Heavenly Exchanges [Inactive]

[Lillian Gray]

Lillian Gray submitted a new role play:


Heavenly Exchanges - A private 1x1 for Lillian Gray and SBMWaugh

A knight on the battlefield makes way to all of the most challenging opponents. The angel takes notice, and they make an agreement. She will satisfy his need for challenge, if she helps him to find something he needs.
Bringing back a loved one is a terrible curse.

Read more about this role play... 
War was waged some time ago. To Faida, it was nothing more than a passing moment in time. Although, this fleeting blink of an eye intrigued her. More or less, it was a man who intrigued her. His hulking frame and strong capable hands cut down every enemy in his path. The pure power and strength that came from the one man alone was enough to bring her closer to Earth.


She'd never stepped foot on the soil, didn't dare to. Humans craved to pluck feathers from her wings, take her blood, or take advantage of the Angels. It was a rare occasion indeed when one came to Earth, but rumors spread quickly, and it wouldn't be long before the world knew of her existence.


That much didn't matter. As Faida mused of the various punishments that she could inflict upon the humans who tried to catch her, she stopped short in her tracks. No conflict. No interference. Stay calm. But not interfering would be a difficult task indeed, as she spied the one human who'd held her attention from the time he was a mere child. Something in his spirit seemed to radiant with an effervescent glow of strength.


Faida would wait for the opportune moment to make herself known. Soon, though. She would.

 

[SBMWaugh]

Pale blue eyes gazed listlessly at the emerging structures of the town in the distance. He had already passed through in his search but had found no useful leads. The dripping of blood from his sword spoke louder than words at what had happened there though. As with many places he now visited, there were those who feared and despised him. His reputation preceded him wherever he went now. Most were cowed by it but occasionally there were those who were riled by it. Some of the townsfolk had thought that his prowess had been exaggerated and had approached him with ill intent. To those foolish and brave enough to enter within striking range with weapons drawn, he had dispatched them from this world rather quickly. The rest were divided. The smart acknowledged their own fear and fled. The stupid gave into the rage at seeing their fellows cut down and quickly followed in their footsteps. If any could have been gleamed from the town, he had lost the possibility of learning it when he had cut so many down. With nothing keeping him there, he had moved on.


Looking back however, emotions raged inside him. They never reached the surface but he pitied the men he had killed and felt sorry for their families. But killing had become such a large part of his life that he no longer hesitated when faced with the task. He kept casualties to a minimum by not attacking those who lost the will to fight or who came to him unarmed. But was that enough? The families that survived those he killed would say no. He could retire his sword and go live a life of solitude somewhere. This wouldn't be the first time that he thought of it but he couldn't. Not when there was a chance to bring her back.


His resolve returned he turned from the town and continued on his way. There would be other establishments in which he could learn more of what he sought. Even if he didn't know exactly where he was going now he knew at least he was heading the right direction. The last clue that he had found was that it lay in the direction of the setting sun.

 

[Lillian Gray]

"This is nice." Faida murmured silently, she followed the lone swordsman in a bit of a haze. Even if he wanted to, the man couldn't see her, not when she wasn't touching the soil. She reached out a pale hand and traced it along the blade, blood trailed after the faint shadow her hand left on the shining metal.


She'd seen him fight before, many times in fact. The way he swung his blade was like a master, yet he was still so young to be called by the title. At least as far as humans aged, she believed. Faida wanted to see him do it one more time, maybe then she'd make herself known, for now she simply followed, her feet hovered casually over the Earth.


As soon as she touched down though, the man would be able to see her, so she was especially cautious so the magic would not wear down. He might come after her, too. Humans. Such greedy things.


Faida rested her arms on his shoulders so he might feel a pressure of her existence, her head bent over as if to whisper into his ear. She didn't say anything though, and simply lingered until his next opponent might come forward.

 

[SBMWaugh]

Exalted. It had been a meaningless word to him once. Just some rumor spread by those who did not understand what it truly meant. Then he had become one of these rare individuals. The word took on a different meaning to him once the ignorance was lifted from his mind. He had trained his talents through the trial of blood and steel and had reached the peek of his human ability. He had found the truest expression of himself and in doing so was raised to new heights. Thus the true meaning of the word was revealed to him. With it came an increase in power but that was not all. He could now do things that other mortals could not. Among these new abilities was a sort of sixth sense. It still was not fully developed but it lent itself to revealing that he had not been alone. Unable to locate the source of this feeling, he returned his attention once more to his immediate surroundings. If he had any doubt that he was not alone before, he no longer doubted. There were obvious signs of human passage around him. Not just along the dirt road either. He saw broken shrubbery to either side of the path. He could feel eyes one him. And he was ready for what was to come.


Seeing his amour, the bandits around him hesitated to approach. But he was just one man and they were five. There was no way that he could take them all on. Or so they thought having not heard of the Bloody Knight. Revealing themselves from the tree line, they surrounded him and drew their weapons. "Give us all you've got and we won't kill you," the leader said with every intention of killing the man afterwards. Standing stock still with his sword still in his hand, Dakeyras cast an icy stare into all those around him. It unnerved some but nothing more than what followed. "Put your weapons down and walk away and I won't kill you," he warned. The leader didn't head this warning and took a step towards him. Slashing the air, everyone stopped. Then blood sprayed profusely from a large slash to the man's chest. They couldn't understand what had just happened. He hadn't actually hit the man. How was something like this possible?


One of the younger men charged forward suddenly. When the Knight turned his deathly gaze upon him however he stumbled. Dropping his sword, he fell back on his haunches. The blade that would have surely bisected him changed its angle so that it did not hit him. He thought that he had gotten lucky but it was an intentional change. Dakeyras did not kill the unarmed. Another two men attacked him and did not stumble under his glare. They accepted their own deaths. The remaining two high tailed and ran. With the conflict over, the knight continued on his way unfazed by what had happened.

 

[Lillian Gray]

"Dakeyras." The angel gripped tight to his shoulders and whispered into his ear. She fell closer to the Earth and an eerie mist enveloped the space her body should have been, as if preparing to bring her to life. Blood and dirt swirled in the ground below her. The Earth knew she was there, but the Knight did not.


"Let's make a deal." She cooed into his ear and finally dropped herself from around his shoulders.


Faida grinned and finally took a few steps down to the Earth. In a break of pure white against the darkened path, she was impossibly bright and circled the bloodied scene. Her bare feet paced through the blood, she grimaced slightly but continued to pace around the man. As mist and blood circled her, she came into full view. Made of nothing more than the lightest of colors, even her eyes were white as snow, only made clear by an outer black ring.


"Dakeyras, no?" Faida asked, twisting her hands around her long braid of white hair, her eyes searching the man's frame up and down. An attractively tall and powerful man, she was drawn to him in that way. But it didn't matter. "Do you know what I am, Dakyras? I've come to offer you something, if we can come to an accord."

 

[SBMWaugh]

And so the specter appeared before him. It looked almost ethereal at first but slowly become more corporeal as mist and blood swirled around it. He had suspected that something, if not someone, had been watching him. Looking her over as she did him, he could feel a sense of the divine. This was an otherworldly creature. Of that he could be sure. But there was something about her that stirred something in him. The way she looked. It wasn't so much in the paleness of her features but rather the shapeliness of them. It hurt to look at her too long and it wasn't his eyes that hurt. There was a pain in his heart. Something personal. It subsided momentarily when she addressed him. She knew his name yet he knew not hers. More so she asked and offered some curious things.


"You are an Angel," he stated simply. He had heard of such beings in the past but hadn't thought much of them. No one he had known had ever seen one and so he questioned their existence. When she had asked him if he knew what she was, it was the first thing that came to mind. It was strange standing before something that was so clearly non-human. Many would consider him inhuman but not in the way that she was. He was a monster to be feared and destroyed. She was something to be collected and studied. Looking at her, he could understand what others would want. It was tempting to just reach out and take her but the pain in his chest stopped him.


Taking a breath to let the pain and temptation pass, he looked into her white eyes as he searched for answers there. When he could find none he asked, "What could I possibly offer you?" He had heard possibilities of what an Angel could do for him but that didn't interest him as much as what she could want from him. He was good for one thing. Killing. What could an Angel want with such a man?

 

[Lillian Gray]

"Very good." She smiled, pink lips which twisted in a sweet yet wicked way. Faida was no demon, no, but her interests were beyond normal angelic tastes. The angel was an oddity, even among other divine beings, she studied humans out of sight and tried to figured out what made them tick. It was always humans who fought so hard to get what they wanted, whereas angels, even some demons, preferred to stand by and never look.


However, if they'd only stop to take a look at the man before her, there would be a flicker of interest. Humanity, while vastly complex and incredibly unpredictable, felt emotions they were incapable of. True fear, and love, and fear. Faida held too much power to ever feel as if she were in a dangerous situation. Then there was this lone soldier. She didn't know what he wanted. There was something there, but she wasn't sure.


"Protection." She offered up the idea. "I'm curious, and there's something you must want. So tell me, what is it?" Faida asked him with open arms. "What are you looking for?" There must be something.

 

[SBMWaugh]

Dakeyras considered what she wanted. It made sense based off of all that he knew of Angels. They were much sought after despite appearing so rarely. Many would pay handsomely to possess her while others would kill indiscriminately for the opportunity. She would need someone to protect her if she planned on spending any prolonged amount of time on the earth. And of all the people she could come to for protection it certainly made sense for her to appear before him. But her answer only begged the further question of exactly what was she after? As dangerous as it was for one of her kind on earth, there must be some reason that she had decided to descend. She had already told him what she wanted from him however and he saw no reason to pursue his own curiosity. Just protecting her intrigued him. Many strong warriors would come searching for her, whether it be of their own violation or at the behest of some rich patron.


"There is an artifact that is rumored to bring the dead back to life," he stated. Letting his blue eyes meet her white ones he added determinedly, "I will bring our daughter back to life." It took a moment for him to realize what he had said. It took a moment longer to realize why he had said it. The colour was wrong, he remembered her with dirty blonde hair and the liveliest green eyes, but the creature that stood before him otherwise looked like the spitting image of his deceased wife. His mind reeled at the realization. He had to fight the urge to reach out and touch her face to make sure she was real. But he knew better than to doubt his new sense. She was definitely there. Why did she look so much like his wife though? Was it a coincidence? Could she be his Sera? Or was this some twisted game that it was playing with him.


Tightening his grip on his sword he demanded of her, "Why do you look like Serah?"

 

[Lillian Gray]

Serah. It was his wife. Faida remembered watching the day she died, Dakeyras she paid much attention to after that day. Such a tragedy, and he responded so brutally. Even the child perished. A pity, truly it was. Angels didn't often watch the Earth, but when people died in such horrible ways, it was a topic of conversation for at least the day it occurred. A murder out of revenge, and in return, Dakeyras killed them.


"Your wife. A pity, it really was. Even angels were watching that day." Faida commented, her eyes looked down to the blood and dirt before her. The emotion, pity, it was difficult for her to understand except for in a moment like this. She felt something rise in her chest that wished the situation was different, that what happened was wrong, it was the closest she would ever come to feeling pity. "But I am not Serah. Nor do I know why I look like her, I simply am."


The angel rose her head once more and let her small wings breath for a moment, the tips just barely reached past her waistline, and were thin enough to only poke a few inches past her shoulders. She felt safe enough letting them loose, now that Dakeyras knew what she was. Angels did indeed have the wings of legend, although no one had a golden halo, so the image fit when they came to touch down on the Earth.


"My name is Faida." She suddenly announced, realizing she'd never said her name. "I will help you find this object, so long as you protect me." Faida plucked a feather from her wings, it glowed in her hands as she held it out for the man to take. "Accept, and hold on to this, as it marks our contract. Do we have a deal?"


Bright white eyes gleamed up at the knight, a foot taller, as she waited for him to accept. She knew he would, humans would never turn down a deal with something so divine.

 

[SBMWaugh]

His anger didn't pass right away but the more she spoke the more it left him. Eventually his hold on his sword went lax until he decided to return it to its sheath on his back, though not before flicking the blade to toss the blood onto the ground. He could only accept her word that it had not been by some design of hers to appear as she did before him. And if there was nothing that either could do to change that then there was nothing more that could be done. Putting it behind him, he listened to her promise of helping him find the artifact so long as he agreed to protect her. She then offered him one of her feathers in what she claimed to be some form of contract.


Had she appeared before him in his youth then he would have undoubtedly accepted her offer. As it stood now he had already been burned one too many times by oaths of fealty. First in the death of his wife. He didn't blame her for being killed but his loyalty to her still ended in heartache. And then by his King who had forbidden him from exacting justice on those who had killed his family and his subsequent dishonorable termination as one of his Lord's Knights.


Brushing her hand, and the feather, away, he stated, "Keep your contract. If I'm to protect you it shall be of my own compulsion. Not that of some divine contract. And if you are to help me it shall also be at your own volition." Pushing forward, he no longer desired to remain at the scene of such bloodshed. He heard flowing water not so far away and so headed in that direction. He could use a drink and a wash. Even if the stories about him stated that he reveled in bloodbaths, it wasn't so.

 

[Lillian Gray]

He brushed her hand away to reject the offer. Faida hadn't expected this, yet another example of the nature of humans. So unpredictable. She liked that, it kept them interesting. However, his offer was just as valid as hers. A human could make a contract as well, but she'd started it, and it only felt fair to offer up a feather in exchange. It wouldn't go back into her wings now, so she tied it into her hair as a symbol of their pact. He might not care, but she felt the need to keep it present.


Faida followed on bare feet, not bothered by the dirt and blood squishing beneath her toes. It was a new sensation for her entirely. She found it wasn't a pleasant one, she wanted to wash it away as soon as she was able. Dakeyras headed in one direction, and so the girl followed. Now that she was actually on the Earth, it was more foreign to her. The sounds of nature, birds, small twigs breaking underneath the feet of some unknown creature, even the way the light hit her skin were all different compared to the way she normally viewed humans. It was always from above so as not to get close to the ground. Like a spirit, she hovered in the air before, merely watching, never listening or noticing anything else.


"I will still help you." She asserted as she followed close behind. Her feet barely made any noise against the ground. "Humans, you're an interesting bunch."

 

[SBMWaugh]

It didn't take long for them find the small river. Nor did it take long for him to start his business there. Removing his armor until he stood there in his small-clothes. Walking over to the riverside, he knelt down and cupped some water in his hand that he then splashed in his face and drank. Grabbing a cloth tucked away into his armor he then wiped down the metal and rid it of the blood that spattered it. Once his gear had been taken care of he then stood once more by the waters edge as he removed the rest of his clothes and jumped into the water.


Diving in, he came up closer to the middle where he could stand comfortable and wash his body. Throughout it all he had practically ignored the angel. Looking at her too long still bothered him and he still had yet to determine how exactly she would be able to help him. Had she any personal knowledge of what he sought? Perhaps. But it wasn't like she wasn't still there. He need not guess. Only ask.


Still standing in the river, the current hardly bothering him, he finally looked her way. "How is it you plan on helping me?" He asked curious.

 

[Lillian Gray]

Faida stepped to the edge of the water and sat down with the edge of the river lapping over her bloody feet. With her hands she washed away the grime until her skin glowed once more with aid from the sun. On Earth, she always appeared to be glowing in this aspect.


At his question, the angel looked up, somewhat amused by his question. While angels knew nearly everything about humans and their capabilities, the reverse was not true. "If you protect my body, I'll be able to look." If he was confused, she gave further explanation to her answer. "Think of it as an out of body experience. Give me time, and I can find what you're looking for. It may take a few days on Earth, but it will feel more like a few years for me. I'll scour the Earth as nothing more than a simple ray of light."


Angels had many abilities. Humans may have referred to them as miracles or magic, but Faida did not. It was simply an aspect of her everyday life. If she wanted to disappear, all she had to do was remove herself from the Earth and she'd be gone. Heaven really wasn't so far away. Not up in the clouds, or deep in space, but really much closer. On Earth itself. Some preferred to keep hidden in the air, forming mass cities in which no human could see. Others hid deep in the mountains where they would never be found touching the Earth there. All angels had the ability to choose to be seen or not. The rest depended on the person. All of this, she could explain in due time. For now, it was too much.


"I've got the Sight." Faida continued on, explaining the odd ability. "You've told me what you're looking for. I can leave my body here while you guard it, and I'll be able to find it and lead you to it. I do many things this way when I'm curious. It takes less time to get an answer. Of course, I could always ask another of my kind, but we're not so keen on bringing the dead back to life. It's unnatural."

 

[SBMWaugh]

As Faida explained her ability Dakeyras finished bathing and began to put his armor back on. He had only gotten the lower half back on before she finished. Sitting there with his chest still bare he considered all that she had said. Whereas he should have been surprised he found that he was not. This ability was not one that was unknown to him. He had saved a Priest during his travels that had professed to having a similar gift. It was part of how he had withstood the bandit's torture by escaping his body to flee from the pain. At the time Dakeyras had little to no interested in what the Priest had confessed to be able to do but looking back he realized that neither had he doubted the man. The world was full of strange things and this Angel was no exception.


"How soon can you begin searching?" The sooner the better in his mind. No place was safe for them and so it mattered to him not where the conflict arose. But perhaps she would prefer to be lying in a bed while she searched. He didn't know the needs of one such of herself and so would not assume one way or the other. All he was interested in was finding the artifact.


He would have defended his quest to her. Tell her about how the natural world and the monstrosities that it ushered on the living. His daughter had not deserved to die, least of all how she had. And if that wasn't unnatural then he cared not for what was natural or not. He only wanted to give another chance at life to one that he thought deserved it. He cared not for the opinions of others and would make it happen one way or the other. But such arguments were unneeded. She had already agree to help him and so there was nothing to worry about. All he wanted now to know was how soon they could begin.

 

[Lillian Gray]

Faida stood from her spot against the edge of the water and brushed dirt from her clothes. Her wings fluttered softly behind her, not yet used to being tucked so tightly behind her. She tried to keep them folded in. After all, on Earth, she'd be walking more places than flying to them. Simply because it attracted less attention, not that the angel wings themselves didn't already turn heads she would imagine.


"I can start as soon as you'd like." Faida told Dakeyras, being simple and honest was the best way to go. "I do not require anything while I'm out of my body, other than your protection. It's an incredibly vulnerable state, and if I'm taken or fatally wounded, I fear I'll never wake up. Even an Angel can be killed."


This wasn't uncommon for those with the Sight. Humans would spend too long in the state and grow hungry, or too thirsty, their stomachs eating their bodies from the inside out. Angels had more resistance, as they didn't require so much food or water. Faida could go for years without eating if she wanted, it was more of a luxury than anything else, no longer necessary in her form.


"Anywhere safe, or anywhere you can defend me." Faida continued. "Then I can start, and in a few days time, I will wake up, and we can start our journey."

 

[SBMWaugh]

Dakeyras once more took her words into consideration as he donned the rest of his armor. Holding his helmet at his side he turned to her as he considered where they were and those places that they were likely to find in any direction around them. There was the town in which he had recently passed through behind them. After what had happened though he did not think it wise to head back there. The next town wasn't for some ways though if they continued to follow the road. There was a lot of forest between them and it with some mountains that would be coming up to the west. But perhaps all that open space was more a blessing than a curse. They only needed then to find some cabin in which to stay while she searched. There were likely many hunting cabins which they could find either nearby or at least not too far away.


"There should be a unused hunting cabin somewhere either in the forest or nearby mountains that we can use," he explained. They would need to use her ability to find one though if they didn't want to waist time searching for one by foot. But he would not put that burden on her shoulders if she did not want it. They were exposed here by the river which could lead to them being attacked. He did not doubt his ability to protect her from any that would stumble across them here but that was not his risk to take.

 

[Lillian Gray]

For a few moments she thought about how much time it would take. For her to traverse the entire globe, it could take her those few days she promised, that was if she had a general idea of where she was searching. Hopefully, Dakeyras had some idea, otherwise it might take weeks instead. The information she kept to herself though, not wanting to delay his trip any further. She was curious, after all, Faida wanted to observe the Earth from below, and he was the best way to do so. Delaying his trip, wasting his time, was not the way to do that, it went against his favor.


Faida could find the cabin in a matter of hours if he kept her safe, less if she assumed correctly. The mountainous area was littered with trees and rivers, there had to be something in between. Somewhere. All she had to do was find it.


"Just watch over my body, I'll find it." Faida offered up, not waiting for him to respond. Again, she wouldn't waste his time.


The angel moved away from the dirt path and the flowing river, onto the side of the road. There was a spot of grass just perfect for her, and so she sat down cross legged and bent her body forward, her hands pressed together at the end of each fingertip, as if holding a ball in her hands. Quietly, she started to whisper to herself a prayer for protection, a habit she just couldn't break. The only time she hadn't prayed, she'd nearly lost her body, something she never wanted to happen again.


Her voice still quiet, to the point where even Dakeyras wouldn't have been able to pick up the pitch, her lips moved with her prayer until her head shot back, her already white eyes turned pitch black as her soul, as humans would refer, left her body entirely.

 

[SBMWaugh]

Donning his helmet as they walked back to the roadside, Dakeyras watched the girl as she sat and began to meditate. Before long her head shot back and her eyes darkened. It had happened much the same way with the Priest those years ago but this was different. The contrast between the whiteness that preceded the darkness in her eyes was eerie. But there was nothing more that he could do now accept wait for her soul to return and to protect her body in the meantime. He did not expect too much trouble in the meantime. Those from the town before would not soon leave with him so freshly passed through and the road going along the way he had been headed had been infested with bandits. It was unlikely that many would risk it.


Little did he know that two forces were currently mustering against him. The bandit that he had let live had not gone far before the Angel had appeared. Looking back and seeing their brief exchange on the road before running off, the image of her had been engraved in his mind and he had determined to grab a bigger force of bandits and return. Back at the village though, the more dangerous of the two threats stirred. A group of Knights led by one of his old comrades continued their search for him. Though none of them were exalted like himself, most were close enough and would give him some trouble in direct combat. They did not know about the Angel though and it would be even more difficult to tell how they'd react once they saw her. Would they be driven mad like the Bandit and hound them down or would their honor persist and keep them from the degenerative mental effects of the celestial being?

 

[Lillian Gray]

Faida left her body, nothing more than a slight discoloration in the air, but no one would see it unless she stayed in place for long enough. There wasn't the time or need to do so though. If Dakeyras really wanted to try and spot her, it would have to be another time.


Slowly, she moved through the trees like a short burst of wind would through its branches, swiftly taking in the environment around her. There was a large cliff, so she avoided the space so as not to make the journey difficult. The angel moved further East, finding nothing more than the river flowing into a large lake. It was promising, she had to think. So, she moved around the edge in search of anything that could mark human life. An overturned boat, a path, even a cabin itself.


Her body, still back near Dakeyras, was nothing more than a husk. The white hair around her head seemed to hover the longer she stayed in the trance like state. Her black eyes trailed after her soul, twitching uncontrollably, making the whole scene as eerie a the moment they'd turned pitch black.

 

[SBMWaugh]

Looking at her still stirred emotions in him better left forgotten and so he had taken up watching their surroundings. He hadn't expected to be discovered so quickly but down the road from the direction of the Town, he saw them marching. He could see the light reflecting off their armor but more so he saw the man leading them. He was a tall man, standing a couple inches taller than even Dakeyras, with a lean corded muscled physique. His armor didn't reflect light as much as it absorbed in into its black surface. Unlike Dakeyras who favored a great sword, this man carried dual swords sheathed crossing his lower back. This would not be easy.


"Sir Templeman. I can't say that is a pleasure to see you again," he said to the Knight Commander as the squad came to a stop a safe distance from him. They knew what he was capable of, having once served beside him. And not all of them felt that he was unjustified in his actions, though none of them would admit that aloud. Regardless of how they felt though they had been given orders to apprehend him and return him so that he could face the King's justice. Of those Knights that the old King had at his disposal, this was a group of them that had been deemed to stand the best chance at succeeding with their quest. And they could nearly have succeeded if they had been the only ones after him that day.


With one of their camps nearby, the Bandit had been able to rally a sizable group of his comrades to hunt down the Knight. Though he had withheld that it had been a single person who had killed all the others, the misinformation served him well when they came upon the scene of the Knights facing off. That way it looked as if they all were working together and maybe were having some disagreement. Which wasn't far from the truth. They all did once work together and were having a dispute.


Before the exchange between Dakeyras and his old friend could go much further all chaos ensued. The bandits charged in from their hiding spots and started attacking everyone. Though it did not take any one of the knights long to cut down their assailants, they still had left themselves open. Taking advantage of the situation, Dakeyras sliced through the air killing bandits instantly but only injuring some of the Knights. While his men fought however, the Bandit instigator had sneaked up behind and gone to grab Faida. Turning around, a moment of recognition occurred between the Bandit and Dakeyras before the fallen Knight slashed out. Knowing what the man was capable of, the Bandit got out of the way. He managed to avoid being decapitated but still ended up losing his left arm at the elbow. Stifling a scream, he scampered off while Dakeyras was once more engaged with the other Knights.


Sir Templeman had saw an opening and rushed towards his opponent. Dakeyras was too quick and brought his sword up to defend the cross slash of his former ally. "We don't have to do this now. Retreat and tend to your men's injuries. I will live on for you to try again," he pleaded not wanting to kill good men.


"You will be coming back with us," Templeman retorted as he stepped back to allow two of his men to step between them and launch a counter attack. The three of then began hounding their target not giving Dakeyras room to both attack and defend. At least not without resorting to deadly force which he had thus far been trying to avoid.


With a look of complete sorrow, Dakeyras muttered, "This is your doing." Recognizing the change in his old friend's contenence, Templeman ordered a retreat but did so too late. No longer holding back, Dakeyras began moving forward. Cutting through the two who had been pressing him. Launching more powerful slashes back at the group, Templeman was stunned to see that he could only just defend against them. From the grunting and yelling behind him he figured that his men had not been able to. He instantly called for a full retreat. Those stil able grabbed those less able and the group left.


The conflict was over. Faida remained safe, if not a little bloody, and he had not been forced to kill his old friend. Planting his sword in the ground, he stood there before Faida waiting for her soul to return to her body.

 

[Lillian Gray]

There was indeed a small cabin just half a mile from the edge of the lake. If they followed the stream East, it would only take a half a day to reach it she had to guess, that was at a maximum. Pleased with what she'd discovered, she had long began the trek back to her body when the fighting had ceased. Along the way she'd seen the blood, the bandits fleeing, even a group of Knights.


Oh no. No, no, no.





Stuck in her form, she willed herself to move as fast as she could, praying her body would still be in the same spot she'd left it. For if it was not, she'd have to find it herself. As long as it was alive she could return to it. If it was not? She would have ceased to exist entirely, it was the only way she could tell she had to still be alive at least. It was some comfort, but not a full relief.


Faida reached the riverbank where they'd stopped, and cheered upon the discovery of her body being protected by Dakeyras. The whole bloody scene didn't phase her, and instead she slipped into her body.


She inhaled deeply, her eyes leaked the black fluid that once filled them, leaving gruesome stains on her cheeks. It wasn't blood, simply a reaction of her soul returning, a common side effect. Faida pressed herself into the grass and shut her eyes, tired from the session. She wanted to sleep a little, but knew they'd need to get moving soon, else the bandits and knights would come back.


"There's a cabin." Half panting, half yawning, she described it's location downriver. "We can make it in half a a day, tops." She stayed in the grass, her chest rising and falling as she breathed in as much air as she could manage. It was hard, the Sight, but she'd manage. She always did.

 

[SBMWaugh]

Lifting his sword from the ground, he sheathed it on his back as she came to. He noticed the streams of black liquid from her eyes but did not draw attention to it. If it was something to concern himself about then she would likely be similarly concerned. That she was not was sign enough for him. Listening to her description of where the cabin was, he nodded. He had hopped to find something more secluded and away from the water but if it could not be avoided then so be it. "Very well. Let us get on then," he stated as he began walking not bothering to see if she was following. He had not had any companionship in some time and had no skill, or interest, in starting small talk with the Angel. There were many things in this world that he did not understand. Those things he just accepted at face value. So it was with her. He did not understand what or where Angels came from. He did not know the depth of her powers. But neither did her care about such things.


The sun slowly began its descent as they walked. He continued at a constant pace regardless of the level of light. His senses were so well tuned that he could move freely without incident even in the dark of night. They had more pressing concerns then the light. Those Knight's would return before long. The question was just how long? He knew that the Black Knight would be pushing for it sooner rather than later. But neither would he disregard the health of his men. They had been a good group. Well coordinated and able to adequately defend themselves. If left unhindered they could make for an entertaining challenge. Templeman for sure. He was close to awakening his own power. Would it be enough to close the gap between them though? Dakeyras could not say for certain but he was excited to find out.

 

[Lillian Gray]

Faida cleaned her face in the river before she had to sprint to quickly catch up with her new 'partner' if she could even say that. He didn't speak, didn't look her way once he'd set out for the cabin. She didn't mind, but she was also curious to ask him a fair amount of questions. Things such as what humans ate, why they really fought, and emotions. Complex feelings such as rage and jealousy. It wasn't to say Angels were incapable of feeling them, they simply never had reason to in times of relative peace. Faida herself had been born in an era of calm between the divine forces. Would Dakeyras bother to explain such things to her though?


Her feet wore down quickly as they walked. Twigs, rocks, and other things of the like found their way to puncture her feet. She had to remind herself that here, she needed protection from the elements. There were other things that dragged her attention away from the path, though. If Dakeyras took a moment to turn around all he would find was an aloof girl, just barely five feet tall, running between bushels of unknown berries, and to patches of colorful flowers. Some of which she plucked and tucked behind her ears. She was fascinated by the world below, elated to touch what she'd only seen from above.


So, when the lake came into view, she darted past the knight and splashed into the water's edge. The cabin was on the other side, so they'd have to walk around still, but the view was greater in person. Small waves lapped against her pale skin, and the sand squished in her toes. It was both irritating to her scratches, and a relief to them from the cool water.


"There." She pointed across the lake, just about halfway across. "There should be a small cabin just on the other side." Faida stayed in the water, she reached to pick up the ends of her white garb of clothes. It was nothing more than fabric draped and wound tightly from her chest to her shins. "It's safe."

 

[SBMWaugh]

Dakeyras narrowed his eyes as he peered across the lake to see the cabin on the other side. It did not stand out as much as he had feared it might but it would still not throw off their pursuers should they be followed. Being so close to the lake also did not bode well in his mind for it heightened the chance that they would be stumbled upon by strangers seeking the fresh water. She assured him that it was safe though which he merely accepted. Anything that could trouble them he would deal with when the time came.


Walking to the cabin, he found it much as he had expected. It was dusty but otherwise well kept. This was a place for travelers to stop and would be left how it was found by any respectful person who stopped by. The previous occupant had done just so. There were fresh logs by the fireplace. Even spare clothing for both genders of various sizes. The cookery was washed and any leftover food was properly put away. The sight brought a rare smile to his face. To see such a place unmolested and well taken care of was something to be admired.


"This place will suffice. It will be a little while still before we have to worry about being followed," he commented over his shoulder as he moved further into the cabin. Removing his armor, he donned one of the spare sets of clothes. He had to take the larger set for his bulk but even so it was slightly too big for him. Tying down what he needed to, he similarly tied back his long brown hair. This way he looked like a well endowed farmer. It would be enough to not draw attention should they been discovered by some unknowns.


Having caught at how tired she had seemed after her last attempt, he did not expect Faida to use the sight again so soon. Instead he threw some logs into the fireplace and started a fire. It had been a while since last he had ate and there appeared to be just enough food left over for them to make a stew. "There is some cured meat and vegetables stowed away. Prepare them for a stew while I fetch water," he told her as he stood and grabbed the pole with the two large water buckets dangling from either end. He made it look effortless but the weight of the pole and buckets alone would stagger some. Filled up it would be near on impossible for someone unaccustomed to such work.

 

[Lillian Gray]

Stew. The word was indeed familiar to the girl, but she'd never made it for herself. Over the course of her lifetime, she didn't remember preparing any meal at all, so when Dakeyras asked, her face fell and she could only stare at the ingredients she'd fetched. The meat was whole, raw, and it struck her as strange that it could be eaten at all. It couldn't be thrown into a pot by itself, so she began to cut it into smaller, bite sized pieces. This is right, I think. Then, the same for the various vegetables. There were onions, a few carrots. Things she was familiar with, but unfamiliar with the taste or general purpose.


Faida gave a good look at what she'd done and surmised it was mostly correct. They needed water, which Dakeyras had gone to fetch. So she walked the length of the cabin and took a look at the various clothes left out. None of it was her taste at all, so dark and bland compared to her entire color palette. White. She did give in though, and wrapped a long blue colored cloak around her shoulders. At least it would hide her wings if anyone found themselves staring for too long.


She sat back in front of the fire and laid herself flat on the floor, tired from having spent her first day on Earth looking for the cabin. It hadn't taken long, but it was tiresome all the same. It was warm, and the flames flickered carelessly in front of her, jumping between logs. Faida knew not to touch it. She wasn't so ignorant, but still, the swirl of colors urged her to reach out and grab hold.