko. This was going to be better than she expected, she thought to herself while she waited to see what Shin and Rei would do.

----

Miraiko stood up, "Come here then, the first of you." He said pointing to Vincent. "Let's taste your prana."
Vincent made his way forward and sat down next to Miraiko. Miraiko turned behind him and summoned over a crucible filled with molten metal and clicked his fingers and a small concentrated ball of white crackling energy held the crucible up and molten.

"Give me your hand." He said forcefully taking Vincent's hand. He opened his other hand and small black particles whirled around and formed a small sharp blade in his fingers.
"Tell me what is your biggest fear?" He asked holding Vincent's hand in his.
"My my... my biggest fear...erm...I would have to say...my biggest fear is I would lose my friends and let the pain and loneliness turn me into facsimile of War." Vincent said, slow at fast and then hurried towards the end.
Miraiko stabbed him with small blade and no blood came from the wound only a sort of flowing energy, which he took by the tip of his blade and directed it into the crucible.

Miraiko tapped the spot again closing the wound and then smiled. "Good a truth, only truth can heal wounds of the soul."
"What? Wounds of the soul?" Vincent asked leaning back, but Miraiko held his hand tightly.
"Yes, shall we continue. What is your greatest goal or desire?"
Vincent took a deep breath.
"My greatest desire is to be better than I was before, better tomorrow. I want to have always feel like I have learned something, done something, seen something that made me a better person than I was the day before. I wanted to remembered..." Vincent trailed off as he started to hear what he was saying.
Miraiko listened and nodded and stabbed him again, this time deeply. Vincent yelped slightly and Miraiko withdrew the blade. He used the blade to dance some of the blood into the crucible. And then he tapped the wound again the energy started to reverse and go back into the wound, bring the excess fallen blood back into the wound also.
"Truth of truly where you want to be, mind over matter." Miraiko said looking at Vincent.
Vincent matched his gaze and Miraiko smiled back.
"Ok final part. Tell me something you have never told anyone."

Vincent lowered his eyes and then turned to his friends and then back to Miraiko. "There is darkness in my blood, my magical lineage can be traced back as far as pre-briton, some of the darkest roots. I fear, know I know with this pre-disposition my goal, my virtue may soon become my bane and my pride and lead me to War once again. I covet his powers and I've seen the path that much hatred leads you down and yet still I am tempted. But I am fighting it, I am fighting a living breathing manifestation of a better me, I don't want to die. I'm fighting against myself at every turn and I can't handle it and I would have given up if not for my friends, I can let myself down but I can't let them down."

Miraiko raised his blade and it started to changed shape until it was spinning long point. Which Miraiko then stabbed right into Vincent's wrist connecting with the bone before withdrawing it quickly, the wound healing behind it. The pain was there and gone in an instant and Miraiko tossed a small sample of the bone and it's marrow into the crucible.
"Truth of structure, to steady the bones of fortitude." Miraiko said smiling and letting go of Vincents hand, he stood up and went to the crucible and looked inside. He then opened his palm and summoned a spinning plateau of the white electrical energy and used his other hand to pour the molten metal on top of it, it's super fast spinning and charge, cooling and galvanising the metal until it was just an obtuse shiny blob.

Miraiko then threw it to Vincent. "There you go."
"What?!" Vincent said catching the metal blob in his hands. "What do I do with this?"
Miraiko smirked. "You speak to it, it's you after all. But it doesn't understand human words."
Vincent looked to Alysis for help.

"Thank you, Victoria. Conquest, War. Lets finish this. Assassin, with me." Death said, and strode towards the chapel. The older man nodded and follwed his Master, while the younger Assassin ended combat and caused all knowledge of the cause of such destruction to be whiped away.

------

"Punch it. Speak with the language of fists." Alysis advised solemnly.

<Snipped quote by Serperion>

Rei was already beside her, but now wearing his armor, stolen from his family before he came here.

(Like this http://i.imgur.com/C6hSb8y.jpg)

The armor and greatsword glowed a brilliant blue, as if filled to the brim with prana. The greatsword was held in one hand, as if it was the natural thing to do. Rei tapped the tip of the sword on the ground, and the sand around them was blown away, revealing smooth sandstone beneath. "I've been here five minutes and I'm already tired of this shit. Let's get this over with."

"It took you five minutes? I'm impressed by your patience, Rei." Shi said, twin kodachis in his hands.

"It took you five minutes? I'm impressed by your patience, Rei." Shi said, twin kodachis in his hands.

"Patience is a virtue, Shin. This is just one of those times that it pays to not be virtuous."