@Raijinslayer


"Well, Miss Sayatachi, I would be very grateful if you would lead me to a nearby bar that you suggest, preferably one that has a Vision Lacrima turned towards the games. I'd like to know when I'll have to put my festivities to an end and get back to meet with my fellow guild members."

The flamboyant lady issues a friendly nod in response.

"Certainly," she says, "Most of the bars here do have Vision Lacrimas installed, but I can direct you towards one nearby. Follow me."

With that, she begins to lead him towards the bar that she chose, in which they've gone south. Yet as they walked, Sayatachi could feel more and more trouble within Argus. There was a sense of conflict... shame... fear... anger... a whole concoction of negative emotions. Even if she wasn't facing at him directly, she can feel the negative aura emitting from all over him. Perhaps its best that she leaves them alone... then again, maybe not.

"You seem troubled." she then says while looking back at the mage, "What's the matter darling?"

Zayn was walking on the streets, he was headed for the stadium. He had heard whispers that Nolan was holding off an S class wizard, a powerful being Zayn wished to fight. He was close to the stadium when one of Zayn’s wolves jumped out in front of him. ”You found Lucas Ryder. Good boy.” He moved his hand from left to right, vanishing the wolf. Zayn now had his scent, he was going to kill the man. His pace quickened to a sprint, he saw him finally, Lucas Ryder. Zayn stopped for a moment, drinking in the sight of finally finding his target. Lucas was talking a woman holding an ice cream, but Zayn no longer cared for waiting and sprinted full on. But before he could attack he somehow found himself run into a massive purple void, and then, he was gone. He turned quickly to see a woman in a white cloak, his surrounding area was a cliff facing the coliseum. His anger quickened and he shot a bolt of lightning at the woman, who quickly responded by placing another portal in front of her, the bolt hit Zayn in his back. ”They told me you’d be… feisty” Zayn shrugged off his own attack and slowed his breathing, ”Tell me what you want.” His fists still clenched and his anger still visible. ”Golden Laws hired me to retrieve this key thing. They said you’d easily be the man for the job, if you weren’t so hell-bent on killing that Lucas man and focused on the true objective. So your job has changed. You kill Lucas after assisting me in the retrieval of the key.” Zayn released his fists and walked closer to her, she reached for her sword, ”Those scums just couldn’t wait they sent you. But… this does allow me to focus on Lucas. Fine.” Zayn’s stance straightened and Charlie’s body began to relax however, she was still ready for a potential attack. ”Lucas Ryder, son of Andrew Ryder and now part of the famous Phoenix Wing, a strong and formidable guild. But, he no longer has the key. No, he gave it to someone far more annoying, an S class mage named, Damian Gerard. He will be quite tricky to get the key from, let alone fight with him. His magic allows him to control Ethereal Blades in a number of ways so be careful.” She was explaining this to Zayn and as she did, his eyes were almost bulging out of her hand. Zayn was loving the sound of this guy, someone so strong that he would be fighting soon. ”Can I ask you something? Why are you doing this, helping the Golden Laws?” Zayn turned to the city, while Charlie walked and joined him, both staring before Zayn fell onto his ass and relaxed for a while. Charlie remained intent on her position, ”At first, because it was just a simple retrieve job, something I’m good at, easy money.” Zayn looked at her, ”At first?” Charlie nodded in reply, ”But then I found out who I was working for. Andrew Ryder. A ruthless man with blood on his mind. His name is known well in the underworld. And I tried to leave, but he wouldn’t let me. He sent his most dangerous wizard on me. Eventually he caught up to me. I was backed into a wall and my magic was working. Then I saw him, Draco. I owed that man my life, but he didn’t even recognized me. He gave me a chance to come back, and if it wasn’t for him I’d be dead, so I accepted to finish my mission.” Zayn stood up, slightly chuckling. ”Look, if I were you, when this is all over, get out. Because this devise that they’re building isn’t something that’s been happening for months, it’s something that has been cooking for almost thirty years.” She nodded before throwing a purple ball in front of them, nodding to Zayn and both of them jumped through.

More than thirty souls watched, eyes wide open and breath bated, as the battle began. No soldier could avert his or her eyes at the prospect of Frenzy Plant fighting Phoenix Wing once again. Though Damian was as famous as he now was infamous to the warrior guild, the swordsmages Joshua Tamashii and Nolan Waltz came not far behind. Nolan, especially, commanded a fearsome reputation. Yesterday's event pitted him against Indigo Afina herself, and though the circumstance of the battle did not allow either one to defeat the other, their skirmish ended with Nolan's advantage. To Phoenix Wing, it would be obvious that the soldiers of Frenzy Plant thought Nolan to be just as ruthless a fighter as Damian, albeit honorable enough to, paradoxically, not attempt to disguise his cruelty with a veneer of honor.

Zander took the field with an array of weapons and a smorgasbord of fighting experience, while the monstrous Dullahan Xyster hid a huge and deadly bag of tricks. True to their reputations, Phoenix Wing's swordsmages put up a challenge, but they lacked something their enemies had in spades: camaraderie. The moment is became clear that Nolan and Joshua would not work together was the moment that most Frenzy Plant soldiers knew that victory would be theirs. Only a few of them dared to utter their assurances of triumph, however; most merely waited, and observed.



A little laugh issued from Indigo following Ashlyn's request. The sorceress rested her head in her hand and that arm in the crook of her other arm's elbow, regarding the young lady before her pensively. While nothing physical in her eyes have the slightest indication of anything unusual -they were not even a very bright shade of blue- they pored over Ashlyn as if she were a fascinating tome. Few people not hardened by some trauma or another could stand beneath her analytic stare and not feel the pricks of discomfort, for even without an ounce of magic those lightly glinting eyes seemed capable of revealing one's innermost secrets.

After a short while, she did break, but only to turn her attention to the events currently unfolding in the arena. For years Indigo called Zander her comrade, and fought alongside him on numerous occasions, yet she never grew bored of watching him fight. Among swordsmen, the wary, worldly warrior reigned as a champion. If Indigo presided over a library of books, Zander owned a library of technique. Only his soldier's honor, particularly his concern and desire to work with allies, prevented his vast skill from overwhelming the battlefield. As she watched, Indigo answered Ashlyn. ”Combat is what we are known for. If you want to fight, you will receive ample opportunity. I can see a young, fiery intensity in you, but I do not think you are a blind aggressor, either. Tell me: could you turn the other cheek to someone who threw a rock at you? Could you watch a friend die but stand as still as a statue? Would you submit yourself, body and mind, to the authority of a general?”

When she turned to look at Ashlyn, her face held intensity as well. No longer did she look like the gorgeous librarian; she called to mind a lady of war. ”Any two-bit thug can fight. It takes a certain kind of person to be able to do unimaginable violence but to be still. There will be sparring, for certain. If you aren't beaten immediately, we will find a way to beat you, then beat you down until you can overcome. Frenzy Plant is not a fight club. It is an army. We hold ourselves to a higher standard of conduct than ordinary wizard guilds, and that is why we are the most powerful. Is this the kind of life you want, miss?”



Having retreat from the confrontation with Elizabeth the Insane, and avoided her following him, Nero made his way at a chipper pace to the spot where he left Ayame and Eve. Sitting to his smallest companion's left, he reclined to the best of his ability. While all eyes lay on the current contestants, the Genie stared at the sky, specifically a few birds circling overhead. His best guess estimated them to be grackles, a very common species of dark olive-colored birds totally endemic to crowded cities. Despite the overpowering humanity of their habitats, however, the birds remained aloof and free, soaring above the smothering crowds and frenetic rush of traffic and only descending to pinch a quick bite to eat when necessary. Truly, Nero did envy them. For the sake of his only friends he allowed himself to exist in this jam-packed arena, but he loathed being around so many people. Beneath the flawless facade smoldered a steady disdain for the inconsiderate, inhospitable, insipid masses.

Naturally, it took him very little time to grow sick of the current state of events. Inquiring to his companions, he found neither girl particularly fond of the fighting, and resolved with them to depart immediately. Smack in the middle of the current two-on-two brawl the trio vacated the stands, though Nero requested a quick detour to the infirmary.

Like a celebrity just arriving at party thrown in his honor, he sashayed into the room that contained all of the competitors in the floating-island event. Zephyr, Pyrrha, Thor, and Malice all lay abed, with Karn and Penny nowhere to be seen. While he wanted to speak with only one in particular, Nero could not pass up an opportunity. Beaming, he cried out, ”Hey, hey, hey! It's the leaf brigade! All fluttered down from the sky, one after another, into these lovely, cushy beds. You bunch put in such. A. Show. I wouldn't be surprised if the kids started throwing themselves off high places to honor your 'achievements'. I know I wanted to. Keep up the good work!” He chuckled, holding two thumbs up, before scooting on over to Malice's bedside.

He put on a face of mock seriousness as he bent over the bed. ”Hoi there. So what gives? You didn't use any flesh smithin' at all. What's the point of wishin' for power if ya don't even use it? Maybe it's because Pirate Lord gotcha fightin' for a cause ya don't believe in.”

"Huh," Argus eloquently responded, so lost was he in his head that he didn't quite here Sayatachi at first. After playing the question back in his head, however, he quickly responded to the inquiry with a more subtly flippant attitude. "Oh, it's nothing really. Just still a bit anxious about being in a guild, since it'll be my first time being in one. Been a bit of a lone wolf up until this point, so I'm getting the jitters is all. No need to let me bother you with such small things"

Argus continued to follow the woman south, hoping that she wouldn't pry too much further into his issues. As they walked, however, he couldn't help but feel voices in his head, whispering about how they didn't want him, how they were only keeping around to dispose of him later. You're nothing to them. They didn't even give you a guild mark, and yet the other woman got one her first day there. They could've given it to you that night as well, but no, they instead went right into labeling you as a thing to be feared. And you didn't say anything about it, just standing there like a good soldier while they looked at you like a monster. A Demon.

Shut up. . . Even in his own mind, his voice was weak and frail. He cursed his own pitifulness, and his self-hatred only grew as he felt the satisfaction of his darkness grow with every word he spoke, obviously enjoying the havoc it was wreaking in his head.

Hmmm, you'd like that wouldn't you. You're stuck with me, fool, all the way to hell. But for now, I'll give you just the slightest bit of peace. After all, your suffering is always the most concentrated after you've had time to recover. Just remember what you've become, Argus . . . because they won't.

The presence of his magic left his mind, but the seeds of distrust that it had sewn within the former slave's heart did not. While this clash of wills had gone inside his head, Argus had grown rather silent and somber, the negativity that Sayatachi had been feeling only rising for a bit before seeming to vanish completely. However, Argus' mood didn't seem to improve much, as he just let out a sigh.

"We almost there, cause I just . . . I need to sit down."

@Lmpkio

@Lugubrious@Joshua Tamashii

The infirmary was a really boring place, simply watching the fight on a monitor wasn't half as exciting. yet this man then barged into the place who cheered for what they did which made Zephyr grin and give a thumbs up with his arm that wasn't sore, while Malice waved at Nero. Which said man would then visit said damsel. Wondering why she didn't use any of her new magic. This brought Zephyr to a sitting position as he looked at his sister and the man.

"Say what? Sis you have another magic? That makes three! Man you are lucky as hell! This is why you are my role model big sis!" Zephyr would exclaim as he was just radiating a big smile for his sisters accomplishment. She really seemed lucky to be getting said new magics like it was a pawn for her.

Malice would sigh at her brothers overly exuberant happiness. He really was too happy for his own good, even after losing. "To answer your question Nero.... I was going to, yet I didn't expect my brother to just out of nowhere blast me. I'm as upset as you are, I wanted to showcase my new power. Get the eyes of the council and further my standing for a future Wizard Saint. I really didn't want to end up here twice. If their is a bright side, its that my baby brother has a crush on pyro over there." Malice would laugh afterwards, grinning again.

Zephyr would frown at what his sister said and fold his arms with a little yelp. "At least I didn't lose in ten seconds..." Zephyr said which made Malice glare at him before looking at Nero.

"As for my guild.... You might be right, they were fun at first but now I don't know. I'm being a bigger laughing stock than Tough Love is. I'll most likely leave them after the games are over. Why do you ask? Going to offer me a guild membership this time around?" Malice asked the genie who always seemed to be too friendly too much. Those types always plotted something behind the scene, she had experience with those types of people.

Zephyr would sit in silence before looking at Pyrrha. "That reminds me! After the games, I want a rematch. This time no god take over and no dumb boundaries! That way I can use more of my Machina's effects without getting disqualified. What do you say Pyyyyyyyrrrrha!" Zephyr said purposely drawing her name out for effect.

"You can consider a rematch AFTER Master Jack clears you of your injuries and is sure that Loki taking the wheel didn't cause lasting damage." Jake's distinct voice came into the room just ahead of him. He walked over to Zephyr and took a seat. "Thought I'd come see how you're recovering, since you got beat up pretty good during the free for all." He looks and Pyrrha and nods. "Miss Pyrrha, well fought out there."

Joshua stopped in his tracks as the knight's blade contacted the side of his head but he stood his ground and managed to stop from getting tossed to the side. He felt his blade contact his opponent's armor but did little.
"... You know something. You are very annoying. First off, you have no honor and attack a single person two on one when you have a second opponent. Secondly, you're showy as hell and your armor should go to better purposes the trying to make you look like a king, functional though it might be. Thirdly, I just find the air of superiority around you flat out annoying. Show some humility asshole." He said, looking up at his opponent. "Now as for the flashy armor... guess I'll have to try harder to cut it. Should be a good test."

Zander blinked. In retrospect, a concussion might have been too much to hope for. The decision of Joshua to speak rather than counterattack afforded the Ruby Knight a gratifying opportunity to get his wind back. Nevertheless, he also took the chance to whip his left arm around Joshua's in a hold called the Snake. "Honor? Humility? Like those of Damian, who crushed our friend's dreams as he crushed her bones, and Jamie, who denigrated my General to his face? Don't whine at me about principles, boy. Your guild shed them first, making clear that coming out on top is all that matters. I'm following your example." At that moment, the reason why he'd whistled became clear. Buttons the horse arrived on the scene, thundering across the sand toward her master, and the young man he'd ensnared. With all his strength, Zander attempted to shove Joshua into the path of the oncoming, armored horse to be trampled.

"[color=red]Then it seems I did join the wrong guild. But tell me, does it really put you in the right to discard that which you believe in to get back at others? Doesn't that just mean your beliefs are little more then a front for your own personal agenda?[color]" Joshua said, calmly watching as his arm was caught in a lock. When he was shoved away, Joshua knew his opponent's goal as he heard the horse coming well before he was shoved. He was quick to regain his balance and roll out of the way of the beast, getting back onto his feet quickly. Joshua sheathed his blade and looked at Zander. "So, Black Knight, what next? Going to summon your guild to fight your battle for you? Or are you going to make expendable soldiers to attack me, because you're unwilling to do so yourself? Either way, all I know is that you're going to fight dirty and cheap."



As Buttons approached, Zander vaulted up into the saddle, destroying the jagged coating on his messer and replacing it in his scabbard. He took note of which way Joshua rolled as he responded flatly, "Talk is cheap. This is a team event and we're using teamwork. You can cry to me after you lose to it." He spurred his horse forward, barreling straight for Joshua. "Xyster! Ratchet Poppy!"

Joshua shrugged at Zander's last statement. He wouldn't complain if he and Nolan lost the match. It just meant they would need to improve their skills to get the better of the cheats next time. Still, the fact that it was a team competition and that he and Nolan weren't working together was a fact. They would need to fix that, but their abilities and styles seemed a bit too different to work together effectively.

The call-out drew a growl of acknowledgement from the Dullahan, who having rose from the ground after her tumble immediately cut a swath across the sand in front of her, causing it to billow into the air and separate her from Nolan. Still moving at a greater pace, though not as much as previously, she broke off and sprinted for Joshua, dragging the Harvester behind her. She ran alongside Zander for a moment before leaping up as well, standing with uncanny balance on Button's backside. When the Ruby Knight bore down on Joshua, he swung his calvary sword to the right and Xyster slashed at the left. If Zander guess correctly, Joshua would try to dodge by jumping straight up, and in doing so underestimate the Dullahan's speed and accuracy.

For the first time during this battle, surprise had overcome Nolan. Not by the actions of his opponents, but of one man's words. To Nolan, Zander represented the ideals of Frenzy Plant, a guild that he respected and admired enough that he almost decided to join when he was still looking for a guild to join. The Ruby Knight was strong, fearless, and above all else, honorable. When Nolan heard that Frenzy Plant was taking part in the games, one of the few people he wanted to test his strength against, he was secretly elated. But now? Now here was Nolan fighting with the very same man he admired, slandering Phoenix Wing's name.

The God Slayer thought back to the time when he trained with Karn in the yokai village. The feminine boy went through a hellish training with Nolan and bore the unfathomable pain of awakening his Second Origin through force. How he first met Fleo and how they formed team Powder Keg with Amaya and Lucas. How their first mission together was to defeat an S-Class sand mage and that they only succeeded due to a suicidal combo between Lucas' Crash Magic and Nolan's ashes. Hell, he even thought of that stupid delinquent of an Exceed Dalton. Never did he think he would ever need friends. Relationships were too damn tedious and were too fragile to hold any true weight, but before he could realize it he formed bonds with an unlikely group of people. The same group that Zander insulted.

An explosion of a dark green magical energy erupted from his body, roaring like an endless storm ravaging the world into a wasteland. Nolan darted straight towards Zander and Xyster, kicking up a cloud of sand and ash into the air. The God Slayer appeared before the Frenzy Plant mages and their strikes collided with...six swords?! Nolan stood in front of them with four white arms made of spirits holding four extra swords. Ares once again was held with his right hand, allowing him enhanced strength once more while in his left was Hermes, the god slaying sword that increased Nolan's speed. The four spirit arms held four more god slaying blades. Balmung, a sword that amplifies his God Slaying and Shaman Magic, Incendio the fire sword that glistened like it was still in the process of being forged, the massive gun-sword Ragnell, and the black sword of darkness, Black Nebula.

The feeling of Nolan's magic alone was enough to sense the quiet wrath seeping from the man. His eyes, normally cold and apathetic, were filled with an anger that would never be satiated. "Bastard...I promised your guild master that I would have no aminosity for your guild, but this is an offense that I cannot turn a blind eye to. With inhuman strength, he began to push Zander and Xyster back. "You can insult those fools Jamie and Damian, and you can even insult me, but don't you dare speak ill of those other idiots! With a great push forward, he swung his blades with enough force to hopefully push them back, releasing a burst of flame, ash, and darkness to increase any possible damage.

When Zander and Xyster began charging him, Joshua took up a combat stance, ready to stand his ground. Luckily though, Nolan came alone and not only blocked the attacks but pushed both mages away as well. However, Joshua saw that he was losing himself to anger and knew that while that had helped now, it wouldn't in the long run. Walking forward, he placed a hand on his teammate's shoulder.
"Calm yourself Nolan. No point turning into Asura now. That spell looks like it consumes a lot of magical energy. Conserve that. Save it for when you need it and use it wisely." He said before looking at Zander and Xyster. "Though, you must admit the faux knight has a point. Karn humiliated that girl from Rider's Blade and Angelo damn near killed that mist girl from Dragon Fang. Our guild has only shown how out of control some of our members are. So don't prove him right. Stay angry if you want but don't lose yourself to it. Keep a calm head but a burning heart. You hear me?"

Nolan's attack, when it came, was completely unexpected and unprepared for. No human should have been able to move that fast, or attack with such power. Zander and Xyster, though rallied to strike as one, found their momentum completely halted by the Ash God Slayer's barrier of swords. Unfortunately, Buttons met no such impediment, and she continued to gallop forward, leaving both her passengers suspended in the air. The next instant came Nolan's own push, drawn from some incredible power within him, and it blasted both soldiers backward in a whirlwind of burning darkness. Even Zander's horse couldn't escape the destructive swath, and her ruby armor shattered apart to the tune of a horrific shriek from the blackness. After a few moments the cloud cleared, leaving man, monster, and mare buried beneath the ashes with only stray limbs sticking out.

Quiet permeated the battlefield. Then, with a moan, the head of the Ruby Knight surfaced from the ashes. The remainder of his headgear had been blown off, and his skin equal parts scorched and lacerated, but even so he tried to rise at the sight of his horse laying on her side amidst the ashes. Only a moment passed before he nearly collapsed, his strength wasted. "Buttons," he wheezed. "Will...suffocate..." His energy returned to him slowly, too slowly to make it to Buttons or defend anyone.

Another mound amid the ashes burst, and a tall, scrawny form got shakily to its feet. Xyster's clothes had been damaged by the explosion, and her marble skin sported severe gashes. The Harvester appeared, head among the ashes where her head was still buried, and she leaned upon it. When she spoke, her voice came from her throat, where her head should have been. "Lunatic. Lose yourself to anger if you want. It's the only way to beat me now." She held up a hand as if examining her fingernails, though of course she lacked a head. As the people watched, an inky blackness suffused her skin. The rate of spread quickened, and in another moment every inch of her gleamed black as pitch in the sunlight. Imhullu, Jack Be Nimble, and the others were gone, melted away like graveyard mist come daytime, but they left behind a sinister sight. Pushing off her weapon, Xyster kneeled down beside Zander and laid a hand on his heaving shoulder, just as Joshua did for Nolan. Her voice had grown distorted, reverberating ethereally. "Here, sir. Let me give you the stamina I stole from the boys. Use it to save our friend, then sit back." She slid her fingers across the shaft of the Harvester, and the blackness consumed it, too. When the last bit of color faded, there came a deafening noise: the sound of a church bell. Behind it came a crushing silence, as if the universe itself were dead. No living thing uttered a peep, from human to bird, and even the wind whispered not.

Xyster's body perked up in curiosity. "Nolan Waltz. Joshua Tamashii. The bell tolls for you, Ereshkigal."

From the ashes burst four long, serpentine strands of cloth--the ribbons in Xyster's hair. They wrapped around the Harvester and pulled, yanking the Dullahan's head from its dry tomb to adorn the weapon, and the next second she shot forward. Her movements had lost their fluidity, but nevertheless she covered great lengths in a single bound. Heedless of any counterattack, she darted into range and swung at Nolan's torso in a crescent arc.

Maybe he took that attack a little too far. His opponents were buried in ashes, until Zander's head popped up gasping for air and with little strength. Nolan had realized that the Ruby Knight was trying to save his equestrian friend from suffocation from inhaling ashes and with a swift motion of the hand, he blew the ashes covering the horse off too the side so it would breathe. Even if Nolan was serious about beating them, he still didn't have the desire to kill them nor did he desire to kill an innocent animal.

He glanced back to Joshua and tisked in annoyance, shrugging his hand off his shoulder. The spirit arms and swords were deactivated, drawing out Kaso to prepare for the next strike. Even though Nolan tried to not show it, exhaustion was ever so slowly beginning to creep up on him. The wounds he had suffered from Riot Lily, the stamina absorbed from him, and the magic blast stacked upon each other, causing him to pant slightly though his iron pride refused to show it. "I'm fine now, I'm fine. I've got enough fight left in me...more importantly..." The world seemed to lose all sense of joy. The monster, Xyster, had transformed into nightmare incarnate. Her body was an abyss of darkness that extended to Harvester, followed by a din of a church bell that silenced the world.

"The real battle has begun." The God Slayer told Joshua, stepping foreward with his eyes fixated on the Dullahan. "Bring it." What Xyster now lacked in grace she made up for pure power now. She had already appeared in front of the God Slayer, swinging her scythe straight towards his chest. On reflex Nolan swung Kaso down to Harvester and...his blade went through her weapon. His eyes widened and at the last second he was able to jump past her though not unscathed. His shoulder bled with large amounts of blood running down his arm despite no visible wound.

Quickly he turned around thrusted Kaso through her back, phasing through her as if her body was air. Nolan leaped back to try and gain distance. Invincibility? No...that's not it. He thought to himself. Precious little time was afforded to him to think, however, and Xyster's onslaught only intensified. She burst forward and threaded the weapon around her back before executing a horizontal slash. Nolan had leaped back in reaction to Xyster's next attack, but it wasn't enough to avoid the blade. Along his chest the blade phased through him and his blood splattered against his hoodie and ran down his stomach.



"All the more reason to set things right. I think the games were conducted too soon as it appears the guilds are taking loses too seriously. It doesn't matter, truly, who wins. No, this is to show that we as guilds can act responsibly and that we are there to defend them from bad mages. And when have I ever backed down from a challenge, Jack?" Jamie said, smiling at Elyse before giving a soft sigh.



"Lazarus, the guild has had members kidnapped and attacked in broad daylight here, don't underestimate them!" Sasha said, "Of course they would know who I am, everyone knows we are together. Why couldn't you just tell me what's going on?" She gave a sigh, and looked to trinity, "That would be good, thank you" There was so much she wanted to be able to do, but Sasha felt useless.

"Just sit, okay, while Trinity gets a lift to the hotel, please?"



As the first battles began, Gabriel was already heading back to camp. He was uneasy about doing so, as that hadn't worked the other day, but when else would he get a chance to try and earn how to fight? Most of the guild was out, and this would enable him a chance to try, even if he did land on his arse more then his feet. Or hit himself with the stick he was using as a sword.

@YipeeXD@Silver Fox@Joshua Tamashii@Roseletta@Zarkun[@Cirus Arvennicus]

Lazarus
@caits
He scowled like a child. "Fine." He threw his fur pelt back on, planting himself down. He calmed himself. "When you get back. We have some things to discuss. Ok?" He questioned assertively. He had nothing else to say.

@Lugubrious
ENMA

The oni sat in the awkward atmosphere that was the Frenzy Plant stand. God, the tension was so thick that he could cut a damn hole in the air with a knife. Holy shit did they ever need to relax. Sure, Frenzy Plant wasn't exactly on the best of terms with Phoenix Wing, but this was just ridiculous. The games were a festive time of year where they should be having fun, not brooding while their comrades fought. God damn it was hard enough for him to enjoy the match as it was as he was stuck in between a rock and hard place with either supporting Nolan or his own guild and this wasn't helping! Jeez, so much for having a fun time.

Enma was seated next to his guild master, Sanders. The old man was ever silent as he watched the match, perhaps the only man that doesn't have a grudge against Phoenix Wing or at the very least, hard feelings towards Nolan. The oni leaned forward in his seat and said, "Yikes, what a scary bastard. I've fought him on countless occasions and I'm still struck with awe every time we fight. Nolan, heh, he's truly one hell of a monster and he's just getting stronger." He chuckled, looking at the match with a very nonchalant manner. "He's dangerous, excessively dangerous. It wouldn't surprise me if he actually does kill the gods one d-."

He stopped himself from finishing that sentence. His eyes widened when he realized that he had unleashed pure magic energy in a fit of rage and then proceeded to consume Xyster and Zander in a blast of pure darkness. "What the hell? What the hell happened to make Nolan so pissed?" Whatever playfulness in his voice was gone and replaced with an uncharacteristic nervousness. This was bad, really bad. Enma saw the condition that his two guild mates where in and it wasn't pretty. They looked like they were two steps to death with Nolan looking more than ready to send another hellish attack. Enma felt more than ready to jump in to throw in the towel before Nolan had he chance to kill them, but Joshua seemed to had brought him back to his senses.

Relief came over as he leaned back in his seat. Nolan calmed down so perhaps no one was going to die today. He spoke too soon. The deep booming of bells could be heard throughout the stadium and at the center of it was Xyster, turning into the embodiment of death that she was. There were few times when Enma had ever felt fear come over him and this woman, no, whatever the hell she is, made his spine shiver. Nolan's attacks passed through her like he was trying to attack mist though he took heavy damage from her. "Sir, just what exactly did she just do?"

@Caits
FERRIS

"Yeah, I'll try and keep that mind." Ferris said as he looked down at the box of food. Carefully he opened it up and saw that it looked...well, surprisingly normal. There were some odd features in the food, like cooked eyes of whatever creature was taken from though he was surprised with just normal it looked compared to the ingredients that were put into them before they were cooked. He was about to begin eating, but he froze in place. It wasn't because of the food, it was the match going on before him. His microphone was still on, but he said absentmindedly, "Holy shit, what kind of monsters were these guilds hiding?"

@Zarkun
"....I see." Was all Cody mumbled as a reply as he mulled over James' explanation. So Phoenix Wing had fought the corrupt magic council by accident simply because they didn't answer their inquiries about a book and had simply gone and asked for it personally?
He sighed loudly now. It seems like this entire guild was just a magnet for trouble, himself included, however that made this place seem rather fun.
"So you guys taking down the council annoyed this dark guild then? I suppose that would make sense." Cody replied as he took another spoonful of curry.



@Natsume Honnaji
"F-Fiance?" Jasmine mumbled under her breath, not really entirely sure of the situation going on. Why was Robin telling this woman(?) they were due to be married, shouldn't he just tell her they weren't a couple and she(?) was simply confused?
"Oh really?! That sounds absolutely dreadful deary! I have a few dresses in stock which I was looking to try and sell, hopefully there's something there which'll help." The woman(?) responded rather saddened at first, but quickly perked up and beckoned them to follow.
Jasmine fidgeted slightly behind of Robin before following after the woman(?) to a room in the back with a few dresses lined up on a rack, despite the fact these dresses were 'reduced' they seemed to be quite well made dresses.

Lux Harken

Lux raised an eyebrow at that. As far as he was aware there were no laws about the amount of people who could take a job. Anyone could accept if the poster was still up.

Not that he wanted sole rights to the job himself either.

"Mind sharing?" He asked, "It's a pretty big paycheck. I'm sure we can find a way to split it evenly."

Robin nodded softly to the person and smiled "That would be wonderful, I'll wait out here and let here and let her decide what one to get. Once she's decided I'll pay for it." He walks over to the bench inside the shop and sits down crossing his legs and waiting for them to finish.

@Lunarlors34

@hatakekuro@Caits
Sitting and watching the game this close was really rough. Ariel couldn't really tell who's magic was affecting her more but it was like being pulled in two different directions. And while she didn't like the idea of leaving the girl she brought alone, the nurses assured her that they would get her sorted. With not much else she could do, Ariel headed out from the stadium and into the streets.

The further she got from the stadium the better she was beginning to feel. Walking through the streets she passed several cart shops selling everything you can think of. It was to be expected, this being the biggest event in a long time. Most of the vendors she just ignored and they left her alone when she scowled at them. Even so their constant asking slowed her down a tad.

But eventually she made it to the Phoenix Wing hotel. Given the chaos of the circumstances getting here she didn't quite remember what room was hers. The first night she'd crashed in Nolan's room and the night after she was simply placed in another room. Standing in the hallway she tried mused on what she should do next.

James shrugged. "That guild that attacked us yesterday? They were one we made enemies with. The one that came after you today? They may just be jerks. Hard to tell until we face them again."




Jack chuckled, though he maintained a sharp eye on Jackie. Magic healing could only provide temporary boosts in the short term, so he hoped that it would last until she could lay down again. "It's something that's easier for you to see and taste than explain, but I can tell you it's a delicious food." He then turned to Jamie, humming in thought.

"That is perhaps true, but all the same, you should be careful. Especially considering they don't hold you personally in much high esteem."

Jackie frowned, not really satisfied with this answer. Still, she knew Master Jack would've told her about it if she needed to know. So she kept her silence, watching the children for a bit before asking her next question.
"Should all people their age be like that?" She asked



"Oh... well it's a pleasure to meet you Mister Yashia. I'll be sure to send someone you way if they're looking for something." Lucus said, keeping his tone even before walking away. Once he was out of sight, he began running. He had to find Rose. If this man had the same last name as her, that meant he was possibly her family. And if so... did she want to see them?



"I say you're louder then the average human despite how tired you should be." Pyrrha said, standing up, having been checked over and found fit to leave. Stretching, she looked over at Zephyr and frowned. "If the opportunity comes up. I'll consider it then, but not a moment sooner."

With that she left the room and began wondering the halls of the stadium.

@Prince of Seraphs @Jangel13
Wes and the rune knights eventually arrived at the stadium and found the infirmary. From there, the rune knights placed Dawn on a bed next to a girl and left to continue their next task. For some reason, Wes felt that the two look a bit similar, but there were no point in asking since both were unconscious. Although they were still unconscious, they seemed great together and were best that they got some rest with what happened to today. With that thought in mind, Wes closed the door as he left the infirmary and made his way outside into the bustling city of Crocus.

Although Wes was able to catch Shutler earlier today during the battle within the dome, his search still wasn’t finished. Shutler’s other half was still out roaming the world somewhere and Wes didn’t have any leads on where he could be hiding. While he thought about this, he found himself in marketplace and noticed someone familiar, Mark. However, the hat that the person chose to wear didn’t seem to really suit them. But who am I to judge. I’m usually wearing this poncho and bandages. Wait, is that… Angelo, Wes hasn’t seen him for years or any Phoenix Wing members in months.

It’s been months since Wes left the guild. After leaving, he wasn’t sure how most of the members felt towards him. Except for a few that spoke to him before he left, saying that they weren’t particular happy about it. During his days as a guild member, he didn’t spend much time in the guild hall or speak to most people there. Always being reclusive was his nature and he wouldn’t be surprised if old members didn’t remember him. There was Angelo, but they only went on one quest which would be months ago for Angelo. But he wanted to know how the guild was doing and if it was better without him. He looked up and called Angelo, “Hey, Angelo! It’s been awhile. Are you and the guild doing okay?”

@Expolar
Angelo was getting ready to leave until he heard someone call out to him and he took a good look before he realized that it was Wes, man Angelo hasn't seen him since that quest they took together a few months back. Angelo smiled patting his back damn it is good to see you again Wes. To answer your question the guild is doing fine me however I had to deal with a whole bunch of crap because I didn't pull any punches during a fight. Long story short I apologized and I learned not to go full force a often. But what has been going on with you man I haven't seen you in a while Angelo said smiling. It is good to talk to someone who wasn't on his case after the incident

There had to be a weakness to Xyster's invincibility. True invincibility doesn't exist because there was always a catch to any form of invincibility whether it was a time limit or there was a weak point that allowed every other part of the body to remain unharmed...Now that he thought about it, why weren't there any wounds on Xyster's face or the rest of her head? The Dullahan had been caught in so many of Nolan's destructive attacks that her head should have visible evidence of damage just like the rest of her body. And now her body was intangible...though now what about her head?

With a frenzied Dullahan on the hunt, mid-battle strategizing proved to be a luxury Nolan could scarcely indulge. His enemy recognized the scent of victory, knowing that if Nolan lost much more blood, his consciousness would slip away. Already it made his clothes slick and damp, and it stained red the sand where it fell. Still deadly silent after the toll of the unseen bell, Xyster attacked again, whirling her scythe vertically before lashing out in a slice straight up the Ash God Slayer's middle.

Crap, he was losing too much blood. He was starting to get light headed and everything was starting to become murky. There was no more time for him to idle around dodging or else he'll pass out long before he could defeat Xyster. Her next attack came fast and Nolan tried to avoid the attack, but hardly succeeded. While he was able to step back in time, the scythe slashed directly in the middle of his face, causing blood to seep down. There was his moment! After such an attack, the bottom of the scythe where Xyster's head was attached was now in front of him. Not wasting a moment he stepped in and threw an uppercut with a torrent of ash covered it straight to Xyster's head.

In her berserk state, Xyster couldn't conceive of defeat in any form. Only the blood concerned her, and its freedom from the vessels and flesh that bound it. Following that upward slash, Nolan's vital fluid trickled down his face, and his tempestuous heartbeat sounded out to the Dullahan a sweet song of victory. The crowd, stunned by the progression of the match so far, sat on the very edge of its collective seat. Would humanity prevail against this terrifying monster? They dared to hope, and when Nolan's ash-wreathed fist cannoned into Xyster's head, they held their breath. Uttering a garbled cry, the head flew away in a black flurry, and the body of Xyster stumbled backward, convulsing. When her head hit the ground, it became obvious the extent of the damage. The soldier's face was frozen in a look of shock, mouth wide open and pupils strangely small--that is, pupil. Nolan's mighty hand had crushed her left eye completely, leaving an ugly black hole. From the deathly jaws of defeat, the Ash God Slayer had seized victory.

Any cheers from the crowd, however, were abruptly silenced. Xyster's body, stalled for a moment, chose to finish its duty. It swung the Harvester in a massive spiral and tore the blade through Nolan's shoulder to emerge from its hip, leaving no wound behind but taking with it enough blood to cause the Phoenix Wing swordsman to crumple to the ground, unconscious. Xyster's body took no further action, for its color returned to normal, the Harvester vanished, and it sank, shivering to its knees.

Blood exploded from his body and stained the sandy ground crimson. His eyes widened as he felt a searing pain tear through his body though not a sound slipped from his lips. The luster in his black eyes faded into a monochrome gray. His conscious was a blank slate as his eyes stared into the darkness. There was no way he could fight anymore, but despite everything; the brutal beating he received, the alarming amount of blood he had lost, and the now lack of mental ability for the moment, his body was still standing. It wasn't that he was still conscious nor did his body have the strength to fight anymore. The iron pride and unbreakable will kept his half dead body standing, his eyes stared off into the void of nothingness. It was a battle well fought.



While that happened, Zander sat beside his horse, having assured himself that she could breath easy. He felt through the ashes for his ruby blade, seeking it with a plan in mind.

"Well... that's different." Joshua said, watching as Xyster attacked Nolan. His teammate was in trouble but Joshua knew that Xyster was only part of a bigger problem. Zander couldn't be ignored. So he made his way over to the knight and drew his blade, placing it at the man's neck. "Much as I'm sure you'd love to get your hands on that sword of yours, I'm not going to let you. I have no interest in killing you. But I can't have you making things worse for my friend over there. So, I'll give you two options: Surrender or fight me one-on-one."

The proximity of steel to Zander's throat caused his breath to catch there, but Joshua's words allowed him to breath easy. Without the intention to kill, the placing of a blade in this threatening position constituted a foolish move indeed. Rather than replying immediately, the soldier took the chance to continue recovering, and though he leaked blood from a half-dozen cuts and his bruises stung mightily, he felt more alive than ever. About ten seconds after the Phoenix Wing swordsman's ultimatum, Zander replied. "You've miscalculated. Why would I attack Nolan? He is already beaten. You, Tamashii, are the only one left." Zander rose to his full height with impunity, knowing that Joshua could do nothing to his neck without risking killing him. In Zander's right hand gleamed the ruby blade, recovered discreetly from beneath the ashes. Unmasked and unhelmeted, Zander's face might have surprised his foe. While his features were hard and severe, there were bags beneath his eyes.

The Ruby Knight hopped backward, muttering an incantation, and swiped his blade over his left arm. Where sword touched armor, a crop of ruby grew, until Zander's left arm effectively became a huge, crystalline, scarlet shield. Its surface, covered in points and jags, reflected the sunlight in a beautiful but sinister fashion. "Impress me, boy," he commanded.

"I'm more then willing to bet on Nolan surviving your undead servant. Though do us all a favor and dismiss your poor horse. It has no place on this battlefield and I will not hesitate to permanently cripple it if it means taking the poor creature out of this equation." Joshua said, taking a step back of his own and sheathing his blade again.

Cripple...Buttons? A second passed before the full understanding of the declaration sank in. This pigheaded boy planned to prevent his dearest pet from ever again walking, galloping, or even standing. In short, he wanted to erase any meaning, joy, or relief from Buttons' life. Lances of hatred pierced Zander's mind, but not anger; rage would only hinder what he was about to do, while hatred would enable it. Gritting his teeth, Zander charged forward, closing the few feet that separated him and Joshua in the blink of an eye. He hammered his massive shield arm at his adversary, uttering a wordless bellow, before pivoting around and launching a Scarlet Swath at Joshua to rake across his flesh, to cut into and cauterize it on the spot. "Wretched filth." he rumbled. "You will hesitate plenty when your bones are sawdust." He raised his shield-arm, adjusted his aim, and brought it down to bludgeon Joshua's head.

"Ah... shit." Joshua muttered as he saw Zander grow angry. The man was fast in his approach but Joshua dodged the first blow with ease before ducking under the laser-like Scarlet Swath. He looked up in time to just barely hop back and avoid the blow to his head. "Geez, it's your own damn fault. If you bring a horse to a battle and expect it to come out unharmed, you're way to confident. You can't prepare for everything and you should know your opponents will aim to get the poor creature out of the equation as soon as possible. BUT, as I said, I will not harm it unless you have it help you in battle again."

During the time Joshua wasted talking, Zander took action. As much as it might have looked otherwise, no rage clouded his eyes, and his soldier's mind perceived that somehow Joshua managed to dodge his attacks. Speed-oriented. Dodges out of inability to take hits. Solution: hinder. Taking a deep breath, Zander held up his shield-arm to block while he span the grip of his ruby blade around. He rallied his magical power and plunged the sword into the ground, spreading Scarlet Aurora through the sand. While no Make wizard, the Ruby Knight could boast some manipulation of his magic's shape. At Zander's whim, the entire area in a thirty-foot radius around him crystallized into ruby, which would entrap Joshua's feet if he did not jump.

This, however, formed only the first element of his plan. On the ground, a swift warrior could change his direction as he pleased, but the laws of physics dictated that in the air, one could only squirm. Crying out, Zander threw from his blade a Scarlet Swath as wide as a galley ship to catch Joshua mid-air.

Joshua sighed. This was getting nowhere quick. He watched his opponent carefully as he raised his shield in a defensive manner. While he couldn't see what was going behind it, he quickly spotted a red aura spread across the field. Joshua quickly requiped to the other sword he used earlier, suspecting this to simply be a decoy, and jumped up in time to avoid getting his feet stuck in ruby. When Zander fired the laser, Joshua quickly summoned a wall of energy blades in front of him to block it as he landed on the ground. This time he didn't bother talking and waited to see Zander's next trick. Since the arena was entirely ruby now, he would have to be careful. Zander's ability with the material was impressive so far and something to be feared.



For a moment, Zander deigned to glance toward where his comrade fought, ruminating on their failure to operate as a perfect team. The sight of two figured standing still surprised him for a moment, but the story behind the quiet, still spectacle could be guessed at. Frightening Xyster used her ultimate attack, Ereshkigal, and sealed Nolan's defeat, but in the course of the ensuing one-sided fight he'd figured out and capitalized on the Dullahan's only weakness. In the end, while neither collapsed into the sand, neither could fight. The sands, however, told another tale. Nolan, bereft of blood, stood unconscious, despite every law of anatomy. Xyster's body, however, still moved. Despite the sorry -not to mention paralyzed- state of her head, whose eye looked to be permanently damaged, her body sported no visible injury. Given the disconnection between body and head might still be roused into action.

Zander took this all in during the moment Joshua allowed him, and resolved to not dwell on it. Relying on whatever fighting ability resided within Xyster's body was a risk that the Ruby Knight could not take. Instead, he braced himself and swung his shield-arm with all his might onto the ruby ground around him. An intense jarring sensation shot through his arm, prompted a yell of pain, and the shield shattered into chunks. With steely resolve Zander swung his weapon, projecting a Scarlet Swath toward Joshua that carried with it the hefty chunks that had been his shield--a Scarlet Shotgun. He followed up, dead set on victory with this final trick, by charging straight forward after the Shotgun, blade pointed forward. Red light danced across his sword, crystallizing the surface, and he cried, "Secret Move: True Warrior's Wailing Thrust!" His swordblade exploded forward, extending like a bamboo shoot surrounded in crimson radiance, its tip bearing down on Joshua with ludicrous pushing power. It all lies...in this coming moment!

Joshua watched Zander and summoned up a wall of blades again to block the Swath, only to be surprised at the rocky bombardment, breaking his consentration and breaking the wall, causing Joshua to get hit by several chucks of ruby and whatever bit of the laser was still passing by. He fell to one knee to catch his breathe, but he barely got the time as something hit him in the right shoulder and sent him flying into the wall on the far side of the arena, hitting the wall with enough force to cause an explosion of dust and stone.
"Ah, fuck that hurts!" He shouted from the cloud. His right shoulder was shattered and Swath and ruby chunks had left him with several cauterized cuts. Still he was conscious, though his vision was definately going for a loop, and that was all he needed. "Hey Zander! Would you prefer a draw or do you want me to actually try to hit you?"

This was it: the final moment. Though he'd been virtually untouched seconds before, Joshua now lay on the brink after taking a Wailing Thrust, the Ruby Knight's most powerful melee technique. Zander saved his smile, though. No situation existed in which overconfidence couldn't somehow lead to a sudden turnabout and ignoble defeat. Placing a gauntleted hand firmly around the blade of his sword, Frenzy Plant's premier swordsman called, "For the sake of my ally Xyster, and your noble teammate Nolan, I would prefer you, unworthy one, to lie in a dreamless sleep on the sand!"

Zander channeled every ounce of energy remained, knowing that his strength would be depleted afterward, and began to spin the massively elongated blade in a horizontal circle. A familiar ruby-red light built around the weapon as he did, and as Zander reached the critical point of his rotation, his sword sped up. The crimson glow that enveloped it burst outward in an utterly enormous Scarlet Swath, nearly as wide as the arena itself and as thick as a post box. While the resulting laser blast lacked the magic power to incinerate anything in its touch, Zander trusted it to let loose a good old-fashioned explosion across the entire western arena wall. Regardless, the giant blade immediately broke down into a glittering red powder, and Zander himself dropped to one knee, panting, and watched as the king-size Scarlet Swath, better known as a Crimson Eclipse, burst against the far side wall.

"Ah shit." Joshua muttered as he spotted the glow. He quickly requiped to another blade and summoned up a dome of ice, not trusting a wall of energy blades given how that turned out last time. He got it up in time to block the laser part but the explosions ripped through it and sent ice everywhere, giving him more then a few good cuts while the explosion battered him with heat. As it ended and dust entered the air, Joshua coughed and slowly got to his feet before getting out of the cloud and sitting on the ground again.
"Unworthy one... very accurate my friend. And I mean that." He shouted over at Zander, a small smile on his face. "Damnit all, I'm completely useless. I doubt I can make it over to you and I know I don't have a trick up my sleeve to beat ya... Guess you win eh?"

Across the arena, Zander finally allowed himself to smile. Xyster still lived, and Buttons could still walk. From the stands, Hyun perhaps partook in a smidgeon of happiness for her guild as well. The Ruby Knight's friends were avenged. Slowly, and with much effort, he stood to his full height, and drew his ruby-encrusted messer. This weapon he thrust into the sky in a silent but glittering token of victory. "Seems that way to me. A hard-earned win, though...I would not relish taking you on again."

Though cheery as usual, Sheldon's voice contained trace bits of awe when he gathered himself up to sing out, "Incredible! A contest of blades and magic, so fast and so cool I don't think anyone will be able to forget it! Congratulations, Frenzy Plant! ...Someone, call the medics."



"Don't get snippy with me for getting yourself into this mess, Lazarus!" Sasha said in annoyance, "I've been worried, and now you come back to me looking like you've been beaten up, so shove that snippy attitude and stop being a child!" She threw up her arms in exasperation, before walking off to find a way to get to the hotel, soon returning with a MP car, managing to bring her temper down, she kept an expression of composure.

She ushered them into the car, giving Karn a pet, hoping he was okay after everything. She didn't say anything, deciding to stay silent as traveled to the hotel.

It didn't take long to arrive at the hotel.



At the hotel, it didn't take Penny long to figure out that Damien was there,and she sighed. At this rate, she'd have to leave without saying goodbye. She stumbled across Ariel, who seemed a bit lost.

"What's wrong?" She asked, managed to keep a leveled tone, and smooth over any troubled features she had, thinking on how much time she actually had.



Jamie gave a laugh, finding the simple act relaxing "Again, when has not being held in high esteem stopped me? We're going to need everyone we can, for what's coming. I don't need high esteem. I just need to know there's allies at my guilds back. You don't need esteem to have trust"



Jessie leaned over and took a fork out, stabbing a pice of the dish, stealing it from Ferris, munching on it as she watched the battle, immersed in it and overwhelmed. "I don't know, but damn, such power, how can such power exist? That was certainly an exhilarating start to the battles!"

She flicked her mic off, happily munching on the food, apparently without a care for what it was.
@t2wave@yipeeXD@zarkun@joshua tamashii[@Cirus Arvennicus]

@Caits
As Ariel was pondering what to do, Penny stumbled across her and noted that she seemed a bit lost. "Meh. I just realized that I don't have a room here. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise since I wasn't expected to be here at all." She grumbled a bit under her breath and glanced at Penny. Something was slightly off, but Ariel couldn't put her finger on it. Probably didn't help that she was suffering from a poor attitude at the moment.

After a few moments of staring she huffed and leaned against the wall. Penny seemed distressed. Maybe it was the personality changing or intuition but something was eating at her guildmate. "What about you? Something the matter?" Ariel didn't look like she was in the mood to just take the usual answer. People tended to hide issues under "I'm fine." or "It's nothing."

@Raijinslayer


"Huh? Oh, it's nothing really. Just still a bit anxious about being in a guild, since it'll be my first time being in one. Been a bit of a lone wolf up until this point, so I'm getting the jitters is all. No need to let me bother you with such small things."

"You can tell me whatever you wish." Sayatachi responds as she analyzes him quickly, "It'll stay in between us and no one else."

She can tell something was really up with him... as if something was gnawing at his mind. But alas, she might as well ask as soon as they get to the bar. The negativite aura seemed to be easily rising from Argus for a short while till it suddenly disappeared completely.

"We almost there, cause I just . . . I need to sit down."

"It's just over here." the Rainbow Majesty answers as she points to its location

As they reached the bar, Sayatachi leads Argus into the bar, where everyone else was drinking or watching the game from the lacrimas stationed on the walls and tables. Soon, they two find a seat near the center and they would sit down and order some drinks. Again, the lady can see that Argus was indeed looking very sickly and was having a growing concern for him.

"Your negativity has seemed to vanish," she responds softly, trying to get Argus' mind into place, "Yet you still look quite sickly. What's troubling you?"

---

@hatakekuro


As she walks slowly back to the Hotel, Samir decides that it's best to probably get Marlene some medicinal ointment to help sooth her aching joints after the battle. After all, she seemed to be in some discomfort in the morning, so might as well get some for her anyways. Yet the only place she knows that she can get some of this is from the infirmary. She then spots one right by the arena, hearing the faint sounds of battle and cheering from within the latter. She wonders who was fighting now and what the next battle will be, but she has no time for that now. As she walks into the infirmary, she sees the other patients waiting to be treated, with many she recognizes being wizards themselves. They must've been pretty banged up in the matches. Are the fights getting even more intense already?

Regardless, as soon as the line to the counter moved up one, she finds herself by the counter window and politely asks for the said ointment. She was told to give them a minute as they try to see if they happen to still have some, for they were already beginning to run out of it. The Archer sighs as she quietly sits down and waits for them to arrive with or without the ointment. As she looks around aimlessly, her eye then catches a familiar face. It was Marlene's "crush" Nolan... and he didn't look that good either... probably half dead or something. An eyebrow raises up as she slowly walks towards him, hoping that her presence won't send him running out the door.

"Nolan-sama?" she asks politely as she lightly taps on his shoulder, "You looked pretty banged up. What happened over there at the arena?"