Chapter Two: The Auran.

Sacheial felt the two mostly-healed gashes from where the demon had bit into his shoulder. The holes burned when he touched them, but he did so frequently. It was to remind him of his failures from the battle, and to remind him of his promise to Origin.

He would take the demon's life, and deliver its wings in a box with a shiny red bow.

After he and Origin had finished evacuating the infirmary, they all stood in silence behind the city walls, waiting to see if Abaddon would overtake their hiding place. If it would, they'd continue to flee. Sachieal did not forget his promise to Calcifer, however, and would explain to her what she wished to know. They hadn't had much time to speak though, there were many things to be done, especially after the battle. Calcifer and the other medics worked for the first day in entirety, sleep not coming till the second day after the battle, and even then, it came in small shifts.

Sachieal made himself of use carrying dead off the fields. He blessed every body he came into contact with, their allegiance mattered not to him. There were many small treasures to be had within the carnage, but Sachieal left them to the others, there was more on his mind.

Sachieal contemplated visiting Origin from time to time, but bade the idea farewell and resolved to ask a medic of her status instead. She probably would wish to be left be for a while, and even then, he was not the person she'd want to see.

After Odei fell from the sky, the Abaddon retreated and dissapeared, allowing Calcifer and Sachieal to return to the city with the others. They pulled Odei from the field and gave him meager medical attention at best before throwing him behind bars.

It was morning on the third day after the battle, and Sachieal sat outside the infirmary building, the dragon that Calcifer gave him rested on his outstretched hand. He did not turn to meet the person who approached. "Well, hello there. What a pleasant surprise."

Histlan's eyes stayed on the vague notion of skin under her pulled back glove. She couldn't see it persay but the hazy blurs of colour where her peachy skintone met gray-black was more than enough to confirm her worries. She could feel it too, there was a tactile difference when her smoother skin became drier like it'd been exposed to the elements for too long too many times, but she'd been keeping them in her gloves more now than ever. The worst part was not colour or dry skin but rather the darkness she eminated in general seemed separate from what seemed to stain her hands. She folded the glove back down and readjusted both on her hands before pulling up the sash slowly and carefully over her eyes once more, keeping her hood over her face the best she could as she did it still, before readjusting that as well.

"Ma'am...?"

She sat on the stool within the infirmary building and returned her hands to her lap, sitting in thought with legs crossed at her ankles. This had been where she'd been sitting for the past hour or so as well, seemingly patient and silent, though perhaps unhappyto most. But it was doubtful most in there were any sort of content at the moment, rather she just sat in thought, going over the happenings of the past few days. The Abbadon had been a frightening experience and by the end of it she'd pulled 15 or so men off the field, having lost track herself after a while, but everytime she'd gone back it was like a roaring in her mind, like a wind that commanded its force be heard, and it'd only grew and grew... that was until it died. Then she had not known why or how, but had been thankful. After it all she'd fallen to her knees, crippled in pain, a pain in fact that had not dissipated till earlier the day prior. Even now she felt a unexplainably heavy feeling in her, but it did not hinder her actions at all anymore, simply left her feeling unsettled.

She'd thought it'd just been from her forcing the darkness to push her body too far. It happened occassionally that her bouts of control were not well received after the fact, but her hands... her darkened hands made her wonder. Wonder and worry very deeply in fact, and the unsettled feeling seemed only more apparent and disruptive then.

"Ma'am?" The voice came louder this time, and Histlan raised her head in some surprise before turning her chin toward the man in one of the cots who sought her attention. "Water. ...please." He said finally now that she looked to him, or rather... would have been if that hood hadn't been in the way.

"Of course." She replied more collected now and stood up, remembering why she was there. Her gloved hand took hold of her walking stick and the other grabbed the smaller wooden bowl before she made her way over to the water station. Her hands traced over them, which was harder with gloves on but she distinguished still between what was for washing and what was for drinking. When she came back once more she used the elaborately carved stick much more for guidance as she concentrated on not spilling any water. There were many still to care for that even wasting such a small amount of water by fumbling or dropping it seemed a shame. This was what she'd come to do, after having regained her own strength she'd sought out the infirmary to help with what she could while she could. There were many more skilled and educated nurses, doctors and healers, but even her basics she thought might be handy, or much more likely, that a helping hand with small things so that those trained could handle the larger things would be welcomed at this time.

Her foot pulled the stool closer to the man's cotside and she sat down facing him, leaning her stick against something before she offered the bowl over to him with two hands. "Here you go." She said informatively and waited until his own hands had cupped it before she pulled her own back and turned in the stool to sit silently again with a small sigh.

It was only after the second day past the battle did Odei finally wake up, and another five hours until he started to remember the events prior to Soraya’s hit. Odei had fought Surdan warlocks before, particularly after leaving the Guild of Shadows, but this would be the first time that he’d ever gotten hit by a Fuocis blaze. After Soraya had sent him catapulting into Abbadon’s lap, Odei began to lose consciousness, and strangely enough it was then that the full control over the surdan and its beings returned to him, and for a moment he was able to put an end to it. Past that point, he remembered nothing, but was guessing that he probably re-appeared somewhere near the battle, before finally losing consciousness and his comrades finding him. His arm was in a sling now, which amused him; the magic within him allowed him a speedy recovery of injuries, but did not do much against wounds inflicted by its very own kind. It was obvious from the pain that it would be days before he could use his arm again.

He sighed heavily, bored of waiting in the holding room for the last three days – The small town of Azrian did not have a jail or holding cells, so they kept him locked in a room, white symbols of Luzerian powder drawn about his limbs and chest forming binding spells so as that he would not be able to cast anymore dark magic nor cause any damage… no doubt they thought him a monster by now. So he lay there on the bed awaiting his fate, legs propped up high against the wall, and Obsidian curled at his side in the small form of a snoring ferret.

Vasilios had told him earlier that the Lumerian lieutenants and high lords were ready to execute him on the spot, but it was the intervention of allied dark lords that delayed the decision. Still, there was no guarantee Odei would walk away this time from this mess – nor did he try and explain what had happened.

Odei mused there were three upsides to his execution: the first being; he could start all over, and maybe this time will get it right (life, that is). Secondly – he’d take advantage of that small wait between death and reincarnation to hunt down that damn hell-spirit, Cylan, and kill her for what she had just done to him… only in death would he be able to do so. Then lastly he would ask the kind and forgiving god of death and rebirth, Shensa, to make sure Odei’s return to earth would be as Vasilios’s future son… where he can then make the man’s life even more miserable.

The sound of keys unlocking the door broke Odei’s ridiculous train of thoughts, and it was Vasilios’ scowl of silent disappointment upon entering the room that told him he wasn’t going to die anytime soon. Vasilios stepped in, eyeing the Sagan and then moved aside to let the Dark lord enter. Odei flipped around to sit upright on the bed, in a half attempt to respect the Elder’s presence. If it wasn’t a Sagan lord, he wasn’t getting up.

“Mmph.” Grunted Emaren, who had just arrived to Azrian as fast as he could at the news of a ‘captured’ Surdan. Did they thing Surdans grow on trees? It was a dying art, and the Umbrovians wouldn’t let it slip out of existence so easily. “You’re far younger than I expected you to be…” he said eyes running down the length of Odei’s lanky body, voice husky and heavy with strength and authority of the figure he was. “And not old enough to have mastered the Abaddon as you had on this battle... at least not to the extent of what was described to me.”

‘Maybe someone who would listen…’ Odei thought. “ That’s because I didn’t do it.”
The old mage nodded his head. “Mmm. I’m guessing it was Cylan’s doing then.”

Odei stared blankly. How did he know? Vasilios looked between the two, not understanding their meaning.

As if reading Odei’s questioning gaze, Emaran cleared his throat. “The… erm… witch… pays me a visit every now and then as well.” He said bitterly, lifting his chin up a notch.

Odei smiled and winced with sympathy – knowing well the mage would have preferred a far more colorful word than ‘witch’… for the naggy spirit was a harbinger of migraines. Odei felt his good-fortune kick Vasilios in the loins yet again, and was feeling like one lucky bastard.

Walked out of the infirmery,putting her bottle on here back.There wasnt alot of water left in it.Calcifer looked up to see sachieal sitting there.
"well hello."She smiled happily.

Sachieal chuckled and made room for Calcifer to sit. "I was worrying that you'd never get a break." He turned to her and smiled sheepishly. "Well, I promised you that I'd explain what you wanted to know." Sachieal shrugged and leaned back. "Go ahead, hit me with your best shot. What do you want to know?"

Calcifer took of her bottle and set it down then sat down next to sachieal.
"well first off how are you? did you get hurt?...what happend...why did we all have to leav?" she asked quitly..looking at him with intrest and consern.

Sachieal grinned. "Me, I'm quite fine." His hand found its way toward the holes in his shoulder. "I did get injured, there was another demon on that battlefield, a different one. He made me hurt Origin." Sachieal fought back the urge to set something on fire.

"The demon escaped before I could kill it. It was my own fault for being so vain." He sighed and sat up, stretching lightly. "We had to leave, however, because the Abaddon was coming. It's a magic that almost caused a serious problem here once before. We watched it from heaven, it killed many, God almost considered restarting humanity for just that reason." He shook his head and turned to her. "We had to evacuate because I didn't want anyone else to become swallowed by that thing. Especially not you or Origin."

Sachieal touched the holes in his shoulder again, they were healing nicely, albeit they still burned fiercely. "How about you, Calcifer? Are you okay?"

Calcifer watched him,and noded when it was apropriat.
She smiled kindly"well im very glad your ok and well as for orgin she should be fine.Me well i was fine i have wasted alot of water though..."she glanced at her bottle. "mostly on the dragon and on healing people.I was about to go find a stream or something like that to collect some more,plus i figured since it was my break i would go for a calm walk to get away for just a little bit."she looked out into the distance"would you like to join me? you probably know this area much better then me."
With that she stood up and grabed her bottle and put the strap over her shoulder,the little remaining water sloshed around a bit.She looked back at him with a smile.

Sachieal smiled and stood. "But of course, Madame', I'd love to be your escort." They began walking away from the building, accompanied by the sounds of sloshing from Calcifer's bottle.

Sachieal gestured toward the treeline, "There's a small stream up ahead, I can see it from here." Sachieal extended his arm toward Calcifer as a sly grin spread across his face. "I can get us there really fast though, if you'd like a bit of fun."

Origin sat up leaning over the edge of her cot and retching into the bedpan, again. She truly disliked chicken soup, so much so that she couldn't even keep it down. her dear, dear medics thought that meant give her more, and hold her down and shovel it down her throat. She'd spewed in one's eye the other day, and now the chicken soup was more grueling than before. Oh, how she hated infirmaries.

She reached around for her satchel, tossing vials and dried satchets onto her bed. She'd be damned if they dared shovel more chicken soup down her throat. She pulled out a tiny satchet of little dark green leaves, then another of red water drop shaped flower petals, and yet another, a green spongy looking plant all shrivelled together.

She reached for her mortar and pestle and began crushing small amounts together in her bowl, then packed them into little pellets. She placed one under her tongue and smiled, feeling the rush of swift roll through her body. She chewed slowly and placed the rest in one of the empty satchets that lined the bottom of her bag. Now that she had her energy pellet she'd be able to get out of her wretched bed and go... do something.

She reached for her broomstick, now expertly butchered into a walking stick (a few inches tall of a cane) and limped away from her bed, over a few sleeping bodies, and out of the door.

She waved at Histlan as she passed, who looked a bit strung out, perhaps from overcaring for patients. Casting an appraising eye over the lot, she noticed that a good number of them should be off their backsides and helping out, instead of being coddled by a pretty girl. Soldiers, she huffed.

Where was Odei? He hadn't turned up after the battle, and they'd retreated so quickly, she wasn't quite sure of what happened, riding a water dragon while injured was not pleasant, she was nearly blinded with the pain. And so far, no one had told her anything. She scratched at the stiches on her hip. Those needed to come out soon.

Feeling the need to stretch her legs, she wandered down the path behind the cottage they were holed up in , admiring the strange architecture of barns and sheds. Suddenly, she felt a presence not far from her. She turned to look, and froze. It was him!


Vasquiri smiled disarmingly, " Quiala sirn Alet 'Nalu," he said quickly , raising his hands to show nothing was in them. She looked at him puzzled for a moment, then suddenly recognized the language. It was Cyrnian! Her home language. How could he...

"Quili niorna kiolo." she stated accusingly, resiting her hand on her dagger.

"I see you remember who you are,"he said, still holding up his hands, "I am not who you mistake me for, whoever that is."

Origin drew her dagger, "You look of him, you sound of him, you speak of him. I am no fool."

She didnt quite know what she would do with her dagger, it hadn't done much the last time, but she would swat him with her cane if need be.

Vasquiri smiled wider, "I fought with Vasillos during the last battle. You may not have seen me, but I aided the retrieval of our men from the edges of the Abaddon.My swords fell in your favor. Do you not trust your own allies, Lovely One?"

Origin tightened her grip on the dagger, "No." she said flatly.

Vasquiri lowered his hands, eyeing the knife and chuckling softly, "Then come, kill me. It wouldn't be so bad, dying by a pretty hand on a pretty day."

Origin fel her ears grow hot. His compliments were disabling her quickly than the binding spell of the battle had. She was quite unused to them, and didn't know what to do.

"No?" he finshed after noting her hesitation, "A pity, perhaps later then... Ah, how's this? I shall escort you about today. You should not be out alone in your condition," he pointed to her cane, "And we shall talk, and walk, and then, I promise, if you wish, you may stab me," he tapped between his brows," right here. I shall not lift a finger against you."

Origin's eyes lifted suspiciously from behind her fold, but his wide disarming smile was hard to resist. Besides. She'd not seen someone so handsome. She wondered if his white hair was as natural as hers, then blushed at the thought, turning away and wandering quickly down the path, trying to escape while she could still get away.

[[italics=native language]]

Calcifer looked at him curiuosly.she hesitated after a few seconds she smiled"hmm..ok."she acepted his offer.she didnt know what he was going to do but she knew she could trust him.

Sachieal took Calcifer's soft hand as gently as he could, pulling him towards her. "Just relax and enjoy the ride." He grinned and pulled her up into his arms in one smoothe motion, being as careful as possible not to hurt her.

Sachieal pushed himself forward with great speed, being as careful as possible while still speeding across the craggy ground toward the stream. Sachieal's chuckles of amusement at his sheer speed were drowned out by that same speed.

Sachieal stopped abruptly at the shore of the small stream. He let Calcifer down as gently as he could, making sure she was not disoriented. Sacieal smiled in a childish manner. "Well, I told you I could get us here faster!"

Calcifer smiled in amazment
"wow that was..."she thought for a few seconds"...fun and amazing"she smiled and huged him "thank you" she let go, turned and looked at the water her face light up with a smile. "yay"she sliped her shoes off and ran into the stream.

she took her bottle off her back and took the cork out and set it on the bank.She felt more at home here then at her old village.
she raised her hands and moved them in a smooth motion,after a few second some water gathered and she raised her hands up and the water rose above the stream.Her face still with a smile on it.

Origin continued going down the path, limping as fast as she could, but the long healthystrides of the male kept up with her stumbling gait easily. When she tripped painfully over a rock, he caught her elbow, keeping her from falling to the ground. She shook off the jolt she got from contact and continued moving, vainly attempting to leave him.

She heard the sounds of rushing water eventually, after having limped perhaps a mile or two in the futile attempt. She passed through the trees and looked around hopelessly, cornered by the rushing water. She looked around, hjopelss for a moment.

"Calcifer!" she nearly ran, pushing the walking stick to new limits, limping as fast as possible.

Calcifer did not hear orgin,it was like she was in a world of her own at the moment.she continued to move her hands but now she spun and steped as if dancing through the water.the water that had rose above the steam seemed to dance along,forming into little shapes of stars,birds,dragons,and other odd little shapes.

Sachieal plopped himself down on the bank. This caused him to chuckle at himself. It had been a long time since he'd "plopped" anywhere. It was also quite the new experience to be hugged, and it accentuated the beautiful morning.

"We can get back to the infirmary however you'd like." Sachieal reclined on the bank and shut his eyes, allowing the warm sunlight to drown him in the moment. If anything was going on in the world right now, Sachieal was oblivious to it.

Ivaylo, like many others had spent the better part of the first two days searching the wreckage for survivors and bodies - or, in some cases, what was left of them. The air around the town would probably reek of death for days.

What he wouldn’t give for a good rainstorm to wash out the tainted ground.

His mouth was set in a thin line as he worked; he was no healer and knew it, but there were far too many injured to be dawdling. He could readjust a splint here, rewrap a bandage there. Some others had come to help out with the ones that had not quite as dire injuries, freeing the healers to take care of the ones who needed their care the most.

He had stood with a handful of bloody bandages with the intent of taking them outside to be burned when his shoulder collided with that of a passing nurse‘s when he rose. She uttered a cry of surprise when the bottle of medicine she was holding and it’s contents went flying out of her hands. No sooner had it left the neck of the bottle his eyes flashed and the container abruptly stopped, hanging in the air as if suspended by a string. The liquid droplets that’d been falling to the floor looked frozen in place.

“I’m sorry about that.” He offered a halfhearted smile to the stunned healer as the bottle righted itself and the medicine poured itself back inside. “I’ll watch where I’m going from now on.” The bottle drifted over and hung in front of the woman until she reached out and took it with both hands. Sidestepping around her and ignoring the smell of the bloodied dressings he proceeded towards the door and out into the morning daylight, walking down the trail a ways to where the disposed wrappings would be burned to keep the area sanitized.

Calcifer continued to "dance" but more water rose to join the other little floating masses of water.calcifer giggled she was so happy to be out and having fun.after a little while she slowed down and her hands slowled down almost to a stop she then guided all the water into her bottle.she glanced at sachieal and a grin grew across calcifers face.she moved her hands and threw them in the direction of sachieal.a little ball of water flew twards him.

Origin's face fell. She was too far off to be heard, and worst of all, her cane was stuck in river mud. Sachieal and Calcifer seemed to be having a lovely, secure time, 50 yards away.

And only one yard infront of her was the very quiet, very smug stanger, who was eyeing her appreciatively. She gulped and glared at him.

"If you dare lay a finger on me..."

"Rest assured 'Nalu," he murmured, once more holding up his hands. "I am harmless." His toothy smile revealed sharp, glistening fangs.

Sachieal enjoyed the feeling of the sun's warm rays upon him. It reminded him of home, or rather, the home he actually wished to return to. The ground was soft around where he lay, and he could feel the grass around him sway lightly, brushing against his prone body.

Sachieal swam in his thoughts. I truly am greatful for the calm after the storm.

He opened his eyes for an instant, his ears picked up on the faint sound of Calcifer's name being called. Sachieal's intention was to tell her of the voice he heard, but he was cut off mid-sentence.

The ball of water hit Sachiael square in the head and sent him falling back toward the ground in an exadurated fashion. Sachieal stood, forgetting the noise momentarily. He shook his hair and found that it clung to him, it was annoying, to be sure, but he couldn't help but laugh anyway.

"You minx, Calcifer! I'll get you for this!" Sachieal stepped toward the shoreline and drove his hand into the water. He pulled his hand up and toward Calcifer, and a light rain flew towards her for his efforts.

For lack of better terms, Sachieal had entered a splash battle.

Calcifer laughed and covered her face,she moved her hands in a circle,ten little balls where made.she then moved her hands in the direction of sachieal.she had never played with somone before.she smiled and laughed and had fun while prancing throught the water.
"sure you will,silly sachieal."she giggled

Sachieal felt a blush move across his cheeks. He was losing a splash battle against Calcifer. His ice magic was out of the question, it wouldn't be effective on water not frozen. He kicked water her way and dashed around the river, twisting and turning, trying to avoid Calcifer's barrage of water projectiles.

Sachieal eventually gave up and cluched at his heart. "Beghast! I cannot defeat you, oh powerful water mage!" He fell in grandoise fashion and floated down towards Calcifer. If he wasn't entirely soaked from the onslaught of splashing, he was from falling into the stream so foolishly.

"Well, Miss Calcifer, I bid forefit to you. Your water-magics are too much for me." He stood up and inspected his soaked through clothing. "But fire magic, my dear, you won't stand a chance!"

The woman sat quietly still, and having her eyes covered once more she did not see Origin's movement, nor her wave. The gesture had gone unreceived though had Histlan known she would not have had it that way. A moment passed and as though her senses were delayed from being over-stressed from all the days' happenings it took her a while to sense the being of Origin having gone by at all, she'd believed to have smelt the newer scent of blood and torn flesh first.

She raised her head once more. "Miss?" She sat up straighter, she was not sure if Origin should be out and about at all. She knew not her name though, and thus calling her attention was harder. It took her a moment of silence to realise she must have missed her, probably entirely. She tried to concentrate which felt far more difficult today, like pulling her thoughts into order was like using very poor adhesive on heavy paper. She sensed Origin outside eventually, not entirely sure exactly where, but her lips parted quickly as she let out a small sound of surprise as that same presence she'd felt three days ago came to her. The man that'd took into his place to 'save' her and others, but had not first come with such intentions.

From the surprise she lost it though, but stood up quickly, grabbing blindly for her walking stick before she hurried towards the door. Pushing past someone, she knew not who, she hurried out the door in urgency after stumbling on its handle at first. "Miss!?" She shouted. And moved some down the road. "Miss!?" She called franticly again

It was too late they were gone, they'd been so even after she'd sensed the new presence, but had still been much closer than what they were more than likely now. Histlan wasn't sure exactly what to do, and a grappling concern took her chest, while she tried to concentrate again.

Calcifer looked at shachieal with a smile."well i dont like to fight unless i have to,and well i see my skills as useless on a battlefeild...."with that being said she looked down into the water.she loved the water so much,it was as if it was apart of her...but she did not want to use it to hurt people...she knew she probably could...but she would actualy have to try to do that,the stuff she had been doing was easy and helped the injured.

He did say he would watch where he was going, but the same wasn’t to be said about anyone else. Ivaylo was shouldered aside as the young woman barreled her way past him and out the door. ”Miss!?” His brow furrowed slightly, alarmed by the urgency in her voice as she made her way down the road with the walking stick in a hurry.

“See to it that these are disposed of, will you?” He shoved the bundle into a confused volunteer’s hands, not bothering to see who it was that he was giving the task before closing the distance at a face-paced walk, almost a run.

As he approached, the woman seemed to be in a state of deep concentration, over what he did not know. Ivaylo recalled seeing her before in the infirmary, but didn’t know much else aside that she kept her hood very low over her eyes. He cleared his throat quickly, in case she hadn’t heard him walking up behind her.

“You seemed to be quite in a hurry back there. Is anything wrong?”