Chapter 1: Battle of Azrian

"Well then, I do envy those under your care. Worry not, you'll do just fine, worry more about those you're mending, and the battle will come and go without much event." Sachieal said, matter of factly. He opened his eyes and looked toward Calcifer, enjoying her smile. "If we both think that everything will be fine, then it must be truth."

Sachiel turned his eyes down to the curious little dragon that walked over to him.

calcifer looked confused"envy?why envy"
"well i will do my best at helping"calcifer smiled
"you know i think this might be the most i have smiled in years"she laughed lightly

Sachieal petted the dragon lightly, treating it as if it were alive. "Envy, because I am an envious creature, and because they get to leave the torture of battle, to be recieved by warmth and a lovely maiden such as yourself." He chuckled lightly. "Well, I just might have to remember how much you smiled, seeing as it's an important event!"

He took out a leather bound book and began burning words into a page. "Good deed for the day, accomplished!" Sachieal put the book on the table and continued stroking the dragon.

calcifer looked up as if thinking deeply then turned to sachieal and smiled
she turned back to her bottel and got alittle more water out and made a tiny dragon. it was small enough to fit in her palm and she consentrated for longer this time.she opend her palms and watched as a little skiny dragon flew out.it too was made of ice but much thiner and with life.
"here this is a gift to our friendship.let it bring you luck" i smiled as i watched it fly over to him."as long as it dosnt get really really warm he will always stay ice."

Sachieal looked quizzically at the girl before bursting into a fit of laughter. "Why thank you! I'll make sure it doesn't get near my flames, they can be so unruly, you see." He held out his hand for the little dragon to land on. "I'll treasure it always." He ushered the little dragon onto his shoulder, where it curled up and layed, looking quite content. The little dragon matched Sachieal perfectly.

calcifer looked kinda puzzled as to why he was laughing but just smiled anyways."they are really great conpanions"she said quitly
then she giggled almost randomly.she had realized that one reason she probably couldnt sleep was for she was a vampire.after giggling for a few seconds she regained her pois.

The girls giggling was almost as puzzling to Sachieal as his own fit of laughter was to her. "Alright, don't think I haven't noticed. You're a creature of the dark yourself." Sachieal straightened in his chair, careful not to lose the little dragon. "I can feel it radiating from you. But what you are...." He pondered for a moment.

"Lycanthrope perhaps? Not a demon, no. Not a wendigo, you're far too small." He brought his hand up and snapped in triumph. "Well missy, you're a vampire, are you not?"

calcifer smiled"yes i am..but i dont have the need to feed off of human or anything...id rather help people...but they just dont realize that" looks sad for a moment but her smile continues to light up her face.calcifer enjoyed being happy,she was never one to be pouty.

Sachieal grinned, "We're one in the same then, mistress darkness." He chuckled at the silly little name. "Not a feeder, interesting. Well, that quality sure matches your smile, that's for sure."

calcifer looked at sachieal
"what are you?"her voice trailed off"im sorry that wasnt very inpolite..."her face was tinted red.she was trying not to act like her 14 year old self...but yet she couldnt help it when she thought of him as a friend.

Sachieal tried to hold it in, but failed. He burst out into another fit of laughter, this one more powerful than the first. "Good lord, you are a precious little thing, aren't you?" He centered himself, breathing slowly. "Don't worry about offending me, it's a feat you couldn't accomplish." He cleared his throat and leaned in close, building tension.

"I'm a demon, one of the first fallen, secondhand soldier in the original army of Lucifer, lord and ruler of the dark."

He brushed a hand against her cheek and found it warm with blush. "Such a precious child." Sachieal leaned back into the chair and chuckled lightly to himself.

calcifer's face was definetly red.
she looked almost puzzled thinking about the about the lucifers army.
"dosnt that mean you used to be bad?..."she looked at him pondering this

Sachieal grinned slyly at the girls now-red composure. "Yes, madame', I was once one of the darkness." He lit a small, purple flame in the palm of his hand once again. "I was cast down from the heavens, that is why I can conjure hellfire." He put it out, as a look of disgust spread across his face.

"I came here, to this world to rid myself of my sins. I hope to return one day to the kingdom of heaven." He looked deep into her eyes. "If anything, it's the only alternative to living in hell. It's worth a shot, no?"

calcifer looked at sachieal with a kind smile.
"you seem very kind im sure that if there is a god he will forgive you for what you have done"
calcifer thinks for awhile....her smile seems to fade for just under a minute and then she forces a smile onto her face.she started to play with her water alittle,first forming them into little stars then into little dragons.anything that would keep her mind from wondering

Sachieal nodded lightly, "I do hope that he does forgive this time." He looked around the room, noticing that almost everyone was gone at this point. "Well, you should retire for the night. If anything, relax yourself."

Sachieal walked to the door and turned back, "Good night, Miss Calcifer." The door swung shut behind him and he dissapeared into the night.

calcifer looked around at this rate within a few minutes every one would be gone...what would keep her mind from wondering then...she new she wouldnt be able to sleep.

The shadows were watched carefully as the Umbrovian warlocks of Azrian guarded their small town; just a precaution, though they would not need worry of any attacks; the enemy had settled only a few miles from the battlefield beyond the hills, and like them, they too waited for the morning. At this thought, a dark warlock allowed himself a moment of rest, confidant with the knowledge that the enemy would not have reason to attack, and as his concentration wavered for a moment, the blackness of a nearby shadow rippled as Soraya emerged and walked on within the narrow streets, unnoticed.

She was curious; this town was small, unworthy, its warlocks and mages a push-over, yet Vasilios had led his men here, insistent that the people here join his army… but most of them were simple people… why not go first to the north where the warriors are known best for their combatant skills? She had to see for herself what it was that she would face the following morning, and was disappointed.

She wandered aimlessly, stopping a moment to contemplate a scarred man, obviously one of her own kind, walk past her and into the barracks, a … sensing much of the dark magic in him. Ironic. Someone like him should be on her side. It was right then that Soraya felt the slight tremor shoot up her spine, causing the tiny hairs on the back of her neck to rise. She shivered, drawing the hood further down over her head and pulling the black cloak closer about her.

That was pure Dark magic she felt… she did not know what source it came from, but she understood then; and felt the rise of excitement within… Vasilios was a fox after all, and there definitely exists something here not to be overlooked. Her uncle was wise to make her come. With a feint smile Soraya retraced her steps, now intent on the battle to come. She passed alongside the walls of Colline’s Inn, not taking any note of it when suddenly the door swung open, blocking her way…

((Guys, whenever you’re ready to bring on the morning, tell me and I’ll type up the opening scene with a PROPER intro of Vasilios ;p ))

[[I take it Sachieal is the one opening the door, seeing as everyone else has fallen asleep]]

Running headlong into strangers was not something Sachieal prided himself on, and his obvious intrusion upon this new girl's path was quite the awkward situation. "Erm.... Hello there!" He put on his best tension-disrupting smile and bowed his head toward the lady. "Anywhere you might be going? I could escort you. It's not the best weather for a lady like yourself to be out and about in."

Not budging, soraya’s palm found the hilt of her sword beneath the cloak. A tall, strange man stepped outside, and slammed the door shut before turning to notice her. Silver eyes roamed the tall figure, a mix of sensations racing though her mind… this one was… interesting… different.

Chin raised, she regarded him for a few minutes, studying him, before reaching up a hand to pull back her hood. Silky, raven-black locks slid down from beneath the hood to curl about her shoulders and neck, skin stark-white against the blackness, almost as pale as this man. The silver eyes rimmed with black, thick lashes never left his own, she smiled brightly at his gentlemanly offer.

“Would love to…” she said, before turning her head to one side, regarding him thoughtfully with a smile. “But I don’t think you should be in such a hurry to… go where I’m going. After all, I will probably meet you there in the morning.”

Sachieal regarded the girl as she spoke. She was almost as pale as he, though probably not a member of the Demonation. Her words flooded his ears like a symphony, and it almost pained him to not hear more.

Realization struck him, and for once he felt the chill of the storm upon him. His brow furrowed and he pondered his next words, turning them over and reshaping them before finally letting them into the night air. "It is truly unfortunate then. But, as it shall be, I hope to find you well it the morning."

He held out his hand to her, palm up. "My name is Sachieal. I find myself in no hurry, I'm sure where you're going is better then where I've been."

Soraya’s white teeth parted into a laughing sigh at the man’s response, eyes dropping to his outstretched hand. Sachieal? A name used only among the divinities, not mortals! Who was he? She was further intrigued by this mysterious man, yet still weary. Her hand slid from the hilt of the sword, cloak sliding down and away from her arm as she lifted her slender fingers to the base of his chin as she walked by, nails slightly touching the chalky, smooth skin there, and then sliding down alongside his jaw and away as she turned from the fallen angel, her silver eyes still fixed on his face as she looked back. “I wish you the best on the morrow as well, dear Sachieal, and once again, thank you for the offer… but I rather do wish you return to your warm bed and get some rest… I would not want to be disappointed on the battlefield tomorrow if you lack the strength to fight me.”

And with that, she turned away, heading back to where she came from. If he followed, or would push further, she would then have to draw her sword.

Olorafien sat cross legged in the warmth of the tent, slowly dragging his blade Xull'ayne across his whetstone, sharpening it to a hair-splitting blade. Nil'lyn lay beside his thigh, safely in her scabbard. He mumble beneath his breath, renewing the charms on his blade. Stopping for a moment, he held it to the fire, admiring the intricacies in the light. He ran his dlender dark finger delicately along the ruby encrusted metal. The thin cut gemstones spelled out a death curse on any who were fool enough to fall beneath his blade.

He turned to his brother Vasquiri, who was resting against their packs, meditating on the coming battle. His dark, muscular arms were crossed over his chest, and he seemed to be asleep, every muscle in his body completely relaxed.

Olorafien quickly grabbed a coal from the fire, and lobbed it at his brother, laughing as he did so. The younger man lifted a lazy hand and caught the ember, casting it carelessly back into the fire, and returning to his resting position.

"What is it that you want Brother?" he said with a yawn, spreading himself over the packs in a cat-like sprawl.

"You should ready your blades for the morning," Olorafien answered, admiring Xull'ayne once more in the light, "You've laid across your back all day."

Vasquiri waved his sibling off, "Rhyl'fien and Zilv'rak are not nearly as blunt as yours, I do not use them on every commoner and peasant I see."

Olorafien smiled at the quip, holding up the end of his new sash. "I liked the way it shone in the sun." The tassels of very fine, dark hair flickered in the firelight.

Vasquiri shook his head and went back into meditation. It was not safe to deal too much with his brother before a battle. The male was far too strained as it was, after keeping himself inside all day and night, without stretching his legs or testing his blade, he wasquite near to becoming a wreck. That was the fifth time Xull'ayne had been sharpened that day. Any sharper and Olorafien would be able to cut a soul in two.

Olorafien placed Xull'ayne back into her decorated scabbard, and wet his stone once more, retrieving Nil'lyn and going right back to work.

Her fingers, while slender, fine, felt cold against his skin. Her warnings of combat, felt even colder. Said much the girl, and he felt as if her walking away was a fitting end to their encounter, for now. His hand dropped to his side, untouched and unnoticed by the girl, yet her response by touch told more than her response by words.

"Very well then. We shall see again in the morrow." Sachieal spoke to himself as he entered the inn again, letting the door close quietly behind him.

He slipped into a chair in front of the hearth, and with a flick of his wrist, sent the hearth aflame with purple hellfire. It was this hellfire that he would stare into untill the dawn comes....

Origin roused herself heartily from the bed, shuffling about in an effort to get warm again. She slipped her bare feet back into their stockings, then into slippers, and once more into the thick winter boots. She stood up sand went to the small bowl of nearly frozen water and plashed it on her face, gasping as she did so.

She dried herself off and looked out of the window. It was nearly dawn, the sky was becoming grayer with the slight rising of the sun behind all of the clouds and drearyness. It was perhaps only 3 or four hours past midnight, but she was well rested enough to begin her preparation for the morning. The wind wasn't as strong as it had been a few hours ago. She trekked carefulyl down the steps to retrieve her bow, her untamed hair floating in a wavy mess behind her.

Sachieal's gaze was torn from the purple flames at the hearth, which died immediately and were replaced with normal, orange-red flames. The girl, Origin, was up much too early to be ready for a battle that was still a few hours away.

He smiled heartily as she entered from the stairwell, "Good morning, Sunshine."