[center][color=1a7b30][h2]Aleph Banton[/h2][/color]
[img]https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/718843028765585408/ftZaWnuy.jpg[/img]

[b][color=1a7b30]"I don't want to see friends fight!"[/color][/b][/center]
[hr]
[center][@ADamnFiddle][@Lucius Cypher][@liferusher][/center]
[hr]When he was informed that they were in the middle of a rather serious situation, Aleph did feel a bit embarrassed that he had missed this. Perhaps it was all the commotion already going on, but until it was pointed out that right now was now happy time for the group he had found himself assisting, he hadn't noticed the shenanigans or whatever was occurring on the rooftops. He wondered just how he should help, then. What would a Hero do in this situation? Would it be best to find his way up and help fight... whatever that murderer was supposed to be? Or should he stay down here? 

Aleph's right hand began to sting with a pain in intensity he had never experienced before in his life. Around that time, the orc (that Aleph had intentionally been avoiding due to recognizing from earlier) had found himself subject of a rather brutal attempt at a weight loss program. Or maybe he was being attacked? You never could tell nowadays. At least until Tani had decided to turn and face him, shambling like some being who had lost its very soul and will. But that did not appear to stop her from beginning to approach him and using his perfected detective's deduction, he figured she was very unlikely to be advancing towards him for any peaceful reason. 

The Hero took a step back. 

What the hell had happened to suddenly cause this odd behavior? First, she was telling him she didn't need help just yet, and now she had attacked an ally and was targeting him? Well, the only thing he could think of was that creepy sword. Something was up with that, probably. It made the most sense, at least. So, then, all they needed to do was get rid of it, right? That was always easier said than done, wasn't it? She was a knight and Aleph certainly respected the power a knight held, no matter where they may have come from. 

Preparing to fight, Aleph reached back and unsheathed his blade, only to find that Maria had suddenly taken it upon herself to defend Aleph from the possessed Tani. 

How heroic. If he was a heroine in some bishoujo (it tried to correct me to Bishop which is rather hilarious if you know who they are) game, his affection meter would have gone up. But since this was no such thing and no such measurement of one's like of another exists... well, his affection meter still increased because heroic deeds like that would always earn Aleph's love. [s]Unfortunately for Maria, Aleph is a pure waifu and thusly has no H-scenes in his route.[/s] 

In short, Aleph appreciated her courageous decision to defend somebody she but a minute's experience with, even though she had suffered some form of injury herself. It was a selfless action that reflected a Hero's heart within her. If she kept it up, she might even be able to become his sidekick. 

Aleph kept his hand on his blade and was prepared to provide assistance to Maria, should she need it. Judging from how she was currently holding herself, she was rather open. Was that intentional? Possibly, a knight of her class should be capable of counterattacking to a fine degree. He had hoped this was the case. It would cause him distress if she was unintentionally leaving such openings in her stance, but there was no way to tell until Tani attacked. And so, the Hero patiently waited as the possessed Tani approached and attacked--- the wrong person! The orc who was attempting to stop her advance was apparently dispatched with haste mid-attempt. It was a rather sudden movement, one Aleph honestly wasn't expecting from her. 

[color=1a7b30][b]"Th-that's..."[/b][/color] Aleph wasn't sure what to say. He did not mind people attacking him. He was used to it. But to see somebody else be attacked and stabbed like that... hurt. He felt like he had failed as a Hero. If he couldn't protect people from evil, then what was he good for? Worst yet is he couldn't even be mad at the person who had done the stabbing. A strange feeling he got from looking in her eyes told him that she was no happier than him about this, even if a wicked smile tainted her face. What should they do? At this rate, this knight was going to kill or be killed, and neither of those were preferable outcomes. They had to do something! 

[color=1a7b30][b]"Knight Maria... the sword... the sword seems to be the cause of this! At least I think so! If you would like that knight to survive, then I believe we need to disarm her!"[/b][/color] he gripped the handle of his sword tightly. How could something force another person to do actions that went against their own will? It was sickening! Aleph's hand tingled with a light pain. He knew this feeling. It was when his body craved justice! It was when good needed to prevail! He would do anything in his power to help these knights, a Hero like himself was expected to do as much. 

[color=1a7b30][b]"Allies harming each other is just too sad..."[/b][/color] he muttered mostly to himself - who knew if Maria caught it or not. He simply hated this kind of situation from the bottom of his heart, is all.