[IC] The Rise of the Guardian

[Jazz]

Carth nodded and got up. He took off some of his gear to make it more comfortable for both of them before climbing onto the bed and laying behind Ash. He wrapped his arms carefully around her before rising his body temperature slowly. As he did that, Orion covered them them up to help keep the heat from escaping so easily. He then leaves the room to join the others.

"I see. That is an interesting skill." Kanarus exclaimed with intrigued. Altoron wondered something. "What exactly can you tell us about Ash? Anything that can be done to help her?" He asks Shinlo. Altoron was a little frustrated with Shinlo not explaining he could about Ash though he guess it couldn't be helped.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Ash curled into his chest and said “Carth…I’m sorry…for all of this…I don’t know what’s happening to me…” tears rolled down her cheeks.

Shinlo sighed and said “I can…tell you why. She’s being hunted by a creature like her. Those beasts are made by contact with cursed souls…the men you found. They are trying to take her back to their mistress before Ashs healing and memory recovery can be completed. If she gets her hands on her…she can rewrite the past…and get what she wants” Scarlett looked at him and asked “what is that?” Shinlo sighed and said “she wants to take over this land…with Ash at her side”

[Jazz]

Carth shook his head while moving his hand to wipe her tears. "Do not be sorry. As I said before, you are relearning your abilities and yourself. It was an accident and you have done nothing to me." He explains.

The three men frowned hearing this. They now know the enemy and target they must face. "It seems we know our new task at hand. Ash though may not remember, but she will need our help." Maltoran confirmed. The other two nodded.

"And it seems you'll have a healer to make sure you don't get you asses killed so easily." Orion said as he walked in. He looked to the new body in the room and examines him and the snake. "So I guess this newcomer knows a thing or two?" He asks, sounding straightforward.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shinzo waved at the doctor and said “greetings! I am Shinlo and this is Isis. We are friends of Ashs…but she doesn’t remember at the moment”

Ash smiled at him weakly and curled closer to him. “You’re too good to me…after all you have been thru…” then she paused and blinked. “Carth…when Shinlo said his name I got flashes…one of him carrying a baby dragon in his arms…”

[Jazz]

Orion gives a curt nod to the man. "Orion. Recently appointed healer of the group. And luckily she didn't ruin the bandages I put on her. Still gotta give it a few hours before they can come off." He explains before sitting grabbing a chair. "So other than this Mistress we gotta keep from getting to Ash till she remembers everything, how come Carth is the first dragon the world has probably seen in years and takes a human form?" He asks.

Carth hummed at her realization. "So maybe...there are more out there? Others like me?" He asks her.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shinlo blinked and said “wait, you don’t know? Has no humans gone back? I guess not…” he pet the snakes head and said “because his the only one that escaped. The curse is still holding. The stone curse. And all dragons can take a human form if they have the right magic abilities”

Ash thought for a moment then said “or…maybe his the reason you got out…”

[Jazz]

Now everyone was even more confused. "Wait. A stone curse?" Kanarus asked.
"Human no going back?" Maltoran was next to ask.
Orion sighed. "Sounds like we need to know what happened way back when. Curse and all."

Carth thought about it and shrugged. "Could be. We can ask him later. How are you feeling? Is the heat I'm producing helping at all?" He asks her. Making sure he isn't making her too hot or cold. Though he was trying to be super careful. Not that he was afraid of hurting Ash, but that how he was holing onto her while they were laying on the bed together.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shinzo sighed and said “I can’t go into detail. Because I wasn’t there. But when I came back to the haven of the dragons…it was all stone. All of them had been cursed to be stone. I couldn’t break the curse…”

Ash looked at him and said “I’m feeling a lot better. Before it felt like my core was too cold…but your heat helps a lot…thank you”

[Jazz]

They looked to each other unsure what to say. But to know that there were dragons besides Carth was news. "Was it the Mistress that turned them to stone?" Maltoran asked Shinlo.

Carth smiled though blushed. "That's good. Glad I can help." He felt, happy. He wondered what they were talking about in the other room. But that could wait. Ash needed him.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shinlo sighed and said “I believe so. She wasn’t there so I can’t be sure what happened. But…what remains I found of ghe temple that ash used to live at…some kind of great evil was there…” his eyes glowed softly in the darkness and he said “I am the wandering White Snake…but that evil…I’d know it if I felt it again. And I don’t want the same fate to fall on my dear Asteria…so I’m staying around”

Ash smiled weakly and curled around him, closing her eyes and seeming to pass out.

[Jazz]

Orion nodded. "This is going to be quite the party. Well," he gets up from his chair. "I gotta finish up my rounds though the late hour already. I'll be back to check on Ash and change her wraps." He notifies the group before grabbing his pack. He then gives a short wave before leaving them with Shinlo.

Kanarus looks to Scarlet noticing that she had been quiet. "You okay?"

Carth watches Ash for a moment, noticing the calm features on her face before breathing a relaxed sigh. He rests his head against the top of her own head while closing his eyes. He didn't want to know what would happen if he tried to detangle from her so he stayed and rested. Eventually falling asleep himself while he kept up the regulated body temperature he provided.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Scarlet looked up at him and said “oh I just…I’m trying to wrap my head around this stuff…I mean…it’s a lot.” Shinlo nodded and said “so it seems we must find a way for her to get her memory and full powers back”

Ash stirred a little but relaxed again, her pain being warmed away.

[Jazz]

The three assassins nodded, agreeing with Scarlet on it being alot of information to process. But now they were all tasked with such an important mission.

"Well. We were going to figure out what primary element she has. We had noticed she was using a wind element but it didn't seem like one she was intune with completely. But seeing as well were going to do it tomorrow. We may have to wait till her burns are treated completely." Kanarus explained. "We figured that it may help trigger something to help her out."

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shinlo looked over and asked “what were you thinking of trying? I’ve seen her use wind and shadows before…I think she used water as well” scarlet got up and said “how can one person use so many?”

[Jazz]

Kanarus was confused too. "Well...we were going to in a sense pass a little of our Elemental energy one by one and see if that energy is accepted. I know the risk for rejection is a headache and so far we have almost every element avaliable amongst us." Explaining the plan, though confused still. "Though how is Ash able to use many elements? Is it because of the men calling her a guardian?" He asks Shinlo.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shinlo raised an eyebrow at that and said “they called her guardian? Now that’s interesting…that’s a new one for me…but it would explain a few things…” he stood up and paced for a few moments then said “there could be a few things this could be…but since I know of the sister…what do you know if the Guardians of Life and Death?”

[Jazz]

"Guardians of Life and Death are those who keep the balance as their titles suggest. They are to never interfere in the others role. To protect Life and guide the dead. We as part of the Hidden Order hold their teachings as well to make sure to help hold the balance. Though we kill the corrupt and guilty, we try to preserve Life and not harm the innocent and to not kill needlessly." Maltoran explained to Shinlo.

"Though we know of them as Guardians and rarely if ever seen by anyone, they have been considered to be different things compared to other cultures." Kanarus added. "Though to know the Guardians is still something we study for they are still much of a mystery to us all."

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shinlo smiled and said “all right on the money. But what if I told you…these teachings were based on two real beings? Two sisters…” he walked around and said “the beings of the gods…their warriors and protectors…keepers of the gates of death and life”

[Jazz]

The assassin brothers both looked surprised. Altoron seemed not as phased but skeptical. "That is quite the tale to look into. There has been speculation of this but either chalked up to be part of another cultures stories or being true. Either way, it would be quite the discovery to add to our books." Altoron indicated. The other two agreed.

[MegaraFoxfire]

Shinlo said “now understand I’m going off of what I remember…when it comes to Ash my memory is spotty for some reason. But I always had a theory her and her sister were linked to that tale. And there I’m sure more but we will have figure it out as we go…”