Argus Leandros
As Argus rose to a kneeling position, his eyes flickered not only upon the destruction he had wrought upon his surroundings, but also the expressions on the faces of the two guild members that were present, seeing the fear they had, a sight that was often seen whenever he had these attacks. He looked down, preparing himself for the inevitable dismissal that usually came with such emotions . . . only to look up slightly confused as the blue haired man spoke to him.
They . . . they aren't going to make me leave?As Argus listened to Joakim's words, he saw the logic in why they wouldn't let him go . . . but he could also sense the honest desire to help from this individual, at least. He was quite for a bit, eyes cast down to his attire, grateful that the clothes they had thrown on him hadn't been overtly affected by his outburst. However, they did show a little too much for his liking, as is hand instantly went to cover the scars along his wrists, a feeling of shame, embarrassment, and anger rising up inside of him for a moment before he pushed it down. Now wasn't the time to let his emotions get the best of him, not when people were trying to help and understand his predicament. He took a slow breathe, which quickly hitched in pain as he tried to move the fingers on his bad hand, having forgotten about the injury.
For a second, he pondered pouring his magic into the wound to speed up the healing process again, but decided against it, not wanting to use it right now after what had just occurred. Besides, the pain helped keep his mind somewhat above his emotions, if only a little bit. Still he stayed silent, unsure of how to respond to the ice mage question.
". . . I honestly don't know how you, or anyone, can help with this, but maybe telling you where I got it would be a start." Argus lifted his head to look Joakim in the eyes, his own crimson and black orbs filled with hesitation as he opened and closed his mouth several times trying to find a way to broach the subject without giving too much away about his past, before just giving up.
I can't just keep this from them . . . not now."I found this magic when I was twelve, locked away behind the words of a tome that I thought I'd found by chance while attempting to escape from a dark guild called King's Fall. I'd been a slave for them for as long as I could remember, one of many. It was just what I needed to free myself, a book of ancient magic that I could use to free me and my . . . my sister from that hellhole." Argus seemed barely able to choke out the mention of his sister, tears building up in his eyes before he wiped them away, focusing again on telling the story. "I think, in the depths of my mind, I knew that the power the book promised with it's whispers was and costly, but at that point . . . I didn't think anything could be worse than the hell I was currently living. So I took the book from it's place, and was suddenly hit by a violent convulsion as tendrils of energy sprouted from the depths of it's pages and plunged themselves into my body. The last thing I remember seeing . . . was the book dispersing into thin air."
"From that day onward, I'd would e able to call out to the book at will, so I could read up on and practice the spells it was revealing to me. However, it never felt fast enough, and eventually I hit a road block where the book refused to show me more. By this point, I'd been studying it for 4 years, and while I was able to increase my own physical capabilities and applications, the magic I wanted was out of my reach. Until one day, where it was revealed to me that I was led to the book, and worse yet, that the dark guild wanted the beast to be truly unleashed. They wanted to awaken the magic of the book fully, and to do that, they need me truly enraged."
"So they gave me an ultimatum . . . kill my friends or stand by as my sister was killed. I don't know how long I stood there, a knife thrust into my hands and my 3 closest friends staring me down, all of them pleading for me not to do it. All except for one." Once again, Argus found himself at a loss for words tears once again threaten to burst from his eyes. He lowered his head to the ground, clasping it between his head as his entire body shook. "Sara looked at me with nothing but faith, thinking that I'd never be able to do such a thing. She always believed in me, cheered me on, was there for me whenever I needed her. The pain and betrayal in her eyes when I plunged the dagger into her chest . . . there aren't any words to describe how much I hated and cursed myself for my selfishness and weakness. The others were no easier, and when I was finished with the deed, I wanted to take the dagger and shove into my own neck. I thought nothing could make me feel more dead inside . . . and then I heard the head guard order is men to kill my sister anyway. I turned around just as the deed was done, seeing nothing but pain, horror, and disappointment in her eyes as she breathed her last.'
"And then the power I craved from the beginning rushed into me, followed soon by such an intense feeling of ice cold fury and hatred. It was all encompassing, transforming my body and soul to fit it's dark purposes, before launching me towards the guards. They had terrorized me for years, and yet with the new power I acquired, they fell like dominos. The next thing I knew . . . I was outside, the hidden guild hall behind me set ablaze with Azure flames. And then I fell to the ground and screamed until my throat was blood . . . then I screamed some more."
Argus stayed down, not wanting to look up at the two, knowing the must be utterly disgusted with him. "I'm nothing but scum, a weakling who can't even control or fight against his own magic. You'd probably be better off killing me right now . . . it'd save you the trouble. I've been fighting these dark thoughts and feelings for so long, and even though you say that there is no such thing as evil magic, I can't help but feel that that's exactly what this magic is. Pure destructive evil that wants nothing more than to set the world aflame in the fires of hatred. I've tried and tried to rid myself of it, but nothing works and the book no longer comes to me. It's like you say . . .I'm cursed . . . cursed to ruin the lives of those around me because of my weakness. This power cannot protect, cannot defend, cannot save nor rescue, it can only destroy and disfigure. So tell me, how do you help someone as worthless as I am? Cause I truly don't know, and I've long given up hope on finding an answer."
@Lugubrious@liferusher
