Topic: Winterhill

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 09:49 EST
"This is ludicrous! Adenna has always depended upon its relationships with the neighboring regions. If you pass this, it'll be the end of our great nation!" the enormous man had harked in his Kingly garb. Precise armor pieces that doubled for fantastic pins to his both red and wheat gold cape.

"Calm yourself, Vic. If we indeed aim to survive this threat, it will be with a clear mind." Rahea sat cool and clad in black armor, a small fragile and delicate crown atop his head. he was not a man that displayed his rule anywhere above softly. He and Vic had aged quite a bit in sixteen years. But both of them had done so for the better. Vic resembling Zeus himself in the abundance and whiteness of his beard and hair. And Rahea with a short beard and hair, completely gray. And to look around the magnificent table would suggest high powers, for they were the only two that had aged.
Atae sat unchanged in her beauty the near two decades ago and likewise with Eizou standing beside her, apparently having said something a while back in this discussion. A powerful voice in this, "senate."
Techichi wore the very bust-complimenting uniform of the Adenna High Guard; Rahea's previous job before kinghood. Neither had she, aged. Siovanui inheritance. And she sat thinking in the large open chamber unused for most of its time, as previous one of Daichi's numerous castle quarters that never saw occupants during his rule, like his throne room. It was ill kept, but legendary for the moment, the many dead leaves surrounding the perimeter of the oddly lit room. Windows that were in no way, what windows were ideally for. Daichi's doing, from the very construction of this great wing.
Dark white, almost yellow tinted as warm sun, and such was what poured into their discussion hall. Not sunlight, but the light that came with the warm color. It was just bright enough. And the great terrace, seen from outside Adenna to be the most complimentary of those collectively unique to the castle, it let in natural light, unfiltered, raw. And so were the leaves there, and everywhere else about. Needing to be, and very much so, on the list to be completely restored. "What say you on all this, Keiichi?" Rahea had asked.

The beautiful woman looked to him and did not remove her pointer finger from her lips by the bridged hands before her. "We should stand independent until this issue is resolved."

Vic instantly fired back, fist on the table. Thick, pure, walnut. "NO! If this is done, you may as well burn our fair city to the ground. Without our connections, we are susceptible to attacks of all sorts. You remove our armour." the insides of his fists beat on his breastplate.

"Victor... your outbursts. Mind them. I am not so old as to not still put you in your place." spreading silence throughout the room. Eizou finally spoke up, "Techichi is right..." she smiled, hearing her familiar name called by her dear friend in such a serious setting.

"We are safer without depending upon our fellow countries to extend their hand. I move for an undetermined period of isolation for Adenna. Let us concern that within our own walls, and not that outside them."

Rahea examined him, nodding understandingly. Tetch massaged her temple singlehandedly, eyes down and closed for the time. "What do you say, Atae?" Rahea asked. The lovely woman beside Eizou held lovingly at the gold band around her bicep. "I disagree with Eizou. We'll be far more on edge, on guard knowing we have not given the full trust to the neighboring nations. Thus we face our primary hostile, and the all of them neutral. But I do not see it hard regaining our status once this foe has been identified, and dealt with."

And Vic fired back, yet again. The only one of the collected that had to stand and shout to give his input. "Unrealistic! We don't even know where to begin. We know NOTHING of the enemy!"

"but.. you DO know your enemy." The words echoing across the room after Vic's newest outburst. It came from the right.. Yet, nothing exactly had been standing in its place. No -- not yet. It took a few moments before the ground showed signs of being tampered with. Light etching out from the very floor and began to create that human-sized circle of magical energy. The lines criss-crossing, circling.. even writing in a language that could be considered unknown to the people of this great city. But finally, with a flash of light, the figure of the one who spoke came into sight.
Adorn in heavy white robes that cascaded and hid the figure that stood beneath it. Exaggerated shoulder armor with an elegant elvish curve to it -- gold in color. Stripes of white fabric hung from them with designs of gold embroidered on it. Though the stripes had been long and grand in their appearance.. that brilliant silver hair that sat upon the woman's head only took attention away from it. Long, the right of it curving to rest in front of her very chest while the left found itself tucked away behind her back thanks to a large, circular hair piece that kept clipped against her very hair. The item itself was gold in color, and what sat inside and shimmered from whatever light touched it had been a jewel of emerald green.

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 09:51 EST
A flapping sound came soon after as she pushed at those very robes to allow one of her arms to be seen. Held within her delicate hand would be that pulsing blade of purple magical energy. Like a heartbeat, the energy expanded and retracted as if it had been alive. Jewel encrusted hand guard and a golden blade with words etched right into it. It didn't look like a blade meant to rend flesh.. And what was this that swayed from the very hilt she held upon? A long white cloth. It looked to be hiding whatever laid under it. "You met her once before." Painted red lips curled to expose her soft smile to the council she now stood before.

There were many different faces spread upon those of the councilmen then. Some surprised, confused, defensive, offensive, and Tetch's was delayed. Initially, instinctively almost, glad to see her. And then she herself had to wonder what she was doing here. "Lilith of Liltu. We bid you welcome." Rahea started, in his short stature he had to read the faces of his council very swiftly to prevent any sudden events he may come to regret later, thusly he spoke for the entire table in welcoming her. Vic was terribly interested, for purposes of war gain. "What is it you know that we do not?"

Lilith of Liltu -- Arm, along with her blade, rose into the air and off to the side. Opposite arm, with a sway of those robes to finally show what had fully been under that outer robe. A white, form fitting dress that left little to nothing to the imagination. That arm draped itself below her chest while her upper body bowed forward to the council. "It has come to my attention that something of mine has hidden itself in this land of yours."
The white witch began before eyes blazed with their yellow glow. Vic.. he had been in her sights. "You've met her before, have you not? When Techichi asked for her partnership for the trial of the six guardians? You, yourself.. have spoken to her. " Lilith did not just come out and say the name. Vic, if his old age hadn't damaged his own brain, should come up with the answer himself. The fact that she didn't wish to say the name could even be seen on her face as her telltale grin came over those features.

"...The outsider." Vic muttered lowly, readdressing the table.

"Erika!" Tetch arrived at the conclusion. Now it was known throughout the table. Eizou dipped his head with his hands still on the table with Atae assessing the white robed woman that had arrived.

"Are you certain it is her?" Rahea asked slowly, burning a serious stare through her.

"Something in this land.. a place, I believe.. It hinders my ability to pinpoint her location. But, a day ago I felt her presence." The arm which held her blade allowed the item to be placed, by its tip, against the ground. Opposite hand soon enough came to rest against the sword's hilt -- on top of her other. "Upon tracking it I decided to astral project into Techichi's body to learn if any changes in Adenna have taken place. Thanks to this meeting.. It may still be a hunch.. but I believe Erika is behind these attacks." She would pause for only a few moments to gage their reactions.
"And that is also why Liltu will now be conducting a search. With or without the blessing of Adenna." Her smirk had left her face.. and had been replaced by one of a serious nature. The first reaction came from Rahea, serious as well. Tetch second, pondering what chain of events this might lead to. It obviously weighed a great deal on her mind."

If you mean to infiltrate Winterhill during this standstill of the nations then you not only suggest suicide, but war." A scolding in Vic's voice, deep and bellowing.

Rahea chimed in, "If you are indeed right, Lilith of Liltu. Then there is little we can say to sway you. And knowing you and your, "exploits--" eye to Techichi for a moment. "I can only give you that blessing. And wish you luck." he tipped his head, and Vic ripped open his armor, undoing the chain latches that assembled the full breastplate and let it merely droop still somewhat
in a breastplate assemble, the buttons from his shirt popped and exposing the neumatic faceted triangle tattoo boldly blackened in shape on the man's bare chest. Muscle/power limiters. This was both quite the insult and statement, in a room decreed where swords nor weapons of any kind are allowed. Thus making confrontation, much more serious. "You're going to allow THIS?? Access into Winterhill?! Put the lives of our children in danger all for a WITCH?!" he yelled, and in came the voice of the assertive Techichi.

"Watch how you address the mother of my children, Victor..." setting silence throughout the council.

Eizou stepped up, "Winterhill will be much more alert with the murders of their monks going on. They will spot a search party." looking about for alternate methods. Lilith had spoke her peace. And simply waited for the outcome. Though it seemed she'd have no objections to her search.. Well, almost none. Vic had been given a look of annoyance as he made his stance. The grip on her blade became tighter while the aura of magic flared up.. but when the words of Techichi filled the hall and everything went silent, so did her anger. " If and when we are spotted, that will be the time for negotiations. If they haven't stopped the attacks already.. they may wish for assistance... that's if any are still alive to protest.."

"Undetected insertion is highly possible through the abandoned testing grounds for the body-stillness tech. And if you are all aware we have transportation panel mapping. I suggest Lilith, Eizou, Techichi, and myself rejoin at my library and discuss the means of the search." Rijn commented, seated with his staff. Victor would not have it, the magic written upon his chest glowing brightly. "Over my dead body!" erupting into a fit of other disapprovals and Eizou joining with how there were still many questions left unanswered and Tetch shut them up quickly. "Enough! Everyone, this meeting is adjourned. We'll talk more on it when everyone has calmed down. Meanwhile, I would like to speak with Lilith in private." looking to Rahea who closed his eyes and dipped his head.

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 09:52 EST
"Yes, enough of this. You are all Dismissed. Victor, come visit the West Gate with me. We need the exercise." Playing off his older appearance all the way to the large doors which creaked mansion-like upon opening throughout the room. It was there he reclaimed his golden gaunt rapier from the young child assigned to carry it. While the others were hustling about, Tetch made her way through them, eyes locked on Lilith. It had gotten all but quiet when those behind her had their long walks to and out the door, leaving them alone and in silence. She smiled, somewhat evident in her embarrassment at her people's outburst towards her.

"Before you say anything.. you have no need to apologize. I set myself up for Victor's anger." Eyes no longer glowing yellow, but replaced by dull grays Techichi had grown so used to over the years. The grip on her blade became even more loose.. and finally let go. The weapon phasing out of sight the moment she released. ".. How is Seirichi? " No longer business. Her voice became soft and the authority it once held fluttered away like a calm breeze. Indeed, Techichi's High Guard attire suggested a different attitude as did her reputation, but she had come to wear a happier theme when it came to her family. Still, they were in quite the setting. And she seemed far more mysterious when it came to Lilith's questioning. She just smiled and asked nicely.

"Come have a walk with me?" she gestured to the same door everyone had exited through. So long as they were still in those walls, her armor-clad boots echoed. "If you'll just give me a moment to slip out of these clothes." unbuckling her gauntlets and exposing her dark and magnificent skin. Her words left no room for a question.. and Lilith gave no response and only did as she was told. Arms retreated beneath those robes once more. Allowing that cloak to take over her form and hide it away. Red painted lips pursed gently as grays watched while Tetch began changing out of her armor.

" ... You do know without your uniform.. You'll look strange walking next to the ruler of Liltu." Teasing her. Was it so wrong?

"Don't be absurd. Not that a city guard looks any stranger, but it's also uncomfortable as hell. Girls!" she snapped her fingers in the following room, a dress room, while two young women fresh in their teens struggled to get up a shadowcasting screen up over Tetch's rapidly undressing body. They just got it up as her naked back showed. She simply assumed they had better be doing their job, and promptly.

"It's been rather hectic around here. The trials are experiencing a backup and a lot of high and mighties are complaining. You were the last person I was expecting to see show up." bouncing into a pair of blue jeans with jeweled flowers stitched onto the back pockets. Lilith would only see a red top being held over her head being tugged down, and Tetch's head drooping to examine herself and make sure nothing unwanted was showing. She stepped out from the screen and sounding refreshed, she began, "It's great to see you again so soon. Come here." softly spoken, not so softly hugging her.

Lilith waited calmly as Techichi began to change. Behind that cloak, her fingers grasped and curled between one another while stance became more relaxed in her wait. She'd watch the screen with small interest.. but, her eyes did drift to those holding it. Finally, she'd be able to see what came out from behind it. Yes.. Now she felt the odd one. Techichi dressing so casually. As she came closer -- Lilith knew what would come. Hands unhooked and rose out from in-between that cloak to push against her own shoulder pads. With a click, they released from her shoulders and fell onto the ground with a hard THUNK behind her.
Criss-crossed string held sandals worn on her feet, and that form fitting gown that clung to her form shown. Arms.. strong, tan arms wrapping about her body. Before returning it, Lilith took the time to gently brush at the shorter hair Tetch sported. It was a lil' messy.. don't blame her. Before she got it the way she liked it, she began to dip in with a curving of her spine. Height between the both of them.. she needed to do this so that they could be more on eye level. Her own defenseless.. and weak arms moved to gently drape around the girl's neck -- and next came that squeeze. "I could say the same thing." A squeeze that didn't last long, but arms did keep their place. ".. I've missed you."

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 10:48 EST
Techichi seemed to sniff, as if some tears had been locked up never to be seen again from the moment they were produced. No eyes were truer, closed tight over her shoulder in that embrace. Her hands came to each Lilith's cheeks so she could take a look at her. "There's so much I have to tell you." slipping two fingers through a pair of hung flip flops by the door, she scolded the girls tidying up her stripped armor. "Girls!" they jumped frantically, gathering up Lilith's robe and the golden fibula that fastened her cloak about the same time Tetch was escorting her out.
The air was cool and colder depending on the breezes, very frequent, very suggestive of Winter's rapping on Fall's door. Leaves blew all about the grand hall and staircase they walked, not guiding Tetch's gaze however to the many open windows that explained it all. She had already learned all there was to learn about the mess cluttering the castle. All apart of the downtime with the constant remodeling of the castle and Daichi's influence. Out with the old, and in with the new. Thus, there were teams working around the clock, and passing by them, very much the opposite of privacy. What young men, weak and strong, shy and afraid, respectful or indebted, all observed and bowed to Lilith when passing her.
Someone, it seemed, had spoken highly of her. Tetch guided by the hand, barefooted, her slippers hooked on the fingers of her other hand behind her back. There was light down at the foot of the stairs, flooding in from an always open entryway from the castle courtyard. Her feet transitioned into cool cool grass, smiling now, and somewhat more alone. She looked at things to simply not be looking at Lilith. A game, because it was hard not to. "Is Nima doing well?"

The slightest sign of shivers came from her body whenever one of those slightly cold breezes ran across her pale flesh. Yet, she showed no sign of discomfort. In all honesty.. she liked it. Summer never was the time of the year she grew fond of.. When winter came, so did many.. many wonderful things. "You'll be happy to know she started her first year in the academy of Ryuani. A few months after our last get together.." A soft smile running over her features. It made her heart beat with pride at how much her daughter has grown. "I'm missing her greatly.. But I know the Ryuani Council is taking excellent care of her." A tilting of her head as eyes glanced upward.

"It reminds me of my first time at the academy.. I hope she's having fun."

Game over. She lost. Looking at her with dark chocolate brown of eyes where the love was, and around that a lighter caramel. A parent's moment then, pausing for her to step up between her and the thick rose bush and her hand come into grabbing distance. Usual for her hand to do this, but she instead worked their holding hands to be, with the allurement of her fingers upon. A "jinxed" moment, as it were. And she felt she had to add to it.

"Seiri is moving through combat exercises and schooling twice as fast as I ever did, and she has so much of you in her. Your work ethic, your sass.." she laughed, "I'm so proud of our girls." a quick peck on the cheek. Quick in that if she didn't do it sooner than later, the world may have ended and she never would have got the chance.

".. Really? That's great..! " Excitement. Yes, even Lilith could show that. Her smile was full blown now as mind raced at the thoughts of Seirichi.. Even the peck to her cheek had almost been completely ignored. A squeeze came to the hand of the short haired beauty next to her. "Yes.." A nodding of her head, which caused that hairpiece of hers to sparkle just a bit. " .. I'm very proud of them." A small laugh came next. "I would of never expected it from Seiri though.. You remember how hyper she was? I couldn't get her to sit down long enough to even read her a book unless she was dead tired.."

Something about that, something that ran deep drew a slow, mildly evil and loving smile on Techichi's face. Short her hair was, but a few long and troublesome bangs in her eyes were quickly tossed aside in a toss of the head. Very pleasant memories on the mind, and not often did she get to bring them up. "You never gave up though. That's what I like--" interrupted, turning to address a helmless knight.

"Excuse me your royal High Guard." a nervous blond, and with good reason. Techichi looked rather pissed. "This had better be good, guardsman." No longer holding Lilith's hand, and she blamed him for that.

"Report just came in. The body stillness master's son has turned up dead on the ends of Adenna territory. Savorenius requests your presence."

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 10:52 EST
The walk down memory lane came to a stop as the knight spoke out. Facing his way.. she didn't hold the same emotions that Tetch displayed. Lilith? Was worried. The situation with Erika hadn't been pushed out of her mind at all.. and for some reason -- she had a feeling this would be exactly about that. " .. Another." Those would have been her final words before the scene changed to the library. Lilith, void of her shoulders and blade simply stood with a small narrow of her eyes.

" ........ "

"For a secret meeting, this is rather obvious." Rijn stated, looking out the window of his library. In full costume, he approached Eizou at the globe in the center of the room on its Tim Burton-ized curved wooden legs. There was much going on in his mind. "This has trouble written all over it. I know these things. Always have since construction of the second Jikangai." Rijn closed his book, the book itself glowing, having had a code read by eyes alone. He moved on to collect a set of tomes in his arms. "We are a strong people, Eizou. Whatever is killing off the highly skilled monks in Winterhill, won't be faced by an emissary of ours, alone."

Eizou spun the globe. "Sure, but whoever it is will be alone in identifying the culprit, or culprits."

Rijn smiled then, slowly placing a book from a shelf on-top of the stack he carried, "Yes, and then we send backup, cause we know it's none of the brother countries. Our agent will only be alone for a short time."

Eizou took his face out of his hand and looked at him, "Like I said, trouble."

"Trouble, but easily manageable. " Once more it seemed she had played the snoop. The white witch, Lilith, stood in the doorway of this library. "I created Erika with my own hands. I believe I of all people would know how much of a threat this will become.. and I'm sorry, but no wielder of magic or blade from Adenna will be able to harm her, even in greater numbers. That is how I made her." Egotistical? No -- the words that she spoke had been realistic. She knew how much work she put into Erika.. and what kind of output the woman could give out, even without any assistance from Liltu.

"Lilith," Eizou greeted rather than identified. There in his muscle-gripping green shirt he grabbed the encircling banister around the large central globe meant to be walked around. Rijn flipped through hundreds of pages with the assistance of the wind element called upon by his sign of hand. He spoke up. "Everything has a weakness, Lilith of Liltu. And your allegedly invulnerable creation is no exception. We simply must acquire the correct means." Rijn ceased feeding wind to the pages turning before him.

Eizou seemed to have a question on his mind. "Where is Techichi?"

".. Yes, a weakness. "Shifting slightly on a foot as she strolled into the room now. Arms kept themselves crossed under ample chest. Dull gray eyes keeping themselves on Rijn. " I'm not a fool. Everything has a weakness. Erika's weakness.. It's me. Do you understand now?" Choosing to grab hold of a seat and gently pull before settling herself on down into the comfortable piece of furniture. Elbows at the arm rest.. her body in a slight slouch, while her very hands held onto one another in-front of her red painted lips.

".. Techichi will be here momentarily. She told me to come ahead. That isn't a problem, hm..?"

"Of course not." Eizou smiled, very rarely were his words misinterpreted. Or not understood right off the bat. He took joy in that oddity of a moment. But serious topics arose. He spoke up yet again. "This is a complicated situation. Victor has tremendous influence over our military. If we were to go through with this Blind-eye operation, war may very well break out." Eizou said, removing the monopoly-like tacks on the globe signifying their military posted outside of Winterhill.

"Yes, Victor is a major concern. Which is why we're here. We--" Rijn grew quiet as silence quite literally interrupted him. He looked about and there was pure silence. Eizou caught himself on guard immediately, backing up to assure maximum visibility and chance of success. He backed right into a library pillar where a garrote wire was strung around his neck and his muscular arms bending back, wrists together and bound. He grunted wildly while Rijn was also grabbed from behind, the attacker visible this time, Rahea. An incredibly dull and lifeless knife to the man's throat. And such was how he operated. No more glorious than his fellow man, and thus an inspiration to his people. Not losing a step either apparently, besting two of Adenna's finest. "Sloppier than usual, Eizou. And Rijn... I barely even tried."

But there was a third, wasn't there. Lilith. And there she sat in that seat as a second, the real Rahea came up to another seat and sat beside her. "Ahh yes, Victor. Don't you think it was odd how I sent him to the gates right after our little meeting? He's incapacitated for the time being, so perhaps we should do what we came here to, hmm?" unwinding the tripwire that glistened clear in the right lighting, going around numerous pillars to where he had approached that chair from. Unwinding, and the imprisoned Eizou could soon free himself rather quickly. And the exact Rahea duplicate vanished behind Rijn.

"You seemed to have spotted out my mimic even before Eizou had, my dear." the old man, having paid very close attention to the goings-on in that room, addressed the Liltus Mage.

Her brow twitched.. but that was as much reaction that she would give to the scene played out in front of her. No smirk.. no laugh. She seemed to not find it amusing at all -- or at least she was good in suppressing her emotions. Held hands slipped down away from their place at her lips, and now found themselves parallel to her chest. " Then with Victor away.. we can play, so to speak. " Index of her right hand rose up just a bit.. and then came to tap down against the left. This continued every now and then.

".. I have already made up my mind. It will be me and Techichi who will enter into Winterhill to apprehend.. or destroy, Erika. Anymore assistance would simply hinder my decisions during combat."

Rahea held his chin rather elegantly while he struck a serious face, the lot of them did, hearing Lilith's more statement than suggestion. Rijn flipped through more pages. "A two-man team? We could, do that." rather skeptical, running a hand over the back of his long head of hair. Eizou, quite the opposite, had flexed his muscles, stricken a pose, and statuesquely shined.

"Never, could I allow the two most beautiful women of our time to venture out into such a life-threatening circumstance. I, singlehandedly shall take the task." his eyes, blacked out by the ruggedness of man. and that was when the doors opened.

"You'll do no such thing, Eizou..." Tetch walked in, clothed in varying colors of black, the darkest of which were her shirt and pants, and the lightest of which was a partially armored vest that did not come to fully cover the bottoms of her breasts. it showed to be somewhat of a problem as she came in fastening the thing.

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 10:52 EST
"Techichi, Lilith is suggesting you and her go into Winterhill and capture Erika. What are your thoughts?" Rahea asked, intrigued.

"I think it's a great idea. When do we go?" smiling as Atae came in behind her, carrying a swordcase with much care. Rahea gave a threatening look to Tetch. "Is that what I think it is?

She looked around, rather lost and confused as to his meaning, until she saw Atae's holdings. She chuckled lightly. "Yes, that's Sava Ai. The late Daichi's sword. I had it selected while I headed to the armory and Atae fetched it from the treasure room. I don't intend on transforming, should I get into a fight." going over to the globe Eizou was near and taking a lean to the banister, swaying her legs and much, much slimmer boots up on the thing like she were still a child.

"Very well. A two-man insertion. In these books I have pulled the graph locations of the old testing grounds in Winterhill." pausing to spruce five large but befitting podium-sized and shaped displays of simple runic routes. "If you would allow me time to fetch my apprentices from the lab then we could begin the transfer within the hour."

The white witch simply waited as their talk continued. Waiting.. waiting for a time she needed to speak. Silence kept itself over her features as she looked over the displays placed in front of the smaller council. " ................. " She paid attention to nothing else. Reading, memorizing, complete. Her eyes then gently blinked before she rose up and out of her chair with a soft sigh passing those plump lips.

"That will not be needed. Why would I wait an hour for something I could do now? I have the needed information." A look in the direction of Techichi.. and a smile. "Come to me. I'll teleport us immediately."

A serious look, and a nod from Adenna's High Guard commander. She faced Atae and opened the case, removing the gold-hilted saber from the case. And the term hilt used loosely, as it just barely, just barely would come to guard the fingers. She moved over to Lilith and draped an arm around her with the one holding the sword no less as she seemed rather energetic. "We shouldn't be too long..." kicking her boot heel up to the back of her butt so she might check behind herself, make sure nothing was in the way. cute little pose for the moment.

Eizou crossed his arms, neglected to see them go but it didn't look like he'd have any say-so in the matter. He sighed and figured he'd do his part. "We'll handle things here while you're gone." rather touching upon the heated dilemma with Victor.

"You both be safe. Look after one another." Rahea insisted.

"Farewell for now. " A nodding of her head.. No, more like a bow. She kept it that way as light filled the room once more. In a flash, they'd be gone. The only thing left behind would be that magical circle left glowing on the ground.

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 10:54 EST
Quickly, they'd be sucked through space and time itself before winding up at their destination. Smoke bellowed out from their `` landing `` point. It swirled clockwise before finally blowing away from the two of them.. things, settled down. Lilith's eyes opened at that moment.. and blazed with its magical infused yellow. It was dark.. so, with a wave of her hand -- the area about her became illuminated with light.

The chill of winter was certainly present about Tetch and Lilith. Nothing a fire, or some magic couldn't fix. And Tetch already seemed hot on it, concerned for Lilith's state of undress more than herself, having taken the body-stillness challenge a full month with no more than the clothes on her back. This was all to follow a brief investigation of the place she thought. "Are you all right?" unwrapping her sworded arm from her and beginning to walk out into the open more. They had arrived in the great oven room, which is at the center of the very back wall to the enormous black frost temple.

Fires used to burn strongly here, but only in the late evening of every day. A testing student's aim, for every day. For the warmth to come after shouldering behemal blocks of ice across an icy field. In Tetch's face it was evident that she was taken back. She did not, however test in ?this? facility. It was much, much larger than the one she had trained in. She hadn't even known about it until the recent murders. She stepped out, colder than it was in the great oven room, making her imagine what it must be like outside. The light from Lilith's magic cast elongated shadows away from them. The faces of the enormous blocks were still spread out, much like an incomplete labyrinth; a maze with holes in the walls.

Boot stepped up, only a few steps rose to that working field. She ran a hand along one block as she passed it. An age affected stone. She then looked ahead at the only movement in the entire cave.
"....." a pair of legs, swaying from a ledge formed in the temple's later years. Her eyes sharpened and her grip on the saber tightened.

"If it isn't the ' 'Happily Ever After' ' couple of our time. Lilith and Keiichi." the latter name spoken with the most distaste. Techichi was shocked and confused at the same time.

"...Felipe?"

The girl hopped down, an echo of flat feet prattling on ice. "I'd hoped you wouldn't have forgotten me so easily. How are the children?" she asked, and Techichi's head dipped only a little.

"The students you helped coach have all grown big and strong. You'd be proud. If you refer to my own children, that is none of your business." making Felipe laugh. Tetch was quite serious, so she avoided her for now, turning to Lilith.

"So we finally got your attention, did we? I wonder how smart a move it was coming out here yourself. My knowledge in puppetry isn't as grand as Erika's, but that does look like your own body, if I do say so."

"As you said.. your knowledge of puppetry isn't that grand. So.. how could you really know?" Poker face put up -- and a rather good one at that. Could this be the true Lilith? Flesh and blood? Or.. could this be a puppet sent in her place. The true Lilith could still be sitting in the tower! Magic etched across her form. Though it may seem she had started to charge some sort of witchcraft, it would not be one used to attack. The etching came to form into a blueprint of sorts.. and once all the lines connected? It's shape took form. Coming down to rest fully against her form had been a long, and rather elegant white fur coat. "Techichi lacks this as well.. but. " Not even giving a glance to her partner while eyes closed. "Do you find anything about this.. Felipe, strange?"

"You know all the answers to your questions, white witch. And if you see through the eyes of your puppets as well as you should. You'd know who killed those precious monks, and you'd certainly know how I came to be waiting on you two cuties."

Tetch short-charged her punch into the giant block in-front of her, sending it sliding out on the ice for a straight collision course with Felipe. The agile ex-Adennian leaped high into the air as it crashed, and landed back, gracefully, smirking slyly to the two. "Very strange." Felipe whispered, looking confused all of a sudden. Tetch rose to a straight stand; empty handed. Felipe came to be aware that there was something behind her, turning to see Sava Ai, ear-piercingly loud, slash her right in half at the torso.

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 10:56 EST
The effect rather strangely left the puppet lifeless when perhaps it should have still been rather lifelike. Such were the mysteries of the rarely seen Sava Ai. Tetch and Lilith's cool composure was soon driven to the wide staircase, going to the surface. Another, Felipe. "You're too quick to fight, Keiichi. And it's been so long since we've seen each other. I thought you might want to chat for a while."

Tetch looked at her like the vermin she was. "I have nothing to say to you." making Felipe laugh as Tetch started walking for her.

"I have to give you credit, that puppet was no pushover." crossing her arms, posing to the Tetch before her and seeing the saber soar across the room and come into her hand. "No harder than you'll be." walking. And Felipe sighed, shaking her head.

"Dear dear, Keiichi. Did you really think that was the only puppet?" Tetch had stopped walking just as she said that, and just as all the puzzle pieces surrounding her poofed revealing Felipe copies with insane faces. Insanity that complimented their insane speed. Climbing upon and restraining her all over, it took several just to mount her arm and slap the saber out of her hand. Silly next was the puppets that gave themselves to Sava Ai's twirling rampage.
Sliced and diced, but kept otherwise busy for the puppets to chase after Lilith, to do gods knows what, and those already clinging desperately to Techichi and the speaking Felipe dashed after her and leaped before her, feet upon her sides and holding onto that vest she wore. A psychotic face right in Tetch's own, a wide smile no human face could produce. Their noses touching, their eyes practically were. "Who's easy to kill?" spoken right into her face as her and her duplicates began to glow a bright red light completely engulfing Techichi. The dark skin of neck and face could be seen as she clenched her teeth, eyes beholden at the resonating explosion to come.

"!!!"

" Techichi..! " Yelling out. She should of seen this coming..! The first Felipe.. she knew, for a fact, it had been a puppet. If Erika could create them as well.. What would of stopped her from making many more? It was something Lilith, herself, did as well! Sleeve of that fur coat came to be pulled down by her slender fingers as she saw a group of the puppets come for her as well. No, she needed to get to Techichi.. it was obvious what would happen after they grasped onto her! And the glow only assured her of it.
Blazing flame erupted from her finger rips and rolled across her upper arm before she whipped it forward. Arcane fueled rage of fire moved forth to engulf the branched off group.. and upon touching, quickly wrapped about and caused an explosion of their own. All the while the white witch began mumbling more. Spellcasting.. Multi-casting. The blast of the many Felipes came next. The explosion, and following shockwave, caused the room to quake. The old ceiling itself couldn't take it and simply collapsed down onto the room.
Smoke filled, it was dark once more. But, in that darkness came a quick flash of light. Two bodies.. One of them holding onto the other while letting out a quick sigh. Illumination of light came once more to fully show the figures of Lilith and Techichi.

".. Don't be so reckless. " Arms releasing the younger woman from her.

"...Thanks." Techichi rose with light support of her savior's shoulder and went to see at one of the charred heads of Felipe. A face of death, but one that ironically Felipe would wear happily if it meant killing them, or so it seemed. It smashed beneath her boot after a moment and she came to a discerning pose, coughing at the dust created by the collapsed temple roof. Above them was the roof of the cave, further expanding upon the incredible size of the Winterhill. "Wow." seemed to echo, so that she made sure next time she spoke it was softer. Turning back to Lilith,

"Come here, I know where we are now." the cave had given itself away. She held a hand, a wagging hand after she'd taken too much time to grab. She seemed rather rushed, or perhaps she was always this way. Impatient. Navigating the rubble and two very cracked puzzle platforms she came to the center of them, which had been the center of the room, and where the collapse had impacted first, and the least. She observed the floor, deciding against something after forming a fist. "I can't bust a hole in the ground or it could start an avalanche outside. Hun, are there any spells you have that can cut us a path in the ground? I realized when the roof cracked that this was the temple built on-top of the Winterhill underground. If Erika's here, that's where she'll be." sheathing Sava Ai.

".. Advancing enough in sixteen years.. " Mumbling softly to herself as she looked to that same charred head, the one that soon enough found a boot placed by Tetch right down against it. With that crackling crush, Lilith looked up and away. Hand was taken, and the witch would be led across, and around the rubble. :: " .. Underground? Why didn't they speak of it in the library? " An obvious frown. If they had just been given the information.. Turning to look down at the floor and finally letting go of the other's hand. She'd step a few feet away from her. Circle steps.. Looking down at the floor and inspecting. Glance soon turned to the right. The spot her eyes had landed at began to smoke. A hot, red line began to curve. The concentrated magical energy acting as a lazer to dig into the ground. Two of them..

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 10:57 EST
They seemed to move in that circle type motion, and once they finally connected back against one another at the opposite, the light faded. " Concentrate on your landing. " Leaving no room for Tetch to speak.. because at the next moment, lines began to appear all about on the inside of that circle, and with that -- it'd shatter. Leaving them to fall into the underground below.

Wide-eyed, sarcastic frown. Lilith would surely be the death of her. Collapsing beneath her very feet she found herself in quite the different situation. On solid ground the one minute, and in the literal sky, falling for the ground of a new rich green world; the Winterhill underground. Uncontrolled plummeting soon however turned into a balanced drop and she could see the thousands of acres, hundreds of thousands of trees. And from the moment her fall had begun, beautiful rings had been right in her ears, and gradually became quieter. And then they came back again as she started passing through the thick canopies. It didn't look good ahead however. She crossed her arms and had them break the branches in her path. They were noisy, but also braking. Thus a later one she was able to grab. Somewhat fatigued by it, a refill of breath sufficed recovery.
She hung by one hand on a branch, looking up at her clutch to assess how much time she had. No matter, looking down at her floating boots, she saw she was a mere couple dozen feet up. She dropped from the enormous tree and landed swiftly on the ground. Warm, no hot grass under her fingertips as she came to stand. She looked about, scouting very quickly before looking up to see where Lilith was. A beam of winter moonlight looked most odd coming down to the area's own secluded existence. Out of place, noticeable, unwelcome.

She'd find Lilith free-falling as well. Though, thanks to Tetch -- she had less branches in her own way on the way down.. Then again, when it seemed something did get too close? It simply disintegrated by some sort of unknown energy. She was still falling at full speed, but showed no sign of caring about the face. To be honest.. her eyes weren't on the landing zone, but on the area to the right. Down, down, down she'd go..

Tetch switched to sprinter stance unconsciously and again was in a state of shock Lilith had put her in. After gaging the fall, she deduced she wouldn't make it back in time, the short distance, to where Lilith would land. Like hell she wouldn't. She dove, arms out. But she found herself falling down onto the ground with nothing in her arms. A burst of wind rushing against her fallen body while Lilith appeared to be floating a good two feet above the ground. Her eyes, still not on the poor woman.. " .. This place.. is full of magical energy, Techichi.. If I had known.." Yes, Tetch's effort had been overlooked and ignored all at the same time. After she spoke though, her body dropped one last time and calmly landed onto the ground. " .......... This makes things different.. "

"Oh.. is that so?" Monotone voice then filled the air.. Erika -- she now stood before them only five yards away. Her body covered in a simple forest green cloak. White hair grown out, and braided so that it could rest against her left shoulder. Clock work red eyes glaring in their direction. Tetch listened to Lilith as she looked over herself, brushing leaves off and that such as she came to be on her knees, temporarily leaning back on her heels to hold out her arms and brush them off, thighs and knees next as she came to a stand when the ruler of Liltu had finished talking and another voice had begun. A familiar voice.

She stood beside Lilith, somewhat in-front of her, protectively. One of her legs straight, the other relaxed with a bent knee. "...Well if that isn't the shittiest puppet I've ever seen."

"I've only had sixteen years, Tetch. Isn't it to be expected that my puppetry is sub-par?" Obvious anger could still be felt in her words as she tried to play it off as if it had been nothing special. ".. I've been waiting for this day. You chose her over me.. A witch who fabricated a lie and gave it my name.." Hand rose up to flip back that large braid of hair, allowing it to slide behind her back. Lilith narrowed her eyes.

"Erika. What are you planning? Killing the monks who dwell in this land.. You could
of stayed hidden and lived a peaceful life." The apprentice puppet maker gave a laugh. "A peaceful life? Or simply stay hidden away? Allowing you to save face.. No, no. Liltus slave. I won't give you that pleasure!" Anger filled her voice as she narrowed her eyes, " You will be punished for your transgression against my body!"

And that's when it could be felt.. The air about them seemed to quickly be sucked away while the chimes in the air rattled in a craze. That green glow that once covered their position.. had now been gone. The vision of that color could be seen seeping away, deeper into the forest. ".. Once again.. what are you planning.." Lilith, her pokerface was used once more.. but that small bead of sweat had simply broke it, at least for Tetch. From Erika's distance it couldn't be seen. "This much energy.."

Erika's expression turned to one of question. ".. What do you think? I'm going to kill you, Witch."

"You'll find that a trifle hard Erika..." now perfectly between them, not just partially in-front of Lilith. She jerked the sword out, and it did not point anywhere else but ground in that quick unsheathement. With her bare hand she guided the left side of her hair behind her ear. "Now be a good girl and come back, you and Felipe both; to answer for your crimes."

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-15 10:59 EST
The White Witch's hand had slipped behind her back, rising her shirt somewhat and exposing the small of her back and the tattoos that lied there. Lilith would know good and well, by what tiny black squarish tattoo the fabric stopped at, to just what she had in store. Erika however, would not know.
Her tattoos, the binding ones that ensured her very life were located on her arm then when Erika had known her, but now, appropriate with her motherhood and aging had relocated to her lower back, possibly with a trick or two more.

"Now, now.. when did I allow you to speak the name of MY prize, Tetch? " Grinning wildly. She had the advantage.. she knew this land, she had everything planned out for a day like this. Erika.. she was basking in the glory of it all. But -- someone would not let her. Her mouth opened to speak once more, but she was quickly quieted by the words that left Lilith's. "Give her not even a second, Techichi. Destroy this puppet! We must head to where the magic is gathering at once!" Lilith's body shifted as she broke into a run. Fur coat discarded and thrown off behind her, while a rip started to appear -- running up the skirt of her dress to allow better leg movement for her dash. Though she had been running now, she knew Tetch would be faster.. and do as she instructed.

Most unusual, she let Lilith run ahead for the moment while she stood in place. A dangerous distance Lilith was nearing, she would consider it. But that was when it happened. "Not even, a second."

Not even a second. Tetch had spent a full forty-seven of them, attuned with the Jikangai. Meditating and collecting strength for the second to top, sexy middle-aged woman tattoo on the back of Techichi.
Start timer. 0.001

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-20 01:04 EST
Her body in full acceptance of the payload of energy across the dimension from the Jikangai, black glistening so dark it shined partly purple, when there was in fact no purple upon it. She had transformed, and still this was not, the Siovanui. She had transformed only in appearance. The body of she was still underneath, the growth in size and presence was merely the armor and the powers that resided. She was taller, muscular, much more muscular. The suit itself, was far more than any knight could ever hope to ask for. The build of the suit, the breast of it, the abdomen of it, the seat of it, all forged in the likenesses of a man gods would aspire to be.
This was Tamujin, the black knight and vigilantism figure of the realm, most notably Adenna. And the helmet that sat atop this monster of armor had a pointed crown and protruding jaws. Black, lighter black, black again, and purple again, only in that shine, and it slivered across. Already ahead of Lilith, her long, big, stout arm clenched the also transformed sword Sava Ai. A longer, thicker, more proficient saber of an unhealthy silver. A silver that didn't shine, a perfect silver. His hilt, squarer, wider, connecting and completing.

0.482 , shovel-sized digs in the ground by those black plated greaves. Her arm charged back and flung the sword;
0.622 . Right into a branch, as planned. Erika in her premonition was startled by this, avoiding her plan altogether to go straight up. Tetch's hands, they ached, through every vein that was hers and every extension that was power to the suit that wanted it. Her arms shook gently, down to the tips of her fingers that curled and shook, violently.
0.819. Erika was coming back down, back down before two shovel-scoops made by angry and plated greaves. Her slender and gaunt frame came straight into those thirsty hands. She was quieter than ever, Tetch was. The clock ticked.

1.000

One arm was very fond of the east, the other the west. And like that, Tetch assumed the outstretched pose of an X, limbs extended, and the girl had exploded. She paused, watching the pieces come down, "..." and looked right, some more right, and over her shoulder at Lilith.

Splat.. splat. The pieces of what used to make up the puppet body of Erika came splattering across the ground soon enough. Though it may look like flesh -- no blood could be seen. Half of Erika's face laid against the ground.. and that counterfeit clockwork eye rolled to look up toward what.. or who, had indeed `` killed `` her. Then, that half-jawed mouth opened to let out a laugh.

"So.. this is what you become?! Ha..hahak..akaka..-------- " words finally fell silent from her.

Lilith had stopped, but only for a moment to look back at that woman who did as she was told. ".. We make haste... " No reason to speak of her performance.. it was magnificent, but now wasn't the time. Sandal covered feet carried the witch forward as she moved on. Zig-zagging throughout the trees with speed granted to her by the wind itself. Her face showed one of annoyance.. and of pain. Red in color, her chest heaving like crazy. She wasn't used to running such a distance.. but -- she needed to do this. This was her problem, she needed to fix it.
That's when another breeze came.. no, not gentle.. A quick burst, but one that caused Lilith to lift up an arm over her face while bracing her body to make sure she didn't get thrown off from her feet.. " .. nngh.. "

Tetch stood still there for a minute as Lilith came by to say that. And she cast out all speculation that she had undergone some badass change underneath that armor, and that mask. "Don't overdo it, Lilith!" she called out to her, in her normal voice, only echoey in the void of that armor for comic relief. She assumed a rather, backwards hunch. Standing so straight it actually kept going back, or so was the muscles of this construct of power. Marvelous nonetheless as she watched the white witch begin to vanish in the very far. She inner monologued, 'Our children will inherit this world. But not now. We are still in charge, and have to show them how it's done.'

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-20 01:06 EST
A bird cawed, and a chime sang, and she vertical-lined out of the location in her speed. After Lilith. Running, running. It's all Lilith could do. Easily feeling the compression of all that magical energy and something not normal to this plain.. all that told her was: you need to get here, quickly. Stopping it was her priority. This land had already done its work on her own body. She couldn't teleport.. and she couldn't simply blink across the forest to the location. The insides of this `` underground winterhill ``.. Erika must have predicted this. Such a place could be easily gotten into -- but getting out was another story.

?Ha... ha..? Her heart pumping a mile a minute. Her body not at all used to this treatment. Simply repeating inside of her own thoughts that she just needed to endure. This was her fault, after all.. So giving up easily wasn't an option. Closer, closer, closer. The white witch knew that it could only be maybe a quarter of a mile away before she got to the needed destination.. But? That cold sweat rolling down her neck the next moment told her she was too late. ?.......? Her speed slowed as she came to realize what had happened. ?.. Techichi..?

The girl was behind her, no, she could possibly be next to her at the speed she could move at. ?.. Be on
guard.? That's all she could say. A look of disbelief adorn her features. She continued forward, not so fast.. Her body that once told her she needed to quickly stop Erika had now changed its mind. It told her to stay away.. No, it wasn't just her body. The dead silent forest itself had been the one telling her. The demon shadow of Lilith, far darker than could be connected to her, shuffled radically to various tree limbs, terrain, and air following her.
Techichi had with her the means to provide such a vast cover of the witch, and at a distance perfect to intervene should she suddenly be attacked. Her senses were top-notch now. The limiter she opened on her back was clearly not just the suit. The faceless black mask of Tamujin looked off to the right during mid-flight. A puppet of Felipe, but it was not the only one. She spotted several more, all blazing just as fast as her after Lilith. If imaginable, her pace quickened, and she phased to the ground where she caught the bladed arm of the puppet and broke it, redirecting it into the puppet body. Her realization came now in yet another puppet swarm.

She had been baited with Lilith. And dispatching the puppets far faster than last time, ?Don't be so reckless.? played on in her ears. Flipping the puppets over her shoulder and turning them to rubble status came by either throwing them down, against trees, or smashing them. One such Felipe, did however climb up her and wrap fully her body around her right arm, her sword arm, and detonate herself. A smoking black armored arm was assessed before her, now swordless, but all her foes dispatched. All but the only Erika puppet. The very last step of this hatched plan. Disarmed, and unable to react quickly enough, the focused face of Erika dove down to her from above, a magic prepared while Tetch could all but breathe.

"..!"

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing.. The puppet Erika, her body began to glow. Yes -- much like the Felipes had been trying, she would be detonating herself. Except this would be on a whole other level. That unstable, blackend magic fizzling out from her arm and began eating away at the rest of her body while hysterical laughter passed from lips. Lips that soon ripped off from her very face, as did her head from the second beam of sparkling - purple energy. Firecracker esque pops filling the air after each beam. Each of those beams ripping into the puppet Erika's body. One.. two.. five.. it was continued, focused fire of destruction. Her body, or more like the pieces of her body, had been blasted away before the unstable magic finally erupted. "Now, now.. Don't be upset with my tactics! Like you, Slave of Liltu, I've found enjoyment in playing with my prey!"

Liliths brow twitched while lowering her arm while that cackle spread across the forest once more. " .. Nnn.." The white witch bit at her bottom lip in annoyance. " ... We're still not too late.. " Speaking out. Not just to Tetch, no.. more to herself. The white haired woman glanced back to Techichi. She didn't need to speak words. Looking back.. she'd begin walking once more. " .. We can't keep her waiting."

The black knight frozen in the second the puppet would have reached her, only to see it blasted to nothing by the great mage. She looked to Lilith having been saved. Sava Ai, the King Sword, reclaimed once more from the ground and puppet debris that surrounded it. But by the way it sounded, it was as if she had clasped hands with an incredibly strong gentleman when that sword went into her hand. A soul-attached sword, particularly this one, was never a one-sided event, least of all the simple act of holding one. And such began the understanding, and conception of what it was like to wield such a blade. She flung it back to her stationary hold and free of anything that obscured its shine. Walking alongside Lilith at her pace.

"Just what are we walking into, Lilith?" the cant of the her great knight helmet.

"Underground Winterhill.. I can even fill it." Glancing down at her very feet as she stepped across the forest. "Leyline.. It's flowing under our very feet. This forest was full of released magical energy, Techichi." Peering over to the knight who walked beside her. ".. Erika has taken all of it in an attempt to cast a greater magic. We're.. already too late. I felt it before her puppets attacked." A small shake of her head, which caused those long strands of white to sway gently across her worried face. Brushing them away, she'd continue.

".. I don't know what, but I know when we get to it.." A downcast look. ".. Please keep me protected, Techichi.."

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-20 01:10 EST
The sword sang, and her armor grumbled as she made the conversion to resting it behind her neck, across it, where her other arm could come up and drape over the raw blade. Far more relaxed, and shruggish. As if she were unable to do her job. "A hair on your head won't be lost so long as I'm here."

"... Please, be realistic.." Lilith grew silent.. and then, with a sigh, she spoke once more. ".. I'm sorry.. I'm a little on edge." Snapping at Techichi like that - she shouldn't of done that. It was the whole situation. Her heart was thumping against her chest while brain tried to think of as many possibilities as it could. The trees they stepped past became few and few.. all before the vision of a house started to be seen between the fewer and fewer trees. Wooden, seemed to be build out of these very trees.. That much Lilith could assume. " ... "

Techichi was frozen, looking at her. Advantageous in that Lilith could not see her face behind such thick darkness. But looking at her she was quite confused, not seeing any of her words out of the ordinary but finding her composure out of the ordinary. She hadn't seen her like this before. "I know you're running tons of scenarios out in your head. You always do, it's why you beat me at chess every time. But it's not good for your complexion to worry so much. Just do what you always do." going on a few steps ahead, but perhaps she shouldn't have walked forward as relaxed as she was. This house setup, seemed far too staged, purposefully inviting. Why, on god's green earth, would it be a trap. To the front of it they reached, and she slipped her left arm off the knife of her sword and looked to Lilith before extending Sava Ai to push open the door.

".... Nn." Biting at her bottom lip once more. She could somehow see what Tetch had been doing. No, she fully understood. The woman was keeping her calm.. a cool head on her shoulder. Lilith was worrying -- not about the fight, but the many possibilities that could come from it. The white witch needed to relax and keep herself at the ready for anything that could happen. For moments like this.. thinking ten steps ahead just wasn't going to work. The door opened gently.. and the vision of the inside flicked in the candle, and outside light that illuminated into it. Very simple. That could describe what the insides looked to be. Sparse.. A few chairs, a table.. off to the right -- that could be seen as a kitchen. The large pot with a steady fire under it.. And over there with the furred rug must be some sort of ``living room``?

The only thing that couldn't be made out had been the blackened hallway that led to.. who knows. " ...... " But what Lilith's gaze fell on -- and kept on.. had been the summoning circle next to the fireplace. Remains of magical energy swirling about in the air like some sort of vortex.. and smoke bellowing out from those snuffed out candles that surrounded it.

"Liltus slave!" .. it came from behind her. No -- she.. still couldn't feel her, that's why it was easy for her to do such a thing! Quickly, Lilith swirled about to face the smirking puppet who once had been hers.

"... Erik--.." She couldn't complete it. The reason why had been the one who stood before her. A glowing, arcane energy chained collar placed around a younger girl's neck. The one holding it was Erika..

"...... Unforgivable.." Lilith said in a hushed tone. The shorter haired witch only laughed out while giving a hard tug to the chain. This caused the young one to forcefully take a backstep in order to not fall over. Lilith couldn't take her eyes off the girl. Blonde hair with that natural curl.. it flowed freely, untamed -- wisping over her shoulders and down her very back. The small, delicate form that looked to still be brightly infantile. Small curves, feminine.. but could still be seen as rather androgynous in the right setting. But not this one. That white cloth that draped over her figure and clung at her waist thanks to a golden belt. Furred, unknown to Lilith's knowledge of type.. and she had quite an extensive knowledge of furs. Her wardrobe spoke for itself... it hung over her right shoulder while the left had yet another golden artifact attached to the cloth curving over it.

".. How could you." Lilith managed to speak once more. But, upon doing so. The girls fingers gripped at the bow found at her side. This girl was the reason.. the reason why her brain kept telling her to go back.

She came around slowly to face them, sword tipping the ground for her to perch one hand atop the other in full pose. Wrists pointed out to Erika, her leashed, and Felipe dropping from a tree and approaching them. "Did you think we had nothing prepared? Adenna and Liltu shall both see the wrath of our suffering. Beginning with this land." Felipe begun, but Tetch faced her.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening." her shoulders thrown up, a drop of sweat behind her head feeling genuinely sorry for honestly not hearing her. Felipe was in a fit of sarcastic rage, taking this dangerously huge moment in with a grain of salt. It became serious again, at least on Felipe's part in her follow-up.

"You'll see just how serious we are in a minute! Do you even know who that is?!" pointing to the girl with the collar on. Tetch took a deep breath, projective in that helmet. Quite the different character, out of the loop, from the other three present. "Nnnnope..."

"It's alright if you don't know, Tetch." Erika said with a soft frown. A finger brought up.. rolling across her lips before it curled and her knuckle found its place. Teeth parted.. and a bite was given to it. Finally, she'd pull away and swing her arm out in front of herself. "It is better to die clueless.. Allowing you to die how Lilith murdered me. Still innocent in your understanding." Another tug given to the girl. Crackle of magical energy let loose from the binding about the younger ones neck. "Kill them."

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-23 18:40 EST
Lilith widened her eyes and began to spread magical energy out in front of the both of them at blinding speed. Creating a shield in an attempt to block what was to come.. But, what was to come didn't exactly.. come. Lilith acted too fast -- the white witch had thought Erika was in control. listen to your own brain.. how could she have control?

?.... I'm ordering you to kill them! Do as I say!" More sparks came while the girl's body shook from the punishment.

"Do you now see how stupid your actions are, Erika?" Erika took those words like aN arrow into her very heart. Brows furrowing and anger spread across her face.

"Do as you're told! I command it!" The only reason Lilith hadn't stepped closer was the fact the girl who Erika had felt she was in `` full control `` over was still an unknown threat. Would she follow? Or not..

".. Techichi?" Lilith spoke to her while Erika continued to attack the young girl with her bindings. ".. Do you know anything about a being named Fox?"

Felipe wore a face of worry, extending a nervous hand for Erika's shoulder. "What's wrong?" confused, as she was not the only Adennian who was. Tetch turned her head to Lilith at the pose of a question. Still just as ready as ever to react in the split-second should something happen. But she was relaxed at a comforted level with that energy of Lilith's between them for the time being. "No. What is going on?" stepping into closer proximity for that question.

"In simple terms.. An old one from a time before humans. That's what Erika has summoned." Going into detail wouldn't be the best idea at this time. Lilith kept her eyes on the girl though.. She twitched gently, as if the pain brought to her by those bindings became less and less over time. Erika grit her teeth and gave a heavy tug at the hain, causing the girl to twist about and fall flat onto her face. But, Lilith caught it.. the sight of those knuckles turning white at the grip she placed onto her weapon. ".. Erika.. step away." Lilith began.. but Erika wouldn't have any of that. She shook her head and looked to Felipe a moment later.. and that's when that loud crack filled the air. Back handing the girl away from her with enough force to send the girl off her feet.

"NOTHING IS WRONG! She only needs to know who her master is!" Erika wasn't listening to Lilith. No, everything was falling apart before her. "Stand and kill them! Now!" The girl pushed her free hand against the ground and stood up.. her back kept to Lilith and Techichi.. and for the moment, her head kept itself bowed as she continued to disobey. Felipe shook there on the ground, coming to push herself up and look back to Erika, cupping her cheek at its scuff marks. She was terrified, terrified that the playing field was not how they had planned. In Lilith's plunge to catch the girl, Tetch reacted, switching places with her nearly and pointing Sava Ai out to Erika.

"Lilith, I don't know what's going on here... Are we fighting that thing, or not?" keen on keeping Erika at bay as Felipe came up, drawing her hulken glaive, seemingly from nothing. It was apparent in the dip of her head, Techichi showed great upset in seeing the weapon wielded by the more prominent warrior monks of Winterhill, and she knew Felipe could not be cast aside so easily wielding such a weapon. "Is this what it comes to? You throw your lives away, for evil. And this is the best you can come up with? A dud?" Techichi let out a sizable laugh, upsetting Felipe immensely and possibly even Erika. But she couldn't help what she found humor in.

"... Techichi.. I'd rather not." Lilith responded back to Tetch in a low voice. ".. Only if it comes down to it." Erika, on the other hand.. Was getting beyond angry. Her face grew twisted with hate as she just couldn't understand. Everything.. everything she did was correct! How could she fail?!

".. A dud? A DUD!? Do you think you are any better?! You had been useless during our time together with the guardians.. and yet you dare speak to me in such a way!?" Erika lifted up a foot, which caused her simple forest green dress to slide down her tanned leg.. and with that, she slammed the ball of her foot into her `` slaves `` stomach. Crackling arcane energy surged from the bindings soon after.. and the now hunched girl began to cough. Her head rose, and she looked to Erika.

" ..... "

Erika seemed fixated though. Her eyes seemed to lock with the younger girl's. Lips began to pull back in rage while teeth grit hard. She went to bring her hand back this time.. but -- she stopped, quickly. Her face now in full shock. ".. Pas----------." A flash of light, much like a camera, shot out against Erika's form. She froze in place for only five seconds.. but then, her skin began to sink in and her mouth opened wide. It started at her legs.. the muscle and fat seemed to simply disappear, and soon enough her body grew into one of a skeleton.. a skeleton which still had its skin. Eyes grew dim and sunk back into her skull.. and the final sign of her leaving life shrieked out from decaying lips. A howl, one that started high pitch but only grew lower and lower as the seconds passed.. all before her body crumpled onto the the ground. Once it made contact though, it simply erupted into dust and fluttered away.

" .............." Lilith was silent, shocked.. At the fact that Erika had been killed so easily.. but, more importantly. Those shackles that once bound the girl had broken free. The blond kept her eyes shut tightly as she whirled herself about. Bow in hands, and the string pulled back. Aim..? Felipe found herself in the crosshairs of the arrowless weapon.

Techichi

Date: 2010-12-23 18:42 EST
Like swords themselves, the blade-like fingers, claws, of her gauntleted hand, two of them, curled in and out slowly to Erika. "You wanna let me play downstairs again? I guarantee it'll be a lot more, messy..." she growled, no regard for life in her voice. But as the events unfolded she found herself wrapping her arm around Lilith's waist and in the blink of an eye appearing on that roof. It wouldn't stop there. Felipe seemed to be aimed at.

"Tch!" Tetch had a bad feeling, Tamujin seen for the first time, taking time, and not just simply, being. She actually looked this way and that for an escape. Her breathing was heavy. "Lilith... tell me what you want me to do." complete trust left her lips.

".. We can't leave her." Lilith spoke such a line. Her brain kept telling her she needed to escape -- but an obligation filled her heart. She was a keeper of knowledge.. she couldn't let such a thing happen. If this girl somehow had been left alone.. things could only get worse. ".. Techichi. I want you to continue protecting me." A small nod of her head while backing away, leaving the girl to be her shield for the time being. ?.. Crane..!" She yelled out to try and catch the girl's attention.

It worked, the girl stopped all movement. Her steady breathing shown as her small chest rose and fell, but.. at least she hadn't let go of that string. ".. Your brother will be very unhappy if you continue like this!" To Tetch's ears, her voice sounded the same.. yet something haunting could be felt along with it. The brain recognized it.. but those words felt as if they shouldn't be from a language the Adenna girl would know as her very own.

"... Die." Finally -- the blonde spoke. The words from Lilith only seemed to fuel her actions. Letting go of the string at that moment, the snap could be heard all about them -- like cannon fire. Wind shot forth from the very bow, and then as it left inches away.. a spark of life came. That pure white energy forming into a long beam that could only be understood in the human mind as an `` arrow ``.. though it didn't share its shape at all. Only a thin, guided energy.. That's all it was. But that's if one's eye could catch it. It went blazing across the very air toward Felipe in almost an instant. But that instant was enough for what came next.. Felipe found herself being tackled against. A short, black haired young woman pushing her away while the arrow skid across her back. Ripping apart the leather of her jacket as it passed through it -- only for it to continue on its way to strike itself into a near by tree.

The beam, as if upon knowing it hadn't struck its needed target, simply disappeared. A scarf.. one that only a person could get by besting guardians of Adenna brushed against Felipe's face. Though.. it had been rather short compared to the one Techichi and Erika had been given in years past.

".. Mother..!"

"Keep her busy... I'm going to shorten the playing field." Heartless, she was gone in an instant.

"....Nayon?" Felipe blinked, this moment was too much to take in at once. Her daughter, one thing. Her life being saved, was another. The big thing, was the scarf. Everything else went out the window upon seeing that. The perpetuating way of the world, suddenly made sense. The object of her entire life, in that scarf. And it burned before her eyes in one forced moment of conception. Prepared to die, and then life was given new life. And that which saved her, saved her now, wearing that which started it all. And saw none of it, only worry for her ' ' mother. ' '

"Oh, Nayon!" she took her in embrace as sharp black metal separated them. A black knight foot held Nayon down, painfully, and the gray sword, against Felipe's neck. ten steps ahead of the game was never something Tetch was known for. But at this level, she could afford to be. She recoiled the sword the necessary difference to make a simple downward thrust, one that would kill. And the only thing that would stop her, would be Lilith's voice. "..." playing grim reaper, and frighteningly well.

"TECHICHI! STOP!" Lilith's voice filled the air.. and for the first time, she had yelled in such a way at Tetch. But -- this was also something that she shouldn't of. The young woman with the bow quickly turned about once more. Her ears, she had been following them. Following the sound of those words that left the womans lips on the roof. String pulled back, and let go once more. That flashing light zooming across the sky and zeroing in on the white witch. Lilith quickly acted, that shield made once more.. but -- upon making contact with the arrow, it shattered. The arrow itself had been destroyed along with the shield, but the force could still be felt. Lilith was blown off her very feet and hit the roof hard. Body rolling.. and it came to the edge before finally toppling off the roof all together.

The gaze of the knight was off her prey. Two, very threatening foes left unguarded for the time. When Tamujin came to look back at Felipe and her daughter, the latter had a sword charged herself, and thrust. She phased, right then. The point before being stabbed. "Got you." Tetch said, Lilith landing perfectly into the nest of her arms. And Nayon, sighing with relief seeing them away from her and her mother. She caught her breath, indeed catching up to where she should have been. The thrust of that sword took many of her following breaths just to launch that thing with such intent Tetch would need to retreat. She closed her eyes, breathing, no longer looking at the shadow burn of Techichi, where she had been, looking down at her as if stabbed.

Hallucinations of speed and power intertwined. Techichi looked Lilith in the face, reading every bit of her. "Well, her attention is on us..." looking back to the blond girl, the threat. She could have ran with Lilith then, but she chose to trust her. Lowering her to stand for herself while she became very comfortable with her sword, practicing once or twice drawing the fastest circles she could. "You over there! I'd flee if you valued your lives!" loud enough to, like Lilith, direct more attention on them. Nayon grit her teeth up to when Felipe grabbed her tight by the leather of her jacket.

"Nayon! NAYON!!" she begun, getting to her feet, disregarding her glaive. She came in close and very clearly began the first half of a simple saying. "...Live Today.---"

".. As it should be." Lilith gave a soft grunt while feet touched down onto the ground.. Her relaxation wouldn't be for long. The yelling -- it attracted the blonde once more, who was now on top of the roof. Body at its side, bow held out and taking steady aim down at the two of them below her. Eyes continued to squeeze tightly, as if even the smallest bit of light creeping past her lids would somehow cause harm.

" - Fight tomorrow.. We both will." Nayon finished while a small trickle of black trailed out from the corner of her lips. That wouldn't be the only source of black.. A tattoo like marking had started to show out from the shirt she wore under her jacket. It curled like a vine, and sprouted more.. slowly. Her body winced in some sort of pain.. but, she didn't seem to care. Right now she needed to do one thing. "We're escaping now." Obvious statement.. but, she had gotten that from Erika.. Pulling at her mother, they'd quickly start with their get away. All this while the blonde finally let go of her string to let loose that bolt of light once more. Two targets, but the one who had gotten the primary aim would be Techichi. All the while, Lilith spoke.

?.. You'll only upset your brother more if you continue! Crane, stop this!"

She watched the two run off. Confirmation could not be anything more important. Well, perhaps she was wrong. Full devotion was what this opponent needed. Reflective visor-like alloy of her face showing the arrow coming closer and closer. Thankfully she had worked up to speed with those circular practices. And in no way, could she be too careful. She made a full circle slice to get the ball rolling, to cut the arrow, with the cut created by the slice, that the sword created. Once it got spinning, this could be seen easily, and was maintained in the open hand of Techichi, feeding massive amounts of energy to keep it at standalone. And when the slices finally came to the arrow, it drew in all too easily to Sava Ai, who spoke for the first time on this mission. "GAAAHH!!" in a strange, metallic like echo chamber.

The arrow was only slightly swayed. And over Tetch's shoulder in her right-dominated crouched position did she see it go by. She caught the spinning out of control sword in a loud clap almost as if it had been planned. "Sorry..." she spoke to it, and the sword only seemed to take a deep breath and be recovered ready to go again as Tetch stood tall and looked back up to the blond archer. ".....You're making sense now. Take all day, Lilith." another spin of the sword, practice. It would pay off next arrow. She moved to Lilith's right now, changing it up, keeping it fresh.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 08:13 EST
Crane -- the name Lilith had called her by. She stood there now.. hearing no cries of agony, except for one she deemed out of place between the two. Then again.. She could still feel the strange, dark one she had seen before blindness overtook her. Bow pulled back once more.. and let go. Except this time she didn't wait
for the follow through. She simply grasped back onto the string again and pulled back.. Letting go to fire off a second, and finally a third. The first and second came to a halt upon being met with that magic driven shields once more, but the third had slipped threw during the destruction and quickly came to their target, Tetch, once more. Lilith had been overlooked for the time being, even as she continued to try and speak. " He'll punish you if you continue to act carelessly! I know that strange woman took you away from your home, but you must calm yourself! "

As the third arrow came for Tetch she had already drawn half the circle. But it wouldn't be enough. She had to speed it up, she had the option, to speed it up. Without that practice swing earlier, she'd have been shot. Fortunate enough, however, she swung that one through with a sigh that practically had steam coming off of it. "AAAhhh!" it sounded refreshed, and as if her muscles were basking in post-orgasmic bliss from that over-exertion. The arrow did, break her hold on Sava Ai. Sticking the blade in the dirt upright a ways off. She gazed her vibrating armoured arm and held it still, looking to the blond girl very sharply. "You know, Lilith... When I said Take all day...----" not taking her eyes off the archer for one moment

" .. You're still not dead. " The blonde spoke while lowering her arrow slightly. She seemed to be amazed by this fact.. " .. Usually.. nothing ever lives after my first shot. You.. are strange. " A hunter who found a prey that could be worth wild.. Isn't that what they always hoped for. It didn't live long -- her words that is. Bow brought up and at it's ready once more before Techichi could react enough to try and get her on, or off this higher ground. She pulled back and fired once more.. and yet again, it had been multiple. Three shots, this time only one had been able to be blocked by yet another shield. " Crane! Stop this at once! We are not your enemy! " -- her words had been the reason why she could only cast one shield. Between Cranes exchange with Techichi and her own.. she couldn't cast many in time. Though, she knew her partner could hold them off.. Except, she hadn't expected the younger looking one to take this into melee as well. Following behind her arrows, that string - pulling arm had extended off to the side, and slightly behind herself. Fingers against one another in a `` chop `` sort of way.. except that the skin itself seemed to mold together, forming into what could only be called a blade. It extended, and glimmered in the green light that had been slowly reappearing in this forest. Once, and if the two arrows had been taken care of, Tetch would now find herself face to face with a slashing blade.

"You have GOT, to be kidding me..." said, in a difficult to explain timeline. It was her, forty-seven seconds through in the Jikangai, syncing with her in the present. Her copy had been working feverishly every minute to have an incredibly large amount of Siovanui energy prepared. And now, it had come in handy. Also, most difficult to explain. Eizou was a genius. The blade was met full force with her sword, in hand, and her operating above and beyond expectancy. This, in chain of events, seemed to be what had happened first. Forty-seven seconds were applied in this one, so naturally this is how it unfolded. But broken down, the braking of air created extreme, vast amounts of pressure. And it all focused at the holds of her blackened claws. It would appear as though, she caught both arrows. Down on one knee, these arrows would seem to combust not of their own ability, but that of the components which heated the air so dangerously that it was air yes that seemed to swirl just as Sava Ai had in absorbing the first arrow; but it was also smoke. The forty seven seconds were nearly halved, the larger portion being to crush these arrows with sheer force, air, kneeling to align them through the rings of both her clutches. The second, half of that time, was spent walking the barrenness of the Jikangai over, and extending her hand. Grabbing hold of nothing. And walking back to where she had been with it. She held her empty hand before her face and opened her eyes then. Forty-seven ticked, and her sword clanged with another. She had planned for this, only starting when the blade was coming her way. A sword fight would have gone any place. But a lock would keep her in place. She looked her lifelessly as she held that sword stoutly, the weapon shaking in the lock, but none of her. "."

" .. You're strong. " Simply stated by the blonde while she fought back against the blade that held against her own. It was some sort of stalemate now, wasn't it? Keeping it at bay, but also not being able to push it any further. This only confused.. yet, caused enjoyment to come from the girl. It was written all over her face while eyelids parted once more -- only to show what they had been hiding. Everything had been gone.. except for the whiteness of her sclera. But, that was also when the sound of a pluck filled the air.. and when Techichi would find herself shot point blank at her chest. How? Wasn't her opposite hand busy? It could be done without it.. Having simply pulled it back for it's fourth shot, but commanding the weapon not to fire it. The string had stayed in it's cocked position and only fired when she finally willed it too. It wouldn't even be a matter of seconds before the arrow crashed into the form in front of her, but the words that left Liliths lips caused no sort of damage to happen. It was only a millisecond before the pluck came to be, but when she heard " Cat " fall out from the white haired woman's lips.. that's when all the fight left her. " .......... What did you say? " She stopped..and lept back. Landing away from Tetch all together while bow lowered to her side. Fingers parted, and her blade was no more. " .. Wouldn't she be upset with you? You're aggravated -- I know.. being pulled here without any warning. But, you've gotten your revenge. Anything more would be upsetting to her.. We are not your enemy. "

You're strong. "Thank you." Tetch looked her dead on, the death stare. Prepared to take it where she could, as long as she could, to the death; for Lilith. This was how she was so still. And what she had prepared was irrelevant at this point. But her neck did creak simultaneously with her swinging her sword back in a final circle and to her favored stationary. Her most capable reactive sword stance, tight in grip at her side. Her hand returned from behind her back and covered her face, tightly gripped there and soon she removed the mask; the helmet, revealing a very sweaty face. Hair clingingly so. Her right eye squinted, she panted at a very decent pace, her other eye sharp still with an brow over it showing her lack of trust. She would listen now, evidence by the de-armouring. And she would pant, until fully silencing herself when Lilith would speak next.

" .. You speak the same language as us.. Do.. do you know her? Do you know where I am..? " Crane spoke out in almost a plead. Though she didn't look her way.. it was known who she was speaking too. " .. You're in a world not of your own. The summoning circle used to bring you here was one of multi-dimensions.. " Her face grew hard at what she said next. " As for your sister.. Here, in this world.. she's.. " Lilith didn't need to finish, as Crane did so for her. " .. Dead. " The blondes body shifted while head tilted. Though she couldn't see it.. her minds eye had been on the bow she held in her very hand. " .. Reaching out now.. I can feel it. " Then, she'd address Lilith once more. " Are you a follower of my sister..? " Lilith fell silent.. Though, this would be the make or break question for them. " .. Yes, somewhat.. it could be said we share the same ideals. " Crane seemed to ponder her words.. and finally. " ... I'm in your care then. At least till I return to my own world.. if your theory is correct. ".. and Lilith would take a deep breath.

Tetch wore a rather serious face. "The council won't approve of this." finally, the hair toss. She shook to get a clearer, now two eyes on Lilith's.

" ... I'll just have to make them. " Would be the witches response.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 08:15 EST
A deep breath taken, as she looked over Crane fully. What a biblical image she was. She looked back, deep into the woods where Felipe and Nayon had ran. She seemed to drop a half foot, wearing her black clothes and nothing but them. Her bold armor completely gone. She tugged the fabric of her shirt back down from the small of her back to just over the hips of her pants. No doubt, they'd loosen to show flesh in some unavoidable circumstance, but she matched for the time being. "We can't let them get away. And what of Erika?" she looked around for her, her death seemed real enough. But Lilith knew her puppets better than she did.

" .. She's gone. Not even her existence would be left after what happened to her. " Lilith spoke gravely, as if she felt sorry for even Erika. Crane on the other hand only began to grin while pushing her hand through her own natural curled blonde locks. A toss given, allowing those strands to leave her shoulder and flow back down her back. " Of course. Those who dare try and treat me like an animal deserve such a fate. Be happy you didn't meet it, strong one. " Her hair tossing hand found her non-developed hip soon enough. Lilith downcast her eyes and gave off a slight sigh.

Sava Ai slung over her shoulder now. She hated this pose. "You see me yankin' a leash around your neck? I don't roll that way. Only on that one." sword pointed to Lilith, and then back across the back of her neck now for that popular pose, only her bare arm went across the sword now. Not, double-edged. "And only on her birthday." she begun walking, the rest of her wrist bounced in a follow-me sort of manner. Back to both these femme fatales.

" .... Now you're making me wish I fired upon you. " Quickly moving toward Techichi. Crane stood before her.. some color had returned to her eyes, and too be honest -- she could slightly make out those in front of her.. but, not by much. Shades mostly. " You humans and your confusing speech. " .. So, it seemed she was slightly innocent at least. Unable to really understand Tetch's words about.. chaining -- and only on birthdays. Lilith was semi-happy about this fact, she didn't want to play along with it. " .. But, since you seem to be with her. You must be her underling? " That's when Tetch would find Cranes bow shoved towards her.. and Liliths words soon following as she came before them as well. She'd chuckle.. but it had been rather forced. " .. Hehe.. Tetch, take her bow.. " `` take her bow or she might get mad `` was what she really wanted to say. " I'll allow you to hold it for now. My hands could be used for better things. "

Her face was red, her eyes were white, and incredibly angry. With overdrawn lines encompassing them. SHE had done all the fighting, and Lilith did all the talking, and SHE was the underling?!?! she was practically steaming. But she coordinated very well with Lilith. When she turned, her face was happy as an angel. "Oh, be my pleasure." taking the bow and looking to Lilith. "I believe they went this way, Maaster..." turning again to put her angry face back on as she continued through the woods, putting some distance between them, not much, but some; so she could probably go unnoticed with a monologue to herself " Underling... We couldn't be partners? No, getting' on my nerves already."

.. and Lilith knew, she just knew.. she wouldn't hear the end of this when everything was said and done. " Shall we go, Crane? " Offering the girl a smile even though she couldn't see it. Crane nodded her head in response " lead me. " and held out her hand so that Lilith could take it. Which she did. They'd begin walking after Techichi soon after.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 08:17 EST
Walking along, the chimes began to reach their ears. didn't really affect her so much, but she knew what it meant. nighttime was well on its way. And darkness spread far slower in here than the outside. that wasn't what stopped her. her feet came together, and she would look around, slowly, discerningly. "You see that?" she clenched her teeth. the summoned god, or Lilith could sense the sensory monks beginning their patrols. They were like giant moving boulders with staves in the distance. But more than anything, Tetch knew there'd be no getting past them " It's going to be nighttime soon." looking over her shoulder at them both now "And none of us are low energy containers." she faced them now, bow and sword over her back "We hold out for now. Til dawn or if Felipe draws some attention." looking at Crane.

" ... Hm. " Crane looked to be in a thinking process. Lilith let go of her hand during the time and had started to step closer to Techchi. Finally, the blonde spoke. " I'll allow it. We can rest here. " Lilith -- in her way of.. dare we say, sucking up. Only nodded and responded. " That sounds like a great idea, Crane.. "

She tapped the opposite shoulder with the sword and the bow together, in a sort of, ' 'Really..?' ' way. Crane was out of it enough to not catch her slang and undertones. She didn't get the leash joke, she wouldn't get this. But Lilith would. She gave her the cold shoulder rather, deadly-like "Hmph!" Walking to the side enough to designate that a good spot. Behind a very tall colony of bushes that were nestled up against a tall tree. Made quite the wonderful nook. She dropped a gemi vial and stepped on it, rubbing it out like a cigarette butt until it began to glow and grow. She stepped back to see a large turtle house construct itself, far different than the other ones. This one had a head, and looked rather old. A magnificent white mustache, bandanna, and eye patch. This was the ' ' stealth ' ' version of her signature turtle houses. And she wasted no time walking inside. Two queen-sized beds. Deep breath. "..."

.. This.. was going to be a very long night. Liliths expression dropped, as did her shoulders. " Here, Crane. " Taking the girl by her hand once more and leading her inside of the turtle house. " I guess your underling has her good points. " Crane said .... Yes -- a very long night.

Tetch had sighed, she realized this more than Lilith probably knew. Inside the turtle house, the door remained open for the time Tetch took her vest and shirt off, exposing her dark skin and black bra long enough for her to work that vest back on and adjust to the proper illusion of cleavage without that bra showing she was even wearing it. "A bed for each of you. Rest up. I'll stand watch." she slipped her arm in the bow to rest there while she rest her sword on the shoulder of the other arm. the door closing, leaving them in very fine vented light, noticeable from the interior, but not the exterior. This allowed breathing, and eyes from the inside but not out "....."

" .. This bed is rather uncomfortable. " Cranes spoke. But the fact that the bed, to her, was uncomfortable didn't seem to matter.. she had still been laying down in her own queen sized bed. Body on it's side, back toward Lilith while her head moved about in a way to nuzzle into her pillow. Lilith on the other hand hadn't moved to her bed. She instead waited.. some minutes had passed, ten or so.. Her body leaving the turtle house all together to move outside. Finding Techichi soon enough. " .. I'd feel more comfortable if you'd rest as well. " Reaching out to try and grasp at her arm. " .. Beside me.. "

Tetch was cooling off, massively. and attuning herself with her surroundings with her face to those chimes, the roof of the underground. Moonlight beaming through the opening they came down in gave extra sparkle to that chocolate blended caramel of her sugar-filled eyes when Lilith came out to see them. She seemed to take quite the while to respond. "...well if it'd make you feel more comfortable." she saw Lilith in first, a final glance to the outside before going in, vented light and vented darkness upon them. but it was very cool. She sat to the side of the bed she always slept at, between the two of them. This part at least, felt more normal. setting the bow and her sword down, she would usually lay on her side into the arms of the white witch behind her. She went committed halfway to that play tonight. "I'll stay awake. Just in case."

" .. but it'll be alright if you do find yourself falling asleep. " Lilith said softly to the shorter haired girl. Her own dull grays slowly closing while she tried her best to rest her tired body. This much activity, even though between the both of them.. Techichi had done the most. Lilith though.. had went a little too far. Her body was screaming at her right now for even the smallest bit of rest. " .. Also, I wanted to say `` thank you `` for today.. You really are my hero. "

Thankful for the distance between beds. for the time. because it was a special one. those slender fingers came to wrap about the waist of Techichi and however high they came in embrace, it was more heartfelt than anything. Tetch screwed up already, closing her eyes then at being squeezed, deservingly so because she knew how drained the mage must have been. every little effort was duly noted. She placed a hand over Lilith's own, upon her, and looked over her shoulder to see her. "You already know who mine is." Serious as a heart attack.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 10:57 EST
The dark-haired thing stirred in that bed of hers. toes brushing her ankle, and then switching. her chest inflated irregularly with her breathing, and she was waking up in a panic. Looking around, Techichi caught her breath, heavy with sweat. she flattened her palm on that exposed neckline made by her black muscle shirt and tried and calm her beating heart while she looked beside her on the bed. only a mess of sheets where the witch of Liltu had slept. She still looked on, still catching her breath, still in disbelief she was not there; hovering a hand over that space before looking around the ninja turtle house. weak daylight beginning to pour in. it was very early morning. and the only other thing that stirred in there with her was Crane, happily snoozing away in her own world on that second bed. Sava Ai and that legendary bow looked like ordinary materials, propped against the entrance there. Tetch caught her breath, planting those bare feet of hers upon the wooden floor and sauntering over to that entrance. that cracked entrance. she gave a final look back to the sleeping Crane. Yep. still sleeping. She seized up Sava Ai and stepped out into the early morning light, putting that door in the same close she had found it in before summoning her tracking skills. sword over her shoulder, she crouched and examined the ground. stood. looked left, and then right, calmly going that way "....."

" .. A little more time.. " Mumbling out from her lips. She had already spend a day on this search.. and it still hadn't been over. She told the tower she would have been back hours ago -- yet here she was. It was sad that the queen couldn't be away from her castle for too long.. not on a date that hadn't been planned out in advance. This was far from the week she spent at the beach with her other `` family ``. Weak knees kept her body from collapsing forward as she clung against that glowing spell-blade of hers. The tip stuck in the ground.. acting as some sort of prop to keep her from falling over. A small bead of sweat slicked the side of her porcelain colored face. The white witch needed to hurry.. but it was still early. Techichi should still be in her slumber, along with Crane. For now she could be alone in her moment of true weakness. Fingers curled more, their grip on the blade becoming tight enough to cause her knuckles to grow even whiter then they already where. The glow around the blade pulsed and grew brighter -- causing it to flow about her body like some sort of visible aura. Then.. as quick as it came, it left. Only except returning to the blade, it had been drawn into her body instead. The frail witch gave a shudder as her head bowed forward. Long.. white bangs hung in front of her face, shadowing it. " ........ "

"It's taking quite a toll on you..." she spoke softly from the bush behind her, now walking out from it "...Lilith."

" ... Techichi.. " Her small voice sounding out. " .. Did you rest well? " The witch leaned away from her blade. Fingers uncurled.. and upon doing so, the blade quickly sunk into the seal created below it. Lips curled into a smile to mask her feelings at the moment. Too be honest.. she felt annoyed with herself. Lilith hadn't wanted Techichi to see this.

If she wasn't disrespecting you, or disregarding you, she just might be taking you seriously. which was what she was doing here. in quite a situation that the sounds of nature would have to speak on her behalf until she had decided whether or not to actually let on her noticing her weaker state. "You shouldn't be here... you know." she had chosen serious, and then given it up all in a complete change of expression when she walked over to her and smiled. "I mean it's much warmer in the house." a fake little laugh. why not. lilith's smile seemed fabricated enough. but the Liltus mage was not stupid, so she looked up at her at that close distance. "About how much more time do you think we have..?"

" It is.. isn't it? I love the bed we share.. The one in the turtle house is uncomfortable. I didn't get much sleep. " Lilith continued to smile while a chuckle left her lips. She knew Techichi had done the same as her. Changing the subject.. was always the best -- wasn't it? But.. then she came back to it. Lilith couldn't blame her. A small shake of her head while hand rose to push back her bangs. " I have another day.. Anything longer would result in the sealing away of my blade. I can't allow myself to continue siphoning off it.. But, we should be finished soon. Erika has been dealt with, after all. " She'd begin to move. As if trying to pass by Tetch.

"There's no way around it. We'll just have to finish today then." nose to the sky, eyes closed. but she still heard Lilith, and was able to place a hand on her right shoulder, and with her passing Tetch from her left side, this effectively gated her off with her arm. "You'll be safe. I'll get you back home, I
promise.." taking that sword down from her shoulder and wrapping Lilith in embrace.

" ... What are you doing to my sisters follower, Underling! " The tiny, yet loud voice of Crane came echoing through the scene between the two lovers. Bow string drawn back.. and a bullseye placed on Techichi herself. Lilith seemed to freeze at this. " .... " and slowly her head turned to face the girl. " Crane.. sh--. "

"Heh! I hope you enjoyed that. Cause that's the last time you call me that!" devil grin while she had turned to face her all the while staying in-front of Lilith. Even when charging out at Crane. Any archer would have shot at the approaching target. A wild animal guaranteed to go down ten times out of ten. But usually they didn't carry swords. But Crane was somewhat calculating. If she fired that arrow now, even if it didn't kill Tetch, it would most certainly be acceptable for her next move, and move after that. So she fired an energy-charged beam to the unarmored woman in that muscle shirt. One that got cut right down the middle by the adept Sava Ai singing out of his sheath now upon the ground. Not good, she was still running and with a sword all prepared she leaped after Crane who all but dodged Tetch. Like a nail in wood that sword stuck into the camouflaged house with her holding it. Bare feet on the outside wall while she hung there not so much trying to get it out but looking to see where Crane had gotten before rebounding back to the ground as quick flutters of arrows volleyed into that house where she just a moment ago was. Rising from her crouch to a stand to better face Crane with her sword out.

" Stop this at once! " It was Liliths turn to use her outdoor voice. It boomed.. and echoed. Her anger would be felt within those very words as she placed herself in front of the two. Arms outstretched, as if she could somehow shield either one of them from each other. Crane kept her bow at ready for only a moment.. and then allowed her stance to come to a halt. The blonde shot a look in Techichis direction, along with a scoff. " .. An underling like you isn't worth it.. "

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 10:58 EST
A big grin played upon her face. "You let other people fight all your battles for you?" head leaned back, one hand on her hip while she held her sword down, smirking to Lilith then. a serious face. "...We had better get moving. Who knows how far Felipe's gotten. And that other woman, hmm?" she looked up in ponder, then shrugged it off quite honestly showing her absolute lack of care. "Probably dead by now. She was affected by your curse after all." the open door Crane had left was left open while she just walked right on in, her curvy little ass showing in those black leather pants. creases in material in all the right places while she looked around for her shoes and such.

" No, no.. " Crane shook her head. " My curse doesn't kill. A hunter should be the one to strike it's prey down.. The curse only makes sure they can't get away. " Then again.. Techichi had entered into the house and was probably ignoring her.. which resulted in Crane looking rather annoyed. But -- not for long. " is that so..? What an amazing skill. " Lilith spoke in her place. Cranes expression lit up as she moved closer to the white haired woman. Following beside her. " Yes.. it is. You should be amazed. " Nodding.

A sarcastic portrayal of Tetch as she collapsed to her chin and Sava Ai landing on her head all at once when the house simply ' ' poofed ' ' in her dismissing its' summons. she grunted, snatching that sword off her head angrily. "I wish Kamonbak were here, he has all of this nonsense I refuse to memorize in that head of his. Had to get into politics didn't you, bastard..." she grunted under her breath about the black odachi sword as she came to stand and toss that muscle shirt off down the trail they would not be going, leaving her in her bra while she worked that vest on, and working her breasts to look like that bra were not underneath. "Come on you two, we're going this way..." still looking down at her chest, before looking over her shoulder at Crane and Lilith. ".....I was talking to you two, by the way."

" .. of course. I'm not absent minded, you. " It seemed like the little piece of comedy had simply went over the younger ones head. But.. a small chuckle came from the white witch beside her. A few fingers placed before her lips while shoulders rose and fell with that soft shake. Crane looked up at the woman and blinked.. but took the route of dismissal over questioning. " Hold this. " Passing the bow to Lilith, who in turn took it without a second thought. Cradling it close to her chest as they continued after Techichi. " Speaking of him.. I need to see Kamonbak as well before I leave. "

Stomping her feet well into those boots of hers while Lilith and Crane approached, and they'd be well on her feet by that time they'd start walking. she hooked her arms over the sword behind her neck and walked like this with it. "KB? What in the world for?" looking back and blinking her brown eyes.

Crane took this time to take a few quick steps. Placing herself in front of Techichi and looking about her surroundings. She had decided not to speak for the time being. " Why not? He tells great stories. I'd like to listen to one. " She caught up as well. But.. the white witch kept herself about a step behind the sword wielding woman from Adenna. " Me and Seirichi could possibly listen to the story together. " A smile.

"Pshh!" she grunted to the side with her aggravated eyebrows. "Can't imagine why anyone would want to talk to that worthless butter knife. Huh?" looking on ahead of Crane thinking she saw something, she quickly dispelled that and continued about her relaxed pace. "I don't even know how we're going to find Felipe. There's really only one way out of here, but it's surely guarded by elite monks. So while that may be where she's headed, she could still be anywhere..." she procrastinated and sighed. "I don't suppose there's any magic tricks you guys have up your sleeves."

" Be nice.. " A pout, though fake, spread across her features as she looked in Techichis direction. Then, one of thought came. " .. Felipe is no longer any of my business. If you say the only thing she has to be looking forward to is monks up ahead.. let's hope they deal with her so we no longer have to.. " Lilith did have small showings of her `` darker `` side after all.. but she said such a line with the most innocent voice, it could be seen as a bit scary at how she could discard someone's life so easily. " Erika has been defeated. Liltu is no longer needed here.. But, if she chooses to attack us.. you have no need to hold back. " Closing her eyes with a soft sigh.

"Hmm it's not so simple." looking on to the road ahead now. "I know my people a little better than that. And summoning your friend here couldn't have been their only plan." she stopped the walk and gave a look around before flipping out her little book. this book was heavily loaded with spell codes, a hassle she wouldn't have to be dealing with if Kamonbak were there. But she did go to skimming quite briskly. "Enough of this... we'll go straight to the pathway out. I just want to make sure I have the correct one. Here, I think these are the coordinates." she held the cased Sava Ai out and took from him his energy, using none of her own but creative influence to access the particular command. A port did open, and she gazed on still at full mana. "...Here we are." passing through the port colored much like their surroundings. purple daylight, outdoorsy green, and chimes. when she came through on the other side, she was amidst night, and swordfighting. She instantly recognized it and called out. "Havelast!!" the sword-fighting ceased after a moment, and night began to gradually turn to day and reveal a team of monks combating a knight in a black so shining it looked wet with paint. "...the dark therapy ninja. What are you doing here?" clenching her teeth. "Keiichi? Then it is true. I was wondering when I might run into you." lowering his magnificent black swordlance for a moment. The monks still very much on-guard. "Oh, well don't mind us. We just made a wrong turn, it seems. Sorry about that!" big, big grin as she grabbed the neck of Lily's robes and pulled her and Crane back through that portal with her, closing on his side. His armored head dipped discerningly to where the portal once was. "Do what you have to. I'll hold them off." he spoke coldly, as the air seemed to shake. yes, the air. and soon, blackening once more and enveloping the unprepared monks in with the very prepared dark knight.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 10:59 EST
Felipe, running with all her might up the dangerous cliff that wrapped along the outer wall of Winterhill's inner sanctum was rapidly approaching it's cave cut-out exit when portals did open in-front of, and behind her. Above her, Tetch did drop down on her perfectly balanced and crushing her down to the ground, upon her back in a crouched position with her sword in hand. The pain on her face was evident as she struggled to look up and see that other portal, and Lilith and Crane walk out from it. It seemed, they got the destination correct this time

" .. Felipe.. is it? " Spoke Lilith as she and the blonde exited out from the portal. " .. We meet again. This time I don't think we'll have any trouble in subduing you.. Without your puppets you seem rather weak. It's a shame Techichi wants to end your life.. If I could choose, I'd allow you to run off into hiding. .. If only she could show kindness like I can. " A closing of her eyes as she gave off another sigh. Crane -- on the other hand..? Showed no interest. She looked to the pinned Felipe.. but, her attention turned off down those steps.. Eyes locking onto the sickly girl who seemed to have taken up the rear behind the trapped one. " ............... " No words. Dead silence came from her as she reached out to Lilith for her bow.. but, that's when something came inches away from her very cheek. A blur of blue came shooting out from the air just to the right of the cursed warrior.. it's target hadn't been Crane, which was her reasoning behind not moving.. no.. the target had been Techichi. " If you have any honor.. you'll fight me. " Cold voice came from the heavy breathing girl as she held her blade out in front of herself.. the six trapped souls within moaning out in anticipation.

"Traitorous dog! If it had been you then you would have been outcast just as I was!" Felipe protested, trying to seek reasoning within Techichi. "Don't be so sure, Felipe... I'd just call what happened to you, bad luck." and that's when that phantom blade would have struck out in all it's length for her, sending her to a onehanded handstand, rolling off nicely back to her feet and a slouched stance with Sava Ai low and sharp. The sheath would have just then clunked to the ground between them. "You've got a lot of balls, kid! How can I say no to that?" charging off after her with the same disregard for her personal safety that she had when charging Crane. But, like when charging Crane, she had the benefit of being who she was when doing something stupid. Making up the difference well over. A loud slash, any swordsman could have predicted, so naturally Nayon went with it falling back in a dodge and into a run. pain on her face and worry that Techichi might take the bait, ' ' I have to separate them. ' ' she thought, forcing all that much energy out of herself to evade Techichi further. It just wasn't working. She had to swing that blade of hers. And one phantom blue blade-shaped soul after the other they barreled into the ground and up along the wall engulfing Tetch and her charge in clouds of dirt. Clouds she'd soon be leaping out from unharmed and into her next attack. The distance between the two groups now rather large, and growing. Felipe slowly began to rise, addressing Lilith and Crane now. "You can never know what it was like. First betrayed by my people... now hunted by them. Techichi was wise to come after me, because... I PLAN TO DESTROY ADENNA!!" Felipe yelled ripping open her blouse to expose a massively tattooed body, all of which began to glow when she crushed a gemi vial against her own skin. Mixing with her blood, and the liquid magic, and the inscription itself, a rift did open and large tower stones began to pour through connected as part of a castle tower. And then did the giant blue dragon shove a muzzle in, and expand the rift to accommodate himself and let out a massive roar. It's red eyes, its powerful armored scales. It was without a doubt kuroji ryuu, the bridge dragon and isle guardian.

" ............ Crane. Your bow.. but, using it would not be advised.. " The blonde look confused as she took her bow.. and then found a hand pushing her back behind the white haired woman. Her lips curled to form a protest, but she was soon enough stopped by the action that took place next. bent wrist.. fingers curled in the shape of some sort of `` claw ``.. Lilith closed her eyes and mumbled something in one breath.. The words themselves reeked of magical energy, and etched across the air in front of her. With a flash -- a seal had been created before her.. and shooting out from it would be a figure. Landing in a crouched position the male form spoke. " .. Tsk.. callin' me so soon? How borin'.. " Tap, tap, tap went that over-sized blade against his shoulder. " .. I'ma need Salamanda' for this.. Approved? " Muscular form with only a kilt about his waste to hide his shame.. this was one of Liliths strongest puppets.. Lower lip extended itself to let out a quick breath to blow at his messy blonde locks. " .. Gotcha'. " No words needed as he felt the burning rage of salamander fill his body.. and with a smirk, he faced the dragon. " .. You betta' make this worth my wild.. I don't fight just anybody! " His body slouched forward. Blade resting now against his spine as he yelled out at the Dragon.. Only to get a roar in response. " .. Hehehe..! " Felipe wouldn't be left on her own. No.. she'd have Lilith to deal with. The white witch looked her way with a cold stare while her hand rose up once again. A ball of magical energy forming within her curled fingers.. and then? A blast. Felipe could recognize this from her training with Erika.. but would that training even matter? When a blast from Erika could be considered a bird in flight.. one from Lilith was a rocket. The beam itself broke apart and turned into many. As the rain of beams came, Lilith simply pushed herself back to keep distance between the both of them. Crane needed to move.. she was told to keep out of this.. and? She'd allow it. Underlings fighting for her was nothing new. So, upon finding a seat to place her small rump down onto -- she'd watch the show.

"huh? Kuroji ryuu..." Tetch spoke looking back in disbelief when Nayon lashed out her blades spiraling around and tightening suddenly to send Sava Ai spinning out of her grasp and impaling the ground. While realizing this Nayon had appeared in her face with an explosive rite. "I'm your opponent, remember!" much to Tetch's shock when they both became engulfed in the blast. Nayon was seen retreating from it moments later, coughing and barely able to keep her balance. Looking back she allowed her eyes to relax in that look she took. "There's no way she could have survived that. There's no--" her eyes shot open seeing a smiling face of evil dashing out of that smoke and snatching up that sword so fast it only spoke volumes of the anticipation within her. "You're going to have to do better than that!" Tetch yelled, swinging down into the strained guard of Nayon. The senior of the two won the test of might and sent Nayon back with a sword-push off her own. "Do not underestimate the strength of the souls that went into this blade. Each more powerful than the last. And they have never fought harder than they do now for the peace they will receive when I no longer have to call upon them. And most importantly, don't underestimate me..." Nayon held out her sword at Techichi, who only shrugged. "Everyone always says that, ' Don't underestimate me! ', frankly I'm sick of it. You want our swords to do the talking? Okay." golden lightning from Sava Ai spent from his magnificent mana pool. Making her battle down the hill there with Nayon look far more serious than it actually was, and make the dragon look far more menacing... One such, bolt of lighting squiggled out in such a way Nayon's weakening eyes were fortunate enough to distinguish it as not a lightning strike, but an ever approaching swing of a sword. She narrowly got away with her life, down on the ground and seeing it soar over here. And Tetch not even holding it! No, back where she stood she knew the one command she would never need to write down. the yuuetsu instant summons. Sava Ai instantly grew miraculously so into a giant impairing obstacle upon the fallen Nayon in that color of unhealthy silver. Tetch could be heard approaching while she stepped her foot down upon the blade and applied pressure to the face of it that held her pinned. Nayon took the time to behold this woman, her perfect black locks blowing in the gust of the bridge dragon's wings. her skin and outfit unscathed, however sloppy upon her, like that exposed bellybutton she didn't seem to care about. "...I-I hate you. Why can't you just let us leave?" Tetch looked down upon her like she was law and executioner together. "You use these swords as well, so you'll figure out when you're older, exactly why I can't." looking into her empty hand, before making a fist all of a sudden.

Felipe had shielded her face with her arms so suddenly when the barrage hit. And in the commotion of Lilith's own destructive force she had decided to speak out before being visibly seen as okay. "Did you really think I would go down so easily? Don't forget exactly who it was that trained me, mage..." she called out to Lilith in the presence of a net before of life-threads, almost invisible, in fact were invisible but were now clearly shown as they glowed full of the magic that Lilith had injected into them, meant to kill the woman she shot it out. And tracing those lines out off the cliff and into the tall tree facing them, two extremely developed Felipe puppets coughed up blood while holding those strings and threads to that net that absorbed and ate all its force. Collapsing down to the tree limb and one off the tree entirely, the real Felipe saw the moment true to sacrifice her last puppet upon the bridge dragon himself. It raced over at blinding speeds, and climbed into his mouth or close to it. Kuroji ryuu almost too kindly obliged the presumed human, eating the Erika puppet with a tight grip around her torso where she vomited blood profusely, but still smiled through it all. Because her mission was accomplished. Inside the belly of the dragon, she would detonate herself, much like her previous models detonated on Techichi. Filling the dragon up with the energy not unlike how he had been filled before, anything that would kill him would just be spent out in rage until he would be normal again, and for Felipe, this worked entirely into her plans. " Yes! Now destroy the Winterhill underground! Bring down it's roof! And next, ADENNA!" Felipe yelled to the soon-in-flight dragon, blasting heated energy beams upon the wall and out into the huge span of air surrounding him.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 10:59 EST
" .. Interesting. " Left Lilith.. and that would be it. So -- she fueled the womans own attack? It was truly a sight to see when something of hers could be used against her. Then again, she was getting a lot of that over the past day or so. Distance, it was the name of her game. Even while Felipe seemed to be busy with sending puppets to their doom, Lilith had taken the time to think of her next move. The ground under Felipe would begin to change as a rolling wave of light came washing over it. Easy enough, she'd lose her footing as the once solid ground became murky. Sucking in whatever it came into contact with like some sort of swamp land. This was simply a tactic used to slow her foe down while Lilith once more dove into the knowledge written into her body. Finding what she needed in an instance and then giving up the needed energy to perform such an action.. and it wouldn't be for her benefit in the fight against Felipe either. No, this spell had allowed her puppet the ability to create a chain out of Salamander itself. It came attaching itself to the base of his hilt.. and wrapped about his free hand. This only made the puppet smirk wildly as he threw out his blade and began whipping his opposite arm about to spin it above him in a large circle. Spin.. spin.. spin. Watching as the dragon rose into the air and crushing into the ceiling above. Spin.. spin.. spin.. Lilith, after casting the approval spell, had already once more been doing another. This time -- for herself. Energy wouldn't be used like before.. who needed beams when materializing ice could be so much better? Large shards manifesting themselves out and into the open as if a light switch had been turned off.. and with a `` bored `` wave of her hand, they'd be sent forward and broke apart into large spear-like pieces that skewered the very ground it stabbed into.. and quickly froze whatever stood in it's way. As this had been going on, the blade from the kilt wearing puppet had finally been thrown up and into the air. It rose.. curved, and fell.. right over the dragons neck. A neck it soon began to wrap about at blinding speed before the blade itself stabbed into the poor creatures back. Then? A tug.. a hard one. One that would defy any human laws. How such a small creature could keep his footing while such a large beast tried to continue his rise onto the air? It just couldn't happen! But.. it was. A teeth gritting, shit eating grin written all over his features as he did it too. Leg stepped back, and with a yell he tugged back -- hard. " HURRY AND FALL ALREADY! "

"Hurry and do it." Nayon beckoned, and Tetch just drew back that fist in charge. She smashed it down and sent dust flying from her two sides in a quick little quake and from a loud clap hands could not make echo so profoundly in the wild. Techichi didn't like the feel of that punch. Not fleshy enough, not bone-crunching enough. No, it just felt like ground. Sure enough, it had been. Nayon held onto the side of a tree to activate three seals she had waited there, traps. One seal for that particular tree and two others to resonate with the two corresponding trees from it. The all of them, producing puppets from bark-like chambers. Coffins of the very trees themselves. And when they opened, Tetch's lips parted. It was Old Vic, and Rahea, and a very legendary looking man, but not one she made any sense out of. But was intimidated somewhat by more than the others. "Do you recognize them, Techichi? Your beloved life teachers... Ninja academy leader Rahea, and knight commander Old Vic... And I'm sure this one here does not need any introduction." a sly smile appeared upon her lips while Tetch did indeed draw a blank. "Umm... maybe you could help me out with that last one?" pointing to the unidentified one. And Nayon seemed to get a little upset. "You moron do you mean to tell me you don't recognize your own father! The great ruler, peace-keeper, and king of Adenna!" pointing out to the motionless puppet. And that got Tetch rolling. "THAT is supposed to be Daichi?!" laughing hysterically. Clearly neither Erika nor Felipe had any interpretation of what Daichi had actually looked like, so hey, all the funnier. and this infuriated Nayon, but she regained her composure rather quickly. "Fine, see for yourself what they're capable of..." a bored hand of her own in sending the puppets off after her. Tetch did come to stand rather coolly in the energizing sound that her sword emitted in shrinking back down in a glow to his normal size. This in and about the time the bridge dragon crashed down into the trees. A look on its snout that showed confusion in why it was unable to move freely, much less crash into that ceiling like it was aiming. just a lift would be all it would take to disturb the fragile balance of snow up above, and then send it lowering back down with the dragon and pouring into the warmth and nature not unlike a funnel that just kept pouring snow down until the hole was filled. But Lilith's kilt-wearing puppet did stop that. Down for the time-being, it did flail and continue to disperse excess energy from its mouth in powerful and dangerous blast waves. The roof was intact still, but the walls were taking a beating by this dragon. And to make matters worse, it had snuck its tail around that salamander chain, and in quick jerking motion did try to send its captor flying its' way there. A blast in its throat charging for him. Felipe would smile then, to Lilith. Presenting a wrapped spherical device to her before unwrapping it and revealing in all its blue ice glory. "Do you know what this is, mage? One of Erika's ace in the holes. Any magic you use will now redirect solely here..." taking the time to smile. "Suddenly the playing field's a whole lot more level, isn't it..." drawing a very frightening looking sword, in that it was so crooked and skinny. it looked like it was ill, how bent and crooked it was. and you could tell she just wanted to stick her with it and spackle those white robes of hers, red.

" .. Tsk..! " A battle raged between the two summoned beasts.. and the humanoid one kept that tail at bay with another tug.. but, it did cause him to slide a few inches. The Dragon must of felt this.. which was why it dropped it's weight of it's tail, causing the puppet to take a few hurried steps back before he toppled over.. and then? Came another, which finally brought him off of his feet and into the air. That didn't matter much.. it seemed he rather enjoyed it as he tugged down onto the chain as well to redirect his movements in mid air. Jetting down onto the beast from above and landing hard onto the back of it's neck. Tug, wrap.. tug. " C'moooon! Show a little class! You're fighting me, be happy! " Taking hold of his blade, he'd begin twisting it.. causing a howl of pain to unleash from the downed dragon. Down -- but far from out though. With the pain came the lashing out. Tugging hard onto the chain. Some people ride bulls.. well, he'd have to do with a Dragon. " Once a thief, always a thief. Now.. what poor mage did Erika have to kill to get a hold of such an item? " Lilith.. seemed to not give any care to the fact that her magic would simply be redirected to the orb held by Felipe. She only pulled back her hand and ceased casting spells. " .. You're drawing me into a battle of strength, are you not? .. You are not the first to try. " With a flash of light a blade would appear. No.. not the beautiful one Techichi and the council had seen before. No -- it looked dull, chipped. A normal blade by any standards, yet the way she held it seemed like it was some sort of holy relic. She took care in the way she brought it up.. pointing it's broken tip in Felipes direction. " ... You'll have to come to me. "

"It is time to come home Techichi." Rahea said. "Yes stop this foolishness." Old Vic said, making her smile. "Gosh, you two are worse than I remember..." smirking as she flipped her sword up at them. But the Daichi puppet was all in her face before she could even realize. When she had realized, he would have stabbed his whole arm down that blade of hers, like he was punching it head on. And then, with an arm full of sword, the skin of it blew off revealing intricate puppet parts all unwinding and expanding to come back down harder and stronger. Locking sounds, that blade was not going ANYWHERE. Tetch punched him with incredible anger at that nasty trick, lowering his head enough for her leg to swing up and hold onto the side of his ear, crushing that non-Daichi head into the ground. A headless Daichi puppet, but at least it was reunited with the correct sword. Rahea and Old Vic moved next. But she was more aware and cautious this time, punching out to effectively blow Rahea up had he not miraculously displayed a similar speed, bobbing out of the path and wrapping her extended arm in a hold while Old Vic quickly snuck behind her and placed her into an arm lock. Clenching her teeth she squirmed to find a way out when Nayon began applauding in very slow claps. "So that is the extent of my mothers' tormentor. I have to say, I wish you'd have put up more of a fight." walking over to her, now smiling. "Do you think you've got me, is that it?" Nayon sighed, holding onto her wounded shoulder. "Not exactly." and Tetch did smirk. "You're smarter than I thought." instantly armoring up in the Tamujin suit, a suit that ate, chomped off Rahea's hands completely when those gauntlets spread down and armored her. But Old Vic seemed to be a completely different sort of puppet. His grasp just expanded when she expanded, "Do you like my Vic puppet, Techichi? My mother thought you might. Since he was such a depleting figure in your youth she saw it fitting to build him similarly with an ability to sap natural and life energy. You're probably feeling weaker as we speak." Nayon said, now standing beside her wounded Rahea puppet. Indeed, Tetch felt weaker. and the most affected she had felt since beginning this whole mission. that of course bought the puppet a black helmeted look back at that face. "That's quite a thirst you have. I hope for your sake you have a lot of room." the depleting blue air around her soon turned red with her raw siovanui energy. fueling Vic's muscles and his entire construct. Nayon looked on in fear as even the emotionless puppet seemed to moan out in pain at the overflow until he indeed exploded behind a perfectly standing Techichi, and the unhealthy silver transformed Sava Ai, burst from the safe inside that puppet arm. She slowly reached to pick it up as that red energy began to disappear, but she remained armored. Wondering the condition she was in, Nayon soon saw the Rahea puppet decapitated before even his special design could have been described. And then, she was charging after Nayon. All the souls of that blade replicated into blade extensions of her unique sword and moved frantically to injure Techichi who had deflected them all and bobbed and weaved inside to Nayon's space. She slashed out at that special sword of hers and it disarmed her, and next three prominent and one not-so prominent arrow-shaped cut marks showed on a rapidly swelling bruise to her face where Techichi's gauntleted knuckles came across her face. On the floor, she looked up at Techichi with terror in her eyes. Empty inside, because the armored figure before her also read empty, emotionless. Pointing her sword down at her. "Any other surprises?"

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 11:00 EST
She had it all.. this witch had no way of defending against her! The orb was enough to take care of any magic that came her way... and now she had forced her into melee combat! A grin spread across Felipes face as she dashed forward with blinding speed. Lilith only stood in place with her one arm outstretched. The same one arm that held onto the decrepit blade. Closer, closer the distance between them would be broken. A slash.. downward, one she obviously thought the woman would block with her own blade.. but it never came. Crooked blade ripped into her very flesh while a look of fright came over Liliths face. Blood erupted while the sick sound of muscle ripping and bone breaking came to pass. When the slash had been over.. that sickly blade dug deep enough into the witch to make a new home for itself -- through her shoulder and right on down into her chest. " HA! WHAT?! IT'S LIKE YOU WANTED TO DIE! " Pride, arrogance. It flooded out like a river from the shorter woman as she tugged at the blade to pull it free.. but, it wouldn't. The blood itself had dried and crystalized around the blade.. and the same could be said for large amount that now adorn Felipes body. She froze in fear and realization as to what really happened.. it was a trap. " .. You like playing with puppets.. You forget who you're fighting. " Lilith spoke.. but, it wasn't the Lilith who she had just cleaved almost in two.. it was the one who now stood behind her. " .... Haha.. " The white witch closed her eyes. " .. Your orb can't protect you from this.. I told you -- I'd go physical.. " Before the woman could respond. she'd be incased inside a blood red crystal. Pluck.. the blade had been retrieved from the puppets clutches. Held with only her index, middle, and thumb.. she'd wield the weapon as if it was a wand. " .................. " She pushed it forward, slowly. It entered into the crystal as if it was a knife cutting through butter. Slowly.. it came closer, and closer.. but -- she'd stop it right before it could touch her forehead. " ..... I know you can hear.. I .. am not like Techichi. " She'd release the blade, causing it to shatter and disappear. " .. You'll be taken back to Adenna. "

Felipe looked on in shock, or so she did in her mind. Nayon wore a similar face when Techichi marched over and held Sava Ai's tip against her neck. "...You Lose." moving that sword tip to aim at her forehead where Sava Ai shot a gunshot of an electrical discharge into her head, rattling her brain and rolling her eyes back and sending her to the ground unconscious for quite the spell. Sheathed in that case that was in no way strapped onto her person so she just carried it while she walked with Nayon over her shoulder, back to Lilith and coming to a halt to witness her red crystalized prisoner and the ensuing dragon wrestling match. "Really? You sent out that one?" looking over to the kilt-wearing puppet and then over Lilith to Crane and back. ".................. Hmmm." looking over the dragon. "Do you think you can get him back where he belongs?"

" .. They have a striking similarity. " Looking between Nayon and Felipe.. " Did you learn of who she is during your conflict? " A questionable look given to Techichi before passing her by. She'd listen for the womans words as she headed to the dragon.. who now had a nice flaming chain wrapped about it's maw. It could no longer roar.. but that didn't stop it from growling. Liliths lips curled into a soft smile as she held her hands out. She could feel it.. being this close to the surface, she could use the full power of her magic. Fingers outstretched and strained while a large seal appeared under the dragon. Her eyes closed.. and then, the kilt wearing man finally released those chains and jumped away. Not even a roar would be heard as the dragon quickly phased out from their vision -- to be sent back to where it belonged. Blonde haired puppet came to land next to Techichi.. and gave a sneer. " .. Tsk.. Next time, you fight the dragon. I'd like bein' the one holding onto a girl in the end.. " Stabbing the blade into the ground and closing his eyes.. his form froze into one of stone instantly before shattering into sparkling dust.

"Pfft, -- " Tetch looked back to Lilith. "Should have kept him here... if he wants to carry her so bad it's not like I care. And nope! can't think of anything she said. was mostly smack talk. She is just a kid though. But we do need to get them back to Adenna. There are healers there." Techichi said, before hearing sounds in the woods. She turned around quickly. "We're surrounded." looking this way and that before the boulder-sized elite monks came into view. They had formed the Winterhill Zodiac diagram which both makes up the constellation products that are the solutions to the various boulder-sliding puzzles the examiners at Winterhill take, and the basis for all spiritual illusion techniques their people know. Techichi was weak of mind to such illusion techniques. such was the case when Rahea focused on one while Old Vic vacated her from Adenna. This was many times harder since many of them were casting it upon her mind in unison. While she was out of it, six of them would have rushed Lilith with the intent of only getting one to hold a knife against her throat. And Tetch would come to when they'd let her mind go to see this outcome. Give her free will, rather than attack her or start the attacks. They knew far too well both these women were better to be reasoned with first. "What do you want?" Tetch asked. "We will take you prisoner, and bargain your lives in favor of a new peace treaty." the monk said, Tetch responded shocked. "Peace treaty?! Our nations are fine! They always have been! It is not Adenna you need to concern yourself with, it is the espionage of these two we have captured..." she gestured to them, but the monk reaffirmed his knife on Lilith's throat. "We saw the monster of Adenna. And recognize you both as capable of pulling off this amazing summons. And since Adenna is preparing for war with us, we have to regard this as the first strike." the monk said, and Tetch went wide-eyed again. "...........war?" just as Havelast burst down from the canopy. he was so full of mass in that black suit of armor, that everything around him shook BUT him. Tetch then saw that the perfect time to free her partner's neck of that knife, shoving the thug's arm up high and singlehandedly pushing him onto his ass with a push from the chest, tugging Lilith over to her protection. Havelast regarded them. "Techichi, there is no time. You must get to Adenna and stop Old Vic's war raid. Confirm your safety, ........and the truth. I'll hold them off." .he muttered, filling with even more black. a black that soon began to spread and engulf them and the knights. Rendering them all free of mind altercations. Tetch's armored hands traced Lilith's body up to her cheeks since she could not address her with sight. she spoke softly. "Lilith... can you get us to Adenna?"

" It's already done.. " When her voice met Techichis ear.. it was the truth. They'd be back in Adenna before the womans mind could even grasp the idea. All five of them. The only thing that remained would have been the orb that Felipe once held.. Lilith would open her eyes -- the guardens revealed before her as she took in a deep breath. Her ample chest rising and falling while sigh escaped from her lips. Crane.. on the other hand -- seemed thrilled. She had already broken away from the rest of them and began running through the garden. Looking over the flowers and what not. Bow placed down onto the ground as she bent at her knees. Reaching out with her right hand to gather a few of those flowers. " Hm.. hm.. "

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 11:24 EST
"...Good Luck." Havelast muttered before addressing all these monks that had trumped them earlier. A wave of his fingers and he engulfed them all in the dark therapy haze. From overlooking Winterhill, there was a dome of black shadow obviously encasing them. The least of the many problems going on throughout the area. Back in Adenna Tetch's hand fell from Lilith's shoulder, behind her. So to take of her helmet she could look around at the barren city. Her caramel-colored eyes drank in the emptiness, the emptiness that could only mean one thing. "We're on war alert. How did Vic's ruling get passed?" she observed the flower-picking Crane while she thought before looking back to Lilith. "They're at the border, they must be. We have to get there. It's right over the mountain, there." her other hand found Lilith's other should as she came up and pointed out. "They're preparing to attack. this cannot happen. They have to see who really did this before it's too late. You know what we gotta do. What do you say baby?"

" .. I stated this was Liltus business.. Be sure to remind me to give Vic a tongue lashing once this is all over. " Annoyance heard in her voice. She didn't believe this would have gotten so out of hand.. But, she could once more only blame herself for the failure of the mission all together. Then again.. it wasn't so much of a failure. The puppet turned witch; Erika.. was now gone.. and the creatures from ages past that she had summoned was now safe with them. " .. Crane. Would you allow us to leave you here.. for now? " Asking for permission -- after all, she was playing into the girls line of thought. The blonde looked up from her flower picking and blinked in their direction.. all before casually giving them a shoo-shoo motion of her hand. " I expect you to return as soon as possible. " Her attention now brought back to the flowers as she kneeled once more. Reaching out with her gathering hand to pluck yet another free from the ground. " Over the mountain.. Hm? " Lilith looked to Tetch.. and then in the direction she had pointed. With that, she'd squeeze the others hand and they'd once more be pulled through the void instantly. As soon as Tetch's mind was able to grasp the change in location -- she'd see that they'd be close by the border.

"...." Bl?st stayed knelt to his behemal sword, overlooking the snow-capped span of Winterhill. Snow that was just beginning to come unto their very position. The whole Adennian army, motionless in the snow facing the dozens of highly ordained monks in the distance from each their own temple, even more still and in much harder snowfall. They had always been recognized as powerful this way, because nothing else could survive in their colds. "WARRIORS!! Today we protect the lives of our children, their future and ours. We will not let the massacre of our treaty officers go with a blind eye." old Vic spread the inspiration, garbed in his full war decorations. Rahea was there as well, also uniformed for battle, but he was far more silent than usual. You could tell he was against fighting unless absolutely necessary. "Now men. TO WARR!!" he rose his blunt claymore to the skies and it was accompanied with thousands more. This was when, Techichi and Lilith phased in magnificent sound and lighting right before them. ".........." Techichi sprinted just a few steps, turning full circle and back, dropping her helmet. "Just WHAT in Solucun's name is going on out here?!" Rahea spoke up. "It's too late, Keiichi. Whatever you could have found out, we have already lost the lives of our six-man peace team sent to Winterhill. We saw the monks do it ourselves."

Tetch was frozen, wanting to clench her fists but found her still fingers unable to do so. Vic walked up beside her and leaned in close. "We did it your way, we see how good that's done us." he whispered before standing back firm and walking, lion-like stalkerish between her and Lilith, facing Lilith. "...And You." deep and bolded. "Vic!" Rahea called out to him. "NO! --, this is all her fault. None of this would have ever happened if it weren't for you." a sword was drawn and Sava Ai poked on the back of Vic's armored neck. "If you have business with my wife, you take it up with me." thousands of others swords were drawn at that moment.

" I suggest you lower your weapon.. the both of you. " Spoken calmly as she kept her eyes closed to the situation. Too be honest, she seemed more interested in the fact that the weather had been changed on her once more.. a shiver ran up her spine while a manifestation of magic once more over took her. Over her shoulders came that fur-coat once more. " I told you this is Liltu business.. but you decided that war would be the better option. I do not remember asking you to send a.. `` peace team `` in after us. " Opening her eyes to look at the giant of a man before her. Yes, she even needed to tilt her head back to do so. " You acted too early.. I blame you for their deaths. "

"Who are YOU to change the way Adenna has always done things!! We have always had peace negotiations with Winterhill in the past. And their monks had never slaughtered our emissaries in cold blood like they have now." Vic said with more confidence then he ever had before on this issue. Rahea dipped his head. Vic was this way, because Rahea knew he was right. "But LOOK! These are the ones responsible! Missing sword, Felipe. And her accomplice. And another. Erika." her voice lowered. "She's dead." holding Nayon up by the clench of her clothes at the back so they could see her. "This is no longer the issue. They broke the order. This is now Adenna business." Old Vic looked to Lilith one more time before turning to Tetch. "Lower your swords, blades and templars!!" addressing Rahea's blade order, and Vic's own knighthood class. "I will not have another Adennian lost, especially by our own." he walked past Techichi to his front lines. Tetch had no choice but to sigh, and lower her sword, looking back to Lilith with that sort of not knowing what to do look. "Not so fast, Victor. You'd be awfully upset if a couple of assailants were able to provoke war between these nations." a familiar voice said from amongst the ranks. "Who was that?! Speak up! Who's amongst my ranks with such big talk?" Vic said looking to where it had come from. A facially obscured troop from Rahea's house garbed in the ninja-wear rose his hand. "If you go to war, now. You'll be sorry as you are wrong." poof! the clothes, and human body of this soldier disappeared, and a black bandana-tied Kamonbak floated before them all.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-01-02 11:24 EST
" Hmph.. " All before a chuckle fell past her lips. The uncloaking of Kamonbak.. she found it amusing. Even with a war about to break loose -- with her standing almost in the middle of it.. the white witch did find it nice she could discover a bit of humor in all of this. " This is Adenna business after all.. it would be best for someone of Adenna to speak against it. " Lilith would leave it at that as she stepped away. Grasping onto the fur coat and hugging it closer to herself as she stood closer to Techichi.

Techichi was shocked to see that Kamonbak was not only back from political campaigning, but that he was amongst them. But she was not so shocked that she would not begin reaching out her hand low for Lilith. For her to be closer. For comfort, and also to be aware of her safety. "I've been deep undercover until now, and now that I know Techichi and the Liltu Queen are safe, I can intervene. The Adennians slaughtered in the night were not killed by Winterhill monks. For this I am certain, because their body patterns read different by me than their monks, or even any other human." he had floated to the opening lane in the formation where Vic and the others were. "So what are you saying?" Rahea wanted to know this, because if he could prove this claim wrong, then they had made a big mistake moving towards war. "What I am saying, is they were not human. Thus they were not Winterhill monks. They read like nothing I had ever seen... except for puppets." Kamonbak stated coolly. "This changes everything."

Rahea had been waiting, and wanting to say. "This changes NOTHING! I saw them. They were as real as you and me." Vic defended. "As real as I was as one of your men just a moment ago? You are easy to fool, Victor. And Erika played this to her advantage. Even in our custody now, if you give that order, then she will win. And you'll change the course of our lives forever." Kamonbak said, leaving Vic to look up to the clouds for a moment. He did come back down to the planet, but only after some difficult thought had to be overcome. ".....SOLDIERS!! -- These hours have been tough. But I know what steps have to be made to protect our city... I don't know what those before me would do in this situation. But I do know what they have done. Adenna... will not go to war." everyone cheered.

Lilith rose her hand, the one that had been grasping onto Techichis own. Why? She she could clap as everyone cheered. Though it only lasted a few seconds before she allowed her arms to drop one more. Crisis averted.. and a bit of weight lifted off from the witches shoulders. To think Erika could of almost staged such an event to start a war.. Even in her death, she could of continued with her revenge. But for now -- everything seemed to have corrected itself. She let out a small sigh before turning her eyes to the woman beside her. " .. I take it everything is finished here? Returning to the warmth would be nice. " A soft smile adorn her features.. she really did feel a bit too cold.

She smiled her beautiful whites to Kamonbak, then Rahea. the tenseness in Techichi's muscles were able to drop, a charged and prepared power released and the Tamujin suit dropped to her tight little black leather getup. She turned to Lilith there in the eye of the storm. The loud cheering was not so loud in the center as it might have been on the outside. Particularly when Vic hurled the white-tapered truce sword up into the air and out to the monks. Techichi smiled that one that only Lilith could summon. "Lilith saves the day again." backing her into a corner, but Lilith showed no signs of avoiding her cat and mouse like approach. After a certain proximity she became much less reckless, calmed her breathing, and looked at her with more flirty gazes. "I'm glad the fighting's done. Now I can take you on." she could have moved in time after time, looking on them from the outside. But no, they were saying something. Every time Tetch seemed to go in for the kiss, she stopped to smile that sexy smile and say something else back to her. Something unheard from the average onlooking soldier. Kamonbak saw they needed this just as much as he realized their time together was always brief as it is. The soldiers respected them enough to not gawk, especially when peace was upon them. Surely they were more respectful than that. But it all went out the window when Lilith, or Tetch, must have said just the right thing. Because Tetch didn't say anything else, she just moved in smiling and pressed her lips against Lilith's pillowy soft pink lips, her dark skin against her paleness, and the cheering grew considerably.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-09-01 03:07 EST
( It took time but the rest of the log was found! )

Mass applause fills the streets and outer fields of Adenna. The white mage and retired Tamujin received particular praise when they were noticed returning with the troops and generals. Havelast paved a path with his incessant swordlance and it was Rahea that greeted them at the fountain. A hand in greeting to Lilith of Liltu, Techichi, and Havelast was extended silencing the city. "Welcome back, brothers and sisters. A terrible war has been avoided today. And you are who we've found to thank for that. Our children's future is protected and ensured for another day. And there is nothing more precious than that." Techichi knew this was not a moment for them to speak, but little did that stop her from elbowing Lilith's arm at the mention of children. "A mighty foe has been averted today. But more importantly, an alliance is sustained between us and Winterhill." Applause. "And their elder would like to say a few words."

He stepped aside, revealing the skinny and winter-clad elder who was indistinguishable if his eyes were open or not, such was his age. He held his cane with both hands before he spoke. "It is embarrassing sometimes how we can be made to turn upon one another. But remarkably it took the caring hearts of two lovers to look past our declarations of war, and infiltrate our sacred Winterhill underground, and realize what they had to do for our childrens' future. And their childrens' children." He seemed winded, and took this time while everyone nodded in understanding. Tetch? She had looked to Lilith with a very sad expression, biting her lower lip. But the old man did continue. "When I developed the body stillness technique, I had such devilry in mind for it to defend against. And I had nearly forgotten the importance of power that our foes can sometimes hold. For that awakening, I am indebted to you. Lilith of Liltu, Keiichi of Adenna, and Havelast of Adenna, you are hereby honorary citizens and protectors of Winterhill." Much applause, and it even took a moment for Rahea to be able to calm them back down to speak once more. "Now concerns the matter of this high powered summon." Rahea did look to Crane, innocently picking flowers, before looking back specifically and possibly over-suspicious of Lilith and Tetch.

The witch in white spoke not even once as she stood in place beside Techichi. Expression on her face was calm, but at the same time unreadable. She was truly in her.. `` royal `` state at the moment. Though, that was till the question of what to do with the high powered summon came into conversation.. Her expression faltered, her lips curled gently into a small frown as she looked to the girl.. who seemed to be rather oblivious. In truth, Crane just didn't exactly care about what was going on. High Powered Summon wasn't exactly a title she had been given, or given herself. So she disregarded it without a second thought on the matter. The blonde continued to keep her crouched position next to the flower bed. Plucking a few more while wrapping the stems about to form something.. Lilith couldn't help but speak up then. "... I think it would be best, for now, that Crane stays in the care of Adenna.. Leaving her to her own devices would be.. dangerous.. and, I cannot bring her to Liltu." Her sad expression no longer read on her features. It shifted once more to her stern look.

Tetch sought out her meaning in that, looking at her while fixing both a shoulder-fallen strap to her muscle shirt and finger-combing some of her black locks from obscuring her caramel-colored eyes. Rahea on the other hand, was seriously contemplating it. "..." but before he could speak on it, one of Adenna's few other assigned swords spoke up. "Ever since that white mage showed up, our fair city has had to face unnecessary foes. Foes too powerful to be allowed to come again! You cannot expect us to keep that around our women and children!" Blast pointed angrily, lashing out at Crane. Rahea, again, prepared to speak, but Techichi beat him to it. "You mean our men and children, Blast? If you have forgotten the place of men in Adenna, I would be happy to give you a history lesson." She approached him, silence, and then laughter when Tetch stopped approaching him to grin because he she had crossed his line where he did begin to back away from her. "That's what I thought." -- "Techichi! That is enough. Blast, do you have some objection to how Vic and I govern this city?" -- "No, I do not. But if you let that monster walk amongst our, people --" Glaring at Tetch, who had her arms crossed in approval. " --then I will. She is far too powerful, you know this."

Rahea only smiled, looking to Lilith. "I do not believe the Liltus mage would have suggested something life-threatening to us, Blast. And I am well aware of her power. But I am also aware that we must come to trust one another. If we cannot, we are not so different from our foes, are we?" Rahea picked a flower, before offering it to Crane.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-09-01 03:09 EST
Lilith had no reason to exchange words with this Blast fellow. Techichi.. she was too quick to take her place. A soft smile appearing on plush lips while eyes closed for the moment. "I trust Adenna enough to care for her.. She may be powerful.. but, she's still only a child.." A `` child `` who looked to Rahea with a raised eyebrow. She took the offered flower, and quickly -- yet carefully, began working back on her project. Then, she'd stand herself up. Holding the thing she had been spending her time making at the man. "Here." What exactly was she handing him? A bouquet made of flowers. " Let's be friends. " Lilith seemed to smirk gently, though she made sure to bow her head as she did so. What happened to the brat back on winterhill? It seemed her personality took a turn for the better. Then again.. Lilith heard stories of how her family had been rather good at tricking others.. She only wondered how Tetch would take it.

"Welcome to Adenna, Crane!" Rahea was a brilliant, smiling man. And when he accepted the flowers with that happiness of his, the entire city save one swordsman burst into applause. Applause Rahea cast out to continue devoting friendly and very symbolic attention to Crane. And then he did turn to address and wave to his people with the bouquet. Old Vic there smiling by the fountain, holding his elbows, surprised that his old friend could come up with such peaceful solutions. But his smile disappeared when Rahea presented the bouquet to him. "Bah." Blast grunted, yanking the chain that clear-flew Nayon into his clutch. His big hand large enough to hold completely around her neck and begin carrying her away to the dungeon. Tetch stood provoked yet again. "What's your problem, Blast!" She called out, but Havelast got between her and him, hands on her shoulders. "Techichi. I'll handle Blast. This is a moment of celebration. Try and enjoy yourself." He winked with a grin before turning and running after Blast.

"Hey, Blast!" Techichi clenched her teeth, growling a little at Blast's diminishing image before looking to Rahea. "Ra. Crane has shown exceptional talents in archery. Perhaps we could look into a job for her with the bow. Train our own archers?"

Rahea seemed to be genuinely surprised by this idea, looking to Crane like one would a child at figuring out something surprisingly impressive. "R-really?? We'll look into that right away. In the meantime, I'm sure you girls would like some privacy. I know Lilith must be getting back to Liltu soon. In the meantime. Victor! You are the best tour-guide we have." -- "What?!" -- "Why don't you give Crane the full tour of our fair city?" Vic snarled before composing himself. He could when he wanted. "So..." Long pause, looking at Crane, seemingly suspiciously. "...This way." Walking down the pink-stoned road going to the south gate. Techichi walked back to Lilith, slowly, sashaying her hips, winking to her with a sly grin when she got to her. "Finally alone." Tetch was the kind of person not-so much unafraid of PDAs but unaware of them. So kissing Lilith in public wasn't something she had even thought about until all of Adenna "Wooooo'd and "Ooooohh'd at their close proximity. This caused Tetch to blink her gorgeous brown eyes right into Lilith's own, blinking right back at her, their eyelashes exchanging greetings. City-wide laughter. Tetch boiled up rather quickly, balling her fist and shaking it up at all the window-hanging denizens and gawkers. "HEY!! The city's safe you buncha perverts! Show's over!" and of course, there were few that the fear of Techichi was not rooted within, so they began dispersing. Going back to their homes, shoppes, and duties. Rahea laughed before throwing the bouquet up in the air to her. "Here, catch!" He warned as it had plenty of time to fall helplessly to the ground at Techichi's feet. She crossed her arms, and just looked at him. "...What?" Then to Lilith. "You weren't expecting me to catch that, were you?"

"It.. would of been nice if you did." A chuckle given from the witch in white. All the while Tetch could feel a burning glare shooting daggers into her back, or.. could it be arrows? The other-worldly feeling etching itself over the choppy haired womans form.. if she'd look, she'd find herself being glared at by Crane. All before her expression totally changed into one of happiness as she looked up at the large man she stepped beside. Hands moved to hold one another in front of herself while lips parted to give off idle chit-chat as they moved on. Not that the two women could hear any of it. "But.. for now. I'd like to head over to your home.. " An exhausted sigh, along with a relieved expression came from the woman. "I mean.. our home. Hm?" Offering a smile along with her correction. She wouldn't come out and say this.. but, the Mage of Liltu was feeling a bit tired. It had been a rough few days after all! Then again.. maybe it wasn't just her being tired. Lilith wanted to be alone with Techichi as well.

"Yea.." Tetch pinched her shirt. "I could clean up a little." Thinking about her clothes and the general composure of her home. In truth, it was decently kept. But funny how it seemed so dirty to her with the thought of someone important coming in. She half-ass saluted Sava Ai and Kamonbak. "Thanks for the help. I can handle it from here." Putting an arm over Lilith shoulder and simultaneously turning her around to face the direction they were heading, their backs to the two swords and Rahea.

Ten steps plus, Tetch leaned her head over to Lilith. Kamonbak turned to face Rahea. "Do you think she is whispering something to her? ...or just enjoying some well-deserved closeness?" If Kamonbak's face could have been present, he most assuredly would have been grinning. And Rahea read it all too well, looking past them to the two girls. "And just why couldn't it be both, Kamonbak?" Turning and walking away himself.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-09-01 03:28 EST
"HRR-AHH!" Havelast roared, swinging Blast into the wall so hard that he hit before Nayon's knees touched the ground. "What's wrong with you, Havelast!! Do you have any idea who that is? She's the enemy. And we do not show mercy, to the enemy!!" Appropriately getting back-fisted by the shadow knight. "I've heard enough of your poorly-conceived ideals, Blast. I know your brother was apart of that search crew. I know what you're going through." -- "No you don't!!" -- "Yes I *do!!*" Silencing the argument right then and there. Nayon's tear-adorned face looked up at the two while her hands remained bound by painful shackles behind her back. "It is the policy of our city to see prisoners have their trial. Be a noble knight. We are brothers, Blast. But do not let me catch you strike that girl again." Havelast looked to her then, unsure of how he himself felt, but he knew what was right in the case of Blast. He began walking out of the cell corridor, but stood in the doorway, diminishing all light and cascading the shadow of Dagger Sasc and his swordlance down over both of them, Blast predominantly.

"Rahea said nothing in this world matters if we cannot trust one another. I will trust you, Blast. Do not make me regret it." He took an extra moment to even budge, as if threatening the large knight further. But he did eventually leave, footsteps, quieter, quieter. And the more alone did Nayon feel. Her breathing became louder, the more alone she became with Blast, until it turned into fearful whimpering. "Huuuuh!!" -- "Shut UP!" Blast picked her up and threw her into the cell. and just when her imprisonment should have began, the keys hit the ground, never intending on using them. "Knocked the wind out of you with that one, didn't I? Like you knocked it out of my brother!! -- " Blast sat his claymore up against the prison bed, beginning to undo his pants. "Do you know, what the worst shame of an Adennian woman is?" Belt buckles sounded and buttons unlatched. Nayon's leg was grabbed violently as she was yanked over to him. Struggling, a backhand, or two. "Stop squirming!!!"

Worst shame.. worst shame.. Adenna. Thoughts running wild in Nayons head, but they all came back to the same point. What he was going to do.. what had been done to her before.. and what might happen now. No. The scarf wearing girl tensed up after the second back hand while lower lip trembled in fear. ".. s.. stop.." Let out weakly. Erika.. stories had been told, along with actions. She knew what was going to happen because this was just another reenacting of what had already been done to her oh so many years ago. Part of her said to go along with it. It'll be over.. just go numb, escape inside. Yet the other half? It was crying for another sort of escape. Freedom from this place.. from this torture. These people of Adenna..! They really are the worst! ".. he.." She coughed out. ".. he had no wind left in him.. to be knocked out.." A voice full of hate sounded out.

"... .. Keep it up. It only makes this, easier!!" Backhanding her once more, leaving much of her face now covered in her own hair where she remained frozen for the moment where the slap sent her. Blast was by means no small man. But it was not hard to out-perform him. Being wounded, and manacled, surely didn't help her odds. "STOP IT!" Felipe shouted, still suffering effects from Lilith's magic in the adjacent cell. Blast had no response, but as he continued to fidget with the tiny girl, she yelled out again. "Leave my daughter alone!!" Causing a pause in the attack. He looked back to her. "Daughter? So she's your daughter. You've betrayed your people one too many times, Felipe! But since you have no Siovanui dreams to shatter, your kid will have to do." Eager to get back to his prisoner, he turned back to little Nayon.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-09-01 03:29 EST
Lips parted.. a few strands of hair slipping in between them as words left into the open air. ".. Mother.." Nayons heart raced now. Her eyes growing wide.. more wild. Shaken vision locking onto the man who hovered over her. Would he go for her next. Protect Felipe, protect her mother. It was quick. Her mind was made up, and her body followed. Her tense leg grew limber, and in that instant it rose up to meet Blast in between his very legs. Reaction was waited for, and not a second of delay was given. The time he took to reel back.. would be the moment he felt the girls teeth clench down onto his very neck. Jaw strained, every muscle working to bite down as hard as she could onto his throat. Teeth piercing the skin.. digging, taking as much as she could. His reactions, his struggles. They'd all be ignored by her right now. No matter how much he grabbed, no matter how much he pulled.. she had that single desire. She was going to kill him -- no matter what.

"GRRRRNN!!" Blast growled through his mouth and a newly made opening in his throat. Bad for him, really bad for Nayon. Blast was one of those warriors that got an immortal-like endurance period on his death bed. A head butt immediately followed his blood gargling resolve. Covering it instinctively with his hand just let the river run now. Not like this, he thought. Gotta kill the girl he told himself. Racing over for her and punching a hole clear through the prison wall. His arm being swung like the wild weapon it was went for the head of Nayon now. Swinging but being dodged easily this time, letting him land in and dent the prison bars behind her.

"ha... ha.." Haggard breaths left bloodstained lips as she moved to the side. Her bounded arms unable to help her, so Nayon only fell over herself in her attempt to flee. But she didn't stop. He had fallen against those bars that moment.. and the girl? After only a second she needed did Nayon find herself onto her feet.. He'd die.. he'd die soon! She tore a good bit of his throat out.. and she could even see if on the floor! All she needed to do was wait him out.. move away. But no, her body screamed. She wanted to hurt him..!

Nayons teeth clenched as she shot forward. A knee rising, leg thrusting out soon enough to send that boot covered form right at him. She'd stomp him.. he needed to feel more pain before he died! "HUA..!" Wild grunt passing out from her lips as she pulled back to try once more.

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-09-01 03:31 EST
"Oh ... Nayon." Felipe did murmur, as she saw her only care in this world transform right before her. She had done it all wrong. She did not become Siovanui, she did not save Adenna, Tetch stole that from her. She would never become the hero she envisioned of herself as a little girl. And now, that dream was dying for her daughter. It was fine if she did not wish to become a Siovanui, but it was there for Felipe to dream for her. Now, what would she have? There, kicking one of her peers from her youth further along into death, Felipe did not know. "Nayon... Nayon stop." The behemoth man was very much motionless now, and evermore wet with red.

" .......! " Wide eyes looked up the moment her name was called. Boot kept planted against the dead mans body.. and she leaned slowly into him while looking toward the one speaking her name. Who was it.. the moment of fury, it was leaving her. Yes.. it was her mother. "..... I..." A pause.. and a look down. Her body tensed up once more.. and then, just as quickly as she moved in for the kill.. so did she move away. Stepping quickly, staggering over herself till she found that bed. Legs kicking against it, forcing her into a corner. All the while.. her eyes kept themselves locked. She could see him.. laying still. The crimson paint against her features.. she could smell him, taste him.. "... I.. " -- "What's to be so worried about.. it was you or him.. Don't you agree, Feeelipe?" It was coming from the hallway. Nayon gave no reaction to it. Her eyes still locked onto what had been left of Blast. Footsteps came next.. slow, steady. "I thought I lost you.." Coming into view. Her back to the cell the blood covered girl cowered in. Dark robes fluttered gently as she brought a hand out to touch against the bars. Leaning in.. her face inches away from pressing against it. Those clockwork red eyes glaring to the woman inside. "It wouldn't of been so bad if I had.. but, who else would I make mine..? Are you ready to leave?" Erika.. didn't she die? But she was here -- right now.. speaking. Talking as if nothing had happened.

Felipe trembled, on the verge of telling a new-life speech to Nayon. They could have started over. The tarnished souls they had become could have been forgotten, and they could have tried, they could have at least tried, to lead normal lives. But that was when Erika spoke. Felipe spent the entire time crying inside of herself, preventing it from actually coming out, noticeably, when Erika called to her like she knew she was going to do. And then do, what she was going to do. All of it, she would have to live with. "...Erika." She looked up to her, sadness in her eyes. As if to pray with all that was left of her heart that there please be something left in her to give mercy. "What about Nayon?" Felipe asked with tear-filled eyes.

"Extra baggage is something we don't need." Erikas lips curled into a gentle smirk as she made her case. "They'll be too busy beating the answers to your whereabouts out of her, giving us enough time to make our escape. As long as the Liltu witch is in Adenna.. I must be on guard." Clockwork eyes gave a long gaze in Felipes direction. ".. and the girls smart enough not to answer.. or else she'll fail her mother." Leaving Nayon behind. That's what she was saying. She reached through the bars.. her fingers uncurled and stretched for the woman. "Take hold. We'll leave as soon as you do." -- "... M.. Mother..! " Nayon broke out of her spell. Her shaking body kept it's place in the corner of her cell as she looked to the two of them. ".. Don't leave m-- .." -- "Quiet.." And she did.. without even a second thought. Nayon fell silent. Her eyes averted, dropping their gaze onto the ground. ".. Come, Felipe.. I'll be angry if you waste anymore of my time."

Now was the time to decide. She looked back and forth. She only had time to do this once. So Nayon would remember when she looked at her. Felipe felt disgusted by herself, and obligated at the same time, to gaze apologetically and maternally to her. Up she went, taking Erika's hand, and finally looking at her now. "Be a good girl, Nayon." Felipe muttered, before being tugged by Erika to the doorway.

"We can always make another." Would be the last words Nayon would hear from her father.. from Erika. A flash of light filled the hall at that moment -- and the two of them would be gone. The dark haired girl breathed hard.. Now, she really was alone. What would happen.. what would happen to HER? Her knees pulled back against her chest before body began to gently rock. "... Nn..."

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-09-01 03:42 EST
The hustle and bustle of every-day life was so ordinary on the city streets. Lilith and Tetch seemed to enter their own little world just when Tetch was finally able to close the door behind them. Her back pressed into it until the bolts connected. "Phew." Tossing her overshirt onto the armchair by the door she caught on up with Lilith, slipping her boots off along the way. Her boot steps went from sounding to no noticeable sound at all. Minute details. "Alone at last."

"How long till Seirichi returns? " Lilith spoke with curiosity as she moved to settle herself down against the armrest of that nearby couch. Hands found it as well. A gentle grip taken before body bent forward lightly. Yes. Alone at last. Techichi took the words right out of her mouth. ".. I don't want her coming back too late.. but, at the same time.. not too early." The white witch offered a smile in the choppy black haired womans direction.

"She should come along any minute now. Her perch is high at the training grounds, she'll have seen the celebration. Tea?" Slipping out of her pants and exposing those nice little buttocks for the time until she went around the corner and into the kitchen. She came back with a teapot and a small pair of boyshorts flung over her shoulder. "It's nice having our privacy again. I haven't felt at home like this, since... " She filled the teapot with the water from her long-necked plant watering can and put it on the olden stove. Didn't think twice about it. she never made tea. "It will feel weird though, without Nima here."

Lilith wanted to say something.. maybe along the lines of let me do it. But -- her mouth kept closed as she watched the woman try her best. Tetch's tea.. though not as great as anything she tasted before, was special in it's own way. ".. Before she went off to Ryuani she told me `` I wish Seirichi could come.. I bet she'd have fun ``. I wondered that too.. But, I bet she'd make all the men in Ryuani cry." A chuckle.. her eyes closed as she continued her laugh. She could see it so clearly too. "I know your answer.. but I'm more comfortable asking like this. Would it be alright if I stayed the night..? I'd like to leave after Seirichi heads off to her training tomorrow.. " Soft look of sadness came with her next set of words. ".. I wish I could watch her.. but I don't think I can stay away from the tower that long.."

Not So Wicked Witch

Date: 2011-09-01 03:43 EST
"I'll send her to visit more often. We're going to make this family thing work. I promise." Looking at her, then back. "You're risking too much leaving as it is. I'm surprised you've lasted as long as you did this time. But you did pull from the sword." Tetch's voice switched very upbeat. "If you had been without it, you probably wouldn't have made it. I'm a good guesser with things like that." A sexy one-eyed gaze over to Lilith, while she put her finger against her head. "I knew exactly how to correlate my Siovanui power to reduce me and weaken you so when we were both drained, we'd be perfectly normal otherwise, and free to consummate our relationship." She kissed her fingers and blew it air mail to Lilith with a grin. She half-expected to spank her own ass, but the tea was whistling.

"Oh? Wouldn't of made it..? What a detective you've become." A grin came. Challenging the others own thoughts on the matter. But.. did it really matter in the end? Everything was over right now. Now -- she could relax with her family.. a family she hardly saw as it is. She decided to speak boldly then. Looking away from Techichi and toward a window. "If Seirichi weren't on her way.. I'd say we should consummate our relationship once more.."

With two cups of tear poured, each got a little teabag and she was coming to set them on the coffee table beside the chair. Why not hand it to her? She couldn't very well grope up the white mage with her hands full with fine gifted china, nor if Lilith were holding it. After setting the cups down, Tetch did rise to stand straight again rather slowly, but upon become erect she did toss her hair over to one side with a sexy flick of the head. she wet her lips. "Then why start fires you can't put out?" Providing for that chair it's most appropriate weight occupancy. it was a rather large chair, but it was more that the two women were better petite, and simply fit it. Robe dismantling occurred until smooth arms were traceable. "Hell hath no fury like a woman's heart. Everyone knows better than to come through those doors. Our children most of all. We've got all the time in the world." Said jokingly as Lilith was very much trapped now, with the smaller dark-haired woman on her lap. Boyshorts equipped, but not noticeably on. This was due much to the fact that Tetch was sliding her bottom around Lilith's lap very warmly as she both spoke and listened to Lilith.

"What about the tea." Raised eyebrow. But, did she really care so much about the tea? The way her hands found Techichi's waist.. and slowly moved down, and around. Till fingers curled about that squirming rump. The white witch smiled.. her heart fluttered.. and those pale cheeks of hers grew a soft rose red. She felt so at ease right now.. so happy. ".. I do like mine warm.." Her voice was soft, almost hushed as she dipped forward. Lips brushing gently against the other woman's own.