Human, not human (actual rp)

[Cyrionessa]

"....ah, look who finally got worked up...." Isolde did something very uncharacteristic; she laughed out loud. "Well, my job here is done." Isolde's purple eyes suddenly looked very green and her appearance began to melt away into something different. When the morphing completed, there stood Soren, laughing raucously. "Did you really think we were going to let you talk to Isolde? Or even get near her?" A smirk covered his face. "Better get your little's sphinx's sight checked if she couldn't see this coming."


----


"Heh doesn't matter what you tell him." Habibah could probably calculate by now that Soren had played his hand. With the grace of a cat, she jumped up onto Andarus' back. "Sorry, Alex Tylwood, but I do believe that it's time for me to finish what Alex started." Her eyes glared forward, towards the female dorms. "It's time for him to lose."


----


"....you always give really short answers and get really quiet when I do this...." Aamor stayed right where she was with a content sigh. "Why is that?"

 

[MControl]

Renault was looking back and forth between the newly revealed soren and Alezarius, slightly confused. "Well, this was unexpected, but I still get to play with this beauty!" he says, tapping the obelisk lightly. "This here'll put the fear of... well, fear into you." Turning to Soren, he says, "I'm sorry, we haven't been introduced, I'm Renault, and I really don't like this guy. And you should probably pop outside for... five minutes?" Looking at Alex, he turns back and nods, "Yeah, five minutes should do it." Energetically reassuring and prodding him out the door, before turning around to face Alex. "Now, before you leave, to look frantically for Isolde, I have something I want to ask you." Touching his hand to the tip of the obelisk, a drop of blood ran from his palm, running down the surface of the stone, activating the glyphs and inscribed magics. "Tell me, What... Do You Fear?" as the obelisk activates, an arcane field fills the room, the Arcane formulae having been set to bind itself to just that room. In the typical egyptian style, anything that did not belong in the designated zone, was to be targeted, and in this room, there were two such targets. Fed by Renaults aura, the Obelisk gathered and focused all the repressed aura of fear, and sent it at those targets. Focused and modulated by the obelisk, the magic would overwhelm the target with fear and despair, dredging up old memories of pain and regret.


Renault smiled, and his form lost its human facade.

 

[Twizinator]

Alex resisted with all his might as the waves of terror slammed into him. He knew this was a mind affect, like his charisma, but on a larger scale, and that knowledge helped him keep it at bay. However, just as suddenly as it began, it stopped. Samuel stood just behind the obelisk, which was cracked from top to bottom. His uncontrolled telekinesis had lashed out at the object interfering with his mission. "That's enough, Renault," he said flatly. "Everyone...that's enough." The emotion in his eyes finally found definition: he was tired. He was tired of trying to help, tired of being used by people like Alex and Habibah...he was just tired of everything right now. He strode up to Alex, who had fallen to a knee. "Please, Alex. Just stop all this."


Alex stood, disturbingly calm for a few seconds. Suddenly, He grabbed Samuel by the throat and turned on his heel...


---------


The Kuragachi brothers took great pride in their speed and coordination. Despite all of their ability, they simply were no match for a phoenix. It's power was overwhelming for lesser demonic creatures like themselves. Aka opened his mouth to speak, to issue a retreat, when the wall of the girl's dorm exploded outwards. The entire wall of Isolde and Habibah's room had been blasted out by Alex, who had slammed Samuel through it by his throat. He still had the boy in his clutches, and his wings splayed out to sail over the grounds. He flew high into the sky and changed his grip, so he now held up Samuel's limp body by his collar.


Alex's face was contorted with rage, and he shouted - no, roared - at the top of his lungs. "ISOLDE, DAUGHTER OF LILTH, SUCCUBUS AND SEDUCER OF MORTALS! SURRENDER TO ME, OR SAMUEL DIES!"


"Oi," Ryrax spoke up. "That's against our deal. You said you wouldn't hurt this body if I stayed out of your way."


"His usefulness is up," Alex growled.


If Ryrax had teeth, he would have grit them. He remained silent as he carefully considered his next move.


--------


Sulfir gasped as he got the breath knocked out of him. His eyes bulged with fury, and gnashed his teeth at Sanz, hoping to take his right hand. Like father, like son.


--------


Adrian had finally made it back to the campus, after exchanging (likely very temporary) farewells with Anya. He was just in front of the main building where the headmaster's office was when he heard it. His eyes widened and his ever-present grin fell into a mouth agape expression of shock at Alex's statement. "Is that boy serious?!" he breathed. He barely heard a person exit the building as he turned in the direction of the dorms. Just as he was about to sprint over desperately to stop Alex, a hand found its place on his shoulder.


"Calm down, Kindjal," the man behind him said calmly. "You should attend to the other students. Leave Alex to me."


Adrian's eyes widened in surprise when he saw the man behind him. His crimson hair and gold-colored eyes were a sight he had not seen since his previous job. "...Yes sir," he finally answered.


The man started off, calmly and with long strides. The rhythmically clinking military saber at his left hip was well polished. He wore an immaculate black and red dress uniform that bore a badge of a dragon's head.

 

[Ixidor92]

Sanz grit his teeth as he twisted to the side, Sulfir's teeth taking out a chunk of his abdomen. Panic was starting to set in as he heard the declaration from Alex


"I don't--"


Sanz swung Gleipnir upwards, taking the aspect of Fenrir with it


"--have TIME for you anymore!"


Sulfir was slammed into the ground headfirst. Regardless of blood, he had to be unconscious after that. Sanz took a moment to breathe before the reality of his wound hit him. Blood was starting to pour down onto the ground


"Shit. Not good."


His eyes traveled back up to where Alex was hovering in the air


"Got to get there--"


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


There was a flash of light, then something large and fiery slammed right into Alex. The impact caused a minor shockwave as two large wings spread.


"And so now you show your true colors."


Armin was floating now just a few feet from Alex, having revealed his full phoenix form. He somehow had to get Samuel out of that behemoth's grip


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


Raziel was a bit confused by Aamor's question, until he thought about the answers he had been giving recently


"Well . . . it's just that quite a bit has happened over the last 24 hours hasn't it?"

 

[Cyrionessa]

From within her hiding place, Isolde could hear the destruction unfolding around her. Was this really all happening because of her? People were getting hurt because of one person's obsession. And she sat, cowering in the dark, while others defended her. Everyone, all her life, had defended her. She'd seen people die for her before. "...n-not again..." Samuel's cries of pain from before filled her ears. "Not ag-gain." Something within her began to stir.


----


Habibah felt a build-up of unknown energy. She didn't recognize its signature; who was it? Her attention went back to the one known as Samuel being choked by Alex. She saw Sanz's wounds. Armin had come in now to take on Alex. But, was even he enough for Alex? Would she have to enter the fray?


----


"NOT AGAIN!!!" The door to Aamor's crystalline room burst open and something powerful ran out of it. Two red horns pushed their way through her auburn hair. Something like fire surrounded her for a moment before fading away, burning away the normal clothing of the person. Its strides lengthened as ethereal bat wings appeared on her back. The pressure of something great cut through the air.


Isolde launched herself into he air as fast as she possibly could. Her trajectory was clear, as were her out-stretched claws. No more hiding. No more being protected. No more watching others get hurt. No more. In a second, she flew at Alex's form as Armin's shockwave caught him from behind. And in that second, two sets of claws tore at his face.


"LET HIM GO!"


----


Somewhere, in the darkness of the Abyss, a smile lighted on the most beautiful face in the world. A woman, sitting on her throne, surrounded by all sorts of men, felt the release of a power that she had been waiting to feel for years.


"...I do believe I'll be visiting the surface soon, my loves." She stood up and began walking, the males quickly moving out of her way. "Isolde is finally awake."


----


"...well, a lot has happened, I guess. I've gotten to figure out a lot of things here with you." Aamor re-positioned herself so that her back was resting against his side and his chin was resting on the top of her head. "Have you figured out anything here?"

 

[Twizinator]

Alex flew through the air, his true form starting to come out. He now sported a pair of horns himself, and from his elbows-down were covered in some kind of armor. "So now you come out, after letting this little shit - " he brandished Samuel like a ragdoll " - get smacked around like the pathetic pile of waste that he is. You want me to let him go?" He growled at Isolde before sneering evilly. "Fine, I'll let him go." Alex twisted and threw Samuel away from him, sending the boy careening towards the concrete below them. Before Isolde or Armin could charge after him, he attacked, flame and armored fist cruelly preventing either from saving Samuel.


------


As Samuel plummeted, heading for a spot near Habibah, a plume of majestic crimson flame shot up after him. It had the form of a human male, with majestic dragon's wings. It almost looked like Alex, but was more...regal. Just looking at it made one think that whoever or whatever it was, it could wipe the floor with the half-dragon in seconds. It sailed through the sky, the wings tucking behind it as it landed on a knee in front of Habibah. Before her stood the saber-bearing man, Samuel cradled in his arms. "Good day, my dear," he greeted Habibah gently and with a benevolent grin. His handsome features once again brought to mind Alex, in a way, but this man was older; more experienced; not an asshole. Where had his wings gone? They had simply disappeared. There weren't even tears at the back of his shirt. He rose, a fair bit taller than Habibah, and sat Samuel down at her feet. They boy was out cold. "I think I know of you...you are the demigod, the daughter of Bastet...Habibah Williams, correct?" He bowed respectfully, his handsome features caught in the light. "May I humbly ask that you take care of this boy for the moment? He has been through a lot, from what I gather." He straightened up, turning to look skyward at the three clashing figures. "You can relax now. I will handle Alex."


"Why are you leaving me with a cat...?" Ryrax grumbled quietly.

 

[MControl]

When the obelisk was shattered, the arcane energies went wild, and the backlash on Renault was terrible. A concentrated burst of pain, fear, and despair slammed into his body like it was a physical force, and his disfigured body collapsed to the ground. Unconscious, the Skinwalkers native mind raged against the bonds of its slavery, fueled by the energy released by the obelisk, but to no avail. All that occurred was an immense level of fear emanating from Renault's unconscious body as he lay there next to the shattered obelisk.

 

[Ixidor92]

Armin let out a screech and slammed his claws into Alex's form, slamming him against the nearby building. His gaze flew over to where Samuel was . . . and was surprised to find him in the arms of another Alex. No, wait. It wasn't Alex, it was someone else. Just someone very similar to Alex.


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


"I . . ."


Raziel scratched his head a bit


"I certainly discovered many things . . . I'm just not sure what I should do about them."


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


A red-robed figure walked seemingly from nowhere behind the saber-bearing man. It was the headmaster


"So good to see you again old friend. A pity that it had to be under such dire circumstances."

 

[Cyrionessa]

"You." Isolde's eyes were filled with fiery anger. "All because you wanted me. You hurt them." There was no stutter, no hesitation. Her body moved in seductive beauty, but her claws were poised to do damage. "I'll suck the life from you. You aren't worth the precious life in your body. I'll take away what you don't deserve." When the fire from his fist hit her, she took the hit to the arm. "Your flames. They tickle." She laughed and jumped to twist her way behind him. She grabbed him from behind and allowed her claws to sink into the flesh on his shoulders.


----


Habibah knelt down. "Shut up, ya annoying creature." Her eyes surveyed the damage; he was definitely going to need lots of medical attention and tons of recovery time. "This cat just might save your existence." With a heave, she slung Samuel's unconscious body over her shoulder and started to head towards the campus doctor.


----


"What did you discover if I may ask?" Aamor looked up curiously and innocently.

 

[Twizinator]

Alex didn't even flinch. "Laugh at this," he growled. Intense flames exploded from him, blasting Isolde away. He was wreathed in an inferno, and the armor scales crept up above his elbows until they covered his entire arm and shoulder area. His legs from the knees down also gained the same kind of armor, as if he suddenly had donned a pair of greaves. "I tried to be nice, I tried to be patient, but you just wouldn't behave would you? Their pain is on your head, Isolde, and if you continue, so will their lives. THIS IS WHAT BEFALLS THOSE THAT REFUSE MY LEADERSHIP!" he howled in anger. He wasn't even struggling to fight two versus one. His father had taught him how to fight, after all.


-------


Ignicus sighed. "A pity indeed, that my own son should embarrass me like this. I keep hoping he'd have grown next time I visit, and he keeps disappointing me. That boy of mine has such potential yet he squanders it with his selfishness..."


"Wait, your son?" Ryrax interjected. "Seriously? You sired that little shit?"


Ignicus nodded. "That I did, and clearly not very well if this is how he's turned out." His expression became a glare for a moment as he added, "Though I would appreciate you not referring to Alex as a 'little shit.' He may be an arrogant and self-righteous young man, but he is still my son. So watch your tongue, RAIJU."


Ryrax didn't know how to respond to that, both because he didn't expect this guy to know what he was and also because he kind of terrified him with that glare and tone. He decided to return his attention to the kitty. "Oi, be gentle. I use this body too, you know. That said, don't get any funny ideas just because we can't move," he warned.


------


Though Adrian knew he could trust his old commander to handle this, he still didn't want to leave this situation alone. He was moving swiftly to the scene of the action, hoping that Alex didn't do something stupid with his father around. His hand briefly rested on the hilt of his sword. He really hoped he didn't have to use it.

 

[Ixidor92]

Well, now the asshole was sprouting something akin to dragon scales. That was problematic. Armin let out another cry that shook the heavens as his claws ripped out a piece of the wall and smashed it on Alex. He followed up with a gust of wind so powerful everyone directly beneath him on the ground was forced to their knees


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


"His influence does help a number of students find their way, but I had hoped he would avoid pulling a stunt like this. Now I'll have to call in a favor to repair the girl's dorms, and make sure that none of grounds are burned so that Anya is appeased. On top of that, there are still a dozen other tasks I'm worrying about."


He gave a smile to the dragon


"So if you'll stop your son, I'll handle the rest."


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


Ray raised an eyebrow


"Well . . . what you showed me last night for example."


He realized that probably brought back painful memories and quickly added


"But this is also the first time since the semester started I've really seen you outspoken in any manner."

 

[Cyrionessa]

Isolde cringed at the flame, her body hurting just a bit. She pushed her way through the flames, allowing the pain to give her more strength. "...you asked for it...." When she finally reached the source of the flames, she did what a succubus does. Her claws receded and the skin on her hands made contact with his neck. "Stop this.....Alex....please stop...." She was going to stop him, no matter what it took. In a moment of bravery, she decided that she'd force the matter. She forced his words to stop by hitting his lips with hers, forcing her seductive charms to the maximum. If it stopped him, she would consider this worth it.


----


"....outspoken, what do you mean?" Aamor raised an eyebrow at Raziel. She really didn't recall when she had been particularly outspoken. Had she forgotten something about last night? Her cheeks turned crimson; she hoped not.

 

[Twizinator]

Alex's flames calmed, his scales began to recede, and his eyes started to glaze over. Try as he might, a half-dragon's charm could never combat that of a succubus. He was resisting as much as he could but was quickly losing the battle of wills. In his last-ditch effort to break free, he did two things: first, he slammed his fist into Isolde's abdomen. Hard. Second, he stabbed one of the claws of his gauntleted hand into his leg. The former would break Isolde's lip-lock, while the latter would distract his mind from the succubus' charisma via shooting pain.


-------


Ignicus nodded, agreeing to the headmaster's division of duties. However, the sudden wave of supernatural fear made him rethink his next move. Alex needed to be dealt with, certainly, but if they were dealing with he thought they were...this could be very, very bad.


-------


A whirl of wind behind Habibah announced the arrival of Ao. "Hey-o!" he greeted with a friendly grin and jovial wave. "Name's Ao. You'd better take care with Samuel, and I mean that in the sense that you should be careful - there's something kinda really wrong with that kid. That's my two cents, later Habibah-chan!" he disappeared into the sky as suddenly as he'd arrived.

 

[Cyrionessa]

Isolde took the hit, her body shaking a bit from the pain. But it was imperative that she did not lose control. Her hands remained on his neck and her voice remained soft as silk. "You don't want to fight me anymore. You don't want to harm such a beautiful creature, do you? You said so before; are you going to go back on those words?" Her eyes went to his, like a soft caress on bare skin. She looked like the most loving, beautiful creature in the world. Even if her lips weren't locked with his, she could maintain her hold on him.


----


Habibah nodded and kept walking. She at least now had full confirmation of what was inside of Samuel. A raiju. "....well, Raiju, you want to explain to me what happened back there? This guy looks as weak as water but he fought one of those guys. He still lost, but even being able to hold that long should be a little difficult for someone of his physical state."

 

[Ixidor92]

"HEY FIRE CROTCH!"


The shout came from above as Armin took advantage of Isolde's charm. His entire form came crashing down on Alex, both talons forcing him into the ground. Isolde was left in the soft feathers of his back wings, unharmed


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


The headmaster put a hand on Ignicus' shoulder as they walked


"Just worry about your son. Or do you doubt my ability?"


He gave a small smile as his strides seemed to increase in length


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


Sanz grit his teeth and forced himself to his feet. That was Isolde right? The woman wearing practically nothing and giving off a scent that reminded him of the hall in Valhalla?


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


"I . . ."


Ray debated bringing up the vision, but decided it would be best to just mull that over himself for now


"I was just talking about since you came to this island. While we were at the academy, it was as if every movement was restrained and held back, for fear of breaking something. But since you came here--"


He motioned to the island around them


"You've been . . . looser?"

 

[Twizinator]

Before the smoke even cleared, Alex's flames burst to life. He now focused his flame aura to be more dense, kept closer to him. Isolde shouldn't be able to get in that close to seduce him again with this level of heat. "Thanks for the favor, you overgrown rooster," he said. "That b**** won't be laying a hand on me again. To repay you, I'm willing to let your actions slide if you stop f***ing around with my business starting now." His scale armor grew to cover its previous surface area, now beginning to extend onto his chest from his shoulders. It was creeping up the back of his neck and down his spine. "As much as I hate to mar such a body..." he cracked his neck, his glare staring unblinkingly up at Isolde. "...she needs to be...disciplined." His wings extended and he shot into the air, throwing a devastating barrage of blows at the succubus. He clearly intended to put her in the hospital with the force he was putting behind his attacks.


------


Ignicus just chuckled. "Please tell me you don't have a skinwalker here."


-------


"It's...a little hard to explain in a way that's quick and easy to understand," Ryrax answered. "We demons, when it comes to mortals, like them desperate and weak-willed. Their desperation for whatever power or gift we can offer them is great for those demons that seek to make thralls or even consume souls. Hell, some just get their rocks off by corrupting good men and women. Unfortunately for us, Samuel has the damn-annoying combination of desperation for power and a surprisingly strong will. Recently he's been unconsciously stealing my dark power to fuel his desires. The first time I noticed him doing this was the other day when his desire to go faster was so strong, he nearly zapped ya with lightning - MY lightning. I don't think he knows he's doing it, but his hatred of his own lack of power is causing him to easily, maybe even willingly, draw on my magic. The problem is that this power corrupts the human soul, no matter how 'pure' they are. If they use it, they get corrupted. If he keeps this up, his personality could get...nasty. Worst case scenario, his soul gets so black he turns into a demon himself, and then the Samuel we all know and...roll our eyes at will be gone forever."

 

[Cyrionessa]

Isolde took each blow, her body shaking from the pain that he was inflicting. No, she wasn't going to open up the entire succubus bloodline. The monks had once told her that once she opened that path, she would never return to being who she is now. So for her sake, and for the sake of others, she would take these hits. The hits were something that she could take for a bit.


----


Habibah nodded. "Okay. Gotcha. Well, fur ball, how about you take a rest while I drop you off at the nurse's office." She spied Sanz and his badly bloodied state. She saw that look in his eyes. "Hey, Sanz, unless you want something bad happening to your precious little succubus up there, ya might want to do something about it." And with that, she just kept walking away inside of the building inside of the nurse's office.


----


"Looser?" Aamor thought about it. "Well, I guess so, since I've spent so much time in your arms...." That revelation was startling actually. How much time had she actually been in his arms. Her already red cheeks turned even redder. The last time that she had been in someone's arms this much was when.....that thought actually made her stop breathing for a second. Had she....was she....had he....that was the real question...had he.....?

 

[Ixidor92]

One massive talon grabbed Alex around his torso


"I'll stop f***ing around with your business when you stop being an asshat."


He flapped his wings once, bringing the two of them into the air before he turned around and smashed Alex into the side of the dorms once again. The one side was starting to become rather sparse in how much the walls actually covered.


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


"All right, I don't have a skinwalker here."


He smiled and then vanished. Two hands gently grabbed Isolde by the shoulders, hands garbed in a red robe.


"Easy girl, you don't have to push yourself any more."


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


Raziel gave a smile and looked up at the sun. Good lord, how many hours had passed since sunrise.


"Um . . . I don't want to rush you, but if we're going to get back to the academy at any decent time of day we should be leaving fairly soon."


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


Sanz was jolted out of his stupor by Habibah speaking to him. He was about to push himself further when the words suddenly hit him


"Wait, my--?"


He stopped and shook his head. Now was not the time to be thinking about anything like that. That was when he noticed the headmaster already at the scene in front of him

 

[Twizinator]

"Get out of my way, you damn bird!" Alex struggled. He landed a decent punch into Armin's jaw...well, beak. "Do you just get off on being annoying? I don't care if you can revive, I'll put you in the birdcage you deserve!"


"Enough."


Ignicus rose swiftly to hover in front of the two hot-heads, his demeanor calm but his presence was intimidating beyond words. "Alex, my son. Might I ask what is going on here?"


Alex was speechless for nearly a minute. "I...I'm getting minions," he answered with a scowl. "Like yours."


Ignicus scoffed. "Oh come now, you know I only refer to my soldiers as minions in jest. I though I told you to make friends?"


"I...I'm trying, but that succu-b*tch over there just won't listen to me!"


"Ah, I see," Ignicus said while nodding, his tone one of mock understanding. "Thus you made the sound and understandable decision to threaten to kill her friend if she didn't submit to you. Good thinking."


Alex didn't have a comeback for that; his jaw just hung agape as if he was going to say something but couldn't think of any words.


-----------


"You'd better get back to the others, I'm sure Izzy-chan could use a friendly face once that draconic idiot is finally reeled in..." Ryrax said to Habibah as she laid Samuel into a bed.


As she turned to leave, Samuel suddenly spoke up. "Thanks for the help, Habibah..." he said softly but clearly, his eye staring up at the ceiling. "...and sorry about all the trouble I caused. I know you hate how weak I am. I do, too."

 

[Cyrionessa]

Isolde fell back into the headmaster's hands. Alex had been stopped, that was all that mattered. Her eyes went around the area; so much destruction all because of her. Her body shook as her fighting confidence fell and she returned to her normal self, metaphorically and literally. Now, all she was at that point was a scared girl who was finally letting herself cry.


----


Habibah sighed. "You're fine, Samuel. You didn't know and you were thralled by Alex." She couldn't believe that she was attempting to comfort the boy, but she was. "All that matters is that it doesn't happen again. I won't be able to save you every time. Now...." She turned to walk out the door. "To go take care of the cog in my clockwork plan that decided to break the chain." Isolde had completely deviated from the plan and now she was badly hurt.


----


"Yes, we should go." The previous thoughts left her mind and did not return. When she would try to remember what she was thinking about in that moment, she never could for the life of her recall what she was thinking. "Take me home, Raziel."

 

[Ixidor92]

Raziel nodded and stepped out into the shallows. Right before he was going to dive, a thought hit him that was rather important


"Aamor, before I forget, make sure you grab the shirt that's hanging over there."


He motioned to her overshirt that had been hanging to dry since yesterday. With that, he continued to walk into the water, and his form exploded. Coils upon coils of the sapphire, shimmering scales emanated from where his human form had been. After a minute, half of his form lay in the deep water, while the other half lay coiled on the beach. His head was lying down on the sand, waiting for Aamor to climb up and hold on


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


The headmaster pulled his arms further around Isolde, letting her cry into his shoulder


"Easy, easy girl, it's over now. It's over."


He spoke with the warmth of a father and the experience of a sage


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


Armin had to blink a few times at the man beside him. It was the same one he had seen catch Samuel earlier. So he was Alex's father? That at least explained the resemblance. However, he did not seem to share the same viewpoint as the half-dragon in front of him


"So, should I keep this guy pinned to the wall, or would you rather I leave?"


Unlike when speaking with Alex, and despite the fact he was in his giant fire-bird form, Armin had a completely honest and rather outgoing tone of speech towards the older gentleman.

 

[Twizinator]

Ignicus offered Armin a thankful grin. "For the moment I would appreciate your assistance in keeping him still, thank you Armin." While the phoenix had yet to offer his name, Ignicus made a point to do his research on the students here, especially those creatures of historically-respectable power. His grin faded when he returned to addressing his son. "Well, Alex? Have you learned yet that you cannot make friends and comrades by forcing your leadership on them, or should I retract my offer in the letter I sent you?"


Alex blinked. "Offer? What offer?" He had a tiny tinge of regret that he hadn't read the whole thing; it was likely still crumpled up in his room.


--------


"I think she likes you," Ryrax joked. Samuel didn't laugh, or even respond. Ryrax wasn't really surprised; it was more surprising that he would make a joke to lighten the boy's mood at a time like this.


"Did you see Isolde at all while I was unconscious?" Samuel asked.


"Yeah, actually. She attacked Alex. It was awesome."


"Wait, what?" Samuel did a mental double-take. "She attacked him?...Was she winning?"


"Well, not really. She was kind of getting the crap kicked out of her when we left." Ryrax immediately wished he hadn't replied so automatically. He knew what Samuel would do now that the knew this before he even finished his sentence.


Samuel was speechless with shock. Silently, he forced himself out of the bed, snuck out of the nurse's office, and out the back door. He ran as fast as his battered body could back towards the dorms. This is my fault. She jumped in because of me, I was being an idiot and getting my ass kicked and she felt guilty, I just know it, he thought. I have to stop Alex. I have to fight Alex. I have to make Alex bleed.


"Samuel, stop!" Ryrax ordered. "I know you're frustrated but you can't do anything! You need to-"


"Shut up." Samuel barked in such a harsh tone that gave Ryrax pause. That aggression had to be the result of demonic corruption.


"Samuel, please. Don't interfere, the headmaster and some really scary old dude are there, they'll handle it. You need to calm down. You're unconsciously using my power, and it will corrupt you. You could die."


"So be it," Samuel responded shockingly. "If I can be of use in death, then it's fine. As long as I get at least one good hit in on Alex."

 

[Cyrionessa]

Aamor reached up and grabbed her shirt, throwing it back on as she walked over to the leviathan's head. She gently stepped up onto his head and grabbed onto the fur that she had latched onto before. Thankfully, she was still wearing the necklace from before.


"Okay. Let's go."


----


Isolde just curled up in the headmaster's arms, her arms around her head. She was near to having a panic attack at this point. Had she just done that? She had turned into her succubus self? Hadn't Master Roshin said there was going to be consequences if she did?


----


Habibah turned right back around after hearing his words down another hallway. She took off after him. And then smacked Samuel in the mouth. Hard. "If Isolde ever finds out that you're thinking that way, it will crush her spirit. She jumped in because she wanted to stand up for herself. It wasn't your fault. Now shut your mouth and get better so that I don't have to hear her worrying about you!" She then marched out the door and started to make her way back outside.

 

[Ixidor92]

Raziel shambled his form across the sands, slowly pulling himself into the water. He cruised along the surface of the waters, slowly accelerating until the wake he left behind was moving at a ridiculous pace. He warned Aamor about a minute before he dove under the waves. This was after several hours of travel and the coastline was in sight yet again. He surfaced only once, in the same area he had when they left the mainland, before he dove back down and entered the tunnel. After what seemed like an eternity in the darkness, Raziel brought himself back to the surface in the cavern, raising his head up to the cliffside that he had dove off of yesterday.


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


The headmaster slowly pulled Isolde's hands away from her head, and gave her a minute to look into his eyes. His eyes did not seem to have a set color, but rather shifted between the seven colors of the rainbow as one gazed


"Isolde, I promise you, you don't have to worry about anything."


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


Armin was more than happy to comply with the dragon, keeping himself aloft with mighty flaps of his wings.


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


Sanz had shambled his way up to where the confrontation had taken place, clutching his side. It looked like a someone had taken a spade and dug out a chunk of his abdomen at the side. He sat himself next to where Isolde and the headmaster were, not saying anything, merely letting himself catch his breath. Is this what his father had felt like after engaging the Fenris wolf?

 

[Twizinator]

"For once I agree with the hairball," Ryrax asserted.


Samuel ignored both of them, undeterred from his objective. He was tired of being ordered around. Habibah said that Isolde wanted to stand up for herself; Samuel was doing something similar. He didn't care if he was weak. Even if he went back just to get killed, this was a decision he made. Nobody was telling him what to do or ordering him around. If he got even one good hit in, he would feel a lot better. The mental image of his fist connecting with Alex's face made him break out in a dark grin, black sparks shooting around his body in eagerness to get revenge on the half-dragon who was causing them all pain.


--------


Ignicus sighed. "Your mother and I talked it over, and she feels I should give you a chance. So I have thought of a few ways you can do this, the issue I will address now being a chief concern of mine. If you can prove that you have learned to treat your fellows with respect, if you learn to treat people as people and not tools, then I will...reconsider...allowing you to take a position in Dragoon, like you wanted since childhood."


Alex blinked in surprise. "Seriously? You'll do it?"


"Assuming you can meet my conditions, yes. I am giving you a chance. A chance I personally do not feel you deserve, given what I am seeing today," Ignicus said as he looked around him at the heavily-damaged dorms, at the quivering form of Isolde, and at Sanz down below, bleeding from his wound. "You should thank your mother for this opportunity, next you see her."


Alex grit his teeth. "Fine."


His father nodded. "We will extrapolate on my conditions this evening. For now, clean-up takes priority. Do us all a favor and reel in those you have mentally gripped, if you would. More to the point, let them go. Release your hold on them. Your first mistake was forcing people to follow you. You're use of a dragon's charisma is insulting to respectable commanders everywhere." He sighed to calm down. "Armin, you may release him."