Blood Vengeance

Inspiration: Who You Are

War against the San'layn had raged on. After Aayan and Grant's slaughtering of their fortress, many of the more war like members of their group had taken an oath to avenge their fallen leader. Taking up the mantle had been his brother, who loathed mortals. He did not share the kindness that was mercy, he did not share the ideals of taking mortals and changing them. He sought vengeance, with only one goal in mind. As the Brotherhood were separated to take out the threats in various regions, Lord Alrenir sought out Aayan, knowing just how to take his revenge. Once the two found one another, he isolated them with a blizzard.

"You think I'm afraid of you, Bloodsucker?" Aayan shouts as he gripped his blade.

"If I thought you would fear me, I would have sent someone else." Alrenir sneered, "So tell me, how does it feel knowing you will be the tool of their undoing?"

"What are you talking about?" Aayan glared into the eyes of Alrenir.

Alrenir grinned as his eyes glowed deep crimson, "You fought to save your leader... And now you will be the one to kill them all."

Aayan told himself to lunge and slay the man, yet he felt his muscles tense and lock, keeping him from moving. His gaze could not waver from the man before him and he felt his body moving on its own. He could not call to his dragon allies as they were guarding his family. He was alone... or so he thought.

"Aayan!" Charlotte's voice rang out through the blizzard, causing the men's head to turn to see her figure pushing and fighting against the wild winds.

Oh no.

Aayan wanted to shout for her to flee, yet his lips remained closed.

"Well isn't this delicious. The first victim comes straight to us." Alrenir chuckled to himself, licking his tongue over his fangs.

"Aayan!" Charlotte's voice grew closer before finally breaching the wall of snow.

He felt his body tense once more before turning to face her, grip tightening around the hilt of his blade as her gaze fell upon him.

"No.." Her lips trembled before looking past him to scowl at the San'layn, "You monster! Give him back!"

"As you wish." The San'layn snapped his fingers and Aayan charged at his friend.

Charlotte stood her ground and looked at Aayan, "Snap out of it! This isn't you!"

As his blade came towards her, Charlotte stepped closer, "This is not who you are!"

The scent of blood filled the air as the blade pierced her chest. Aayan's rage built in him and he found himself able to regain control.

"Who you truly are.." Charlotte's words hung in the air as her body fell from the blade and her gaze grew distant.

His heart beat in his ear as he stared at her, rage and sorrow building before he let out an anguished cry and charged the San'layn.. Only to find him gone.

Crush (Part 1)

Inspiration: Yuukei Yesterday And Make a Move

The young heirs to the Legacy of the Brotherhood of Valor were out training as usual. The magical advances that had been brought on allowed them all new technology to practice against as well as use for downtime. One such item was the Arcane Pod, that allowed them to use ear pieces to listen to music instead of their teachers (much to the older generations chagrin). Hope was a well versed and practiced Paladin thanks to her father and mother, but she was also well versed in the new Arcane Games that came with the well used Arcane Tablets. Having grown up shy and nervous around others, she soon grew distant and threatening with her skills... Except to one. Peter Gunrik. Peter, unlike his father, was rather relaxed and laid back, constantly showing up late to practice and was often seen with some sort of snack on him to munch on during training. Despite his slack, he was still a natural talent when it came to combat training. Though Hope often would be seen berating Peter for his laid back nature and pinching his cheek to drag him along to practice, group gossip was often the other children laughing about how they'd be married.

"I'm telling you, they're totally dating." Brianna nodded to herself, the young half elf getting a devilish smirk, as her raven hair was tied back.

"Nonsense. Peter is hopeless and no way is Hope gonna admit anything." Argued Kheli.

"Hm.. Perhaps they just need.. A little push?" Mused Eldrin as he got a grin. "I've got an idea."

The girls looked at him curious.

"Follow my lead. I need you three to SOMEHOW get Hope dolled up. I'll handle Peter." Eldrin nodded to them before vanishing through a portal.

"I hate when he does that." Brianna sighed, dropping her head.

The twins and Bri managed to kidnap Hope and drag her off to be dressed up.

"What are you doing!!" Hope exclaimed at them in the dorm room.

"You gotta look pretty or no boy will approach you." Kheli insisted.

"I don't want a boy to approach me!" Hope stomped her hoof.

"Oh shush, we know you like Peter." Bri teased.

The draenei began to flush, "D-Do not!"

"Uh huh." The trio look unimpressed with her attempt to lie as they finish her make up and hair.

"This is ridiculous. We should be training!" Hope continued to fight.

Elsewhere..

"What do you mean she likes me?" Peter blinked, looking lost.

Eldrin sighed, "I've told you three times! She likes you and I'm gonna help you get her on a date!"

Appearing from the shadows, the Half Elf twin of Bri showed, Caelin grinned, "Dude he's not gonna understand. Also here, stole these from your dad."

"By stole you mean took off his table when he wasn't looking?" Eldrin rolled his eyes at Caelin.

"Well yea." Caelin shrugged.

Peter looked between them as he was forced into dress clothes.

"Alright. Put this in your ear." Eldrin ordered the older teen.

"Okay.. And I'll be able to hear you through this?" Peter put the device in his ear.

"Yup!" Caelin gave thumbs up.

Watching the two groups trying to push the duo towards each other, Sebastian and Moria were sipping their coffee.

"This is going to fail horribly." Moria said between drinks, leaning on the railing as she watched the group of teens.

"If he hurts Hope, I'm killing him." Seb grumbled as Moria kept a hand on his shoulder to keep him from intervening.

"He's a Gunrik.. He's probably gonna trip on his shoes before he'd do anything to Hope." Moria reminded him.

Seb chewed angrily on some cookies, scowling at the groups.

Youth Squad

Inspiration: Ready as I'll Ever Be and Good for You

With their parents and guardians gone to once again defend Azeroth from the invasions of the Void Lords, the now grown children were expected to stay back and defend their home from any would be attempts to destroy the base. There was only one problem. Izanamie, the woman who was meant to guide the young adults and teens was missing. Alex, being the oldest of those still able to stand and fight, took the mantle on himself. He was prideful and wanted to show that he was still worthy as both the next Lord for both the Gunrik House as well as the Hereford House. The situation was a struggle, Eldin, Izanamie's son, along with Mary, Alex's sister-in-law, both demanded they set out to find the missing woman, but Alex refused, saying they had no resource or experience in trying to track her, plus she was a well trained caster and can handle herself in a situation.

That is when the argument ensued as word came back from Peter that his radar had picked up void entities on their way.

"Any moment now, Your 'Highness', the void will be on us." Alex sneered at Eldin and Mary, "Believe me, I know. I've sunk pretty low, not searching for a missing woman. But whatever I've done to upset you, you've deserved."

"Alex-" Mary tried to intervene.

"Quiet." Alex ordered, looking down on the woman, "I'm the bad guy, that's fine. It's no fault of mine, and at last some justice will be served." He turned his head to gaze out the window towards the incoming void storm, he rose from his seat and moved to gather his armor and weapons, "Now it's time to stand up or it's time to stand down, and there's only one answer for me. And I'll stand up and fight 'cause I know that I'm right, and I'm ready." He heard Mary slam the door as she left, sighing, "Ready as I'll ever be."

Frustrated, Mary stormed out to address what troops and Youth Core remained to rouse them for battle, "Now it's time to rise up, or it's time to stand down, and the answer is easy to see. And I swear by the sword, if you're in, get on board. Are you ready?"

"I'm ready!" Raised John's sword, causing the others to echo, "I'm ready!"

Mary murmured to herself, "Ready as I'll ever be."

Along the wall Peter and Cami stared and began preparing the defenses.

"Are you quite sure we can do this?" Peter asked quietly as he began preparing his arcane cannons.

"Together we will guarantee that lives come back." Camilia spoke calmly, despite the panic she felt flowing through her system.

"I'll make them hear me." Alex told himself as he got on his horse, preparing to lead the charge.

"I'll prove they can trust me." Mary spoke to herself as she readied her sword and shield.

"I'll save my home and family." Camilia glared at the void entities that began appearing, readying her staff.

The soldier's began chanting.
Now the line's in the sand, and our moment's at hand!

"And I'm ready." The young adults said.

"Ready as I'll ever be." Alex clashed with the entities.

The battle raged on, the side of the Youth Core able to hold the line, but one stray spell from a cultist of the void found its mark and struck Cami in the chest, causing her to fall from the wall. Heartbeats were all that Mary, Peter, and Alex could hear as they turned to their fallen Lady of the House. With divine fury, Mary led the charge to push back the void, Light rising from her very being. Peter let all defenses rain down on the enemy, while Alex turned and fled to check on his fallen wife. Phaeth and Kheldi were there first, quickly moving to stabilize the woman and get her moved to safer grounds. As the fight died down, arguments broke out as Alex lashed out at everyone around him for Cami's condition. Finally, enough was enough.

Mary decked Alex in the face while tears ran from her eyes, glaring down at her brother-in-law as she began to speak, "So you found a place where the grass is greener-" she gestures to her fallen sister, "And you jumped the fence to the other side. Is it good? Is she giving you a life we could never provide?"

Alex scowled at her as she walked closer to him, shoving him to the ground and planting a booted foot on his chest, "Well I hope you're proud of your big decision! My sister is injured and there are troops demoralized from the death of their friends! I hope it was all that you want and more! I hope you're free from the agonizing life you lived before!"

She kicked his side, "Having all the nobles eyes on you that you'd risk everyone! You bastard son of an abuser! And you say what you need to say! So that you get to walk away! It would kill you to have to stay trapped, When you've got something new. Well I'm sorry you had it rough, And I'm sorry I'm not enough. Thank Light they rescued you! So you got what you always wanted, So you got your dream come true. Good for you! Got a taste of a life so perfect, So you did what you had to do! Good for you!" She screamed at him as the tears flowed heavy before Peter escorted her out of the medical building.

Good for you! Her words echoed in his head as he began feeling the pain and guilt build in him. As he stood, Phaeth caught his attention. She gripped her clipboard with Cami's medical sheet.

Shadows cast over her face, tears brimming, as the young teen spoke, "Does it cross your mind to be slightly sorry? Do you even care that you might be wrong? Was it fun? Well I hope you had a blast while you dragged us along."

As Alex left with Phaeth holding the door for him, Peter went to grab him by his tunic and slam him into the wall, "And you say what you need to say! And you play who you need to play! And if somebody's in your way, Crush them and leave them behind!" Peter's nostrils flare as him and Phaeth continue, "Well I guess if I'm not of use. Go ahead, you can cut me loose! Go ahead now, I won't mind." At that, Phaeth shut the door behind them and Peter shoved off of Alex, the duo walking to Mary's side as they all left.

As they left, Mary paused to turn and throw more words at Alex, "I'll shut my mouth and I'll let you go. Is that good for you? Would that be good for you, 'Your Highness'?"

The trio spoke in unison, with mixtures of sadness and anger, "I'll just sit back while you run the show. Is that good for you? Would that be good for you?"

Their words cut into Alex. I'll shut my mouth and I'll let you go! Is that good for you? Would that ​be good for you! I'll just sit back while you run ​the show. Is that good for you? Would that be Good for you?

As they left, Alex slid down the wall and gripped his head as he cried to himself, "All I need is some time to think. But the boat is about to sink. Can't erase what I wrote in ink? Tell me how could I change the story? All the words that I can't take back.. Like a train coming off the track. 'Cause the rails and the bolts all crack. I've got to find a way to stop it! Stop it! Just let me out!"

So you got what you always wanted
So you got your dream come true
Good for you
Good for you, you, you
Got a taste of a life so perfect
Now you say that you're someone new
Good for you.
Good for you.
Good for you.
Good for you!

"So you got what you always wanted." Alex eyes shot open as he looked up at the image of Cami speaking to him, her image staring down at him with blood dripping from her mouth and pale eyes.

Stay Alive

Inspiration: Stay Alive

Note: I should really stop listening to Hamilton one day...

War had broken out when word had spread of Vaul's treachery to seize Ogrimskar. Unbeknownst to the Corrupt Lord, his apprentice had released the General to gather the forces against those loyal to the Lord. Soon though her treason was found out and she was put under a spell to remain unconscious and used a power conduit for the rising army.

Things grew more complicated as several of the main medics and fighters were several months along their own pregnancy for their family in what they had thought would be a time of peace. Standing within the safety of a secure bunker, the three woman, Izanamie, Lilsadiir, and Teraalla, stood looking towards the rising sun as they knew the battle would soon come to its peak.

Stay Alive...

Gunshots rang out into the distance.

Aayan and Khadorek worked to fill reports to the Gilded Lotus, asking for aid but with little word on if they would come. Ogrimskar began discussing battle with Jabbles and Sebastian. They knew that Vaul knew most of the Brotherhood and their strategies. And as such he had Charlotte trapped and access to her knowledge. They needed someone Vaul had no clue how to counteract. They made the bold choice to list Rick Lem to guide a portion of the army to engage with Vaul's main military force.  There was just one problem...

"Attack!" Ogrimskar would shout to his units.

"Retreat!" Rick would shout to his own.

Ogrimskar furrowed his brows, coming up to Rick, "What are you doing?!"

"There's too many of them!" Rick argued back.

"Oh I'm sorry, is this not your speed? Jabbles take over." Og ordered loudly.

As the battle raged on, they barely beat back the knights of Vaul. Soon they were readying their camp and mending their wounded. Soon Rick would begin kicking up a fuss.

"Ogrimskar cannot be left to his devices, indecisive from crisis to crisis. The best thing he can do for this war is to go back into Stasis." Rick would protest.

Aayan went to Og, demanding the gnome be reprimanded but Og decided they had other things to worry about then a mouthy short stump.

"Bold words from Lem, someone outta hold him to it." Spoke Jabbles, arms crossed.

"I can't disobey orders." Aayan sighed, thinking of Iza.

"Then I'll do it." Jabs grinned.

"What about your wife?" Aayan raised a brow.

"She'll kick my ass then we'll probably have sex. Nothing unusual." Jabbles shrugged, marching to go challenge the Gnome.

Bystander

Song: Bystander

[Tesravi]
O, How I wish that I weren't alive
How I've been saying that since I was five
Tedious days and years went by
All I ever did was whimper and whine
The people in my vilage were all so fair
With eyes like gems, and beautiful red hair
They whispered and chattered and looked at me with spite
For my hair was tinted with a ghastly white

Secretly hidden deep inside the woods
An old oak tree- A thousand years withstood
There I was standing with tears in my eyes
Praying to Light with languishing sighs
Wretched a Life is when lived alone
With nobodies company but your own
I dare not ask for much from where I stand
Just a person who could hold my hand...

I found her next to the ancient tree
Her fragile body limp and weak
With no one around, I had to try my best
Carefully nursed her back to consciousness!
Gradually, naturally, our lives entwined
I learnt to leave my lonely days behind
She became everything that I had got
Despite being everything that I was not.
Gleaming like Rubellite in the sun
Her hair was more enchanting then anyone's
Her face was fair and her voice was bright
Captivating anyone at first sight

Why would she show love and sympathy
To one whom was so unworthy as me?
Could it be pity I saw in her eyes?
Were the oaths of friendship only white lies?
She took me into her arms as I trembled with fear
Her soothing words flowed into my ears
"Never had I met another as beautiful as you are"
Hearing that, I broke down into tears
They can laugh and mock my ways
Hurt me with enmity and hate
They can shame me
Slander me into disgrace
I won't fear, I won't cry
I have you by my side
You who gave me all the worth I need inside

We fled from the village into town
Found some work and settled down
Things there were different in every way
But with her I was happier each passing day
Gradually, naturally, we started a new life
Working for a rich merchant's wife
Even with these hardships we pulled through
The bond between us, it only grew
One day in the mansion we met a man
With colbalt gear and thus began
This sickening story of jealousy and rage
When he met her everything started to change
He was king of the lands across the sea
He fell for her and so did she
Rejected the love of the neighboring queen
Lighting the fuse of destiny!

The land was devoured by the roaring fames of war
Merciessly, the queen- she swore!
"See to it that all the women with red hair are dead,
They shall thrive in these lands no more!"
Everyone I loved and cared,
Not a single one was spared
Except me, Beacause of my colorless hair
Why can't I die in her place?
Why do good lives go to waste?
Does this all boil down to unchangeable fate?

O, How I wish that I weren't alive
How I've been saying that since I was five
Tedious days and years went by
All I ever did was whimper and whine
Aimless and lost, I started serving a Lord
Working in a church next to a port
The breeze brings in rumours of the death of the Queen
Executed at the guillotine!
I found her right by the choppy sea
Her fragile body limp and weak
With no one around I had to try my best
Carefully nursed her back to consciousness
Gradually, naturally, our lives entwined
I learnt to leave my lonely days behind
She became everything that I had got
Despite being everything that I was not.

In the confessional at night I overheard
Her admitting her painful crimes, each and every word
Ah, a flood of emotions ran through my skin..
So that was the story of..
The real lady of sin.
On the small little shore where the giant big waves roar
She walked there alone, her feet cold and sore
I followed and walked up from behind her
Pulling out a knife I took to kill her
Raising it up to finally have my revenge
It's for you my friend!

There's an apology I'd like to make
To you whom is safe in Light's embrace
In the end I made a different call
I could not avenge your death after all
She must feel what I felt a long time ago
Full of loneliness, full of woe
Wretched a life is when lived alone
With nobody's company but your own
The girl who couldn't do anything before this
Learnt how to cook and bake her favourite desserts
She made brioche for us today at tea
I have to say she's done it perfectly
What was that image that flashed in front of me?
That fateful night when we were by the sea?
Who was that young man who threw himself between us
As if protecting someone...
Precious?
___________________________________________________

Story summary:
Tesravi was a lonely draenei in a human village. Mocked as an outcast, she went to the long abandoned elven forest where she met a mysterious woman- Izanamie. The two became friends and feelings grew. When they left to work for the local noble (Vaul) and his house, they were visited by the King of the Magi- Aayan, who instantly fell for Iza. Issue is, Charlotte, the Queen of San'layn asked for his hand instead, to mend old wounds and for her own secret infatuation. When he rejected it for Iza, Charlotte sent Sebastian, her human Blood Knight, to kill the women who matched Iza's description. This led to a war between Magi, Humans, and San'layn. Sebastian had aided in the Queen's escape, shifting to look like her so all thought she was executed. She arrived ashore where Tes had moved. The night that Tes discovered the truth and went to exact revenge, Sebastian's spirit came and washed over her with Light's Warmth to soothe her and she soon learned Charlotte was a dumb youngling who had no idea what she was doing and took pity on her.

First Burn

Inspiration: First Burn

Caterina stood over the roaring bonfire in the town square, throwing letters into the flames as Edwin was brought forth by the guards, wrists shackled in silver. The midnight stars twinkle dimly for what was to come, as the moon hid behind clouds.

"Cat- Please!" Edwin began to beg, "It was a simple mistake. I didn't mean to-" He found a gag to meet his mouth.

"I save every letter you wrote me. From the moment we met, I knew you were mine.. Or so I thought." Caterina began, still staring into the inferno, "Do you know what Moria said when I told her what you had done?"

He swallowed hard.

"You have married a Blackfyre, he flew too close to the sun." Caterina's lips curled into a snarl as she tried to hide the tears.

He jerked against his chains to try and move closer to her.

"Don't take another step." She ordered, turning to look at him with red eyes, "I can't be trusted around you.. How could you.. No.. Don't think you can talk your way into my arms." She turned back towards the fire, throwing more papers in, "I'm burning the letters you gave me, you can stand over there. I don't know who you are.. Moria is right, I have so much to learn.."

The crowd murmured amongst themselves as Edwin fell to his knees, lowering his head.

"You published the letters she wrote you." She accused in a harsh tone, "You told the whole Kingdom how you brought this woman into our bed- just to clear your name of something I could've made go away. You've ruined our lives!" She grips a hand in her hair, scoffing lightly, "Heaven forbid someone whispers 'He's part of some scheme'. Your enemies whisper so you have to scream." She choked for a moment before continuing, "I know about whispers. I see how you look at my cousin."

Edwin felt his heart drop to his stomach.

"I'm not naive. I see how women are around you. All of them clinging to your every word. I see how they fall for your charm!" She dropped her hand, picking up the box of the rest of the letters and throws it in the bonfire, "I'm erasing myself of you. Let future historians wonder how I reacted to being betrayed."

Finally she turned to meet his gaze, burning hatred in her swollen eyes.

"And when the time comes, Explain to the children, the pain and the misery, you put me and them through!" Her hand rests on the bump on her stomach, clenching her fingers over the silk cloth, "When will you learn. They were your legacy! OUR Legacy! If you think you're still mine.. Don't." And with that, she snapped her fingers, the guards dragging him away to not be seen for a long while.

Caterina falls to her knees, weeping as she put her head in her hands. Several community members running out to hold and soothe her, glaring at Edwin's back as he disappeared into the darkness.

Reborn (Party 5): Truth

Inspiration: Apologize, Location, and Nothing to Lose. 

Standing, she found herself in a silk robe. Slowly the human woman would walk towards the sound of an infant’s cries. Staring, she saw the San’layn holding a child in his arms and gently rocking it. Her heart began to thump loudly in her ear as she felt herself pulled towards the child.

“This is Illya.” The man spoke, “This is my daughter that you will guard with your life.”

“Where is her mother?” Charlotte asked softly as she peered into the dull amber hues of the baby.

“Dead.. Killed by huntsmen long ago.” He spoke, a faint frown tugging on the corner of his lips.

“My condolences.” She murmured quietly.

“Soon she will be yours as well, I hope you will treat her as such.” The man gave a nod to Charlotte, slipping the child into her arms.

“I will look after her as if my own.” She smiled as she stared down into the little girl’s pudgy face.

Back in present day…

Charlotte quickly sat up, peering around and moving to the crib side. “They’re coming, we don’t have much time.” She muttered to herself, pausing to slip the bracelet onto the infant before scooping her up.

She would begin to draw a portal rune in the air when the Lord arrived. “Another has shown himself. You two must leave, you remember where I told you to go?” He wiped ash from his eyes.

“Yes, and you promise to meet us there?” Charlotte spoke with panic in her voice.

“I promised, didn’t I?” He planted a kiss on each of their foreheads before turning to begin casting a seal on the door, “That should slow them.”

He then melded into the shadows to head to his next location.

Aayan kept down the hallway where he detected the magic of the bracelets. “Hold on Charlotte, I’m going to get you out of here…” Aayan said dragging himself along the wall, his hands dripping blood from where the necrotic spell had wafted over him. Aayan reached the door. “I don’t have much magic left in me...anymore and I won’t be able to cast another spell. But I have to risk it all.” Aayan began to work on dismantling the seal on the door with the last of his magical stores in the runes.

Charlotte was still drawing an arcane portal rune in the air when she sensed the spell on the door breaking down. She spoke in Thalassian, summoning an arcane guardian to watch her back as she worked.

A runeblade would appear through the door and Aayan kicked it open looking more than worse for wear. “Charlotte! Please, you’ve got to come back to us!” Aayan pulled his blade from the door and entered into the room. “You’re being controlled and I really don’t want to do this next thing to you! The effects of it take weeks to wear off!”

The infant began to cry, Charlotte trying to hush it as she shot a glare towards Aayan, “You just want to keep me from my family!” She growled towards him.

“Family!? That man kidnapped you! You’ve been turned into a San’layn against your will! That family you have are a bunch of bodies! You’re still alive and I’ll make you see it!” Aayan quickened his pace inside with his sword drawn ready to strike her. A cut is all that may be needed.

The arcane guardian would move between Aayan and Charlotte, her eyes glowing with power as she continued her teleportation runes. They were nearing finish.

“Damn fool!” Aayan began to charge into the Arcane Guardian. “Charlotte! I won’t let you get away!” Aayan began to swing his runeblade against the arcane guardian, his hands screaming in agony from the rot, blood dripping as he gripped the sword. “Fight it, FIGHT IT! Don’t be controlled! Look into my eyes, Charlotte! Don’t you dare turn away!”

The scent of his blood caused her to stop, the burning in her throat becoming more present. Her fingers tremble and begin to lose focus on the rune, still clutching Illya close. She tries to shake her head, remembering her purpose but finding it hard. She turns to scowl at him, watching the guardian get sliced in two.

“Come back to me! No, come back to us! You’re our friend and leader!” Aayan took out a knife and stabbed himself in the arm to entice her with more blood. “Don’t leave!” Aayan started to try and concentrate as much mana as he could, what little remained, maybe it would be enough to disrupt the portal, he hoped he had time.

The burning of her throat caused her to drop the spell, rubbing at her neck as she keeps shaking her head violently. She holds the infant with both hands and begins backing up against a wall. Her guardian and teleportation failing from her loss of concentration.

“You’re not one of them!” Aayan lowered his sword. “I can’t leave here without our leader, after all that’s happened, I won’t leave here without you.” Aayan walked over and held out a hand. “Let’s go back to base, Leader.”

“You’re crazy.” She spoke, though a tear escaping her right eye as she keeps pressed against the wall, “I’m a monster, not your leader. I’m best left here.”

“Charlotte…” Aayan sat down beside her. “Long ago, with the Argent Crusade, I lost my sister. She dedicated her life to saving people who many thought were beyond hope. She brought so many people back...Death Knights, Forsaken...but in the end she couldn’t save herself. She became a monster too, you’re not all gone yet…And I refuse to give up, you’ll find me rather persistent...after all I am your Quartermaster.”

“Your people.. Your leaders.. They hunt and kill us. I am not risking my daughter’s life on such falsehoods you speak.” There was confusion in her eyes as they glowed red, her hunger still fighting her.

“Your daughter? You’ve not been away for enough time to have a child. That one isn’t yours...you’re being controlled to become a nanny.” Aayan leaned back, still bleeding. “Fine, cut yourself with my Runeblade, if you still think the same way, I will let you go….willingly.” Aayan was looking pretty pale.

“Why should I cut myself upon your blade?” She stares him down, noting his paleness. She reached her free hand out towards him to begin using blood magic to mend his wounds so he can speak.

“Solace...has a very particular enchantment on it...when I made the Runeblade, part of my soul was entrapped in the blade. It took my will and made it manifest...the ability to let others see what I see. Solace is a weapon of pacifism. I often used it to stop fighting...tried to stop as many of the Horde as I could with it…” Aayan looked at Charlotte. “If I strike you, or if anyone makes contact with it, they will see my thoughts to avoid conflict. It may give you the right state of mind.”

“Sounds like you are the one trying to control my mind.” She scowled once more at him, moving to plant a foot on his chest and force him on his back.

Aayan grabbed her foot and was forced onto his back. “There is no control...only a reflection. Those who have strong wills can choose to not be affected.” Aayan tried to lift her foot off.

She kept her foot pressed against him, “How do I know you speak the truth, human? You’re a mage and could merely be casting a trick to imprison me.”

“I can assure you...I’m really out of mana right now. Also, Human? Charlotte my name is Aayan.” Aayan sighed and put pressure against her foot to make sure she didn’t break ribs.

“Magi always have a trick or two.” She mutters but pauses to look at the blade, then shakes her head, “How’s about I simply bite you instead?”
“If that would make me prove my point...After all I’ve got no elf blood in me…Well, you shouldn’t do that, because the truth is One point seven litres….That’s how much holy water a person needs to drink to give their blood the same effect.” Aayan didn’t like the thought of being bitten. “If you do bite me, I must warn you of something I also put into place.”

She presses her foot into his hand that was fighting her, “So you would poison your blood to stop me?” She leaned down, close enough he could probably cut her himself.

“If I wanted to stop you, would I have bothered to tell you my precautions? Or does trying to appeal to your reason not work when you get forcibly changed?” Aayan quickly pulled up on his blade, trying to cut her, with a small cut. Seems that logic aspect and appealing to emotion has failed.

She was cut! Her eyes went wide as she stumbled off of him.

“Sorry about that...you were behaving a little crazy, have to get another will into your head.” The feelings that would be hitting her as the blue energy seemed to flow into her was that of defense, caring, and a deep rooted sadness. The thoughts of Aayan were determined to bring her back, the experiences they had driving him to come to her aid. Flashes of memories and beratings that were funny and troublesome. “What you’re seeing is me to you, completely unblemish and unhidden.”

She was dazed as the memories come flooding back, she gripped Illya for dear life as she fell back against the wall and slid down into sitting. Her mouth agape as she found no words to speak.

“Really sorry about that...You might keep feeling like that from anywhere to a few hours to a few weeks. I had to get you to see what I saw. And why I can’t just let it go.” Aayan said, almost using Solace as a cane.

Tears began to brim from her eyes, her mind twisted and tugging in multiple directions and it showed as she appeared to be fighting herself. Wanting to both stand yet sit, legs twitching and body shaking, her eyes kept changing between anger, confusion, sadness, and joy.

Meanwhile…

Deep inside the fortress, the Lord of the Manor was busying himself with setting up a large, complex rune made of charcoal on the cobblestone floor. His ears twitching to listen for anything though not paying too great amount of attention as he began to sprinkle enchanting dust over the rune.


The stone wall made a sound of it being bashed open, he turned around to see an outstretched hand reach out for him, the arm wrapped around the San’layn’s neck to pin him onto the wall. A familiar voice was heard muffled on the other side of the wall “Did you miss me?”. The San’layn’s robes were coated in dust and rubble as another hole was punched in through the wall. Grant’s head poked out of it, his collar lowered to reveal his long white beard, with his jaw wide open to bite down hard on the neck of the San’layn, much to his surprise.

He struggled to break free but that only make it easier for Grant to bite down harder on his neck, he felt Light magic pouring into his body at an alarming rate, making the part of the neck that was bitten visually glow and crack. Grant finally let go of the San’layn and retreat back into the wall, the elf falling down and quickly back up away from the wall and holding onto the bite mark with much surprise.

Grant on the other side of the wall could be heard coughing and spitted on the other side of the wall, “By the Light, your blood tastes foul! It tastes like someone left fish to rot in the sun for a month.”

“What the ever-loving fuck is wrong with you?!” The Lord screeched, staring down the clearly insane man.

Grant began to kick down the stone walls in his way between him and the San’layn, speaking out as he did such, “You tell me, you’re the one that does this for a living.”

“Why would a MORTAL bite a San’layn?!” He scowls in bewilderment.

Grant managed to make a big enough hole in the wall so he could get closer to the San’layn, his collar lowered to reveal a devilish grin on his lips. Grant taps on his own neck as he speaks, “Holy magic is painful for someone like you, deadly even. I injected a fair bit of holy magic into your body, enough to cause your body to betray you and wither away. The process will be excruciatingly painful.” He chuckled softly, placing a hand on his hip, “I figured it would be a poetic way to kill you.”

The Lord’s eyes went wide as he began channeling magic. Time to zoinks out!

Grant’s hand extended out to summon a brief flicker of shadow magic to silence the San’layn, causing his magic to no longer answer him for the duration of the spell. “Oh, the horror on your face is sweet, finally feeling the sting of mortality again?” Grant began to remove his gloves to reveal his skin to be cracked by the Light, the cracks glowing gold from the magic within it. “You have a week, and there's no creature in this world and the next one to save you, it'd sure be a shame to have you just process the horror and not be here long enough to see it come through fully.”


Grant’s hand went up to grasp onto his hat “You may have escaped death, but there is nothing you can try to escape me. I know for certain I am much more sadistic when it comes to my victims than death.” He tossed his hat to the side to reveal a pair of pure golden eyes staring down at the San’layn, a wolf staring down its prey before the kill. “The fear in your heart is sinking in, but I want it to erupt into a spectacle. I'm going to crash down everything you’ve ever built, and there is nothing you can do but run. A fate more merciful than the thousands of lives you’ve brought to ruin due to your gluttony and pride.”

His body flared up in vibrant golden light, the earth began to quake and rumble under the powers he began to command, the mansion they stood upon bursted into holy fire, the quakes of the earth signaling the doom of the building. Its fate to crack down into rubble.

He stood, moving his hand from his neck that was flaking and blackening from the light turning on him. He tried to make his way for the door, clearly concerned about something other then his impending doom.

Grant began to follow behind, walking forward as the mansion begins to crack and crumble slowly under the pressure of the power he was channeling, “Not used to running it seems, you should learn fast.”

“Madman.” He mutters as he rushed through the hallways.