March of the Volunteers

[Iskander]

Trydian barely nodded to Sebilla; he couldn't speak, he was almost finished with his second song. He moved to step away from her as the spell came into full effect, but she would still feel the backwash of power. Strength coursed through the both of them, strength far beyond what either was capable of on their own. It was intoxicating. Sebilla might wonder if the strength, the power, that she felt then was what Trydian always felt, and if so, what strength must fill his own body at that moment? She wouldn't have long to ponder, as Trydian moved away from her and toward Soren.

He was not idle while Soren formed his shadows; Trydian's song continued, wrapping another layer of power around him. His plan had changed, for the better, when Soren gave himself to the shadows. He didn't move when his traitorous brother appeared behind him, though he was far from unprotected. That second layer of strength existed solely to shield him from whatever deceitful blow was struck against him. It turned out that such a shield was unneeded. Soren truly did not know his elder brother if he thought that shadows would have any effect on him.

Trydian's song ceased and the shadows that had formed around him were torn asunder. He was a Demon, at the height of his power, with a lifetime of experience to draw from; Soren was a mere Vuri, cutoff from his sanctuary, and with a scant few weeks of preparation. The fight would not be a contest at all.

"Tell me, traitor, do you know what part of the shadow kills? It's not the darkness..." The shadows had been torn into their base aspects, with a vortex of both light and darkness whirling around Trydian. "It is the light that burns away anything in its path. Can you use these elements at their base? I can." Trydian gestured sharply and the shadows reformed around him, then melted away. When the shadows vanished into the air, they took Trydian with them. He emerged again from the flickering shadows behind the ring of onlookers.

"Your spear," He spoke to a nearby guard, who handed him the weapon. "Now let us demonstrate for all these people that you are truly inferior, not just in mind, but in body and spirit." He made his way back toward Soren, shadows forming around him yet again.

[Jen]

A shock went through Sebilla's arm and whole body as she touched Trydian. As he walked away from her she felt, for the first time, what it might be like to be immortal. Her eyes widened, a surprised look on her face. Was this what it felt like to be an Immortal? Was this the power that Trydian felt always? Sebilla looked down at her hand, feeling as if she could heave a boulder as if it were but a kernel of corn, she flexed her fingers and quirked a brow. Such power, such insanity. Did Soren feel the same?

Suddenly remembering her younger brother, Sebilla glanced up and felt her throat clench in terror at the sight of Soren. This was the child, the soon to be man, that had tried to kill her barely an hour ago. The fear in her eyes was easily visible -- she was a human mortal woman, even if she felt the power of gods flow through her. Fear for her safety, and realization that coming between two immortal brothers was probably not the best idea -- especially when they wanted blood.

Sebilla backed away to the very edge of the circle, fear and power coursing through her veins. The crowd wouldn't take her back in, too intrigued by the ever powerful and tragic Xanathi family. Some were old enough and still alive that had known Isabella Rivenfelde's reign, and they clicked their tongues knowing she, rest her soul, would never see those two boys fight. Caela's presence was calming, but everyone knew that she had changed, and with her changing they gave her awe inspired looks and kept their distance. She was a stronger woman now than when she had been Queen. No one spoke against her or her choice not to break up her son's quarrel -- though non doubted that she could.

Sebilla sought her mother over the heads of the crowd, but she was incapable of finding her. Grunting, animalistic noises coming from the ring right in front of her caused her attention to turn back to the fight. As her brother's power in her began to wane, she felt an all too familiar and terrifying explosion of sound and color in her mind. The intense situation, the fight, the power and the fear had all come together at once inside Sebilla -- a trigger of sorts.

Pain, fear, blood. There were all of these things real in this vision that was, well, completely chaotic. War raged around Sebilla as if life itself, the very fabric of existence depended on it. She felt herself inhale sharply as a man with a spear charged for her. She felt herself step back, right into the chest of an armored man. It was Trydian. He grabbed her and pushed her sharply to the side as he yelled something that Sebilla could not quite hear.

There was a horrible clash of body, armor, and metal all at once. It sounded as if the heavens themselves were tearing apart for the vigor of the men fighting not five feet away from Sebilla's prone body. She realized that she was wearing white, dirty now from mud and blood. The colors of war were smeared against her dress as if she were a walking canvas. She heard something odd, different, a small pop and snap as the head of the man that had charged her rolled past her, landing mouth agape near her head.

Her scream was lost as Trydian snatched her up and held her to his body. His armor pinched her and she frowned -- realizing now that he was in fear for her life, as he had always been.

"You should have stayed at the Temple with mother. It is not safe for you here. You have no training."

He was angry with her, but she knew she had some information that he needed and no messenger could get through the lines as easily as she.

Sebilla fell to her knees holding her head, trying to contain her roiling stomach as she bent herself double. It always hurt to have a vision so abruptly and without warning, the colors, smells, and emotions were intense and painful. She let out a small sharp sound as she inhaled deeply. Two visions in one day was enough to make her want to fall over in exhaustion. As it were, she held herself tight, clutching her stinging ribs as she watched her brother's attempt to maim one another.

Gods but their power was going to kill her one day.

[Soren]

"Inferior? You sure like to talk...you are the one who possess a demonic spirit! You should be cast from our home. You will never be like our father!" By the Gods, he was pissed. The shackles had been poorly cast, having figured out that Tyrdian hadn't dabbled much in enchanting. He could use shadow, but not training enough in enchanting, had cost him.

Using shadow magic in a Vuri infested area, had also been a critical mistake. He may be out of the temple now, but he could always call on the other Vuri for aid. He smirked at the guard, nodding to Trydian, while gathering his thoughts.

"I take back my words. You are just like father...a fool."

The light radiating off of Sebilla had caught his attention: mana. It was a source that enticed him like blood and flesh. The staff seemed to react as well, his eyes focusing on the woman behind Trydian. She had been a fool as well, but mortals would never learn, to not cross the paths of two immortals.

He allowed the essence of shadow to envelop his being. He called for aid from his mother, beckoning to join his power in force. If she aided him, he might have a greater chance. With his plan in mind, he called forth a handful of the power in him.

Before Sebilla could even gather her wits, she would be pulled to the chest of Soren. She would feel a snake-like substance coil around her tiny waist. If the power continued to flourish in a continuing stream, he would use it to change Sebilla into a Vuri. Her soul would be a mortal helpless thing, against his current wrath.

He wanted Trydian to witness it. If he came at him, the spear would also pierce Sebilla. His palm glowed against the back of Sebilla, leaving an odd mark, one who would be charmed into accepting the Vuri soul.

Sebilla would endure the feeling of her body being torn in two. Her chest would feel an immense pressure. She would scream for help, but no one would hear her sound. Her nightmares would become living and she would cease her existence...she would be his.

His form had not regained its normal appearance. When he spoke, his voice would grate against the innocent ears of Sebilla. He hoped his brother felt pain from the sight he experienced. He didn't smile, but pitied the demon who stood before everyone.

"We will rise up against you." He could feel his pride swelling, all the while Sebilla was slowly becoming Vuri. Her mortal life attempted to battle against it. "Darkness has finally fallen. You dare enter my realm?"

He gripped onto Sebilla, his eyes turning a deadly radiance of ice blue. "Come for her, with all of your power and glory...." His body became a living vortex of shadow. Sebilla would witness the worst of his power. It was reckless and demanding. He still had a wound that needed tending, but right now she was the only thing on his mind.

"You are not prepared..." His voice would echo across the crowd. He kept his other hand, aiming the staff at Trydian. He wanted to make sure that his brother knew what he was attempting.

With only a gesture, darkness cast above him in a spherical ball of energy and cast all around him. He was entering into a portal that would cast him and Sebilla into the Temple.

[Iskander]

Trydian hadn't planned for Soren to attack Sebilla, and it wasn't something he was pleased to see, but it failed to upset him. All he felt was the cold desire, the passion, to humiliate Soren. His brother thought so highly of himself, thought so highly of his newborn race, but knew so little about the world. He had no training, and he'd had no experience with warriors or kings. He knew nothing of the ways of battle, or the ways of the knife in the dark; and yet he thought to challenge Trydian in both arenas.

His lips curled back in a feral grin and he raised his right hand, the spear tip angling at the sky, "The traitor has assaulted the Queen!" The air crackled with the energies of Trydian's guards; they released mana and wove it together, laying their spells across the courtyard. They knew nothing of stopping a Vuri taint, but that was not their concern. What the warrior-mages knew was dampening and limiting the arcane arts, and that they did without hesitation. Trydian knew they would be focused on their singular task, while other warriors drew blades and set sights on the pair at the center of the circle.

"You won't be going anywhere, dear brother," Trydian called out to him. He had lowered his spear to that it leveled at Soren and Sebilla, as though he had no regard for her safety. "Accept your punishment as a man. Bend knee, and your kind will be spared. Fight me, and I will dump your temple into the sea, where it will provide no sanctuary to you or any other Vuri."

[Kirin]

Chizuru: What is this?

Tenzo: You, again, should not be surprised, Lady Chizuru.

Chizuru: Tenzo, for someone so young, I wish you didn't make so many valid points.

Tenzo: I've learned from your uncle.

Chizuru: This must be some form of barbaric honor duel. We mustn't interrupt.

Tenzo: I didn't realize that urge. It hasn't come up yet. That one insulted you, Lady Chizuru. He should be ready to recieve what he has coming.

Chizuru: I've never known you to be vengeful, Tenzo.

* * * * * *

As Chizuru and Tenzo were led out, they both spoke to one another in hushed tones. Chizuru glanced away, keeping her distance. It would be dishonorable for her or Tenzo to interrupt a foreign honor matter.

"The wheel of karma turns.." Chizuru muttered.

[Jen]

Fear erupted in Sebilla as she was pulled to Soren with the very same power he had used on her before. For the briefest of moments she was frozen, pressed against her younger brother, taken by his power. However, when he started dragging her away toward the gods only knew where, Sebilla started thrashing fit to dislocate her arm and upset her ribs once again. She heaved her whole body as if she were in the grasp of some violent neurotic fit. All she knew was that she didn't want to disappear anywhere alone with Soren.

"Let me go!" Sebilla shrieked with her arms beating and clawing at any piece of Soren she could get her hands on. Fear was replaced with anger, and as is not unusual with humans in distress, Sebilla was quite strong. Adrenaline was pumping through her veins as her spirit fought her brother's onslaught and her body fought his hands. She was tired of being picked on and placed in the middle like some little pawn. "Now!"

Sebilla aimed a vicious left hook to her brother's face. If he wasn't paying attention, as most likely he was not expecting her to struggle at all, and was paying attention to Trydian -- he would be hit right in the eye with her tiny fist. Sebilla wasn't a soft young woman either. Times of hardship and the physical treks from one place to another -- they had hardened her young body to a svelt bundle of muscle. Humanity, mortality, sure -- but Sebilla knew how to scrap with the best of them. One couldn't have a brother like Trydian and not know something of wrestling and fighting. The only time she ever attempted to fight though, was when she was mad. And, honestly, a girl could only be tossed around and yanked around so many times in one day before she snapped.

And, it was obvious, that Trydian didn't have the time to help her.

----------

"Let your sister go." It was Caela, standing behind Soren -- between him and his portal. She was Vuri, she was his mother, she had a power and a knowledge of fighting that neither Trydian or Soren could comprehend. She had ways to make them stop, but her concern was Sebilla in Soren's arms.

"She's in pain, you are hurting her. She will not be a Vuri." Calea stepped forward and felt Soren drawing on her power, but she cut him off. He was doing things he didn't understand and she wasn't about to indulge him. Her hands reached for Sebilla and rested on her daughter's shoulders.

"You will let her go. You will cease this insanity, and you will begone from this temple until I call you back. I am your mother and your elder, you will do as I say -- do not make me call on Vylrath or your grandmother to reaffirm what I have to say." It was clear, spoken in the voice of a leader. Those Vuri turned by Vylrath, the original few of the race: Isabella, Caela, and Vylrath -- they were quite literally the elders of the race -- the very first. Soren might have full Vuri blood -- but he could not deny that the first of the race would outweigh his own decisions. He would be compelled to give in, as if he didn't have control of his own actions. If Isabella had been here, her powers would have empowered the feeling -- that strange tickling feeling as if his actions were no longer his own -- but she was not.

It was the first time that Caela had exerted her power as an Elder of the Vuri race.

[Soren]

He laughed at his brothers empty words, before they parted to the protection of the temple. The Temple could easily be rooted by their magic. What then? Drown them all and himself? Fool!

That was when he felt his stomach churn and all of his energy disperse into the coming of the dusk. He collapsed, letting Sebilla go. He regained consciousness, only to be humiliated by the expression on his mother's face. He had let all of them down. He had failed them- Soren, son of Vylrath Xanathi. Heir to the Vuri Empire.

No Vuri would bend knee to a demon. Demons would not hold power here! Not now, not ever and he was sure he could call upon his father for reassurance. At least, he knew that he would not let some demon, ruin all they had worked for.

He stood up, looking at his staff, that was now a twisted walking stick. Soren had a lot to learn, but how could he face the Queen Mother? She would be the one to decide his punishment, not some rogue demon who claimed to have power.

He watched Sebilla cringe at the sight of him and felt morally sick at himself. “Forgive me...let her punish me. I have done her harm. It was her power...I could see it and taste it! I held it!” He was not the monster he had turned into, but a regular Vuri of sixteen. His eyes had changed to their opaque color and the hue of his skin had also diminished to its original pigment.

His eyes averted toward Chizuru- she must be terrified of them. He opened his mouth to say something, but found himself speechless. Her eyes looked at him accusingly, his body turning cold from her stare.

His fingers curled around the staff, that had come into existence by his own calling. “Mother, I think it is time that I left for some training.” The hollowness in the staff, would hold some power, but it was not nearly as reckless as earlier. “I will make sure that this place is protected while I am gone. My blood will be spilled against fathers, when I gain my strength. Trydian should be banished, or realize that he is not himself. Something has taken hold of him- something not from this world.” He had seen a glimpse of it in his madness, some twisted spirit, that tried to strangle his brother's true self.

His mother was casting him out. He didn't know where he would travel, or if he would even survive the journey.

This land was all he had known.

[Sage]

Trydian

There were no words, if ever there were a situation described as 'out of hand,' it was here and now. Trydian experienced a moment of clarity and resolve, as his eyes fell upon Sebilla's form being released from Soren's. The spear fell from his hands, and he stepped forward to the tiny, frustrated girl. Their forms melted, and she was suddenly behind Caela, with Trydian instantaneously back at his place on the other side of Soren.

His mind worked against him as he fought to understand what was going on in front of him, and within his own form. And as soon as it had come, the warring inside himself was over, and he was the irrational new Trydian again.

" Have you the same power over me, then? Will you command me to cease and desist, cast me out? "

[Kirin]

Chizuru scoffed openly towards Soren. Her eyes not filled with terror. She was very unimpressed. Her arms folded across her chest and she tilted her head slightly to the left. Her lips pursed outwards for a second in thought.

"What are you looking for?" She rose an eyebrow. "I have no fear of such barbaric behavior. Those are magic tricks where I come from. You have no discipline." Her upper lip curled slightly, almost menacingly. "You're extremely fortunate." She spoke to Soren.

Chizuru wasn't lying. Her country was next to the Valley, full of undead. Her land was teeming with magic, obviously unknown to these people.

"If you were in the Twin Countries, you'd be dead." Her words were harsh, but her words also rang true with stinging reality. "If I did what you have done, I would have been told to kill myself. I would have been handed the dagger, for I have brought dishonor upon myself and I have dishonored my family. Like I said, you are extremely lucky."

[Soren]

He heard his brothers words and more importantly, the words of Chizuru. He smiled, knowing it would be difficult to kill an immortal, but he could compensate with a different gesture.

Soren bent knee to her and no one else. He held the twisted staff in his hands and concentrated his energy into a single stream of power. He was collecting his power into the staff, where it would remain dormant.

He was immortal, but had the strength of a mortal now. The gesture would probably embarrass the Queen Mother and make his demonic brother perplexed. It was complex and idiotic. Since when did one give up their powers? He looked at the staff with some remorse. All of his Vuri power rested in that staff now. He was risking it all, to make a point. The Vuri would not be seen as barbaric anymore, they would hold some honor.

“You seem to hold the wisdom that I lack. I am in your debt now. You have shown me that Vuri are nothing remarkable- not without their powers. Even with the powers, I am still too reckless. I require training and I ask that you consider me...” He continued, knowing that this must be confusing to a foreigner, but she was the only one to knock some sense in his thick skull. “...to take me as your apprentice. You speak of honor and discipline. I make this bargain with you: every time that I earn your respect, by whatever means, you may make the decision to grant me my powers back.” He gulped, regretting the decision, but feeling it was the only way, desperate as it seemed. If he continued to hold the power in his body, he would only continue to be barbaric in her eyes.

Even if he was not taking a dagger to his heart, he had given a part of himself up, to learn another way.

[Jen]

Caela covered her eyes for a moment and sighed. The boys of the Xanathi line, her sons, were a royal pain in the ass. She took a deep breath and looked at Trydian first.

"You are self proclaimed King of this Island of Xexoria. I will not banish you. You are not Vuri and therefore I have no sway over you other than being your mother. Soren is not only my son, but also the offspring of this race." It was then that Caela looked at her prostrate son, only two and a half weeks old.

"You do a good thing, putting your powers away. However, I want you to leave them here. You can have them back when you are done being an apprentice to this young woman, if she so desires you. You will return to me when you have learned something and it will be me who evaluates you for the return of your powers. If I do not see fit to return them to you, as your elder and mother, then you will agree to recieve more training from either myself, your sister, or Trydian."

Caela walked over to her son and rested a hand on the top of his head. She wasn't afraid of him. She held out her hand for his staff, and he would be compelled to give it to her -- after all she made perfect sense. The staff would be nowhere safer than in the Vuri Temple itself.

"Trydian is as he was before Vylrath transferred Vuri powers into his system. He is a demon. Your sister is a mortal though she shared the same womb as Trydian. I was a half demon before your father turned me forcibly into the Vuri that I am. You may think us weak, those that are not born without the taint of Demon, but we are your elders -- Trydian your King now. You cannot avoid the call in your blood to obey me as your mother and your Elder." Caela smiled lightly, letting the information sink into her son's head. He could do what he willed with the information. There was very little demon left in Caela and no one could force it back out. She was irreversibly Vuri.

---------------------------

Sebilla watched what was going on and held her hands behind her back. She wasn't upset, but she was very very sore. She turned from the crowd gathering and slipped through the doors to the inner sanctum of the Temple, where no visitors would be allowed and headed toward her room. Once there she laid back on her bed and let out a long sigh. She was in pain but she wasn't letting it show. A lesser woman would be writhing and screaming. Trydian would know and would feel her discomfort somewhat, and might alert their mother. Sebilla felt it was not her place to judge her younger brother and so had left her mother to the job.

[Sage]

Trydian shifted, uncomfortable at the display his brother made. It was unnatural to forfeit one's talents, their abilities. It didn't make sense, even to one housing so many foreign insanities as Trydian. He watched as Sebilla fled the scene in the middle of their mother's speech and it felt like the back of his eyes were on fire. Try as he might to be separate from them he could not shake the connections that were set into him from birth.

Trydian sighed and stared at the ground, furious with his family and at the same time ashamed at himself. Of course Caela wouldn't claim sway over Trydian, at least not while she was trying to explain why it was that Soren must hear and obey as a Vuri. And then, the very thought of Trydian training Soren likely made him cringe more than it could Soren himself.

[Soren]

His mother wouldn't like it, not one bit, but he needed to stick up for himself. Even though he was two weeks old, he was the equivalent of a young man. He needed to say his words to her:

“Let me do this, mother. You have authority, but have respect to let me make this bargain. You should understand what I'm doing. I am punishing myself. I can not fall back on you anymore. Let me fail, if I should fail, or maybe I'll come back with better news...but let me make that decision.” He sighed, knowing that she was humiliated by him. However frustrated she may be, he did not give her the staff. The bargain had been made with Chizuru- someone he had come to respect. She had seen his faults in her, when his own family would not call them out.

“You expect me to leave this, when we have a demon presence? I'm sure father would be disappointed in such a decision. I don't recall you knowing how to fight, mother.” He looked at her with a knowing glance. “Trust me. I know what I am doing. If I am dead, then you are free from the Vuri race.”

He handed Chizuru the staff and motioned for her to get up with it. “I will leave before morning. I will take my necessities and send word to you once we land.” He turned and walked away from her, outside of the temple. Soren was headed toward the great ship he had admired. Would he be able to handle the sea? He doubted it, but he would have to get used to it.

He sent a warning to his brother. One that would echo through the minds of all present.

If you lay a hand on mother while I'm gone...he didn't need to finish the rest. Down by the beach, he waited for Chizuru, relishing at the idea of strange travels and new adventures. It would be an interesting feat, for someone who had never been offshore before. He would have no real weapons with him and he would ultimately be powerless.

[Kirin]

Chizuru took the staff, staring at Caela emotionlessly. She rose an eyebrow at her words and shook her head slightly. "I will not promise you that I will be the one who will teach him. I personally doubt it, but the staff is in my hands as part of an agreement. I do not mean any disrespect. He will be taught in the ways of peace and enlightenment."

She had no idea of how old Soren actually was. She could only base what she thought about his age off his appearance. The fact that he would lose his powers and put them in the staff was a sign that he was learning something. "What he has just done is the first step in a long journey." Her gaze moved towards Soren. "I hope you are ready for nothing but hardship, but at the end..triumph."

Her attention moved to Caela. She bowed deeply. "I'm sorry. This staff will be safe. I'll make sure of it. We must make haste back to the ship." She felt she didn't need to explain anything any further. Chizuru was wildly angry at this point. She didn't turn her back on Caela or the others as she backed away with the staff.

Tenzo walked with her, bowing to Caela and Trydian.

[Jen]

"As you will, then. If the staff breaks, or is cracked, or damaged in any way his powers will be lost or caught inside." Caela nodded at the foreigner and waited for her to back away with the staff. Her son was still as young and brash as ever. No one would have been able to touch the staff but Caela herself. No one would have been able to stand the power circulating around it besides Caela herself, within the temple proper. Then she realized Chizuru might have some difficulty when she was off Vuri land.

"Wait. Hold on just a moment." Caela walked to Chizuru and bowed her head briefly before pointing at the staff. "That thing is wild, and only contained here in Vuri land. Let me protect you and yours from this thing my son has created." Caela rested her hand on the staff, brushing her fingers along the length of it as Chizuru held the staff. For a moment it would seem as nothing had been done, and then -- slowly the effect of Caela's power was evident as small turquoise and violet flowers erupted along the length of the staff, quickly tucked away among strong lengths of vine.

"Now, just one more moment." Caela smiled briefly and bent at the waist to blow on the staff. All of the life that was created by her own hands turned to wood and stone. The flowers were dazzling multi-faceted stones in violet and turquoise, and the vines were solid wood. The weight wouldn't change, it would still feel the same. Chizuru herself would not be touched by the Vuri magic -- Caela had a strong hold on herself and her magic.

Caela turned to Soren, keeping Chizuru within sight at her side, and smiled. "You are almost three weeks old. In that time I have not had a need to fight, and since my youth I have found there are better ways of dealing with problems. Your father was my father and he taught me what it was to bear pain, what it was to hold a life in my hands and decide whether or not I wanted it to continue. If there is one thing you learn while you are away, I wish that it would be perspective. Because you have lived so short a life thus far, you cannot understand that things occurred before you were born that frame the things that occur today. Diplomacy, son, is something you will need to learn when you return to me. Also, when you return and if you return, you would do well to apologize to your sister, and mean it. If anyone has any right to hate you and want you gone it is her. Do you see her here passing judgement? No, neither do I. Though from the look on Trydian's face I need to attened to her wounds once again. Her ribs will be refractured."

Caela smiled one more time and it was as warm as the moment she welcomed Chizuru into her home. She was a mothering figure, if a tough one to her youngest son. She realized that letting him go might mean that he would die, but that leaving him here to assume whatever rights he thought he still had would be detrimental to everyone involved. He needed to learn a lesson in life and then come home and learn what it meant to be a Vuri.

"I wish you luck, son." She turned her gaze to Chizuru and nodded. "Peace be with you on your journey. If you've need of anything or any assistance, please feel free to send me a message. I am sure Trydian would gladly offer the same of Xexoria once everything is settled."