---

"Hmm, offense, huh?" Christine remarked. "I'll be fine with that role. My power is quite versatile after all. It can do offense and defense pretty well equally, although if you compare it to Kath's power, I guess I take the more defensive role. Kath can't create ice walls like I can after all. On the other hand, I don't have the raw burst power that she has so I have to rely more on projectiles and freezing the opponents in place before I come in with my ice kick," Christine explained. She just wanted to make sure that her team really knew her strengths and weaknesses, especially Vernon since he would be doing the leading after all.

"If you two are alright with that, then I'll happily participate," Christine said with a smile. "Although only for the combat. I really don't want to do push-ups or anything like that."
@KillamriX88

Suzume Maskono eyed the half-machine, half-girl. She resisted with all her might to avoid patting her in the head, as she instead crossed her arms with all her will to look stern and tough. Really, it was so hard with Bak involved… She then raised a finger.

“Defense either means blocking attacks, or a counter attack of equal force to the respective party. So yes, you may defend at distance… but you need to make sure the opponent is attacking first.” The teacher added, nodding sagely.

It was then when she noticed Vernon and his crooks, her eyes rolling as she shook her head left and right. “Nice try, Vernon… but people outside school aren’t allowed. This is only for Mephisto students.” She added, as she eyed the bustling crowd who was still shuffling for teams.

“I know!” She then slammed her fist again her palm. “A team battle is a bit dull, taking turns. How about upgrading it to Battle Royale?” It was then when a grin spread across her face. “And you, transfer student, since you didn’t show up with a team, and given how good you’re with memorizing things, you will be the one to track all the battles and development.”

She grinned gleefully, as the Fallen One gave her a withering glare. “And don’t you think i won’t know if you fail to record one!” She finished.

“We’re here too!” A voice rang out. It was the school’s resident toxic girl, Annabelle. Looming behind her like a terrible monolith was Gabriel, stone-faced as usual. Under Gabriel’s arm was slung a small, third figure, shivering and teary eyed. Apparently their third member was not entirely a willing participant.

Then again, no one was usually brave enough to say no to Gabriel.

“What’re the rules? I missed them,” Annabelle said, all smiles.

“Attack. Defend. Princess,” Gabriel said solemnly. He then hoisted their third up to eye height. “Princess.”

“O-O-OK…” she whimpered meekly, swallowing hard.

“I will defend,” Gabriel finished, which left Annabelle as their attacker.

“Hey works for me!” she nodded.

-------

“I am a knight then.” Vittorio spoke out, his tentacle wings flickering and snapping around him as he lined up next to Bak and Yuuto. “Princess?” He looked at Bak with a questioning gaze, looking the metal clad girl over from top to toe.

“Awwwww, I wished to be knight.” Bak said, just a little miffed that he had spoken up so quickly. “But fair is fair. You have called it.” Bak looked over at Yuuto, then turned and scowled at Gabriel. Bak could not get passed his defence, this she knew. She’d tried. He’d once snatched every single bullet she’d fired out of the air and let them tincle to the ground, and that was when she’d had two guns to use on him. Yuuto, with his sneaky ninja skill and undoubtable martial arts prowess made the obvious attacker if they were going up against him. “Fine!” she said, pumping herself up. “I will be impregnable princess! Let them break themselves against the steel of my hide!” She raised up her minigun arm to her backpack and gave it a thump for emphasis, the metallic clang ringing out like a war drum. Grinning, she looked back to Yuuto with expectation gleaming in her eyes. “We will be counting on you, then.”

Yuuto looked over at Bak and Vittorio. Before he could answer Vittorio’s question, Bak had done so already. So, it seemed that he’d be on point for the offensive part of this training. That suited him just fine. Yuuto nodded at Bak. “Indeed. I not disappoint you, Bak-san. Remember, Void Wisdom say ‘Fortress that appear impregnable just mean no one find hole in wall.’ Just like persistent ant who always work hard, so too shall I find way to take down opposing Princess.” The only thing Yuuto didn’t know was if his ability to enter the Void would be allowed. He wasn’t exactly going to ask this out loud, obviously. No need to reveal his tricks to their foes. Yuuto looked at Vittorio and Bak. “Bak-san, may Void Wisdom help you guide us to victory. Vittorio-san, may Void bless you with keen instinct for protection.” At this, he’d bow to both of his teammates, before bowing to the teacher. “Maskono-sensei, we are ready.”

@KillamriX88@Hammerman@Dezuel@AtomicNut@rawkhawk64

((Collab between Dezuel and Letter B))

Part One of Many

Celine had walked for quite awhile through the various streets of the city, away from the direction of the trouble her fellow dolls had rushed into. They may have expected her to return to her master, Galbrek, alongside the other wounded doll Eve. But Celine had other plans, she couldn't seek refuge with Celestine nor Vittorio, neither could she stay with her creator. She had to find another ally, and that ally was.... now right in front of her on that very street. "I've been looking for you..."

William was arriving home from the trip to the laboratory; he was also contemplating how...selfish he was starting to become. Or probably always was. Despite how he saw or pitched himself, he now knew he had an ego problem, an ego problem that would lead to consequences down the line.

Upon finding Celine confronting him with another wounded doll in tow, the boy briefly wondered whether this was one of those consequences, before he blurted out: "People don't normally come for violence with wounded friends and allies in tow. Good."

A pause. "My father has woodworking equipment and my mother has a Grail of Corruption. If you come to me for help, then would you two trust me to come to my home?"

"What are you doing....?" Eve looked with narrowed eyes up at Celine who carried her. "Grail of corruption? Woodworking? What do you think we are? I saw what my master put out about you, I don't want to talk with you inside a building of all things." Celine stepped abit closer. "I do have something for you, but I want something in return. It is the least I could ask after you people had two of my friends die."

"I could show you to one of my master's bases where he may very likely be at, and give you a lead to who aided him against you." Celine looked around with a nervous expression. "What I ask in return will however be steep."

William nodded at that. "Either Galbrek's death or a way to become human, although I am only guessing at the latter."

He looked at her. "I am directly responsible for the death of two of your family - relative innocents created by your master to die." A sigh. "I can refuse you nothing."

William really couldn't; despite the immense burdens he was acquiring, honor and the defense of Rhea demanded more.

"I want you and your friend. The girl Andras to empower my body and arm me with tools that will allow me to be on par with your kind. That is my only chance at surviving in this world in the long run." Celine set her eyes at William. "We have all been human at one point. But let us speak more of this over... there." She pointed to a nearby park.

William nodded, and walked over to said park and a nearby bench, before saying, "I am not Andras' master, and after your people attacked her, she might not want to help. However, empowerment and tools I can provide by myself."

A pause. "As I said, I can refuse you nothing."

He stretched out his hand, as if grasping a spear sideways, and from both 'poles' of empty air extended the Spear of Heloid, imitated from Andras' recent draw.

"The Spear of Heloid," Ascot explained, "An artifact that increases attack and defense, and inflicts reciprocal damage on those who damage you. And now it is yours'."

Eve gritted her teeth. "Traitor! You are bartering with the enemy to betray master Galbrek." The heavily damaged doll spoke out, trying to get out of Celine's grasp, which she did but fellto the ground, lifting her form up as good as she could using one arm. Celine looked to Eve and then to William, her gaze ultimatelly falling on the spear William was offering. She attempted to take hold of it.

A rat would perk up in one of Celine's pockets, if William would look her over carefully.

William would let go of the spear as Celine grasped it; the imitation was powered by the God of Stories - that alone might be enough to alter its workings just in case 'Perfect Alexandria' didn't allow transmission of artifacts to other wielders.

The boy noticed the rat, before turning to Eve and saying, "A master has his own obligations to his servants; a creator making sapient beings has their own obligation to their created."

Then back to Celine. "If the imitated Artifact works, can you take the courtesy of hearing me out first? Recent news - including the news of your attack - has made me realize things about myself that I would have rejected in other days."

Celine nodded after gripping the spear in hand. Eve was on the ground, trying to get up on a nearby bench, crawling over there. She was obviously not enjoying her state of being or the company the slightest, but chose to remain quiet for now.

William smiled faintly, and said, "Thank you.

"As for what I want to vent, it's this plain and simple fact: I loathe myself, and call it selflessness. I have a small but fragile ego, and call it heroism. Self-loathing and a small and fragile ego; they make me a fraud that strives to be a hero regardless. Don't get me wrong, I still want to help people. I still want to help Vittorio as he's suffered more than anyone in Rhea, and I want to defend this city as well.

"But the fact remains, I am still a fraud. A fraud masquerading as an altruist." A sigh before new resolution glinted in Ascot's eyes. "But as Uncle Shirou once said, why can't I selfishly pursue selflessness?"

A light chuckle. "So, time for negotiations?"

Celine blinked her artificial eyes. "A hero. Why do you want to defend this city? And from who? And help Vittorio? None can help him.." Celine shook her head. "He's a soul without a body, even worse than us."

"Do you know what we are, William?" She looked the boy over.

"Maybe you should go to hideout charlie and find out..." She said in a low voice, attaching the spear on her back before reaching into her pockets. "Building sixty-six, on Luciel's street in the eastern district. The key is under a vase. Tread carefully."

"Our master was not alone." Celine fetched the number which Celestine had left her. "This number will call the masked one. That one is as broken as my creator. Broken in the head, beyond any repair." She stretched the number out to William.

Eve struggled and let out a angry rant. "Bastard! You are betraying master Galbrek! And you call yourself a doll... damn you... damn you... after all he gave you!"

Eve stretched out and attempted to grapple Celine with her remaining arm, but missed and fell faceplant into the ground, where she slammed her fist into it in anger.

William took the number and copied it onto his smartphone, before handing it back to Celine, before saying, "You might need this in the future, in the end. By the way, I haven't caught your name; what is it?"

Turning to Eve, the young man continued, "Your master gave you nothing good that he wasn't already obligated to give."

William then got up and said to Celine once more, "Well, I'll be going to 'Hideout Charlie', then. Thank you."

"My name was Celine. It still is." Celine said without looking at William, she instead looked ahead and thought of someplace good she could hide alongside the unwilling Eve. She did take the number back which Celestine had given to her. It is dangerous but at this rate they may kill each other off and that will free me from it all. She thought to herself, even as she felt a twinge of guilt using William in such a manner. But the feeling dullened as she remembered that Bertrand and Darla both died to him and his companions. They had to be avenged.

Eve was beginning to try reply to William but was struggling too much to raise her body up to provide a suitable answer.

William nodded as Celine took back the number, tempted to whisper something along the lines of, I'm not blind.

For he wasn't. The lives of Celine's family could not be repaid with mere trinkets, nor can Andras bring them back like she could bring back Vittorio's family and friends. Walking in the direction of 'hideout Charlie', he turned back one last time, tempted to get back the last word, and spoke, "You're not the only one who should hate me, Ms. Celine."

And then he ran off.

((Collab, Part 2))

Timeskip

William checked his back for the mundane sword still strapped there. After giving up the Spear of Heloid, he would have to rely on it as well as his imitations of Wolf's 'emotion weapons' to fight...

When finally coming within sight of the building he had been directed to, the first thing meeting William's sight would be the barred wooden planks before the windows, and the old wooden steps up to the wooden door, along the outside railing stood potted plants which had been dead for gods know how long. The key which would allow him entry into the den of the sinner would likely be hidden under one of them.

William would, without flourish, check the bottom of each potted plant for the key.

The door stood there in front of him, which would in turn lead into a hallway. Not as rugged nor dusty as the outer parts of the building appeared to be. A fine red carpet leading forwards, with stone busts lined up on one side of the hallways, depicting said half-demon. Then the massive portrait on the opposing wall depicting Galbrek with a red rose. Then on a small circular table, which was likely made for holding a vase laid a couple of crayons of various colors. The box which was next to them read 'Darla'. In the end of the hallway was a double door, leading to another room.

That room in question had a long table and a fireplace, aswell as smaller wall decorations, the room was adjacent to a bedchamber and another door which was locked. What in the gods name could be behind it? The owner of the building was not at home or so it would appear, it was eerily quiet.

Ascot decided to see if the key given to him would open this door as well. If it didn't, he would try to kick it down or slice it with his mundane sword.

The door was sturdy, but gave way on a slice from his sword. Making a long creaking sound as it slid open, magical light beginning to become lit up ahead, not too brightly but enough to get a look around and possibly not fall on something. The room in question had it's floor covered in parts, arms, legs, heads and torn cloth pieces. Piles of what appeared to be parts of dolls, then in the ceiling and on the sides hung naked white dolls, some almost intact, others just the arms and torso with the expressionless faces on them.

This was his workshop. At least one of them. This is where Galbrek created those dolls of his. The place was dusty, creepy and dark apart from the light being lit, with spiderwebs and the ocassional spider crawling by. There were also several mannequin's standing in a corner with various attires, and furthest away was a desk with tools aswell as several books. Aswell as a drawing which depicted Galbrek himself surrounded by his four first dolls, Adam, Bertrand, Celine and Darla. He seemed way younger on the drawing than he had appeared when you first met.

Two of the books on the desk appeared to be of particular design, what kind of devilry could be contained within?

((Collab, Part 3))

William would, after making sure that no one was watching, begin to read or skim the first book, then the other.

The first book contained designs of dolls, William could recognize several ones of them from those whom he met at the midnight tournament. There was also others, which you imagined where those who were not successfully assembled. The last two pages of the book had the designs of three. One being Eve, before her encounter with Andras and Vera. The second being a jester-like individual. Then the final was depicting Galbrek himself. Under the label. "Perfect creation. Work in progress. Need to get the girl or the boy as soon as possible."

The second book had names written up in it. It appeared to almost be a register of people, aswell as some notes here and there. "The soul is easier to put in if it has recently departed from it's origin."

Adam Alzarez, Bertrand de Valeé, Celine Joseria, Darla Duman....

William was shocked at that. So that's what Celine meant by 'we were all once human'. It seems I was wrong.

They had a date of birth aswell as a date of death written up in the book. It would appear that Galbrek in fact had some way to bring the dead back into life in a twisted, artificial way. Giving them a second chance at life but with a duty they must fulfill.

He had made his own note regarding it. "In order to make a more spectacular scene one needs actors, those who are willing to play out the roles given to them. Even if they die, the story must go on until the curtain falls."

Several of the pages bear a creepy repetition of writings over it. "I am not alone. I am not alone. I am not alone."

Each of his designs has however been made with outmost detail and alot of time spent on perfecting them. As if he genuinely cared for each of his creations. Even if their souls were never his to toy with.

"Adam is grateful for the life he has been given. I have become a god of creation, someone who can take and restore life."

William used his smartphone to take pictures of the scene and of select pages, and then took the books, before doing the smart thing and texting Alexander.

Then, he would begin to rummage through Galbrek's objects, all the while trying to resist breaking down.

A creaking sound could be heard behind him, was it the wind blowing through a gap in one of the windows or was it just the mind playing tricks? The boy quickly turned around.

Rummaging through the things in the room, William finds a photograph of Galbrek alongside a blonde in short hair aswell as another person between them.

A young boy with long red hair holding his arms around both of their shoulders. Oddly enough all three of them look somewhat alike, whomever the other two people were they must have meant something to the half-demon at some point in time.

Then there was also an old dusty small book with a broken lock on it, as if the person who owned the book had accidently lost the key and forced it open in a rage. An old diary. "I made them today, I went by the alphabet when chosing who to pick. I feel alone. So alone. They will never replace you though, they never could. None ever could. Why did it have to be you? It could have been either one of us. It's all the humans fault, they are the source of all our pain and why we need to hide. Someday I will open the gate of all gates and flood this world in the darkness and let it consume them all for your death."

This was his 5th time hearing it now, the roar of the arena. Like harmonious thunder, like being engulfed by a hurricane and standing in the eye of the storm.

He had to wonder, hearing the cheers of the crowd, and looking back at the expressions of the other students of St. Laurel's, he wondered if anyone else saw the world the same way.

"St. Laurel's School of Academic Excellence!" Came the announcement.

The roar reached a crescendo as they entered the arena.

They marched forward with well-practiced steps. St. Laurel's were the bearers of the last year's mantle of championship. St. Laurel's boasted the record for most consecutive years keeping the mantle, as well as overall years holding the mantle. It was a heavy burden to bear, or so it should've been.

But in Alto's hands, it felt light. However, it wasn't because the pressure had been lightened. The burden was just as great as before, however now it teetered back and forth so unsteadily he could barely feel the weight of the flag he bore.

"Mephisto's School for the Wickedly Inclined…"

Opinions were mixed about Mephisto's. Most people didn't like their methods, obviously. But there were a surprisingly large amount of people that liked them. They fought dirty, and they had a very distinct presence on the battlefield. They had no reservations openly cheering for them, because after all, as far as they could tell Mephisto's was just a school with some weird quirks. They'd been able to rest the title from the hands of St. Laurel's, a feat no one before them had managed to do, despite the dubious nature of their victories.

The favour of the crowd was something they'd had to build up. They were good at riling up the crowd one way or another, but to make the fever pitch tip from anger to cheering required a fair amount of effort and preparation. Those cheerers of theirs were their allies, whether they knew it or not. If there were enough to balance the scales, then there was enough to tip them.

The mistake of the Tournament's board of directors was making the judgements subjective. Human judges could be swayed, in fact they were placed here exactly to be swayed. They still needed to win, however Clara would not let her advantage go to waste, no matter how small.

"And now the Vigilantes!"

The cheers halted. And then reignited into an even louder crescendo. If there were one group who reigned in the excitement of the crowd, it was the Vigilantes. Mix the under-dog nature of their group with having a healthy mix of dirty fighters and fair fighters from all around, it was no wonder they had no shortage of fans.

There had been rumours circulating before the tournament that they wouldn't be participating. This year. Indeed, the tournament entry fee was sort of a deterrent to rogue-like organizations like the Vigilantes. The price was relatively steep, but the government paid a portion depending on the nature of your organization, so it was far less expensive for educational institutions than for most other organizations. Yet it seemed that financial troubles hadn't fazed the Vigilantes at all.

They kept on coming, dozens of members, lined up behind their leader, King. Whether you believed his words or not, there was no denying he made himself in where he stood. He had the charisma to lead, and the sense to use it. He didn't need anything else.

The three leaders looked across at each other. It was just about a guarantee that they would be their team's leaders. In a few moments, this place would become their battlefield.

"Now let the Capture the Flag tournament begin!"

((Collab, Part 4.))

Oh. Were William's next thoughts as anger and loathing faded, only to be replaced with a deep sadness. So that's his motivation.

He blurted out: "So there are more sufferings I cannot embrace?! So there are more troubles I cannot fix?! More stories that can only end in tragedy, that _have_ ended in tragedy?! What are you all telling me?!"

A silent plea to the Gods.

Tears fell. Then more and more and more. "WHY?!"

A bump would be heard behind William. "No need to scream." A semi-jolly voice said, followed by a beeping sound. Behind him stood a average height tall doll clad in colorful clothes and with facial paint, he fit precisely into the jesterlike drawing in the former book. "But why? Why that's a perfect question! Why are you here? Oho? Are you crying?" The doll circled around a pale doll hanging by it's strings from the ceiling, trailing his somewhat feminine looking hands along it's form.

Ascot turns towards the doll, saying: "Go now! Go away! I don't want to play any further role in this Cycle of Revenge!"

Burning self-loathing coursed through the boy, even as he faced the Jester. "My feud isn't with you..."

Nevertheless, William prepared to use yet another of his imitated powers, even as one hand took the photograph and the book.

"We all have roles we are meant to play! But do we have to play them?" Fegin snickered slightly. "Oh you see, I cannot really leave? Well yes, I could. But you see... my masterino would be awfully unhappy in seeing me letting a burglar get away with... whatever you have taken. What to do?" The doll tapped his cheek in apparant thought. "Oh! How about you stay until he returns, boy he does seem to love surprises!"

William turns to Fegin, and says, "Actually tempting. But I'm not handing myself over so that Galbrek can kill or enslave those whom I love. Nor am I going to try appealing to the better nature he once had; he'll see it as condescending. He's not Vittorio, or if those two share anything in common, it's not listening to people who, for all their faults, want to help."

"Vittorio? Whose that?" Fegin tilted his head from side to side. "Oh who cares! Do you? What does matter however is that you are breaking the law you do goody two shoes you! You want to help yourself of all people! You don't care about anyone else really? As long as you get that awfully good warm feeling inside righties? You just love ruining peoples lives don't you?" Fegin tapped his hollow chest, causing it to make a peculiar sound as he leaned on his hula hoop ring. "How many peoples lives have you affected with your own way of living up to this point, my little burglarizing friend?"

His words to Celine thrown back at him. William replied then: "Andras, Wolf, Vera, and maybe even Aram. My mother, my brother."

And my niece, but I'm not telling you of her existence!

"But what do you suggest I do? Ruin more people's lives by giving up? By changing for the worse? Die and wreak even more damage to people's lives?!" William's lips tightened. "Everything you say is true, but it won't stop me from wishing that I was someone better. And that wish...ought to be enough."

Even as he cradled his stolen books, diary, and photograph into his arms, Ascot drew an imitated card.

Dead Weight - Bind this puppet's hands and feet; allow me to get away!

(Collab, part 5)

"Oh Andras? Oh right! That's the one we chased through the forest with her pink haired friend! Quite the powerful little girl that one! I see why the masterino wants her. Oops! My bad , my bad. Ignore what I just said, bad habit of mine to tell too much of a tale, ohoh." He put his hand before his mouth and chuckled. "How can you help anyone else if you don't help yourself first boyo? You just become a burden or screw up!" The jester replied before he saw William drawing his card, causing the jesters hands and feet to be bound even as he tried to jump up into the air for a backflip. "Oho?! What's this?! That's not fair! Not fair at all! How rude! Attacking me without declaring a duel, you sir lack honor!" He was now bound by magic, thus leaving William a great chance to flee.

"I apologize, even though you won't forgive me!" William said as he ran off.

The house creaked as he made it out into the street, somewhere ahead on the street he saw two figures in the distance heading down the street. Something very foreboding about those two in which speed they walked, one being hooded and the other taller figure albeit hunched over. Either he could evade them or he could approach them.

Ascot took the third option: Take cover behind a nearby car, fence, dumpster or mailbox; that way, he can get a closer look or even eavesdrop a few snatches of words.

The two individuals approaching would make their way forwards, the shorter of the pair sporting a dark hood and cloak, walking with firm and determined steps with tightened fists. As if he was in a hurry. The taller person would walk behind him, clutching his chest area with one hand. William could easily recognize the tall one as Adam, meaning the one with the hood could possibly be Galbrek himself. Some words uttered would remove any doubt. "Keep up Adam. I shall send Fegin to the meeting place as soon as... why is the fucking door open?! I am going to strangle that bastard!"

Galbrek. William thought. The answer to my prayers.

He laid down the diary, books, and photograph on the floor, before walking out from behind the dumpster and directly approaching Galbrek.

Focusing on his anger and loathing, anger directed not at Galbrek, but at himself and at fate, he conjured up Wolf's Warhammer, finding it lightened to the level of a plastic toy. Perfect.

William pursed his lips as he waited for Galbrek and Adam to notice his presence, before saying: "I know. And the Cycle of Revenge ends here. Somehow."

Galbrek's teeth shut together and he looked over his shoulder, his expression changing from irritated and angry to psychotic, his eyes beginning to twitch and a wide sinister grin would form on his lips and he would chuckle through his teeth. Madly even. Adam's expression would be of slight surprise and annoyance at not spotting this obvious intruder, it was a intruder right? But outside of the building? Either way he had to do something but he was out of power and wounded. Galbrek fixated his twitching eyes on William. "Such arrogance! You who have gotten in the way of my plans but now you appear right in front of me like a sacrifice! How very amusing indeed..." His expression changed to look more darker as he looked over William's warhammer. "Revenge? Mortal fool... there's more to this than revenge. I happen to take plenty of pleasure in it. And the best part about it is that I have plans for you too. You and your power will be used to serve me....heh...heheh..." Galbrek raised his both hands in retaliation to William, whilst telling Adam to go and find Fegin, which the tall doll attempted to do. He rushed into the building while Galbrek sent out his marionette strings to try latch and grab hold of William's body.

William held his warhammer with his right; light as it had become, while he drew his mundane but very sharp sword wth his left, trying to slice through the marionette strings or at least divert them long enough for the boy to continue his advance. As he charged, William's strategy became clear: Slice through Galbrek's strings with the mundane sword so that he can reach him with his warhammer.

Note that if there was time, William would say, "I don't doubt that you do; you hold humanity in contempt. But you had friends and true family once, people who were killed by the humanity you hate. You never wanted to be alone; that's why you made your dolls."

Galbrek's strings were being cut on the side which William swung his sword. He was getting closer, but the half-demon swiftly created new strings to latch unto a nearby metal trashbin to fling it from the side straight towards William. He also jumped back abit, avoiding the slam of the hammer coming down shattering a piece of the street, but his string on the hand pointed to the hammer would try to wrap around it and get up to William's arm, trying to seize control of his arm muscles by sliding under his skin, most painfully. "Be silent! You lowly purebreed! I shall make you my puppet!"

"Fegin! Where are you?!" Adam yelled as he ran into the building and was answered in the furthest part of the building. "I'm a tad bit tied up at the moment Adam! Can you come back later?"

William wasn't blind, and he was extra-lucky. Not merely that, but he had also imitated Vengeful Firebrand, which further increased his haste. So he rolled sideways to avoid the trash bin, and drew back his hammer arm just in time to avoid the strings speeding towards it, which were cut by his mundane sword.

The boy nevertheless jumped back, noticing that his imitated warhammer had grown heavy to the point of uselessness. Dispelling that weapon and sheathing his mundane sword; he noticed that his self-loathing rage had become sorrow. Sorrow for the enemy that now confronted him.

A profound sadness filling him, he conjured up Wolf's net and trident, a flash of the three kids in the photograph going through his mind: "You were happy once. Truly happy..."

Galbrek grinded his teeth together. "Tchhh... persistant fool..." He slowly walked backwards trying to gain a little distance between himself and William. Then he would look surprised as the boy before him sheathed his sword and dispelled his hammer. What was he planning now? Galbrek didn't lower his guard and was ready to use his strings again. He had called forth new weaponry, a trident and net. The weapon was favored by many demons, but this was a human and he was likely seeking to capture him using that and the net. The arrogance. You cannot capture me. Not now. Not ever. "I will be happy soon again when I wipe out the human race and rule this world, don't worry I'll give you a front row seat to watch it unfold! The past is just the past, there is no going back ever!" He chuckled before raising his left hand to send five strings towards William, seeking to entangle him. "Your destiny has always been and will always be, to fall into my hands!"
In the building Adam had found his fellow doll tied up by magical means, which he attempted to undo but found himself unable to do so. "This isn't good." He said out loud. "...and I'm the one stuck." Fegin replied. You best get out of here... well... or rather from the sounds of it stay in here. Our master might come up shorthanded."

Adam's eyes widened. "Master Galbrek..." He rushed towards the door.

William darted towards a line of potted plants, using the latter as momentary cover against the strings, before leaping at Galbrek, left hand already whirling to throw the net. Mid-leap, he launched it at the Half-Demon, before landing on the ground and saying lightly but firmly, "That won't make you happy. It never will."

If Galbrek avoided the net, William would launch five imitated strings at the Half-Demon, then try and grab the thrown net from where it lay on the ground...

Alexander should be coming soon.

Galbrek followed William with his menacing gaze as he darted away to get cover, as the net came flying Galbrek was however ready with his other hand. As if he. A half-demon would ever allow himself to be caught like a mere fish. He horizontally slashed with his hand, creating five lines of strings which cut through the net as it came flying. The half-demon smirked seeing it get cut to pieces. "What do you know?! You don't know anything at all! And they think me evil?! Hah! You are far worse!" Galbrek then saw to his horror the strings being shot out towards him. "Wha-!" He held out the hand he had just used to cut apart the net, his eyes widening. How's this possible?!

As the net was cut apart, a sign that Ascot's sorrow wasn't profound enough, the boy would take advantage of Galbrek's shock to order the strings to catch him by the limbs, hopefully tying the Half-Demon's arms behind his back and his legs and feet together. If he did so successfully, the young man would make sure to run up to Galbrek in order to further restrain the other boy.

And if Adam came out to help his master, well, William can fake threatening said master's life...

One of his arms had been caught by the incoming strings and was trying to restrain him, he instinctively in a fierce manner shot strings out to do the very same to William using his other hand. Possibly causing both of them to end up rolling on the ground ultimately from being entangled in strings. "Hnghnnn! Why you-" At that moment Adam came out from the building and he ran directly towards William, grabbing a nearby potted plant urn along the way to slam at William. "Get him Adam! Where the hell is Fegin?! Get unfucked right now and aid me!"

William and Galbrek were now entangled in a cocoon of each others' strings, the former trying to dodge Adam's attempts at bludgeoning him unconcious.

It was then that sirens sounded; Alexander had finally arrived.

Across the skies of the city, a different sort of presence slid through. For Meredith herself, able to trace the soft thrumming of the demonic taint, tracking demonic presence was fairly easy (suffice to say her games of tag with her siblings were often rather boring). Her hair was dishevelled, and dried blood clung to her side. She was carrying a sword with her, almost as big as she was, and yet like her father, she had little trouble using it one handed. The kind gestures of the once bumbling half-demon girl were contorted with rage.
"There you are..." She snarled, as she hoisted the sword in midair. She...let it go. The flow, the power. Dark crackling energies enveloped the sword, creating a column of dark light enveloping the blade, imitating a certain heroine of a certain kind of media. Except her sword was not a sword of light. It was a sword of hurting really bad. She inhaled.... and then bombarded Galbrek's shelter with an oversized blast of energy as she swung the blade, cutting through the wall as if it were butter and cleaving a large space between the two figures, as she roared. "GALBREK!"

William would, upon seeing Meredith, try and roll himself and Galbrek away from her sword and its blast, both to save the latter's life and to avoid being collateral damage.

Alexander, meanwhile, would come out of his police car, clad in his magic-resistant helmet and special forces armor, and carrying a magic-resistant riot shield and a riot police control baton that resisted magic and powers as well.

Note that it was not electrified; that was inhumane and forbidden and Alexander was not the type of person to use it anyway.

"Quit yapping and cut me loose damn it!" Galbrek yelled to Meredith as she appeared, he had gotten pulled along towards William. Avoiding the incoming slam of Adam, the tall doll turned to the officer arriving on the scene and threw the potted plant straight towards Alexander. Out of the building also now came the jesterlike doll, appearantly he had gotten himself freed, either on his own or from the blast Meredith had caused, severing the magic keeping him held. That or the duration of the power ran out. Fegin did not waste any time, he rushed over to slice using his hula hoop ring at the strings constraining his master, using his imbued power to cut them through. He threw a look of disapproval towards William. "I appologize, even though you won't forgive me." The jester did mimic William's words to him earlier in a mocking tone accompanied with a wink and smirk.

Meredith eyed the scene, the sword smoldering and twisted due to the great release of energies. A normal sword couldn't have withstood her powers. Deep inside her, she still felt the fire burning. The dark self that lurked in the corners of her mind was ecstatic, seeing how she was letting go of all restraints and inhibitions. It...felt good. Intoxicating. Meredith wanted to hear Galbrek screaming from the affront she had made to her. Police sirens were heard.

"OUT OF THE WAY." She screeched, not unlike a demonic creature, as she swung her sword once more, now turned little into more than a smoldering wreck, and tossed it against Alexander in an airborne surprise attack, that she capitalized by dashing past the haphazard attempts at blocking her way and diving deep inside the wall crack, with a mighty swoop that would make an eagle proud.

Claws outstretched, her objective being the main accumulation of demonic energy. She would pluck him out in the skies. He was hers to take. The police would not do.

Alexander sidestepped the thrown pot and blocked Meredith's sword with his baton, even as William, getting up to confront Fegin, realized he still held his imitated trident. But Will was in no mood to further escalate the situation, in no mood to allow further death and destruction. He just wanted this to stop, wanted this all to end.

His older brother was made up of much sterner stuff. Dropping his Riot Shield and taking out his sticky foam sprayer gun, he shot out globs of magic-absorbing foam first at Fegin, then at Adam, before saying to William: "If you're not up to fighting, get in the car!"

William would respond, "Galbrek's the way he is because of a lynching incident when he was younger! If you catch him, remember that!"

As the younger brother nevertheless entered the Rhean Government Car, Alexander's reply was, "I'll use the padded cuffs, then!"

Galbrek's reaction to the blast caused by Meredith didn't have the effect some would think, he being entangled in strings and in a bad situation he saw her arrival as a good thing. Despite her blowing things up most violently. "Hah! Serves you right! Repent William! You and all of your wretched kind- ouch! Not that fucking rough! This coat cost a fortune!" Galbrek screamed in complaint to the demon girl having sunk her claws into him as she lifted him up into the air. He looked at the figures becoming smaller below them. "Torch the place and head to outpost Delta!" Fegin caught the words caught in the air by his master, but he also had his sights ahead on the officer arriving. He flipped up into the air, spinning in an acrobatic move, barely managing to avoid the foam passing him by fired by Alexander, he threw his magically empowered hula hoop ring into the trajectory of the gun, obstructing the firing line towards Adam and at the same time trying to disarm Alexander of his weapon. The foam would ofcourse remove any magical force left in it, but hopefully it's physical nature could interupt the officer. Adam reacted but not as fast as Fegin, he began to run towards a nearby alleyway in order to escape from Alexander's shots, while Fegin rushed into the building belonging to his master. "Sheeeesh!" He quickly darted across the floor, accompanied by the beeping sound his shoes were making. He quickly found his way into the cooking area, grabbing hold of the line of gas which was used to power the oven. Letting the gas fill the house gradually and grabbing his master's zippo lighter, which he used for his illegally smuggled cigars. "This is going to be quite the blast..." He said in a low voice.

Meredith gritted her teeth, as she made away with her prey, shooting upwards outside the shelter, dragging her prey into the sky. She eyed her prey in his eyes, as she kept flying away. "You...made my friend suffer." She said, in a snarl bereft of her usual sweetness, as her claws clutched him. "Your puppets also made him suffer." She added squeezing even further. "Even if mother told me not to attack kin in their domains, you've also attacked someone who made a contract with me." She added, her rage twisting the circumstances of Andras being at her home.

Somewhere, inside her mind, there was a voice that was screaming that it wasn't right. She wasn't like this. But said voice felt numb, and deadened. Right now, there was very little that mattered. Meredith grinned. "Time to pay the collateral, like a good demon." She added, as she lunged towards Galbrek's neck, and sunk her fangs in it.

"What fucking friend?! Are you in league with that conceited human?!" Galbrek screamed as he felt the claws clutch into his flesh. "Arrggh... you damn bitch! How dare you- I'll- "I don't give a rats ass about who you made contact with, this is a matter of racial eradication!" He moved his arms and legs trying to break free from the strings wrapped around him, his hands were pointing inwards towards his own torso and legs. No matter how hard he tried to force them to part, he was stuck. Even if Fegin had severed the line keeping him and William attached. Now he heard Meredith speaking and then sinking her teeth into his neck. This was something Galbrek did not expect, nor did he approve the slightest. "Don't touch me!!" He screamed a gurgling kind and then used his marionette strings through his fingertips of his hands at full force, penetrating through his own body, a desperate last effort, with the intent to pierce Meredith's body, reaching to try wrap the strings around her aswell, entangling her wings,to cause both of the demonkin to crash down.. "TRAITOR! I'LL TAKE YOU DOWN WITH MEEE!!! GAAAAAH" The screamed at the top of his lungs with blood seeping out of his neck and mouth.

Alexander parried the Hula Hoop Ring with his Control Baton, before rushing at Fegin, firing another series of shots not just at the doll, but at the house itself. He still had a few volleys of sticky foam left, enough to dispose of the dolls, before he held Galbrek's scream.

William was trying to run out of the car, only to find it remotely locked. But the boy needn't have bothered; his brother knew the duties of an officer. Running towards where Galbrek and Meredith were, Alexander strapped his control baton behind his back, before running towards where the two were hopefully falling down, his other hand taking out a Rhean First Aid Kit with medi-gel and stimpaks.

He was not going to allow children to kill children on his watch.

Meredith let out a screech as the wires dug deep in her flesh and wings, binding him to her target and making her plummet to death alongside Galbrek. A skyscraper rooftop was coming in close. She needed to do something, anything. Despite the pain, she braced herself and concentrated all the inner force she had, in an attempt to break free. The subsequent blast freed her from Galbrek and sent them in opposite directions, while also tearing the vast majority of Galbrek's binds. She hit ground first, her bones making awful breaking sounds as she rolled on the skyscraper's top. Due to some fluke, Galbrek Ravenovich's tatters had been snagged in the lightning rod of the building, thus sparing him of the fall. Meredith spewed some blood as she attempted to get up. She needed to get back up, as pain flared up. Then she realized. Her energy and regeneration were spent, and she was rather battered.

"Meredith is a good girl." She said pitifully. "Meredith will get that meanie... so Wolf can be happy"

Adam looked to the sky where he heard his master's scream. "Master Galbrek..." He said in a shocked voice and ran towards where the scream had come from. Master... I will not fail you... for certain. While Alexander seemed to be occupied with Fegin, who finally got hit by the foam. "Oho? I've been hit. Just my luck... eh... What the- Gwaaah! Aaaaaaah!" He screamed in agony as the magic holding his soul in the doll body began to tear itself apart with his soul itself starting to try leave it. Normally the dolls were not subject to pain, but this was something he had not expected to be hit by. In his desperation and knowing his end was coming, he lit the lighter and the gas leaking from the oven enlightened and the entire building went up in flame along with the doll inside. Adam stopped in his tracks hearing the explosion, but shook his head and ran faster towards where his master was last seen. Galbrek found himself hanging by a conviniently placed lightning rod on the top of the building. He felt ill. The taste of blood in his mouth was as bad as he could recall from the time Mrs Ascot punched his tooth out.

He has been freed from most of the strings but there were still some within his body and he tried to pull them out, writhing in pain as he did. Every move he'd made caused the piece of cloth he hung by with to get torn up further and further. "Fuck... to die in a place like this?" One of his eyes almost popped out of his skull as he considered the idea. "Heheh...screw you... asshole gods... where the hell is justice..." He then saw Meredith a distance away from him, he widened his eyes and began to chuckle to himself, gritting his teeth together , reaching out with his bloodied hand towards her. "You crazy bitch.. I'm gonna..." He shot five of his strings towards Meredith's body, not knowing if they would reach, but he was seeking to cause them to slide in and under her skin to make her a living puppet under his control, painful as it most surely would be. Someone had to pay, and he was bleeding a lot. His coat ruined. There was hell to pay. And this girl was on the top of the menu now.

Alexander, realizing the very big mistake that he made, went back to his car; thankfully, Government cars with sirens were permitted to violate the speed limit. But as soon as he opened the door, William said: "Let me out, Alex! I can imitate a power that can allow us to fly, trust me!"

Despite his best interests, Alexander opened the door to the car's passenger compartment quickly, and William ran out, conjuring up his imitation of Andras' Predator Airship.

"Get on!" he said to his brother as he got to the airship's steering wheel, "Enough people have died already!"

I have smartphone photos of the book pages - the relevant ones - and the photograph. The books, diary, and photograph have also been taken out to behind the dumpster. All evidence isn't lost.

He thought this as the airship flew, flew as fast as possible towards Galbrek, Adam, and Meredith!

Meredith could barely see, but an inkling on an idea began to form in her mind. Her power was spent, but she still had blood of one demon for another spell. She just needed to dab a little circle and...

That was when the agony started, causing her to jolt and spasm. At the most critical moment, she drew the rune successfully, but the jolts made her aim the healing energy at Galbrek as if some sort of perverse justice was acting at hand. She screamed out of the top of her lungs as the wires kept digging in her flesh.

He was getting enjoyment out of sending his marionette strings on the girl, she had to pay dearly for biting him. She had however saved him from ending up with those pesky humans, but she was seflishly wanting the glory and now she was going to pay for it. "Does it hurt? Does it hurt? Tell me that it does... hahah... I am going cut you into pieces!" His manic laughter was cut off by him feeling alot better. What? What now? My wounds... are closing? "The allmighty dark gods have bestowed a gift to their most favored child time to make good use of it. How about some little walk over the edge... yes.. that's going to be just perfect." He grabbed hold of the lightning rod and slid down to get closer to Meredith, while also standing on something more reliable. He had torn up his coat completely on the way down, while his strings had tortured Meredith. He felt abit bad for a moment, and decided that. No. Just five strings is too good for you. Five more will do. He tried to attach more strings into her and force her up on her feet, to have her walk closer to the edge of the roof. "Time to learn ...to fly little pigeon shit. Hahahah..." His laughter came to a halt as he saw something approaching. A god damned airship?

As the airship sped towards the skyscraper rooftop, the passengers - William and Alexander - can be clearly seen, with the former steering the airship and the latter, upon seeing that Galbrek had been healed, visibly drawing his control baton once more.

William then turned to Galbrek, and howled: "THE CYCLE OF REVENGE ENDS HERE!"

And ice would gather around Galbrek's feet and legs, freezing them to the ground!

Meredith's voice gave out, as she could only manage whimpers as the wires mercilessly tore at her flesh, making her broken bones stay upright once more as she staggered against her will towards the border. She could die. She had overexerted herself to the point of not even being able to answer Galbrek's attack anymore. And then the wails and the ice rained upon her. "Make it stop..." she said to herself. This had been her predicament. It had been her fault. She was weak, powerless. She couldn't help anyone. And the darkness of the corners of her mind kept telling her that... she should have expected as much. Still, beating that little shit of Galbrek... had felt good. Something ... finally gave in the insides of her mind, due to the insane pain. She gathered her own thoughts. She usually employed her own body and blood to power up. But she had plenty of something else... Dark lightning began to crackle around her, sending jolts of energy back through the wires into Galbrek's own hands, breaking the strings, as she raised her hands towards the airship. Here and there, an awful smell of burning fat could be seen, as smoke came out from the half-demon. A wicked grin appeared in her face, a ghastly cadaveric smile full of vindictiveness. They were too loud. They were idiots who could never reach the right places and ask the right questions. "Yes, yes it ends here."

And the blast of crackling energy was sent through the broadside of the airship, while Meredith, now having lost her former figure into trimmed down version of herself was laughing.

Galbrek screamed as he felt his legs freeze to the ground, it was cold. Too cold. "Ahhh! Damn you.... The only thing that ends here is your luck!" He felt how Meredith began to move on her own and his strings melted off her. He gritted his teeth. Seems she still has some power left... I will deal with her later- His pattern of thoughts were interrupted as he saw Meredith targeting the airship and unleashing a blast of crackling energy towards what appeared to be the steering wheel. Galbrek was uncertain what to make of this. She's a damn traitor to them as well... how very timely The half demon relentlessly reached out with his hands and targetted the airship balloon part with his both hands, seeking to stab it violently using the sharp tips of each string to make the air go out of it, or possibly cause it to steer into a building and crash. "Goodbye William! Too bad the one you should have planned to ressurect was none other than yourself! Hah hah hah!" He twitched every now and then as the cold on his feet and legs were getting to him, his legs were going more numb by the moment. He needed to do something about it, but what? He had to get away... somehow.

Alexander leapt to the Skyscraper's deck, his eyes firmly set in determination, icy in gaze. Drawing his control baton, and this time, activating the electricity, he would rush at Galbrek as he was the easiest target. Once he had beaten the half-demon into submission, he would turn to Meredith and begin trying to avenge William.

The Cycle of Revenge continues, it seems.

William, meanwhile, was trapped inside a falling airship, but due to having time to prepare, had the Maze of Ith card he imitated from Andras; he was going to use just before the airship hit the ground...

"Hngnnn.. damn officer, you look just like him! A brother?" Galbrek tilted his head. "You humans took my brother, now I've taken yours! And there's nothing you can do to change it! Nothing! Humankind shall be devoured and everything you hold dear will burn! Perhaps not today! But someday!" Galbrek yelled to Alexander, as he targeted with his strings ahead towards the officer, seeking to grab unto him aswell, but the half-demon was tired. Very much so. He had used a lot of his powers in such a short time, even if he had been mended by some godly power. He thought for a moment he could hear a voice calling to him, as a familiar and pleasant breeze. 'Brother, what kind of future do you want? The humans are not evil, give them a chance okay? Give them a chance. ' He narrowed his eyes to the officer and had already fired off his strings, each one of them sliding just past him as if his aim was off. He clenched his teeth and readied to be hit by something which would surely knock him unconscious. Boy could he need a rest.

"Aaah." Meredith stood for a second meditating in bliss. Such a powerful move had left her somewhat light-headed. She eyed the airship damages she had caused. One part was proud of herself. The other one was screaming in terror. But that part of herself had been ignored and sent to the dark recesses of her mind. Still adjusting to her new lighter body, she staggered for a couple of steps, as she noticed the officer attempting to wail on Galbrek. That wouldn't do it. She still had something to deal with the demon. He had attacked her. She needed compensation. But no compensation could come from him being sent to jail with human laws. She moved swiftly, like a cat as she snuck on Alex's back while he was too busy dealing with Galbrek, her arms sliding under the armored arms of the enforcing officer. "Hey gorgeous. That man is mine to take <3" She added, while taking him in a lock, and with the remainder of her demonic strength attempting to suplex him in the ground.

Two things happened at that time, just as Meredith managed to cause Alexander some internal bleeding with her suplex, and probably also caused a fracture or two; it would have been broken bones if not for his armor.

One, the burning airship was suddenly wrapped up in magically-conjured giant intestines, smothering the flames and softening the fall until all damage to William was nullified; Maze of Ith was a powerful spell. Guess that removed another asset for the 'Final Battle'.

Two, the Police other than Alexander finally arrived in force, with cars, ambulances, a flipping' tank, and of course, gunships. Helicopters that were coated in magic-resistant resin...



The Police, actually trying to act smart and not be regular TV show mooks, surrounded the airship's landing zone, but one gunship went to the building's roof anyway, followed by a SWAT Team with jetpacks, sticky foam rifles, control batons, and riot shields...

The blow never came, and Galbrek opened his eyes, hearing and seeing the approaching law enforcements. A chance, an opportunity to get away. The officer had been flung by Meredith, the dumb girl had the audacity to claim him. He ignored it for now and aimed with his hands to the freezing at his feet, using his strings to cut himself loose, even if it meant ruining those perfectly looking boots and pants, leaving Galbrek in a bloodied white shirt, remnants of his coat and the ruffle by his neck. Aswell as torn up pants, which were shredded just above the knee area. He ran for the door leading down into the building, opening it and darting down the stairs, stumbling slightly on the way. He had to get out of there somehow, all manner of ideas popped up into his head and the one most plausible was to disguise himself by breaking into one of the apartments of the building, or whatever they were. Once there he would take some new clothes to disguise his way past the cops as a victim, just long enough to get eye contact with one of them to escort him discreetly out of there. He spotted a fire alarm on the way down, he smashed the glass of the button which caused an alarm to be sounded through the entire building. If the people inside the building were not panicked enough already from the crash, they would be now. He could easily slip out during the ensuing chaos. He grinned in admiration of his improvised plan as he made his way a bit further down, throwing a thrash bin in the way of the stairs to hinder anyone else moving down from the higher floors. At least for a few seconds.

Meredith eyed the display with an expression half between debased gluttony and half awe. Skipping a few steps, she let out a whistle before deciding to make the wise choice. Run away from so many opponents. She decided to follow through the stairs, but found those to be blocked by an awfully inconvenient trash bin. Maybe Galbrek? She could feel him nearby. She decided then for a more risque approach, as she clawed open the lift door controls and managed to unlock the shaft doors. The lift was above her. Excellent. Her wings were still tattered, but her claws were still useful. She jumped into the shaft, using her sharp claws to get a good hold to descend fast, but not bone-breaking fast. It was when she realized. "Second floor... lingerie!" She said to herself. Well her clothes were ruined, and after her ordeal, the tatters were loose all over, so she kicked the lift doors open, before assaulting a few mannequins from a nearby shop. Yes, new clothes were good. And with her sharp change in features, she wasn't easily recognizable, as soon as she hid her demonic traits.

Of course, the fire alarm was a godsend, as it increased the chaos. But even amidst it, she could find him, his prey. She tugged his arm with decision, her grin wide as she pretended to be the demon's girlfriend. "Lovely evening, darling." She said to Galbrek.

William survived. Alexander lived, but needed medical attention.
But neither of them, nor the police, had any way of detecting Meredith and Galbrek as the two got away with everything.

Adam, however, would be much more detectable, due to his 'doll form' and the puppet's tattered clothing and 'demonic' magical signature. So the Police, if they saw him, would bring him over for questioning.

---

The Next Day

Several assets being saved for the final battle, lost. The initiative, lost. A potential ally (Meredith Blackgate), lost and turned into an enemy. Alexander, minorly injured and in need of magical healing to nullify the need for some days of bed rest (thankfuly, magical healing was to be had). The only saving grace was that police investigating the arson of 'hideout Charlie' had found the books, diary, and photograph William had found; Galduric's face had been matched with Rhean missing/death records and an investigation was ongoing to his apperance and potential death.
Nevertheless, this was the bitterest taste of defeat William had suffered so far. At least he had a name, Galduric Ravenovich.(edited)

Galduric, Galbrek's brother, Charlotte, Vittorio's lost love. If I ressurect them both, with Andras' help, I can end the danger those two pose to the Defense of Rhea. But first, I have to convince Andras to lift a finger to help Galbrek; which would be hard as for all her merits, she won't care about Rhea's defense. It might also be the same for my Biggest Critic, Vera.
Five Days Later

A young man would walk over to the Vigilantes' Base, a young man who had brought so much trouble and profit (in Rhean Dollars) to the Vigilantes themselves. This young man, his black hair and eyes shining with renewed determination, would speak to the first person who asked him what his business with the Vigilantes was this time: "I seek one Galliere. I have news of her brothers."

A blue haired boy would motion for William to follow him, after having looked him over and spoken to a few others. Getting the permission to guide a non-vigilante on their territory, leading William down to the basement of an old church, entering a large chamber decorated with shields and swords and at the end of the large room was a white and golden clothed person, with short bright blonde hair. It was hard to tell if it was a young man or a woman, the person was armored in a black and yellow colored armor and she was practicing swordplay, twirling her sword and making slashes and thrusts at a couple of dummies. "Best not get on her bad side outsider." The blue haired boy nodded William forward towards the person training ahead before quickly leaving up the stairs to the floors above.

illiam would walk towards Galliere, before clearing his throat.

His next words were, "A moment, Milady Knight?"

A pause to let her register his words. "Greetings, my name is William Chekhova Ascot, and I seek to clear up some doubts and slanders no doubt spread by...a certain mutual acquaintance, as well as to seek an agreement for the good of Rhea as a whole."

((Collab between Scarifar and Letter Bee.))

Three days after the Galbrek/Meredith/Ascot Brothers Battle, Two Days before the Galiere Chat

Michael Angie would receive a message from William Ascot, saying: Wanna just hang out? No ulterior motives or greater purposes, so it won't be worth a favor. Want to hang out anyway?

An invite to simply hang out. Michael gave it some thought, wondering if it was a good time to do so. Looking back on past events, most of his time was spent researching and experimenting, with substantially less focused on mere social gatherings. In addition, the recent events were certainly not doing wonders for his health. Perhaps it was time for a break.

Michael responded with, Sure. Tell me the time and place.

William would give him the location of a nice Bretonnese* Cafe that sold coffee, hot chocolate, and crepes, a French Cafe overlooking the park where the Midnight Tournament had been held. The meeting would be in... the late afternoon the next day; just after school. No weapons, of course.

Once he had Michael's response, William would take the time to smile; he needed to relax after such a stressful ordeal.

*Alt-France.

---

Michael checked the time when he arrived: about 12 minutes early. Plenty of time left. Michael was quick to get a seat and began looking through the menu. He began wondering what he should order, and settled for a hot chocolate. When it arrived, Michael took a sip. It tasted better than he expected.

Indeed it was; Bretonnese cuisine was just that good. Shortly after that, William arrived in casual clothes, and walked over to where Michael was before sitting down in front of him and saying, "Hello; I see you're enjoying the hot chocolate?"

A smile graced the young man's features, but also some hint of stress at the edges of his eyes; clearly, William's quest had not been good to him. He would then ask further, "So, how's the painting?"

At first, Michael was confused, but the memory quickly came back to him. "Oh, right!" Michael exclaimed, gently slapping his forehead. "I finished that the day after, but it must've slipped my mind. It's at home right now; I'll send it to you after this."

William's grin widened. "Thanks, Michael; you're a treasure. Now, your turn to ask me how my days are going?"

A cheeky expression afterwards.

"Alright then," Michael said. "How... are your days going?" It was fairly obvious that among the skills Michael had, social skills were not part of them.

"Well," William answered, "I've been resting, eating, and devoting myself to combat training under Mom's tutelage. I've also been catching up to the latest works of fiction, the latest video games, and of course, books of Rhean History. Can you imagine how many historians got the origins of Yekaterina wrong? Oh, I've also been researching various cuisines; call me a busy bee as well as a busybody..."

Michael nodded before taking another sip of his drink. "Sounds eventful," Michael responded, rather impressed with the large list. "How do you find the time for it all?"

William responded, "Oh, well, the most common things people do after school is just hang out with their friends at a cafe, like I am doing now. Same for arcades, game nights, and other social stuff. Let's just say I don't do those common things unless it's once every two weeks with Vernon where we date, or like now, with you. The special permission I get to skip class to hang around in the library also helps; I ace all my quizzes and tests so my scores are still passing to mid-high. That's another thing about me; my scores are only just at the level needed to stay in St. Laurel's."

In essence, the boy was saying that he deliberately underperformed.

Michael raised an eyebrow at William's last statement. "'Only just at the level'? That doesn't seem like a good practice, William. That may catch up to you, and I'm sure neither of us would like to see that happen." Having been in a continuous state where he's had to use all his energy to survive, Michael was not keen on trying nothing less than his best, and the thought of doing so baffled him.

William's response was a slight nod and a smile, before he said, "Well, the problem is that I need - or want - to do so many things. I'm curious about a lot of stuff and easily entranced."

Michael sighed and shook his head, then said, "Well, I suppose your family can help prevent the worst from happening." Michael drank another mouthful of hot choclate, then asked, "By the way, are you not going to order anything? This cafe is quite nice."

A series of eye blinks, before Will ordered hot chocolate, water, and a blueberry and mango crepe, which once those arrived, would smell delicious. As he ate, Michael might observe that the young man seemed to be having a good time, and enjoying it as a surprise...

Michael took the opportunity to also order a strawberry crepe and a refill on his hot chocolate, both of which tasted wonderfully. In fact, the two items seemed to create a tasteful harmony together. "I should come here more often," Michael remarked. "This is really good."

"I know, right?" William said. "I come here with Vernon once in a while, although the latter prefers restaurants owned by his family." A bright smile. "I love Vernon. I really do. And, with technology and magitech advancing each day, it might even be possible for us to have a clone-son."

His smile grew brighter. "I mean, I'll have to raise said clone-son almost by myself because of Vernon's own obligations - and that is all I'll say about those - but that's all right."

Michael wanted to ask about some of Vernon's "obligations", but he figured it would be rude to do so. Instead, Michael said, "A clone-son, huh? If the day comes, then I'll wish you two the best."

"Thank you," William said. "And, thanks too for this day; I really need to do this more." A pause. "Oh, and my new relative is doing well, by the way."

This was an obvious reference to Christine II.

"Oh really?" Michael asked, immediately understanding. Who could forget about the little girl, after all? "That's good to hear. With your family, though, I expected nothing less, really."

Will chuckled at that. "That's a high compliment. Alexander's a protective person." Well, except for that time where he expected me to save myself from that falling airship, but this day is too good to discuss it.

The crepe and hot chocolate were soon finished, and Michael was feeling rather full.

"Hey," William said, "A question, if you don't mind. How is your mother?"

"She's doing well," Michael answered. "Work's not the greatest thing in the world, but it puts a roof over her head and food on the table. I send her any money I can spare as well."

A smile from William. "And you keep saying you're not that good a person." Some light banter.

"Hmph," Michael said, trying to maintain an indifferent expression but failing and cracking a small smile as well. "Heard that from Alexander, did you?" Michael asked rhetorically. "Regardless, it's still true. Family's just a different story. We're all we've got, my mother and I. The last thing I want is for that to go away."

The smile grew fainter, sadder, with happiness being tinged with melancholy. "Yeah, I heard that from Alexander. Any other reply might risk turning things 'serious' again."

And with that, he grew quiet, quiet for the rest of the meal.

((Andreim and Lise collab))

The day was good. At least that was what he hoped. It was raining. Damn. Thankfully he had brought an umbrella, not like he really needed it. It was only rain after all, he could control it as he saw fit. But it would have been a shame to use his grand power in such a mundane manner. It was like spitting the gods in the face for their gift unless it was used for something worthwhile. Besides he had to look his best in front of Lise. Having taken on his short black leather jacket, some puffy military like pants and tall black boots. A few people passed by in a hurry in the park where he stood, some on their phones and others in the company of dear ones. Andreim hoped that Lise would be allright in all this rain. He located himself near a lamp post over by a fountain.

Lise was luckily able to figure out where the park was by the time the date had come around. She wasn't exactly sure what to expect from the meeting, but she couldn't help but feel nervous. Adding to her nerves was the constant looks that she got from passers-by as she walked past.

Maybe not looks at her, actually, but instead the shadow maid that carried her umbrella. But of course, it wasn't like Lise would be the one to carry her own umbrella. Let the commoners gawk at her, at least she had her dignity as a royal. Wandering around the park, however, hurt her dignity a little. She wasn't exactly sure where to look for Andreim. She managed to walk right past him without noticing, searching too hard in the wrong direction.

"Uhh... Lady Val- Uh... Lady Liselotte? It's me...Andreim." He stepped out holding out his hand in a greeting to her as he wasn't sure a kiss would be proper in the middle of the park so openly, he couldn't put Lise and her family through the rumor mill like that. "So.. want to go take a look at the latest fashion imported from Yekatrina? I'm sure there's some good dresses for a Tsar's princess... they do have princesses right?" He scratched his cheek with his gloved hands, he didn't have his vial of temporarily halting his poisonous blood, so he had to be wary of physical contact. They also were expensive. Right now he wanted to make sure he had enough money to buy some nice clothes for Lise and possibly also something for himself, she really did outclass him in terms of formal attire. "You are as beautiful now as you were last I saw you, my eternal queen." He spoke out to her in a soft, but confident manner now. He was no longer stuttering as much as when they first began to converse properly.

Lise jumped a little when Andreim spoke up. She wasn't expecting to hear him from that angle, but she recovered from her shock quickly. Halting her maid, she turned to Andreim. "Ah..." Lise wasn't exactly sure how to respond to Andreim's last statement. "W-Well, I suppose looking at the latest fashion may prove useful..."

Lise was reminded of the looks she got when she first arrived in Rhea in her afternoon manor dresses. It was after that debacle when she opted for her more modern outfit of a skirt and dress shirt. 'Well, this is new a opportunity to see what these people consider fashion!' Deep down, Lise felt a little excited.

"Right! Let's get going then, milady." Andreim walked up abit closer giving the shadow maid a stare which some could determine to be 'back off'. Trying to offer his arm to Lise while gracefully holding the umbrella in the hand of the same arm, to give her perfect cover from the rain. He pondered for a moment, that maybe one little usage of his powers would not be too bad. It was for her after all. He began to manifest a small vortex of water in his hand and after awhile it began to take the form of a heart, then Andreim swiftly attuned his powers to cold and froze it. Grabbing it with a few of his fingers before offering it to Lise. "You have my heart, even if my heart normally may be considered to be of ice. You melt it with your magificence." The leather clad young man tried to guide his empress to be towards the clothing store which were supposed to have some interesting new designs.

Lise was surprised by Andreim's gift. "I don't have anything to give you, though..." She felt a little bad that she didn't think of it. This was, after all, a da- rendezvous. Rendezvous. That was the word Lise decided on.

Taking Andreim's arm, she walked with him to his destination.
Upon arriving they would be met by a well lit store with all manner of clothes, they were however not empty. There were many girls in this particular shop, with the occassional guy appearing semi-interested in being there. One girl in pigtails threw a glance towards Andreim and Lise, before leaning in to whisper with her companions. Andreim couldn't help but mumble. "The local gossip headquarters..." He shook his head briefly and led Lise deeper into the store to take a look over the new clothes, Andreim got his sights set on a military uniform for girls, he looked Lise over for comparison only using his eyes. Not sure she would have approved. "Uhm... well there sure is alot of choices, ever worn anything like this before? With alot of buttons, boots... pants?" He froze for a moment as he realized that might give her flashbacks to having borrowed his. "Erhm.. I mean like these ones. I think you would look great as a military princess." He smiled a genuine smile. It was after all a part of his own taste in clothing, looking very unifrom like and orderly. With the occassional leather ofcourse.

Lise looked up and down the uniforms. 'Ah, is this what is popular with commoners? I suppose if they are so excited to fight for the royalty that they wear their uniforms at all time, it could be considered a good thing.' She wasn't sure exactly if she'd be a good fit in them, but she had to know...

"Andreim, is this something you want me to try on?" Lise asked as she inspected the clothing.

"Ahh.. err.." Andreim snapped out of his thoughts, he couldn't let her know he wanted her to try on the military attire she would never agree to such a thing most surely. He looked for something to save him, he turned around and pointed at the first thing he could see. Too bad it was black lace undergarments for girls with garterbelt and with a choker for the neck. Shit. Why did I chose that direction?! Who put that thing there to begin with.... "Uh.. I... you don't have to listen to me... Lady Liselotte." But damn she would look great in that for certain. No what am I thinking? She is my bastion of purity, my virtuous goddess who lighten my way. I must not imagine her in such a... Andreim stopped in his thoughts to look her over.

"Hmmm... Well, I suppose it might be interesting to try it on. Seeing as you are the expert, which one of these should I try...?" Lise luckily did not look back towards the lingerie section that Andreim was facing. Instead, she continued to look up and down the selection of clothing.

'I don't know what to pick... It all looks strange to me. Plus my wardrobes were always pre-selected at home...' She scratched her head a little.

"How about this one?" He pointed to a brown safari-looking outfit, consisting of a shirt, a jacket, a pair of boots and some nice brown wide shorts. "This is what rich people use while looking around at animals in warmer climates. Uhm.. well you know... while looking at savage things." He pondered for a moment. "Like Katherine for example. She's pretty savage." He looked over Lise again. "Anything you would like me to try out?" He asked mostly out of politeness, then he realized just what he had asked and it dawned on him. Oh shit... I hope she won't take anything with cuddly animals on it.

Lise looked at the safari outfit. "I think I've heard about this before! I remember it was popular in my family to hunt exotic creatures-"

Lise briefly had a flashback of a much younger self, turning a corner in her manor during a stormy night and encountering the snarl of a long dead, stuffed and preserved panther, punctuated by the flash of lightning reflecting the still light in the creature's eyes/

"-M-Maybe we should try something else..." Lise quickly changed the subject away from childhood trauma. "Maybe something formal for you! If I ever plan on throwing a ball, you would definitely need to dress for the occasion! And don't think I'd make an exception because we're- Well, because it's you!" Lise walked to the men's formal wear section and pointed out a sharp black suit. "Something like this! It's strange that the tails of the coat are so short, but maybe commoners were tired of dealing with them... How lazy."

Andreim took a few moments to collect himself as he was following Lise along to the men's formal wear section. Was she about to say out loud that we are... together? She's so risky! Dangerous my love, most dangerous! "Ahh.. yes.. maybe... ah? For me? A ball?" He came face to face with the black attire. It made him think of assassins, bald assassins dualwielding guns. That and Samoth. He was about as good as them at killing, well in his case it was killing fun. Even if Andreim himself seldom did indulge himself in overly fun things, being with Lise was a refreshing way of having fun. But he also did enjoy reading books and thinking of the future, how he could go about to form it to his own desire. "I shall go and try this out then milady." He offered Lise a wink and then looked around. "But you should then try out that red dress with golden decoration on it? It looks regal enough to fit on a goddess like yourself." He blinked a few times realizing he said that out loud, he pondered on the idea of any of the girls hearing about it or worse. Katherine. The enemy. She would never let go of it and try irritate him for being with Lise to the days end if she knew. Though maybe it was an overreaction, it would be far worse for his enemies to know of his weakness for her. But she too gave him power and determination to ward them off he believed.
He reached up to take down the suit and then saw the price-tag and felt like his money just grew wings and flew away. So much for my parents ill gotten gains, at this rate it will run out.

"A red dress? I suppose..." Lise had already agreed before she had seen it, which she realized all too late.

'W-What is this?! The shoulders are exposed! And such a bright color, is there no shame in this world?!' Lise was taken aback. All of her dresses had never strayed past a certain color range, and this red dress was far beyond what she would have expected. 'He suggested it, though. Maybe such dazzling clothing is considered normal?'

Lise briefly thought of everyone she had seen and encountered recently. "I guess it wouldn't hurt..." Taking it off the rack, Lise summoned her servants to her side. Following where she had seen Andreim, she eventually found the dressing rooms. Ignoring the complaints of the clerk nearby, she walked in with her shadow maids and let them dress her.

Lise stepped out of the dressing room tentatively. She felt like she might die of embarrassment, but nobody seemed to mind her that much - except for the clerk, who was looking at her with bewilderment, considering Lise walked in with two maids and then left an empty room on her own. She waited for Andreim to show up and comment on her outfit.

Andreim, in his lack of shadow maids were not as quick at changing and the tie was challenging him for rulership of the neck region. I will have you sit, the way I want you to sit. There. That's good. He adjusted the tie as he had already took on the shirt and pants that came with it. He looked in the mirror that were in the dressing room. I do look like an assassin. But this is the clothing Lise wanted me to wear. If this makes her happy, I shall wear it better than any assassin could. He straightened his back, forming a small vortex of water in his hand before forming it into a globe. He leaned in close and drank directly from it, before taking his other hand to just get some water on it to style his hair in a backslicked way. When he was done with the water he froze it instantly, and left the frozen ball in one of the neatly placed trashbins in the room. My bad. He thought to himself as he hid it there, some poor bastard would have to pick it up later. He took on the coat and gave himself a look in the mirror. Is that really me? I look... fierce. As if I am going to walk of and rob WREVL bank or something. With nothing more to change he stepped out to see if Lise was done and she was waiting for him, she had her maids to help her. Damn it. He couldn't compete with them for speed... this time. He swallowed abit. "Oh... you are radiant like pure light through a flawless diamond in that attire, milady." He stepped up and tried to lift up her hand. "May I steal you?" He gave a brief pause. "For the endless waltz?"

Lise blushed. "W-We can't dance in here... People are looking..." She didn't mind the compliments, even though she was unsure of the dress she was wearing. But since Andreim liked it... She figured it may be all right to wear.

She looked at Andreim up and down. "You look... almost like a prince. It's..." Lise looked down. "...You look very handsome like that. If this were a ball, our dance would be the most brilliant of them all. Don't you agree?"

Damn. Yes there were people there and bad gossip about Lise wouldnt be good Andreim thought to himself before replying. "Not in here no... but... err.. a prince? I?" He blinked. Her ideal prince is an assassin! He felt like screaming within but restrained himself and gave her a smile. "Thank you.. and we would certainly be the most brilliant of them all, you and I as a team be destined for the stars. Which is why you and I should be on the same team in the upcoming school tournament. We should train for it and win it, the fame, glory and respect we would get would be the dawning of a new era. Our era." He tried to keep a fine hold on her hands, clasping his around hers.

He offered her a smile before leading them both to the checkout desk, where he paid for it. He saw his money fly away as if they had taken flight on wings, but he really insisted on paying for Lise's dress as much as his own assassin. No. Gentleman attire. If this was how Lise wanted him to be dressed it was not a problem, besides after the school he would have to look very formal aswell as official for what he had in mind.

Andreim had much planned for their day together but Lise had a busy day, thus he had to go to the practice himself. He however waited for the limosine to pick up Lise and drive her away safely.

He noticed a few girls in the corner of his eyes whispering and watching and he set a narrowed eyed stare at them to frighten them off but some of them instead began to blush and giggle amongst each other.

The young assassin clad man shook his head briefly before making his way towards his home, to change attire to something he could use in training. The fight to change the World was about to begin.

Andreim

Having changed his attire at his home, the young man gave himself a last look in the large mirror placed in the room. There he stood with his black and red training attire, it was time to train fiercely for the upcoming tournament. He had practiced much in preparation for the day it would begin.

The entire rank thing wasn't what really interested him or getting a prize which he could show around or gloat at others with. It was the fame, the respect he would attain by winning it, from his allies, enemies and most importantly lady Lise.

Having pondered on the possible teams, he had thought Katherine to be a powerful ally to have at the side, but she was fond of her fire using friend Cassius. Meaning they were likely to team up, he couldn't team up with them because that would leave Lise without a team or forced to team up with weaklings.

That was something he would hate, seeing Lise struggle in the tournament against sadistic mephisto bastards. No, he had decided that Lise was an obvious choice for him to team up with, both to show her his ability to protect her, but also having her near would raise his own awareness and motivation. She was however also a weakness, that he would have to ward off from attacks.

He considered who was going to be the third member of their team. Foxboy? No. He was too unreliable. William? Yes, there was also William. He had seen the broadcast about him on the TV which had all his powers. Andreim had quickly made notes about it, not mainly as something to use would he ever have to fight him but also find ways to make use of it.

William had a fine gathering of abilities, Andreim admitted. More than he had first considered, his powers would however be not very useful with someone like Samoth. Well or Lady Lise who Andreim didn't consider a close range fighter type. Thinking about it however, he had never seen Lise fight physically. Well, he had seen her physically. That was close enough for now.

William was likely best put to use with both the fire users, to give them a solid support and empowerment. It would make them a wellrounded and powerful team able to challenge anything the Mephisto school would be able to send against them. There was also Meredith, who he had never actually spoken with. She usually hang around people like foxboy. Andreim shook his head.

No.. she's likely too unreliant like foxboy. We need someone reliable and strong. Samoth.

He was both physically adept and a good thinker, a threat to his own ascension would Samoth have had more charisma than a stone that is. Despite his flaws, like most people have more or less. He was a reliable and valid choice. Even for the upcoming renewal of the world, Samoth could likely be a good bodyguard.

If nothing else his anti-magic properties could be salvaged to forge anti-magic weaponry and armoring. His mind was set up. His teammates was going to be Lady Liselotte de Castellan Valois-Saint-Remy and Samoth. He headed out of his place, locking the door and went to his training grounds.

Some time later... in the outskirts of the city.

The training grounds were empty as usual, he stood there in the open dry terrain, a plain field with the occasional rock formations. He closed his eyes to himself, taking a few breaths. He was reminded of his training under his parents tutoring, they were relentless up until the point he would bleed in a major way where they would stop.

Mostly for their own concern as his blood was poisonous, it had first began to manifest when he was young. His control of water also came early, from it he began to learn to control the particles within it, turning his own body heat up and down the scale was one thing, doing it on the water another, but he was able to do it.

His parents yelling and pushing him to try harder was always there, they were unforgiving to any sign of physicaly weakness. Fight until you are on the verge of becoming weaker then you would stop. How he despised them and their egoistical ambitions to have him be their 'savior' due to their own failure to wring the school from Mephisto's hands and it later falling into his daughter's hands.

Their dream of attaining grandeur through him beating up Clara and seizing the school from Mephisto. Now he could do little but to pity them for their small scale ambitions. Opening his eyes he began to manifest a spinning vortex of water in his left hand, a much larger one appearing just around his feet, causing him to be lifted up abit by it. Any dust, sand or dirt caught up by the vortexes would could be flung out of it if he so wished, but right now it was fine.

The vortex under his feet began to move forwards at his call, before gradually beginning to speed up at a high speed, travelling on the surface under it violently, causing various debris to get thrown up into it and spinning around and around. He smirked and caused three spinning slices of water, the size of frisbees to losen from his vortex in his hand, he held out his other hand to cause them to turn into ice as they flew away. Like sawblades they sliced into the tree in the distance.

Andreim reached out with both his hands causing the vortex to form into a wall around him, he turned it into ice then shot himself up over it's somewhat obscuring shape, using one hand to create a strong jet of water to lift him up, then with his other hand shoot a spear of water turning into ice midflight towards a nearby stump of a tree. Then he reshaped the jet pushing him up, causing it to take a spiral shape, turning it into an ice slide down to the middle of the icy cage he previously made.

He'd suddenly attuned to heat instead, causing the ice to instantly melt and produce a nice mist around him, he quickly attuned to cold to turn it into fog. Before activating his thermal vision to see through it. There was obviously no heat signals of anyone near. He called forth water in his left hand, then drew a large portion of it out with his right, turning it into a blade of ice, he dashed out of the fog now with his thermal vision, the water in his left hand, held like a fireball, he aimed it towards a nearby stone. Before turning the water into ice and then heatening it up in an instant causing it to shatter violently, sending shards of ice towards the rock. He swung his sword towards some of the shards ricochetting back at him. Then targetting another rock with his free hand, shooting a powerful jet of water at it to make him fly towards the right, then midflight he targetted another rock to shoot himself slightly forwards to the left. Until he got close enough to give a slice across a nearby tree using his ice sword, he flung it over his shoulder after the cut, causing it to get nailed into the bark. He swiftly finalized his movement by holdin out both his hands towards the ground below, pressing down at it with jets of water from both his hands.

Letting him land softly.

He panted heavily. "Haah... hah... ehhh...Nnn...haah..." He rolled up his sleeve to look at the watch. "Still can improve on the time..."

The young man took his both hands to his legs and stretched them abit, then his back and arms.

There are so many different opponents I will come to face, I should have a tool ready for just about anyone. Even if I have to use underhanded fighting methods to win, a win is still a win. If I can use my cunning to win over another person then the victory is rightfully mine. Ice swords aren't as strong as regular metal swords or magical ones, but it can do in a pinch against raw flesh. That or handing all of Lise's shadows swords like that will likely make them alot better at causing damage to the enemy team.

Mobility is important. It doesn't matter how strong a beam or ball of fire is if it cannot hit you. I'm sure Alto aswell as Cassius knows about this well, I may not be as quick as them, but I make it up with my own little tricks. Water can help me just flow with it, saving my body the strain of running or dodging, when I can just control my vortex of water to evade it for me.

Hmm... as for melee combatants. Staying clear of them I can do quite well, be it using jet pressure to make me jump or dodge in rare occassions, but more commonly I'll use it to just press myself at a higher elevation where they cannot really reach me physically. Would they walk close enough to my water shields, I have a nasty surprise for them. Ice shards moving inside of the quick current of water is going to tear them to shreds unless armored.

Ranged? Creating mist which they cannot see me standing in or using walls, or barriers of ice is my best option for defense, but for attack. I can throw spear like projectiles towards any enemy.

I can also shoot out large amounts of water and turn it into ice to make it rain shards of ice. Lastly, but very effectively. I like to create water to fill an entire field, much like this one. Just a little bit up to the heels, that will allow me to sense where anyone is walking, but I can also create jagged spikes of ice from where I feel it or encase someone in a tomb of ice.

Only ones who can get away from that one is those who fly. Gives me a perfect board where I can guide my enemies into a trap or location I'd like. Preferably into Samoth's arms.

But it is still not enough... I have to become stronger and stronger still.

Andreim went out in the middle of the field and spread his arms apart summoning water on each side of him, placing himself inside of the water itself, he separated a small bubble of air inside of it for him to breathe as he attempted to build up a tall wall of water.

He then sneezed which caused him to partly lose concentration, causing the water to come crashing down. "Ah.. damn.." He gathered some of the water around him in a ball like shape before causing it to shoot out large jagged spikes of ice in all directions, still attached to it's shape. The young man finalized it by placing both his hands on either side of the ball of ice he was now within, sending shards flying all over the field. I need to get this right in the tournament if I have to use it. My final card when all other things fail. My tidal wave.

I need to get it high enough so none can jump over it, forcing them to take it head-on. This move is going to be exhausting but if it will allow me victory. I shall have this wave wash away the competition. There are some it just won't work against though. People like King, Christine and Brutus. Who can interupt me easily enough, hinder or avoid being hit by it.

But anyone else will be in for a rough surprise.



Andreim had waited until all participants of St.Laurel's had gathered before he made his move. Stepping up in front of all of them.

"Fellow students of St.Laurels, I know I am just a 1st year, but I have some words for each and everyone of you! I want all of you to give your all in this tournament. For your school, for your families, your friends, the future that is on the horizon and for your own sakes in that future! Give it all you've got! Fight with all ounce of might in your body and soul, fight with all of your skill empowered by your will! Put faith in your comerades, but more so in yourselves! We of St.Laurels must fight, we shall compete and we will win! In honor of champions of the past, the champions with us at the present and the ones that will be in the future! Vic-tor-y! Vic-tor-y!"

He raised his right arm with a tightened fist in a cheering manner, while holding out his left for the others to place theirs on as a team gesture. This will be remembered in the storybooks as that fateful day. When we took the first steps on the stairway up to the stars. This is a good moment to also look for potential allies within the Mephisto school. Surely not everyone among them are vile and wicked, I shall find the oppressed and guide them to the brand new world that is to come.

“Alright, I trust all teams are formed then? Just remember, this is only for Mephisto trainees only. Phallic Tuna, you’re in charge of counting, remember? So you’re going to be running around the battlefield all the time. Besides given what happened during the last sparring, I ain’t set you loose against my other students. So chin up.!” Teacher Maskono waggled her finger at the masked student, who gave a grunt of compliance.

“All right, you’ve got 1 minute to take positions.” Begin!”.

--------------------------------------------
"Slamming someone unconscious is a valid defense?" Vittorio asked in a serious but unphased way.

“Ahah, time for questions is out! You will have to find out.!” Suzume answered as she kept track of a Watch, while the Fallen One was starting to write in a notebook.

The ghostly form that was Vittorio didn’t waste more time when the practice began, he’d spread his tentacle like wings widely covering both of his allies on each side. His expression cold and not currently having any emotion shown. His enemy was not Alto, neither could he go forwards being aggressively. So he began to do his best at defending the other two with outstretched appendages when the attacker would get too close to them.

------------------------------------------ Practice over.

When the training had begun, Yuuto had immediately just sat and observed his opponents. Vittorio’s initial protection was enough for him to work out how to best approach the situation. When he seen an opening, he took it. He disappeared into the Void, casually bypassing their opponents’ defenses. After some tricky maneuvering (and assistance from Vittorio), Yuuto managed to launch an offensive on their princess. Having just appeared in front of her face, his offensive caused the defending Princess to break the rules by defending herself. Most would argue that it was a dirty tactic, but Yuuto didn’t care. A ninja used every tool at their disposal, dirty or not.

Vittorio stood silently, slightly hovering above the ground half of his tentacle like wings had been torn off at the end of the practice, caused by Annabelle whom had resorted to physical attacks after noticing her poisons did nothing to his astral form. “They are not Alto…” Vittorio said as a matter of fact, to no-one in particular while facing Bak.

Bak, for her part, was smiling, shivering, and trying to force down a batch of sick that kept trying to push its way out her throat every now and again. Her armor was coated in a sparkly layer of frost only marred by the ghoulish globs of poison that could be seen sticking up like molehills from various places on her body. Not that that was her teams fault. Halfway through the skirmish Bak had made the tactical decision to send Vittorio off to defend Yuuto and just tank whatever was thrown at her. Which had been substantial, seeing as pretty well 90% of the people here had a bone to pick with her.

It had been a worthwhile gamble. They’d cleaned house working in tandem. “I-i-i-is go-o-od it was no-n-not Alto.” She said, the sound of her front teeth clashing against her metal lower jaw joining with the light washing maching machine like sound she made when she shivered. “You d--d-do not have to be so se-se-serious then, da? Have s-s-s-some fu-fu-fu-fun.”

Vittorio’s ghostly form kept looking Bak over. Some part of her he found highly admirable, despite her being a part of this den of sin. “If you are not serious and strong you will die… or someone you know will die.” He answered the metal clad girl as he stretched out one of his tentacles out to wipe off some of the collection of frost and shrapnel stuck on her metal parts. “I have questions for you Bak.” He slowly turned to Yuuto. “Not for you.”.

“D-d-do not be so m-m-m-ean, you were just wo-wo-woking s-s-s-so well together.” Bak said, while three others watched the trio.

“I can't believe they got past you…” Annabelle sat cross legged, clothing shredded and covered in her own drying blood. She’d gotten carried away and bear-hugged a particularly… spiky classmate… before breathing poison down his throat of course. Her near unstoppable nature had let her run solo and wreak havoc -- until she’d come across Bak. The tank girl just wouldn’t go down-

“This is your fault. You didn’t finish her off,” Gabriel told her.

“Hey, I was trying to help!”

“Who defeated us?” he asked.
“The… ninja?”

“Whose team was he on?”

“B-Bak’s…” Annabelle’s head lowered in shame. She’d tried to go back to her teammates and help, but had gotten tangled up in Vittorio. Gabriel had then tried to help her… and thus Goldi had been caught out by Yuuto… and in a panic tried to defend herself, getting them all disqualified.

“If you had finished her, their team would have been removed from the game anyway…” Gabriel sighed. “Well, it’s over then. I'm leaving.” He seemed calm, yet clearly not pleased with the outcome.

“Leaving already?” The transfer student with the mask addressed the trio, as he dropped some medical supplies for them to lick their wounds. “Since this is not getting anywhere with you people, why don’t you try a different approach. See what went wrong, admit your own shortcomings and don’t do next time. This is called training for a reason.” Celestine said, a hint of annoyance in his voice, having had to sit in the sidelines.

“Now where’s the forklift for Bak’s medical aid…” The masked student muttered, but then spotted the blasted figure of Suzume Maskono approaching the girl and lifting her in her strong arms. She was probably saying something along the lines…

“You got too carried away Bak, you should pay attention to your health sometimes. Still, well done! You were one of the best princesses.” Teacher Maskono said, as he carried the wounded girl.

“T-t-teacher, w-w-wait I can still walk.” Bak said, her insistence falling on deaf ears. She kicked her legs for a little bit, decided that was useless, and brought her hood arm up to her mouth and cupped it. “We w-w-will talk, Vittorio, I promised! Mr. N-n-ninja, thank you again! We c-c-could not have done it without you. Void w-w-wisdom carries day!”

“You failed in defending as much as they did in attacking.” Vittorio said somewhat in defense of Annabelle towards Gabriel. “There were two to protect. Not one. Perhaps next time you should be the princess.” He said in a cold but honest voice before floating after Suzume and Bak. He had questions still for Bak. He lowered his head in a greeting way to Celestine on the way.

Yuuto said nothing to either of his teammates as they left, and instead went home to report on how things had gone today to his parents.

"A moment thee hast already claimed. A few more may not cause harm." Galliere replied with her back turned towards William, before she dramatically turned around on her boots, her white cape flowing up as she did, taking a pose with one hand at her blade and the other by her waist. Not in a combat-like pose, more the kind you would expect to find in old drawings.

"Thine name dost precede thee, sir William. I know whom thou art. This mutual acquintance thee speak of herein, be mine brother."

The blonde young woman took a few steps forwards, down some short stairs, her metal boots causing an echo in the chamber they both now were within.

"Be it slander if it be the truth? Not always is the truth beautiful nor be it something thee want. Despite so, some go seeking for it relentlessly. What be this agreement thou seek, sir William of the Ascots?"

William gave a slight bow. "Two people are corrosive to the defense of Rhea against a future 'Greater Evil'; Vittorio Twinveil and your brother, Galbrek Ravenovich, and this corrosion cannot be cured by their deaths - if anything, their deaths would just cause greater damage to Rhea's capability to protect itself. No, rather, they need to be... Resolved. Thier issues have to be settled in a way that is healthy for them and would also add to the numbers of Rhea's defenders."

A pause. "Your fellow Vigilante, Alexandria Sova, or Andras, Lady of Despair as she prefers to be known, is helping me ressurect Vittorio's friends and family; a true ressurection instead of mere imitation. One more can be added to the list of people to bring back, one more that will create a vital bulwark for this city."

Another pause. "I believe you know who I am speaking of... But therein lies the rub; Andras will not be willing to do something good for the one who has ordered her kidnapping multiple times."

Galliere stood silent hearing out what William had to say.

"I do not know of this Vittorio Twinveil. In regards of mine brother however. He does what he deems to be right. Be it any different from what thee believe is right? Methods may differ, but many believe their way is the right one to tread."

"I dost know of Andras. She hast found comfort in the library, amidst the company of books. As hast I." Galliere took out a book hidden by her belt, just under the cover of her white mantle.

"A happy ending where all the dead of the world come alife anew. How many dost thee believe hast perished since the beginning of life? How many deserved it? Would they too fall into thine quest?" Galliere sheathed her sword and began to open the book she had retrieved from her belt.

"Every story hast a beginning and an end, not all whom were there at the start be there at the end. Not in physical form, only in the memory of those they leave behind as long as they pass their story on. But it is thanks to those memories that others be able to take the necessary steps forth, be they for good or evil. Whom art thou to decide if people die or not? Art thou flawless nay a god?"

Galliere began to draw a symbol using a finger midair. "Gaze upon thyself from the eyes of others. Those whom thee hast judged, let them judge thee now instead."

"Reincarnation!" She spoke out in a clear voice, a chant of magical nature. A spell? The are would seem to fill with magical darkness and to begin to be flooded by William's memories. She would show William visages, drawn from William's own memories of people and animals he may have willingly or unwillingly hurt. Allowing him to feel their happiness, but also anger, pain and sorrow. How his own words and actions have caused ripples and effects to those in his surrounding. She would wait until her spell would fade, she had been unable to move or do anything while focusing on her spell. Neither had she been able to get any glimses into William's mind.

"Darla; the doll girl who died a second time," William said as his head and shoulders slumped down. "Wolf, Vera, Vernon, and Alexander, my brother. Meredith, Andras herself, Fegin, Adam, and Bak. I've hurt so many, I've hurt so much."

But he didn't lose himself in the pain and anger; it was the sorrow that did it. "It's my ego, isn't it? My narcissism and desire to justify it with self-righteousness. There is also my desire for a neat and happy ending."

As he said this, he noticed that part of him was refusing to yield, even to such sadness. This part wept with them, but stuck to its guns, stuck to a position and never gave way. And when the spell faded, William had this to say, "I hurt so many and I want to stop. For once in my life, I want to stop my activities, my web, and my desire to be important. I just want to enjoy my childhood and studies and my life."

He breathed hard. "Galiere, my pride has played a part in all this; my grand designs are as nothing compared to this cold hard reality."

Facing her, he spoke, "But how can I just watch as so much that was good, that can still be good, rots away before burning itself out? How can I just watch people suffer and do nothing to help? And all the while... There is a threat approaching us all; the very Greater Evil that King believes in. How can I just stand by and watch ruin come?"

A further look, then a sigh. "But that doesn't exempt me from having to watch myself. It doesn't exempt me from the responsibility not to hurt others. My cause does not make all of my actions sarcosanct."

"Darla hast died? I see." Galliere said in a questioning manner, but one that wouldn't need replying to as she nodded softly.

"Indeed. Thee art only one of many in the world. I too desire the ending to be a happy one. So do most people. Think of what makes thee happy, join those who share similar a vision. No matter what thee will always have enemies and those who refuse thine future."

"My brother, Galbrek believes that humanity deserves to be destroyed for the things they hast done. Be he wrong? Why be he wrong? My answer is because evil takes many forms, it does not only lie within humans alone. This is where myself and my brother differ."

Galliere softly exhaled. "The hatred is what drives him forth. It blinds him from past and future. His greatest weakness is his heart, which only one living soul has been able to touch. What will happen the day he realizes that soul belongs to a human? He will be unable to proceed the way he has done. He will cease to be. His view on humankind broken."

"Sir William. Keep fighting what thee believe in but do so with consideration to those around thee. Ally or foe. Know what thine act shalt bring."

A smile from Will, and another nod. "Thank you. Does this mean that other than a reminder to be humble, no other help will come from you, though?"

Galliere partly repeated herself. "His heart can be reached and breached by a human soul. The first of the many. The one which lingers no matter how hard the wind blows. The one whose trying to fill up the hole left behind. Only by losing that will he realize his error." Galliere turned to walk back up to the altar and the stage of the chamber. "What else do thee need sir William, than thine determination firm... thine mission and vision clear. Nothing else dost thee need apart from time. Treasure it dearly."

"Thank you; I will," William said. "And I will be more honest to those whose help I need; Andras first."

"That I can not help thee with. Look around if thee so wish, but do not cause trouble." Galliere answered before sitting down on a chair at a desk, placing a large book down at it before dipping an ink pen to begin writing something.
"Mayhaps the library holds the answers thee seek, sir William."

William smiled, and then began to head out of the room... Before turning back and asking one last question:

"One more thing, Galiere; there are rumors of the Priest who still owns this church being here. Where can he be found if it is allowed to seek him out?"

"Thou shalt have to ask King, sir William. He may answer more than I am allowed or prone to tell."

A nod at that. "Then I will ask King. Thanks!"
And with that, he left the room.

William Ascot

The Day Before the Tournament.

Another week, and another failure. It didn't matter; William now had some sense of patience. As he talked with Andras, Wolf, and perhaps Vera in their appointed meeting place, William said after making his last draw, "Andras, I need to be honest with you, just as I need to be honest with myself. During that day, in the park, Vera made some good points about my plan to bring back Vittorio's friends and family. Those are good points, and I need to explain why I cannot stop yet, even as I acknowledge how good the points were."

A pause. "There are three reasons why I want to keep doing this; playing with cosmic laws.

"One, I am a narcissist, albeit one who expresses his narcissism by looking for a cause that seems worthy, a cause that seems ur-important, a greater cause that nevertheless helps others. I want to fell like I am above the petty causes of School and Organization, like I can do something about the tradgedies that still happen in this world, and to fight for a cause I believe in. It's just that I fail to see how my involving others can ruin people's lives. Which brings us to the second reason why I keep doing this.

"Two, I believe that King, the Vig's leader, is right. I believe that there is a Greater Evil approaching Rhea, and that Mephisto, owner of Mephisto's, is connected to it. Wolf knows what we found in that secret lab outside of Rhea, and while said lab isn't enough evidence for my allegations, it still provokes suspicions.

"Two-point-a; if there is a Greater Evil, not only is it a cause that fits my desire to be great, but also a threat to Rhea, the city. A threat to all of us. If the defenses aganst the Greater Evil, not just Army and Police but also superpowered kids, are undermined, then we all suffer. King's warning has grown unheeded for too long, although to be honest, that's because he isn't presenting additional proof of his claims.

"Two-point-b; sorry if I'm being annoying with this, Vittorio and now Galbrek are undermining the 'superpowered kids' part of Rhea's defenses. Vittorio's feud towards Alto, fueled by his' being the person who's still suffering the most in Rhea, and Galbrek's feud against Humanity, which comes from his own deep personal tragedy - which doesn't excuse his actions - are distracting teenager and adult alike. And killing them won't solve the problem either, because of the effort that will cost and the damage they can do before dying."

A pause, then. "And finally, Three. I can't allow a tragedy - no, tragedies - like what happened to Vittorio and even Galbrek to go unacknowledged. What sort of person am I; what sort of person will I be, if I just stand by and do nothing when someone not only suffers, but lashes out against others and causes suffering? I may not be perfect, but I'd at least want to say: It's not true that no one cares."

Looking at them all, William would say, "Which is why I am doing two more things: One, revealing my full and modified plans to you, and Two, giving you all the chance to back out and leave me to my own hubris.

"Said plans are these: To use Andras' powers to bring a full ressurection of Vittorio's friends and family, and one other person, with the prime priorities being 1.) Charlotte, Vittorio's lost love, and 2.) Galduric, Galbrek's good older brother, and whose death caused Galbrek's turn to darkness."

A pause. "The idea is that Charlotte and Galduric would put Vittorio and Galbrek 'in check', plunging them into inaction or even... Converting them to the cause of Rhea's defense. There is also the prospect of additional fighters for the potential defense of Rhea."

A faint smile. "After or during that, we find out exactly what's going on with Mephisto; the stuff I told Wolf about. And then we organize Rhea's defense by bringing forth every bit of power and information we can bear."

And now a frown. "Again, if you all want to leave, you can do it now; you all have that right."

@RoflsMazoy@Crowvette@KillamriX88

---

There was a bit of silence as they took in the information overload that William had just dumped on them. Then, finally,it broke. Slowly at first, but a shattering seemed imminent.

Clap... clap... clap...

Vera slowly clapped, something about it making the hair on the back of Wolf's neck stand up. He had a bad feeling about this. She looked too calm.

"A narcissist? But one who uses his narcissism it to fuel good deeds. Well, it's certainly something a narcissist might say," Vera told him. "So, now we're bringing back the dead to manipulate people? Gotta say, I'm impressed. I mean, really, I'm starting to lose track of who the bad guy is here!" She smirked and leaned toward William. Truly, she did almost appreciate how devious it was. She hadn't expected it from him. But at the end of the day, it was still the same plan, just with a new motive. "That's fucked up." Slowly though, the smirk faded and her usual, cold disdain came back.

So now William wanted to bring back Galbrek's dead brother? The whole thing was stupid and opened up a can of worms she thought was best left closed, but that... that rubbed her the wrong way for a completely different reason. William had devised a plan to bring back the dead, and this was what he was choosing to do with it?



In a strange turn of events, Vera had shown up at Wolf's house and invited him to get lunch with her. It was really later in the day than lunchtime, but she'd waited til' he was done training with his father for the day. To no one's surprise, she had an ulterior motive. They ate mostly in silence, but as the food began to dry up, she finally spoke.

"So... what were you two talking about?" she asked him.

". . . what?" Wolf needed more context for that one.

"You and Meredith. She loses her shit and kicks me out, then drags me back in and loses her shit even more. What were you two talking about?" Vera scowled. "It feels like you're keeping secrets from me."

"She was just worried about me-"

"Why?" Vera asked. "If she was worried that means something is going on. Why don't I know this?" She didn't like not knowing things. "I mean, I was the one who had bad things happen to them, but you're the one who gets coddled?"

"No- Well..." She wasn't wrong, technically. He let out a long, tired sigh. "You know everything that happened. It's just between not being there for you and my mother's portrait, I wasn't in the best place. That's what really set her off too."

"The portrait? I mean, I get it. It's a nasty thing to do, but... all that?" Vera asked. "You know, you never talk about her. I know she's dead, but... still seems weird. I feel like I should have heard something by now." There must be something there. Wolf wasn't that old, so neither could his mother have been. That and the silence said something.

"It's... hard to think about her..." Wolf admitted. "She was great, but... with all the good memories still comes the bad."

"Bad? But she was great?" The implications were a bit concerning.

"Yeah. She was strong. Kinda strict, but always there. Looking back... she put everything she had into being a mother. But... it's just that..." His face fell into his hands for a moment. When his hands fell away, he looked more distant. "She died in front of me." There, it was out there for her to know.

Vera began shifting uncomfortably. She was regretting asking. "Like... in a hospital?"

"No."

Her face turned pale. "Oh." She swallowed and looked away. "OK." And that was all she could think to say.



Disapproval wasn't a strong enough word. Disgust was closer. Hate was probably becoming more worthy by the second. Vera stared at William as if he were less than an insect.

"Don't worry, William, I wouldn't call you a narcissist," she said, no longer even projecting sarcasm. She was stone cold serious. "There's so many more relevant options. Idiot. Fool. Insane. It takes that mix of things to come up with such a ridiculous plan and then double down on it. You know, I was willing to just sit back and watch it all happen. Not my problem either way it turns out, but now?" Her hands slammed down onto the table they sat at and she pushed herself to her feet. "You do remember who he is and what he's done right? And now he gets his brother back if you have your way?"

She lifted her arm and looked at her wrist. She waited for a few seconds. "Bam. Someone else just died. In fact, a few people probably have since we got here. Coulda been old age, coulda been murder. You wanna stop tragedies from happening? Well guess what, you officially suck at it. You're a failure. No ones death is any more or less tragic than any other, and there's almost always someone left behind missing them!" she snarled, face twisting up.

"So a guy who you admit is a threat to us gets his family back because it suits you? Well fuck you! You don't even know what you're asking!" At this point she was openly shouting. That sinking feeling in Wolf's stomach was only getting worse as he watched in shocked silence. She'd reamed him the first time he'd brought this up, like scolding a child, but somehow Vera seemed almost personally offended this time. "Why should we sit here and listen you go on about bringing back someone else's family when we could be missing our own!?"

That cemented it then. Wolf knew exactly what she was getting at. Part of him was in disbelief, but it made sense in a way. She'd just found out about his mother, however many fine details she was lacking. And then here she was hearing William talking about resurrecting someone for Galbrek. He wasn't happy to hear it either, but now that Vera had said that... he couldn't get the thought out of his mind. His mother. The possibility of resurrection.

It stung.

Vera began to walk away, but as she passed by William she stopped, hands balling into fists so hard her arms shook. She spun on her heel, lifting her hand up.

"Vera!" Wolf's own hand shot out to grab her wrist before she could hit him. "It's OK."

"No it's not!" Vera pulled away. Honestly, he'd never seen her this upset, not like this. "Fuck..." This time she left quietly, but she'd already made more than enough noise.

When she was out of earshot, Wolf took a deep breath.

"Look... I'm not gonna sit here and tell you everything is fine and that Vera's just being how she is," Wolf said to William. "But nothing has changed. It doesn't matter if I agree with you. It's up to Andras, but I'll tell you clearly now. If she goes, so do I. I have no stake in your plan."

With that, he could only wait and let Andras speak.

William Ascot

He had to reply to Wolf right away, or did he? All William can take from Vera's diatribe at first was...She has people she cares about as well. He felt anger then, as the shock faded, he felt rage. The rage came from the selfish place in his heart that wanted to be praised, wanted to be loved, wanted to be known as a 'special hero'. The boy recognized it within himself, forced himself to endure the unpleasant emotions, forced himself to face Wolf as he said, "I thought I can stand it. To know I've justly earned her hate. To know that there's no redeeming myself in her eyes."

Part of Ascot refused to believe that last part. That part was irrelevant.

He pursed his lips. "But I can guess more than you two let on. She's the type who wears her emotions on her sleeves, and she's no doubt ranted about me before. She'll rant about me later on, too. Your girlfriend, Wolf...she's a reminder that good intentions alone do not make one good."

Remember Galiere's lesson, the one that led to this exchange. His eyes hardened, his face set, "But I had to say what I said. I had to be honest, even if it earned her hate. Because... And she does not need to be here, or believe me, for me to say this: I needed to hear what she had to say. I needed to be fully clear about what I might put you through."

And finally...I need to remind myself that I do not need to be universally loved, even by other good people. "She's a good person, Wolf. It hurts that I've earned the hate of another good person, no matter how thin our links are." Another purse of the lips. "But I will say this: I am done fobbbing off the consequences of my actions on other people. I will no longer lurk in the shadows, weaving webs that come apart when light shines. I will suffer beside... All of you, even those who hate me. This time, I am going to live with my decisions."

There was a new intensity in his eyes, a new fire that was lighting up, growing hotter and hotter and driving out the corrosive rot of anger.

"I'm done letting others suffer for me," he intoned. "This time, I deal with my problems directly."

@RoflsMazoy@Crowvette@KillamriX88

---

The training session had been an… interesting affair. The winning team’s princess, poor Bak, had been in a near ruinous state by the end, while the second place team was nearly unscathed as a whole. He didn’t count Annabelle’s effectively self-inflicted wounds, which had all healed on their own anyway.

Rurik’s team, however… well. Christine had done her job just fine. She’d even been one of those who’d gone after the exposed and helpless Bak. Rurik had done his ob as well… kind of. Not really. Oh, anyone he’d caught gunning for Christine had been stonewalled. Shut down entirely.

Before very long at all, they’d realized that aiming for Christine was useless. She herself was too powerful, and Rurik’s shield was just a nightmare to get past. Their only hope was an end-run to take out Vernon.

Vernon had realized just as quickly that Rurik wasn’t all that concerned about him, nor was he very good at following orders. His best bet had then been to just stick as close to Rurik and Christine as possible and be defended by proxy. Yes, he’d quite thoroughly overestimated Rurik’s ability to give a shit, Christine or not, and just as thoroughly underestimated his ability to be a spiteful little prick.

When Christine had gone off to take her shot at Bak, the team had been temporarily split up. Annabelle had known she was one of the few people that could get through Rurik’s defenses and simultaneously shrug off his attacks… And he wasn’t even allowed to attack. So, Rurik hadn’t done either. As she’d charged him, he stepped aside, and to make sure she didn’t follow him, he’d set the ground he’d been standing on to explode.

Catapulting her right into Vernon.

“Oops.”

And that had been that.

As certain as Vernon was that Rurik’s actions had been purposeful, the guy wouldn’t admit it. At the same time, he hardly seemed upset by the outcome. It had certainly hastened his exit from the training session.

After shrugging off any admonishment or criticism aimed his way, Rurik took his leave of the area as soon as possible. The training session itself had ended up being mostly painless, but Vernon’s presence had made it distasteful enough all on its own. He just wanted to relax for the rest of the day, and hopefully with Christine for some of it.

“Hey, wait up!” A voice called after them. It was Vernon.

“Look, I already apologized,” Rurik said. Not that he’d meant it. “What more do you want?”

“Oh, it’s nothing to do with that,” Vernon replied. It was its own sort of lie. Rurik, either through negligence or ill will had humiliated Vernon. “I just thought I’d do you a favor. Clear the air if you would. I guess it’s more for Christine’s benefit, really.”

“Don’t you-” Rurik didn’t have to think all that hard to guess what he was getting at.

“Christine, my dear, did you know about Rurik’s reputation? I mean, I’ve heard it's quite prodigious in certain circles. If I had to guess, part of the reason he sleeps so much is because he’s always getting into fights! Good news is that he wins most of them, otherwise your relationship might be in jeopardy!”

“Vernon…” Rurik growled. It did nothing to stop the incoming flood.

“Oh, that’s right. He’s a bit of a gambling man it seems. His favorite wager is you! Bets your relationship on nearly every fight he gets into!” Vernon explained. “I just… got the impression you weren’t aware of all this. Figured it’d be good to get it all out in the open!”

Rurik pursed his lips. Well… he was right. Last he’d checked, Christine had never visited the little fighting ring he participated in. In fact, once he’d realized how many people were abusing it to try and get him to leave Christine, he’d tried to keep it that way. As far as he was concerned, the less she was involved in that garbage the better.

The only times it had ever come up were the two or three instances he’d actually lost and had “broken up with her”. . . for all of ten seconds before asking to get back together.

For example…

“So hey, I lost a bet and now we have to break up…” Rurik had told her. He’d then looked down at his wrist, where one might wear a watch and waited a second or two. “OK that should be good. Wanna go out with me again?” That had been the first time.

And then…

“Please don’t get mad, but it happened again. Which means I guess we have to break up again.” He sighed, feigning looking upset. It was about two months after the first time. “Damn, and we had that lunch thing planned too. Well, I don’t wanna mess up your schedule, so how about we do that anyway and we can talk about getting back together while we’re at it?”

It was hardly in the spirit of the wagers, but they’d never specified he couldn’t ask her out again right away. He’d always passed it off like he’d lost a simple bet over something like a coin-flip or something far less serious. He’d also never made it obvious just how many times it had been an issue, because he usually won, in which case there was no reason for Christine to ever hear about it.

That was the big issue. She liked fighting well enough, he doubted she’d be too mad about him getting into a lot of fights. Probably. But, now doubly so after Thobias’s scolding, the frequency of the bets made him think she might get offended. In his mind he’d only done it to shut people up… but… And then to top it all off he’d kept it from her.

And so he let out a sigh.

“Well it’s pretty much like he says,” Rurik told her. “So… you mad at me?” He offered no explanations or excuses. He’d just let it play out.

“Oh, really?” Christine responded. “Rurik getting into fights like that… I didn’t think he was that kind of guy…”

Her expression wasn’t that of anger however. Instead, it was one of curiosity and light surprise.

“I thought he would be too lazy to get into fights out of his own will,” she said to Vernon with a smile. “But betting his relationship with me… I wonder why his opponents wanted to accept such a wager… Hmm, I guess because they wanted to date me, perhaps? That explains those couple times when Rurik broke up with me. So that was the bet…”

“But really, even if Rurik broke up with me, that doesn’t mean I’m going to date them, especially when most of them are just troublemakers and perverts.”

Ever since Christine entered Mephisto, she had been attracting quite the attention from the hornier male students. Since it was Mephisto, so a lot of students were troublemakers, there weren’t any shortage of boys trying to grope her breasts or look up her panties. Every day she had to repel them and assert her dominance. Only after that then the harassment lessened, she got the “Snow Princess” moniker, and she was accepted as one of the student council members.

Rurik wasn’t one of those boys, which made Christine appreciate him.

“Well… it was mostly them making the bet and me accepting,” he clarified. And then she basically said for him exactly why. He hadn’t seen much risk in it. How likely had Christine been to drop him for one of them just because he lost? Apparently, as he’d suspected, not very.

“So, that everything then?” Rurik asked Vernon. He could see the tension in the boy’s face. Clearly he’d expected at least somewhat more explosive results by blowing Rurik’s little “secret” into the open.

“Well… yes. I suppose it is,” Vernon replied, far less energetic than he had been when he’d first approached. “Enjoy the rest of your day.” Somehow Rurik doubted he meant that.

He waited silently for a moment as Vernon left and then he turned back to Christine.

“So… I mean I get that finding out I was getting into fights isn’t really bad in your eyes… but as far as everything else goes… we’re good?” he asked her, now that they didn’t have the prying eyes of a witness.

“Yeah, we’re good!” Christine replied brightly. “Although I really prefer you to win in those matches. I would be troubled if they win and they actually decide to come to me and ask me to go out with them.”

Rurik did have to wonder why none of those people he’d lost to had ever gone up to Christine. Perhaps they just felt too awkward trying to ask out a girl who still had a boyfriend, even if they’d just managed to beat up that boyfriend. After all, if they’d truly though they’d had a chance, they probably wouldn’t have bothered with him in the first place.

“Well, don’t worry, I don't plan on that ever being a problem.” Today pretty much sealed it. Thobias had told him to cut all that nonsense out, but now he had his own definite reason to stop. He figured he’d still get into the odd fight here and there, but he’d be leaving Christine out of it. “And besides, I think I’ve already beaten most of the people who wanna go out with you anyway.” Some days it felt like he’d literally blasted his way through half the school…

To be fair, not all of them had been gunning for Christine. Some had just really, really wanted to fight and a punch to the jaw shut them up faster than trying to talk them out of it.

“By the way, Rurik…” Christine suddenly changed the topic of the conversation. “Are you going to participate in this year’s tournament? It’s okay if you don’t want to. I’m just asking, that’s all,”

Christine secretly thought that he might be a little more motivated for the tournament as he had been doing fights all this time.

It was a good thing Rurik didn’t smile often to begin with because he’d have certainly stopped then. The tournament. He had completely forgotten that was a thing. He’d even glossed over the fact that that was why there had been a training session. Of course Christine was gonna bring it up.

“I wasn’t planning on it,” he told her. “You go to something like that and people start having expectations of you and it’s a lot more hassle than just a few street fights here and there.” If he won, then he had to progress further and keep fighting, and if he lost then everyone would give him that disappointed look… like last time. No, it was best if he just stayed out of it to begin with.

“Alright then,” Christine responded, sounding slightly disappointed. “If you don’t want to, that’s fine with me.”

“Right…” Good, no pressure then. He then patted his pants pockets as if he was looking for something. “Ah. I think I forgot something. I’ll catch up with you.” And with that, he turned on his heel and jogged back they way they’d came.

Meanwhile, Vernon had rounded up his two lackeys and was making his way toward one of the exits to the school. A sudden, sharp whistle got his attention. He turned his head to see Rurik, standing by a large rock, placed decoratively next to a tree.

“What does this idiot want n-” And suddenly the rock jumped five feet into the air and Rurik slammed his palm against it, sending it flying at Vernon. His eyes went wide. But no, there was no way he’d go through with this. It’d be diverted or something at the last second. Rurik wasn’t insane enough to throw a rock that big at someone!

Yes, Vernon would call the fools bluff and stand his ground!

“BOSS! WATCH OUT!” Not that he got a say in the matter. His henchmen tackled him off his feet and threw him clear of the rock. He then new two things. One, he was lying face first on the concrete walkway, covered in dirt, and two… the rock hadn’t stopped and totally would have hit him. He looked up in time to see Rurik walking away whilst giving Vernon a middle-finger salute.

“Bastard…”

A short time later, Rurik jogged back over to Christine.

“Sorry about that,” he said. “Did you hear that crashing? Bak must have found someone to discipline on her way… to wherever the hell she was going.” Where even did Bak go at the end of the day? He realized he had no idea. But then he paused for a moment and took a breath. “But actually that was me throwing rocks at Vernon because he made me mad,” he admitted. “Don’t worry, he’s fine.” Unfortunately.

He’d gotten lucky this time, but this whole awkward situation had spawned from him keeping things from Christine. A bit more honesty was called for, he decided. Well, at least with her.



She’d said it was fine with her if he didn’t participate, but she had kept dropping not so subtle hints ever since that she wanted him to join. After all, she was going to participate and wouldn’t it be so fun to be on the same team? And yeah, that had also told him it was going to be a team event. He wouldn’t have to do all the work alone, but that meant even more disappointed looks if he even threw a fight.
Eventually he’d been worn down, like a stone eroded by water, and agreed. But they still needed a third teammate.

Vernon? Make it the same team as during training? He barely even entertained that thought. Annabelle would probably actually say yes, but also screw that. Thobias? Considerably more potential, but he still didn’t exactly like Thobias. Win or lose, he’d prefer this to be as painless as possible. Maybe that weird ninja guy, he had been useful before, and apparently was a student. He’d participated in training after all.

But how the hell did one go about finding a ninja? That was sort of there thing after all -- not being found.

He grimaced. He only really knew one other person well enough to ask.

And that was how he’d wound up going to Bak of all people...

Galbrek & Meredith

Having made his way out of the building alongside Meredith. It had not been a trip without a risk. He had thanked the evil gods for sending an imp to his aid, that the imp took on the form of an overly familiar mailboy did mean there was some irony and luck involved. The mailboy have had no chance to flee before he stared into Galbrek's hypnotic gaze, the half-demon told him to remove his clothes which he complied to. Meanwhile dressing in the new obtained disguise, Galbrek was busy fending off Meredith who was clinging to him, cursing under his breath that if they both would not be quiet they would be caught and locked up forever. The pair sneakily, with some bickering and irritation made their way further down where Galbrek asked a policeman for help. The fool had taken pity on him and fallen into his devious plot. The officer escorted the pair, yes. The pair. As no matter how hard Galbrek tried to free his arm, Meredith was clinging to him like a beartrap. Once the policeman had dropped them off, a distance away from outpost Delta as he called it. The newest of his hideouts with the more modern looks to it was where he had told Adam and Fegin to head to.

"Grrr..." He growled lowly. "Will you stop clinging on me, I am trying to concentrate here. This is a very -very- bad spot Adam has put me in. No matter... if you let go off me I may... reward you. Yes. Reward you. A bargain perhaps?" Galbrek pondered on the idea how he could exploit this, in his eyes... a dimwitted and unstable fellow half-demon. Suffice to say he didn't have overly high thoughts of her, but then again whom did he have high thoughts of? There was indeed a lack of people like himself.

Meredith for her part had pressed on her grip. She was now wearing clothes that for the most part, were some size smaller...except in the chest area. Her grin was somewhat disturbing, as if her mind raced now in the edge of madness and lust. She wanted to tear him, watch him suffer, but at the same time, it'd be too much of a shame. She was beginning to awaken... certain kind of cravings, as fire still boiled in her insides. She felt ecstatic... rather than angry or sad. "Compensation... Ravenovich. I marked a boy. I wanted him as my toy. And I have no interest in broken toys... And yet you dared to let loose whatever minion you have on him, and made him a little more broken. A little more unhappy." Meredith said almost cooing, but with words full of poison and... at the same time, a husky kind of vibe. "Compensate me for damages, and I will overlook you attacked those under my domain." She whispered into his ear. "After all, my failed healing spell is what is holding you together." She fumed. "Nothing is ever going my way, until now. First it was Mother, who is bent in crushing me before I crush her, and then there's that leech who is hovering around my boytoy, leeching off him. That spot should be mine! And then, she comes to MY domain with a load, and exploits MY boytoy to get free food and lodgings. And then YOU attack because of some silly fancy. And then THAT little Willie interferes."

"Yes, yes, compensation. I would never walk back on my word... " He said out loud before muttering under his breath. "...unprepared.". He threw away the disgusting mailboy cap into a trashbin. "What a disgusting piece of garment... bleh." Galbrek paused in his thoughts as he heard Meredith mentioning a boy.. toy? "Wait... so you only want William? Hah.. haha... why didn't you say so, I want that slime out of my -plans-. Trust me, whatever your name was again? Galbrek Ravenovich does not give his word for nothing, and when I say you can have him then you can have him. I want someone else. Someone with magic that I want to have. The girl. Andras. " He said with a slight bit of contempt, she had been very elusive and people had meddled in his plans. Adam was nowhere to be seen. How typical. Where is the scapegoat when you need one. "Tch. Your healing spell is compensation for ruining my coat." He replied to Meredith in a hurried voice. "What fucking leech? Ahhhh.... a girl. I see, I see... well I think I can help you with that little problem. Let's say you would misplace the girl Andras into my hands, and in return I would take good care of that girl you want... misplaced. Isn't that right?"

"Will-iam?" Meredith raised an eyebrow, as one of her hands let go Galbrek, before quickly forming a claw. "Clearly... you have no need for eyes. Are you seeing correctly? Because last time i checked I wasn't into inverted justicemen wannabes." Meredith harrumphed , clearly offended by the notion. "Meredith Blackgate, remember that well, Gal-ly" She added in a singsong voice. "Well, you also drove your hard stuff through my body... it wasn't really pleasant. And you kinda forced me to transform into this or die." Meredith growled. "Misplace Andras?" Meredith questioned, before narrowing her eyes. Her other arm let the demon boy loose.

"Well, technically, she is only under protection when she is under the same roof as my family..." Meredith podered as she thought. Maybe that was it. Maybe that girl had to vanish from Wolf's life in such a way. Using others like her, or Wolfie. Now it was Meredith's turn to use others to remove her. The price? The so-called Andras. There was a moment of sympathy towards the girl. She wasn't that... mean to her. Still, everything had a price in this world. Some prices were really steep... She had been always reminded.
"Let's say I agree." Meredith finally let go, as she stepped back. "Andras for Vera."

Galbrek smiled, in a wide manner. "Consider this Vera person displaced then. Tell me her appearance and I shall make sure she will not get in your or anyone elses way anymore." He chuckled, perhaps he wouldn't in fact kill the girl when she was in his hands, rather use her as a means to get Andras to do what he wanted. Nothing like inflicting pain on another person to get someone to do just what you want. Even if it means opening all manner of demonic portals and goodies. He could barely wait, but first he had to find some details about this Vera and then send off any of his remaining dolls to catch her. If not even do so himself. Then it struck him. What if he was alone now? What if his dolls had all. Nonsense... theres just no way that Adam would fail him. And that sneaky fuck Fegin would likely still be around. The information about Celine and Eve had been brief, could they have really died so silently without detection?

"Well..." She thought. Here goes nothing. "I think you had scrapes with her already. Kinda tall-ish, some bumps, stupid hat, dresses and has the attitude of a hungover junkie washout?" She began to elaborate, adding a more articulate and less cynical description while she did so, adding at several points that she truly wanted to rip off or eat several of Vera's striking features. "Got it, Gally?"

"Yes...." He said with now gritted teeth, how it irked him someone calling him that. Only one person was -allowed- and at the same time not really allowed to call him that and that was his mother. How he was annoyed at it. "Consider her... taken care of soon."
"Heh...heh.....hahahah...." He raised his arms in victorious laughter as he headed into outpost delta and waited for any survivor dolls to return.

"Well, I suppose... we part ways, Gally. Uh, let's exchange numbers!" Mer said as she pulled out a cellphone that miraculously had survived. "Also could you do a favour to a little demon-girl and give me some change for a taxi? And let me suck your power a little bit? I will do something nice for you!" Meredith said, in a bizarre mix of her new sultry mood and her old upbeat persona.

He got an irritated look on his face as his laughter stopped, tearing out a piece of paper and writing down his numbers, throwing the entire notepad towards Meredith. "Fine, take that and tell me when you have the girl." Galbrek breathed through his nose now, a vein on his forehead nearly bursting hearing her calling him -that- again. "Take this fucking silver statuette and pay the fucking taxi driver, or use your damn wings to get there faster." He threw a silver statuette that was nearby along the table, creating a couple of cracks in the table. "Though keep your lecherous nature off me... think of your... boytoy.. he wouldn't want his dear little..." He paused before continuing to speak in a manner which was a combination of mocking, speaking towards children but also in a sense that it made sense. ".... snugglebitch to get snuggly with someone else would he?"

"I suppose so... then again it's not cheating as long as you aren't found out like mother usually says." She pondered. "You are missing really good snuggles though, Gally." She finished, before blowing him a kiss and then using her hand to wave goodbye. Step number two, convince a taxi driver with a silver statue. If only she had his hypnotic gaze... There was also a lot of explaining to do at home at how she now was a spitting image of her own mother. She frowned... and then looked at the statue. Maybe if she haggled she could stay a few days away from home in some lodgings...

Galbrek exhaled deeply as Meredith finally had left, he threw off his borrowed mailboy attire and took on a new set of clothing, this one being fully white attire. Making him look slightly similar to his sister with her steriotypical white uniform.

Brushing off his shoulder and giving himself a look in a mirror, he adjusted the ruffles on his shirt and attached a broché with a profiled ivory image of himself in the middle of it.
"Finally rid of that annoying bitch and now I have to get rid of another one until I finally can get that girl in my grasp." He muttered to himself, watching his face from various angles in the mirror.

"I could kiss myself." He said with a confident tone of voice, before turning around and grabbing a conveniently placed bust of himself, lifting away a piece of it's stone hair, taking out a wine bottle from it. He bit into the cork and spit it out before taking a gulp, before flinging the entire bottle at a nearby painting depicting a futuristic and darker Rhea.

"Tch.. " He cussed to himself, but not for long. He could hear the main door opening in the long hallway, someone was coming? The half-demon prepared for the worst, that annoying bitch coming back.
But it wasn't her. In the hallway stood a dark figure, by dark really dark indeed. The surface of the person black like sot, with some spots still bearing skin like color and a once colorful attire partly burnt away.

"Masterino... things didn't go quite as planned."
It was one of his dolls. Fegin. He had survived, but was in quite a bad shape. Galbrek clenched his fists and then collected himself. "Lord... Galbrek for you... Where is Adam?"
"Lord Galbrek. It would appear Adam did not make it..." Fegin replied to his creator in a no nonsense tone for once.

"Be silent... let me talk with Adam right now... Bertrand... Celine... Darla... Eve... let me talk with them now." Galbrek looked away from the scorched doll and to a painting depicting a demonic family tree.

"But they are.. " Fegin did not continue his sentence, he realized that his creator was not being reasonable or even present. As if he was in another plane of existance alltogether.
"You will bring him to me... I shall fix you up and give you the power. Bring them back to me..." Galbrek said in a soft and more like begging tone than demanding.
"As you wish.." Fegin felt odd, he generally was the kind to joke around but in this case if he would try something like that he would be certain his creator wouldn't think twice about shredding him to pieces.

Galbrek placed his hand at Fegin's chest, infusing him with demonic energy up to the maximum. "You have lost your ring.. that's not good at all. I will get you a new one."

The day had come. The muffled noise of crowds could be heard outside the dressing room. Very much like a stage performance. Celestine eyed his own self in the mirror. He was a man... yet his face, bone structure were delicate, much closer to a woman. He would never be a dashing stud. He would be always be tiny and unintimidating. A girly boy. Perhaps if things had been different, he could have lived his life with the cheers of crowds as he danced. He reviewed his mental images. Both him and mother... dancing together, making dreams... Those days were long past.

Half-dressed, he pressed a button in one of his many cheap cellphones. A tool of the trade for shady deals, as he kept dressing up. He knew it, the body of his was more apt to wear feminine clothes than male ones. Female Mephisto uniforms were accomodating of his small shoulders, and tasteful legs and hips. He had decided to wear the colors of the school, albeit with a few modifications. Black underwear to hide his recognizable man features. Fishnet stockings with a garter. Boots. Fingerless gloves. Besides himself, an ornate brass mask with womanly features as well a long black-hair wig were the final pieces of his getup. He eyed the lipstick and miscellanous make-up he had at his disposition, and began to apply it liberally as the phone called.

"Big Man? How are you doing on the vacation trip? Listen, I have some sort of dilemma here. Do you prefer nice or spicy?"

"Aha"

"Okay, I will see to it." Celestine cut the connection. That...patron of his was working in such mysterious ways. Wouldn't it hurt for Mephisto to share with Celestine his thoughts sometimes? Maybe he wouldn't have to improvise as much. He finished applying the makeup and applied black lipstick as a finisher. It wasn't going to be readily evident with the bronze mask on, but... he figured the mask would fall off at some point.

He eyed the watch in his wrist. About time. He made a mental reminder of the things that were yet about to happen. He also reviewed his plan. He was the ever subtle individual, just like some of his powers. Sometimes, a nudge was needed. And he would provided it this time for the Mephisto team. He knew that for example, one of the most annoying consequences of extreme exercise were cramps. More than often caused by electrolyte depletion.

But what would happen if someone were to weaponize it? It would not be very effective, as it would produce headaches and minor disruption to physical abilities after some time. Safety and anti-cheating systems were designed to detect additions of substances, not subtractions. Granted, tampering with the water of other teams and switching them for distilled water (whose only difference was being even more tasteless than common water), as well as arranging so the energy packs and food were lesser quality counterfeits for other teams would probably do a very minor dent in their performance. But when stakes ran ever so high, even a 1% or a 2% would tip the scales towards Mephisto side. The best part? It wasn't even illegal. Since people could just compensate by eating more if they ever found out. But... he figured out no one would have both the nutritional knowledge and at the same time, the keen senses to pick up the change.

With a final adjustment, he placed the wig on his head, affixxing it so it wouldn't fall out easily, and he run a hand through his fake, but luxurious black hair. "Let's dance to the cheering of crowds. Let's pretend the days of glory were never gone, that the world is a beautiful place to live." He paused, as his finger drew closer to the mirror, a stream of information in his mind as he circled over the design of the surface. Apparently faultless, but full of cracks and impurities under his eye. He poked it lightly, just once. The right way.

Huge cracks shattered the image in a dozen of so fragments of Celestine.

"Let's see how much until the cracks appear and this filthy existence is revealed in all its ugliness. The show... must go on." He let a little chuckle as he affixed his brass mask, and picked up his designated tools for this fight. Blunt tonfas. He probably wouldn't be able to justify bringing a blade. Also a waistpack with medical supplies offered by the organization. He exited into the hub with elegance and pride, his steps firm and swaying like in a catwalk.

"Let's have fun, shall we?" He said, and giggled in a girlish voice to his teammates.

---

Meredith twiddled her fingers as she bit her lip, trying to squeeze past other students. The few last past days have had... major changes in her. She almost considered not coming to the tournament, and instead just take Wolfie for herself, elope to somewhere and never look back. And yet... The tournament was where Wolfie would ever be. She had to look everywhere for new clothes, as her body shape had changed drastically (except in a couple of places), which made very hard to find an uniform that fit her in time. She had achieved a compromise, but the shirt of her new uniform was awfully tight. She almost gave up trying to button it up. However, this would have raised a lot of questions, so she had to enchant herself with illusion.

So that she looked the same, and nothing ever happened. She had even visited Wolfie in his dreams, once, when everyone was asleep. He had been worried. She had written it off as wanting to train, after Galbrek escaping and that both would meet in the tournament. She added that she gave the other halfbreed a good few wounds. Technically this much was true. She skipped the part about beating a guy in armour and blowing up an airship.

Still, she never had accounted for ... the other consequences of her absence. The students were all the same, there was that Andreim giving a spiel. She slipped back in her old persona. "Hiiii. Andy Rum is up to the usual, I see! She smiled in her best impersonation of her past self. Something made her stop in her tracks.

"Wait...where is my team? She said both in genuine and fake confusion. Surely they wouldn't skip her over just because a little more than two days had passed...

Oh.

Oh Bugger.

They just did. She needed a new team.

---

"Ahhhhhhh," Ria screamed along with the crowd as she walked out with the Vigilantes to the riotous cheers. She sneered up at the exited faces in the audience, her eye giving her a detailed look at each individual face, no matter how far away they were. "What a bunch of sheep." She said. "None of them know us, they're just wrapped up in the narrative. Guess that's what an underdog story gets you, huh King?"

"You know, I believe we were informed that the field was for people that would actually be fighting today." Nasearph said testily beside her.

"You're just salty because you oven roasted yourself for nothing." Ria replied quietly. Naseraph unconsciously glanced down in the direction of his chest, still feeling the burns that he'd paid to develop a technique that he would not have the opportunity to use. Ria caught the gesture and grinned, leaning in. "You've got no one to blame but yourself. They announced what the tournament would be ages ago. You'd have know that if you ever paid attention."

"I do not believe I need tournament advice from the girl no one was willing to team up with."

"Yeah, it's such a shame." Ria replied, actually narrowing her eyes in displeasure at the people around her. She knew she was only a reserve member, but damn, you'd think some desperate straggler from either the vigs or her school would at least have the backbone to suffer her for a day if it meant they'd be able to compete. She really wanted to get into the ring. "Oh well, C'est la vie. Guess you wont be able to enjoy the results of all that training we did together."

"Yes." Naseraph said, completely blank faced. "How sad you will not be able to display the ancestral techniques of my people. How deplorable it is that these skills you blackmailed out of me will be of no use to you today."

Ria searched his face for anything, but the bird-man was really good at masking his intentions from her now. That was good. Every moment he had to display the real Nasearph to avoid showing her something it easier for him to be himself. As a reward, she decided to scope out the competition for anyone he would have to look out for. That was when she saw something...interesting. "What the fuck?" She asked to no one in particular before a ghastly smile began to spread across her face. She looked over Naseraph to Wolf and Micheal a raised her voice. "You boys take care of this tender birdbrain, make sure he doesn't fly face first into any more bonfires. There's something I've got to go check out about Wolf's side-piece."

As the girl took off across the field during the opening ceremony without a care of who saw her, Nasearph straightened himself back up and focused on the task at hand. "There's no need to worry about me. Michael got worse than this at the apartment." He said to his teammates. "In a physical contest like this there's no way the three of us can lose if we're together."

@KillamriX88@RoflsMazoy@Scarifar

---

As people began to join in with Andreim's rousing VICTORY chant Ria integrated herself into the back of the group and started to to slip between people until she made her way to Meredith side. "So," she asked conspiratorially, just loud enough for the demon to hear. "Who did you fuck last night? Or whatever it is that you did that turned your body language Topsy-turvy. Honestly, I written you off as ever being about to walk around with the sort of self-love I see right now."

@AtomicNut