The thick of the forest creates good shade, much better than the openness of our checkpoint. A little bit of light shimmers through, but I can't complain. "Where did they go, Jayce?" He looks back at me from the lead he naturally took. "They said something about a lake before they left. I suspect that they spoke of Berth." He turns back around and continues on, leaving me to follow on instinct. Berth, huh. Never heard of the place. I just hope we don't catch them taking a dip on duty. "(Wait!)" Jayce says, crouching in sudden alarm, causing me to do as well. "(Stay here. I'll head on and survey the lake.)" What? He then moves to the side, giving me a veiw of a leaking light peircing through the once peaceful shade. I respond with a nod since he grew visually impatient. I get lost in thought too easy in my later years. He walks into the light ahead, and due to such I hoped I had some time to my thoughts. But such was for naught. "Freeze, Gladiator!" I hear an unfamiliar voice spit out from beyond the exit of the thick. "Jayce!" I uncrouch and charge toward the entrance. As I go through the light I soon see a somewhat wholesome scene. I stood about 30 feet away from the edge of land. Beyond, was a lake. It was almost perfectly circular in shape and along its edges were rimmed with white, familiar tree's. Beyond that, I saw four mountains in the distance. Now... for the ugly part. Just ahead of me was a soldier in copper armor, weilding a Bastard sword the size of me. He was in a stance that was quite the bit intimidating. His sword was stabbed into the ground, one foot on the handguard of the hilt, raising his leg high. He didn't weild a shield though. Among him was a small party. A little left of the heavily geared Copper was a soldier who had two blades. Unlike the first, this soldier didn't wear a helm, and easily visible green hair was shown, proving his Coloria blood. It was short hair, but its front jutted out and seemed to defy gravity. He wore light leather armor and a strange scarf. His armor was a bit sloppy, peices mix matched of differing armours. He didn't seem like an average Copper, but neither did the rest. They seemed more like a band of mercenaries. But no, they all carried the Copper seal. But as for the one I spake of. Unfortunately, one of his blades was around Jayces throat, the other resting in sheath. Further down behind them lay a dock of the lake. Upon that dock lie three soldiers. One easily being recognised as a Sakurootsoe. For his Hibiscus's (Chakra) inner ring hold Shaw by the waist. Another was a simple healer, who's only defining characteristic being the etching of a Gilga. A tribal healer working for the Copperblaze army was uncommon, but so was the entire group. Lastly, upon the edge of the dock lay a Sling. He wore a Periahs cloth and had a cape longer than himself almost dipping into Berth. He had blonde hair, being unhelmed like the rest besides the one in front of me. Only one more was currently visible, and she scared me the most. She stared towards the water, dress touching the edge of Berth. She had long black hair, and upon her dress were unknown purple symbols. She seemed quite harmless, but still I felt a cold when she is in sight. The one in front of me finally speaks. "We didn't expect to find you so easily, prince of Steel. Asriels calculations couldn't have been more accurate." His words send a chill down my spine, but I force myself to unsheath my sword at the ready. Well, it seems King Paul found us anyway. I knew I was vastly outnumbered, but I wasn't about to cower now. "Just run boy! There is too much on the line!" Jayce yells, not daring to move from the Colorias grip. His words reflect point, but father would want it this way. He would never have me run like a coward. With staggered words, I point my sword to the now apparent Swordmaster in front of me. "Y-your opponent i-is me, Sword!" I yell in confidence, but my shaking sword shows cowardess. "Hah! Puny knight! You either show bravery or idiocy! But on either, it doesn't matter. Lord Paul himself gave permission to kill you if necessary, and I say self defence is proper reason!" He pulls his blade from the dirt and with both hands matches its allignment with my own, then bending his knees a bit in battle stance. Then, from afar came words from the tribal healer. "Noel! Know you no shame! He isn't even old anough to be called a man!" For some reason, in one part of my mind I thank the healer for the insult. For the newly named Noel lets his blade hit the dirt, but he doesn't release the grip. "Alright Isahia. Come quietly and you may live to see the fall of Goldstone." My anger suddenly boils up, and I lose control. "How dare you!" "What?" I run toward him in a short burst and slice my shortsword as hard as I can into the crease between his helm and left shoulderplate. It lands without casualty, yet... He acts like he didn't even notice. "Wow. Good job knight. You relieved the itch from my neck." He suddenly swings his blade upward, but from my distance only the edge had affect. my legs stood between and his sword hit my underarmor, swinging me high into the air to lift off and land on my back screaming. I get up and wipe the soil from my armor, returning to battle stance without showing fear this time. But this time, I raise my sword high, bringing the hilt to the right side of my face with both hands. I bend my knees... and I point my edge to Noels skull. "By the Ancients Noel! That was just uncalled for!" The tribal Healer said to my aid yet again. My rage began to boil within my chest. I could feel it. It was like a monster yearning to be unveiled from its cell. "Not really, Maldon. Look at the boy! He may breathe hard and remain still, but I see the dark in his eyes! He wan'ts to reap my soul, but such is impossible. He stands new as well! Look at him! That is not a Pepal I see through those eyes!" He tries to provoke. He fails. "Get out of here, Isahia!" Jayce yells again, now provoking greeny to kill. I won't allow. "He breathes heavy still, unmoving! I think we broke him! Haha!" Noel scoffs in remark to my sudden stand of ground. I feel now pain holding onto my rage. It wants out. It hurts. I catch a glimpse of movement in a tree just to my right. I look to its top subtly. I see a green cloak and a bow in hand. I then slowly nod to it, returning my eyes to Noel. "Heheh... What are you waiting for, Sword?" The words come out more demonic than expected but it placed a desired effect upon my enemy. Fear! Only a glimmer, but anough to show my resolve! I bend my knees a bit more and arch my back... "You, wannabe knight." I unbar the shackles... and open the door! "Emylia!!! Now!!!" I yell, smashing into Noel at full force, blade peircing through the right side of his abdomen as we tumble down the slight hillside between Riided and Berth. As doing so, one of Emylias arrows enter the knee of greenys left leg! We stop halfway down, leaving me on top! I pull my blade from Noels abdomen, hearing him scream! As the arrow takes affect, greeny falls sideways to the sleep-edged head! As his screams wither away, I stab my sword into his palm, renewing thier strength! Jayce is free now, and with his freedom he darted towards the dock. "Thats anough, childlike abomination..." I hear a womens voice above me. I take little notice and pull my blade back out, renewing Noels screams yet again!!! Jayce reaches the dock, clashing against the Sakurootsoe's Hibiscus. Fortunately, by need of Hibiscus, Shaw was freed. Shaw takes this chance to use an Elemental burst of wind to push the Sling into Berths waters. Another arrow flies, aiming toward the Sakurootsoe. But it misses by mere inches. I go to stab Noel yet again! Unfortunately, the fearful womens dark elemental energi clasps onto me, making me unable to move. The Sakurootsoe slices his Hibiscus into both of Jayces legs after dodging a would-have-been deadly axe swing by merely ducking, using the chance to damage Jayce. Fortunately, the cuts weren't critical. Shaw used his turn to try to stab Maldon with his spear, but such as a Healers tactic, Maldon fled the dock, knocking the Sakurootsoe and Jayce off balance in the process. Emylia jumps out of the tree, shooting yet another arrow toward the Sakurootsoe. This one got him right in the chest, so the edge took effect much faster. Still being paralyzed and unable to move, the black-dressed women used her elemental energi again to sling me hard into the same tree Emylia used to hide, almost hitting her in the process. "Oops. I missed." The fearful lady exclaimed in pure malice and mockery. The Sakurootsoe falls to sleep as the double bladed did, and Jayce becomes unable to fight and rests on all fours. Shaw chases the cowardly healer off the dock, but just before he could slay him, the healer coats Noel in curing mist, and Noel gets up and counters Shaw. Emylia, realizing the danger of Maldon, shoots an arrow directly into his spine. He falls immediately. "Good shot..." I say, trying to get up from my sudden back pain. "Thanks, Isahia." "Hey... You called me by name." "Oh... I did, didn't I?" Suddenly, I see a shadow ball heading toward us. I use the visual I was given to push Emylia out of range. Now she layed at my entrance to Berth. But also, in the time I used I became vulnerable. The blast hit me critically, slamming me against the same tree again. "Awww. Arn't you the chivalrus one!" The wench still mocks, causing my anger to relight. I stride to a stand in one painful movement. "Damn it!" I stare to her in anger, then adding the strength of my right hand to my left so I could still lift the sword. Shaw continues to clash with Noel, but then he takes advantage of the crack I placed in his otherwise thick armor and peirced into his abdomen. More blood spilled than the first time, which means he might have hit a vital organ. Noel grows weaker... I can tell. Jayce returns to his feet, and just in time too. The Sling returns from Berth and is immediately slugged in the face by Jayces unforgiving tree trunk of an arm. Damn. Looked like it hurt too. Emylia returns to her feet, angry for not noticing the blast, and grateful that I didn't die. (It was a hard hit.) She aims hard and pulls harder, the arrow practically disappeared from the strength of the shot. Only evidence of its existence being the large rip in the right side of the chests dressing of the evil wench! At first, I was happy to see that the arrow went all way through. Then I realized that under her cloth was... a bare ribcage?! "What the hell are you?!" I yell, demonic voice accidentally coming through again. "You can call me Ebony... mortal." Oh shit. What is she? I can't fight a bag of bones. Then suddenly, black sparkles came from all around enveloping Ebonys right hand in a strange shape. Noel still stands against Shaw. Weaker, but still ruthless. Shaw is in a bad spot too. He has to avoid that blade instead of clashing with it. One encounter, and that spear will be lost. Greeny wakes from the sleep spell all of a sudden. He must have a resilience ring... He darted to Shaw, who was about to be overwhelmed. But Jayce jumps in against Noel, giving Shaw a defense against Greeny. Emylia shoots her last arrow at Greeny, but in the sudden cluster just behind Ebony, she missed, instead hitting the already downed Sling. I stand the same, letting my rage and focus build onto Ebony. The mutation of the black sparkles finish, revealing a rather disturbing chain Scythe. "Her name is Crow." I suddenly heard from Ebonys cocky half-smiling mouth. The chain of the scythe suddenly wraps around her... lovingly? "With her power, all you can do is pray for a swift death." Ebony says uneedingly, for I can see that for myself. She suddenly grips the scythe, turning her hand to bone! Then, even more surprisingly, a single left wing reveals itself in its black feathers. "You should feel honored, Isahia. Not many see this form. But once you hurt my colleagues... theres no going back." She stretches her
one-ward wing and her smile grows. Jayce finally gets Noel to the ground, merely from exhaustion and sheer brute force. Noel should have known better than to challenge my master! Shaw clashes with Greeny still, who is even quicker than I imagined. Shaw gets the final blow though, bringing Greeny to one knee. Greeny then looks to Ebony, then he smiles. That can't be good. Emylia runs to my side, even though she was now without arms. "What are you doing?" I try to say without losing my focus. It is successful. "You can't take demon lady alone." She responds confidently. Maybe... Yes! "Emylia... Focus your energi into elemental form. Do not hold back." I say, still remaining my eyes to Ebony. "Don't fail me Em. I can only do this with you." She smiles at my words, even though I was just too focused to lie. She goes by my side and begins to focus. But my charge time is far greater and I start to lose control of my body. On both my hands my fingers lose grip as they are forced to widen to thier fullest extent due to my body trying to find more room to store its fire. I drop my sword due to it and I bring my arms apart. Emylia is storing much faster than I though, and is reaching my strength fast. She is more adept to the elements for sure. Shaw and Jayce just now realize the situation and run to the lake. Honestly, Greeny does too. Ebony seems to also be storing energy, because her cocky smile returns to dead frown and a dark aura envelopes her. Incredible, such power and yet us two kids are the only who choose to face it. No way. Emylia speaks, which is surprising, considering her store and mine are of close to equal strengths now. "You think we can do it?" At first I don't respond, but then I choose the truth.
"No matter what." She smiles and I do as well. But my muscles swell beyond extent and it hurts unmeasurably. I can tell Emylias grows even faster. The pain our bodys are trying to endure are crazy high, and if we don't release it soon we will explode! But then... all of a sudden a blue aura envelopes Emylia. Then a little after, a red envoy velops me. Now our body's try to release the pressure! I've never felt so much power! Ebonys aura thickens to almost a second body and the rune embedded in her Scythe glows purple. "I bid you farewell." Ebony says as the earth begins to shudder beneath us. She reaches her arm not weilding the scythe to us, palm fully visible. It slowly sheds the skin as her hand turns to bone. I look back to her face and her hair moves on its own into the hood which magically lifts over her head. The darkness of the hood at first hides her face. Then it becomes visible again, but this time as a skull. I knew what that meant. I raise my left palm to Ebony as my body shakes violently. "Ready Emylia?!" I have to yell over the shaking earth. Thusly, my partner to my left raises her right arm to Ebony. "As ever!" Then from the opposite end I hear Ebony's voice. "I bid your life adew..." And both Emylia and I yell in synchronized voices the only words appropriate for the wrech ahead. The excursion of our inner selves left in the battle cry! "Begone!!!!!" I felt my body slowly flood in release as a massive amount of pressure turns to my palm. A wave of great flame worthy of the Ancient Kain himself exerts from my palm as from Emylias palm came an anormous ocean of water worthy of the Ancient Grave exerts from her palm! Our arms shake violently and we are both forced to use our other arms to grip the other and control the shake. Ebony's palm exerts what seems to be a dark laser imbued with the souls she had taken. Unfortunately, her arm doesn't shake at all. Our combined elements seemed to equalize with hers though, and we both clashed midway. As both Emylias and I's energi blasted way, our elements seemed to coil and help each others faults in a swirl of blue and red that spins more rapid by the second. We were starting to gain ground, and we were both surprised by this. I had no idea that children such as us could combine to make so much power. We pushed harder and harder as it slowly drew closer to Ebony. She then does something very unexpected. "Souls of the weary, return home!!!" As she said those words the souls that were imbedded to make her blast were suddenly absorbed by Crows rune. But we didn't let off at first and the blast kept flowing, blazing and drowning through Ebony. But as it passed her and dissipated. She not only remained unscaithed, but she was returned to her original form. For the first few minutes there was only silence as the peace of Paige restored, then Ebony spoke. "I'm impressed. Your still mortals. But... I'm impressed." She suddenly opens a black hole behind her, not lifting her gaze from me or Emylia. "Errr..." "Quit complaining Noel. Get in. Were done here." "Fine..." Eventually, everyone except Ebony and our party enter the portal. She begins to walk in, but then turns her head one last time, throwing both Emylia and I a half smile, entering afterward. The portal vanishes. I look around and find Jayce and Shaw to be hanging onto the end of the dock for dear life. I laugh for some reason. Seeing the faces of pure terror on them was enough to do that, I guess. Ebony, who are you? What are you, for that matter? Oh well... "Emylia, you alright?" "No, you?" "No." We begin to laugh out of control. Then we both high five, then out of pure exhaustion we both collapse on the hard ground. Same time too...