RolePlayGateway™

(OOC: This was an old roleplay I participated with someone from dA, AtroposGuitar, this was done over E-Mail, this is the log of the roleplay before it ended abruptly)

"L-lady Citea...Are you sure w-we are in the right place?" Worried a young man, fidgeting meekly with his silvery-blonde hair. Lively electric blue eyes glanced around sheepishly at the large, elaborate city. He was obviously out of his element in a place like this. So many frightening people...

"Of course we are...I can sense it." Replied the rather stunning woman next to him. Her long, golden hair contrasted greatly with her dark red and black clothing. This almost drab appearance seemed to make an almost eerie show of her deep blue eyes and snow white skin. The sapphire orbs looked around calmer than that of her young guard, who kept his hand tentatively on his sword as they walked.

"Calm down, Rynou..." Added a second man, a slightly scolding tone in his voice. "We are supposed to meet the new recruit just up ahead...At this statue..." He added, first sweeping aside some of his chin-length black hair, and then turning his hand to a nearby monument in the center of a flowered courtyard. This should be interesting...I really do not feel sure of this, however...But if Lady Citea insists... He thought, biting his lip, bright silver eyes narrowing slightly.

'It's been almost an hour where could they be?' thought the knight as he paced back and forth in front of the monument, occasionally stopping to adjust his armor, 'I just hope this job turns out better then the last one, I still can't get over that betrayal' he stopped and stroked his long silver hair behind his ear when he noticed it, a woman dressed in red and black accompanied by two knights approached him, 'This is it' he thought as the woman began to speak.

The blonde swept over to the new guard, her dark blue eyes watching him with a quiet intensity. They seemed to stare into his very core. Her two other guards watched the newcomer as well with varying expressions. The younger boy bowed politely, giving a slightly nervous smile, while the black haired guard gave a much weaker bow. He watched him suspiciously, as if he were worried about him being a spy.
"What is your name?" The woman asked, tilting her head as she looked up at the man from her rather smaller height.

"Cyrus, m'lady" replied the knight keeping a close eye on the black haired guard "I would very much like the honor of defending someone so exalted and I would gladly give my life at your command if you wish it." he bowed down onto one knee letting his silver hair flow over his armor like water

"There is no need for such formality...I do not require it..." Citea stated simply, reaching down a pale hand to gently pull up the guard. She seemed to have great strength for such a small woman...
"And your life need not be wasted with words...You will not die..." she added calmly.

"Of course I'm...sorry I guess I'm just..nervous" he replied, slowly relaxing himself as he quickly scanned her two guards, 'hmm the blonde one looks inexperienced maybe I could teach him a thing or two, as for the other for some reason I feel like I already know him' he returned his gaze to Citea and stood to attention "So, do I get the job or would you like a test of my skills before you make that decision?"

"There is no test..." She waved her hand simply. "I can tell someone's strength by merely being around them...A test would be...A waste..." She replied, whirling back around in a flurry of black and gold. In the process, she motioned to the younger boy. "This is Rynou...And this is Aeron..." She then motioned towards the elder guard.
Rynou again bowed nicely. "it...It is nice to meet you..." He murmured quietly. Aeron simply nodded towards Cyrus.

"It's an honor to work with you" he replied, just as he was about to speak he caught a glimpse of metal flashing then.."Lady Citea, get down!" he grabbed Citea and pulled her to the ground using his body to cushion her fall as a dagger flew past them and pierced the heart of a nearby town guard. “That was close Lady Citea, are you okay?"

Citea blinked slightly, showing no real surprise. "Um...Thank you..." She stood and brushed herself off slightly, glancing at Aeron. He nodded and mumbled something under his breath. Instantly, a great wind picked up around him and moved like a small twister through several crowds of people. "there." He murmured and there was a cry. A man had been picked up by the little hurricane and was being brought over to Aeron, who stopped the wind abruptly. the man dropped to the ground in a semi-conscious heap.

"That was amazing" Cyrus muttered quietly awestruck at the spectacle, the man was an average civilian but cloaked in red cloth around his wrists and neck "What should we do with him?" he asked to the others as the man slipped unconscious. 'Why would a common townsperson wish to kill Lady Citea she's no longer the Empress...this doesn't make any sense,' he quietly thought when he noticed an unusual scar on the mans' wrist, he grabbed the red cloth and ripped it off revealing the scar to the group.

Citea glanced at the scar and frowned slightly. "He's from Eclipse...I'm surprised they have stayed silent as long as they have..." She murmured, almost to herself. She turned around again, her face still showing no real emotion. "Aeron. Send him to the government house for interrogation. I shall send them a report tonight."
"I understand..." Aeron bowed slightly towards her and waved his hand again. The man was instantly sucked into what seemed to be a vortex of wind. When it died down, he was gone.

"Lady Citea, if you don't mind me asking what is this power you use and what is Eclipse" he glanced toward Rynou who was quivering with his hand on his sword, obviously scarred that it could have been him that died, Cyrus calmly placed his hand on Rynou's shoulder reassuring him it was ok before turning to Citea to hear his answers.

"You can...See my power soon enough. But as for Eclipse...It is a...Group...That I used to be a part of. I quit a few years ago and the leader was most...Annoyed, let's just say. I had always assumed that they would attack me at some point...But it's been quite a while..." She murmured, glancing quietly at the sky as she spoke.

"I see" he said as he let go of Rynou's shoulder and walked off following Citea as they headed back to the castle to file the report, he looked back at Rynou and shouted to him, "Rynou are you coming?" he snapped out of his daze and quickly ran after Citea and Cyrus. Later that night...

Citea stood quietly on the balcony of an inn near the palace. It had been much easier to stay there than to risk traveling overnight...Even though she had insisted that she would be fine. Rynou had gone to sleep, having been rather drowsy from the past day. Aeron stood near the entrance to the balcony, his bright silver eyes watching the area closely.

Cyrus had discarded his heavy armor for the night and work a crimson tunic with a black dragon emblazoned on the back, he thought about talking to Citea about the assassin but from the look in Aeron's eyes decided against it and instead decided to go for a stroll by the nearby lake to relax, as he was about to leave Aeron suddenly collapsed to the floor as if he had been poisoned, Cyrus quickly ran to his side and noticed he was asleep. 'Did she just....' he thought but quickly discarded it as Citea slowly began to speak.

"He never sleeps enough..." She murmured, partly to herself. "I always have to make him...I can tell when his energy is low..." She added, glancing at Cyrus, her sapphire eyes glinting eerily in the moonlight. She turned back away and glanced towards the sky, seeming lost in her own thoughts. "Why are you up?"

"I...can't sleep it's just.." he stopped himself thinking would it be right to tell her, 'She already knows what I'm going to say so I might as well say it' he stood up and walked to the balcony and rested his arms on the rail. "Before I decided to become your bodyguard I was working for a nobleman named Thendrius he was a good man; kind, cheerful and energetic until one day when he met with an Eclipse speaker at Aclepsius near the capital, after I realized that he had signed a contract that ordered me dead it was too late, I was attacked by three Eclipse initiates and imprisoned and tortured by their leader until one initiate rescued me when I was about to give in. I escaped their hideout and fled to the capital where I lived out as a town guard waiting until the day I could find my traitorous master when I saw your job posting and now here I am, still searching for revenge"

Citea glanced at him quietly. "You...Were not tortured by the leader...It was my other personality..." She murmured quietly, staring off into space, running her pale fingers over her necklace. "She was in charge of information in Eclipse...Well...She still is..." She added, her dark eyes staring quietly at the large moon.

Cyrus was shocked at what he heard but quickly composed himself "Still, how do you mean she's still in charge?" he was afraid at what the answer would but somehow knew Citea meant no harm 'Was she the one....who rescued me?' he thought to himself

"Citeakari is no longer...In my body...She got one of her own..." Citea replied softly, glancing over her shoulder at the sleeping Aeron. "He had her extracted...About a year ago...But she went back and rejoined because she likes causing pain..."

"So it is she who means to kill you?" flashes of the attack flowed through his mind 'Surely they won't seek to attack us everywhere we go'

"I suppose it could be...but I rather doubt it..." She shrugged drowsily, sitting on the railing of the balcony. "She has other things she would rather do...Like be around that stupid lover of hers...And whatever else she does..." She murmured.

Cyrus heard Aeron stirring, about to wake *sigh* "Perhaps we should get some sleep it's been a busy day and surely tomorrow will be the same" he slowly walked towards the empty bed and lay down to rest

Citea watched him go quietly, not seeming very tired herself. Aeron soon awoke, rubbing his eyes drowsily and frowning at himself when he noticed he had fallen asleep. He stood quickly, watching Citea again, his hand on his sword.

Cyrus quickly drifted off to sleep, one of dreams recounted the attack earlier today when all of a sudden a voice spoke to him "Cyrus, kill Citea, do my bidding and you shall be rewarded" he wearily stood up and walked towards Citea in a trance like state.

Citea didn't seem to notice the guard approaching her, again lost deep within her own thoughts. She simply stare ahead blindly, not blinking and watching the moon in the dark sky.

Cyrus slammed Aeron to one side and drew his sword raising it above his head, "Do it" the voice commanded, he started to slice down but stopped himself before he struck Citea "N..no I c..can't kill h..her" he could feel a force within him forcing him to do it but at the same time felt as if Citea was helping him to fight it 'I..is she helping m...me?"

Citea finally glanced over her shoulder at Cyrus and waved a hand. Black shadows shot up from the ground and slammed him into a wall. Her blue eyes had turned blood red and she noiselessly got off of the railing, her feet seeming to barely touch the ground as she walked. "How annoying..." She murmured softly.

"W...what is this,C...Citea help me, please" Cyrus struggled to free himself but to no avail "W...why are y..you doing this?"

"To keep you from stabbing me with this little thing...Of course..." She replied simply, taking the sword effortlessly from his hand and twirling it. "Regenerating is rather annoying, you see...And this will allow me to get the mind control off easier..."

Suddenly Cyrus felt the force twisting his very soul aside as it took complete control "Aaah Citea it's been too long, it's a shame this one couldn't kill you but perhaps your other pathetic companions could prove useful" his arm shot up and let rip a volley of shadow arrows at Citea

Citea glanced at the shadows and they froze in front of her. "Hmph...Shadows are my servants...It is ridiculous to try and turn them...Upon me..." She touched the tip of one of the arrows and it shattered and vanished.

"Hahaha we'll see if you can command this then" Cyrus released a huge blob of shadows from his hand which formed into an exact copy of Citea but all black with blood red eyes "I shall reclaim the power you stole from me" the shadow turned one of it's arms into a blade and swiped at Citea in a frenzy

Citea dodged quietly, still showing no real emotion on her face. Waving her hand, she instantly materialized a long silver and black scythe. She cut the copy in half, jumping back to stand on the railing again. "This is...Really wasting my meditation time...Can't we do this face-to-face...? You people always were...Cowards."

The shadow relinquished control of Cyrus and formed into Citea's exact double only with black hair and piercing silver eyes "You dare to call us cowards, you shied away from your duty and stole the secrets of Eclipse and fled into hiding and you call us cowards, you shall pay dearly for those words" she raised her hand and muttered a chant and three golden rings bound Citea to the spot "Now to erase you my servant"

"I shied away from no one...I was simply fed up with being a used puppet...And I am not the only member who thinks that...And...I doubt Rynou will be very happy if I am...Erased'..." She nodded over the clone's shoulder. Rynou stood there, his eyes wide in confusion and anger, their whites having turned back. "Let go of Lady Citea. NOW." His voice had changed slightly and he had grown fangs.

"I see, then I let you live for now, but I will reclaim the secret" the shadow released the binding rings and melted into a pool and darkness seeping into nothing

Rynou's eyes returned to their normal cover and his fangs vanished. He seemed slightly confused and rubbed his eyes sleepily. "L-lady Citea...? How did I get out of bed?"
"Calm down, Rynou...Go back to sleep..." She murmured calmly, freeing Cyrus, her scythe vanishing. The younger guard bowed and left.

"I'm sorry Citea" Cyrus apologized bowing to one knee "I had no idea the enemy would use us against each other"

"I had figured they would..." She shrugged simply. "Just make sure you keep your mind stronger in the future..." She turned away, staring back at the sky. The events seemed to have barely fazed her.

(The next morning) Cyrus awoke late and found nobody was there but a note 'We're waiting outside when you're ready to leave.' he discarded the note and put his armor back on and proceeded outside where he saw Aeron and Citea laughing at Rynou who was badly losing a fight with a squirrel "Come on, somebody get this thing off me".

Aeron eventually helped the younger boy, who pouted slightly at being teased. He noticed Cyrus and smiled weakly, whereas Aeron once again seemed rather indifferent. Citea still seemed to be in her own world, staring blankly into the city below.

"Looks like I missed the fun" Cyrus chuckled at Rynou's pouting, "So are we heading to the castle today?" he asked directing it at Citea

Citea simply nodded, silently whirling around and starting off without a word. "Lady Citea gets like this often..." Rynou whispered. "She gets lonely a lot...She never talks then..."

The journey up the hill towards the castle was quick but tiring "We've arrived" Cyrus stated as the huge gates swung open allowing them access, a man in crimson armor and a black cape greeted them "Good day, Lady Citea, the chancellor is waiting for you in his chambers, as for your knights the guest quarters have been prepared for them" the knight walked away then stopped waiting for Citea to follow

Citea nodded calmly and followed the man down the hallway, glancing quietly around at the palace walls as she passed, seemingly looking for something.

The knight noticed her uneasiness and had to ask "Is something the matter m'lady you seem uncomfortable being here"

"No...It's nothing..." She shook her head slightly, blonde hair falling over her eyes. "Do not trouble yourself with it..."

The pair continued on towards the chamber, meanwhile in the guest quarters, "Something doesn't feel right here, can you feel it?" Cyrus asked the others "Is it wise to leave Citea alone, I know she can defend herself but...."

For the first time in a while, Aeron spoke, "Do not question Lady Citea. She...Knows what she is here to do...And she must do it. We are not to interfere...That is what she told me."

Cyrus glanced at Rynou who looked impatient, meanwhile back with Citea, the pair arrived at the chancellor's chamber and the doors swung open creating a massive echo in the hall, "Aah Lady Citea it is good to see you again, we received your prisoner from Aeron, would you mind telling us more on this?" the voice came from an chubby, old man with balding grey hair and exquisite robes on

"I told you everything in my note, I believe..." Citea gave a slight bow. "He is a subordinate of Eclipse...Not a full member, by any means...Just a peon working for someone above him...Most likely Citeakari...I assume you know of her, correct?"

"Of course, we have been tracking her movements for sometime but lost her trail yesterday" the chancellor sat down on the grand throne and ordered a knight to fetch Citea's guards "We have a little present for you, please forgive us" a shadow rose from the floor and took the form of Citeakari "Sorry my puppet but this time you shall not escape and as for you I will not tolerate defiance" she flung a shadow arrow at the chancellor and pierced his lung

Citea gave an annoyed sigh. "How...Very pitiful...You must continue to steal my abilities with your fake power...Why don't you come out...? I know you are here, Citeakari...I can feel it..." There was a ring of laughter from a voice that was Citea's...And yet it wasn't at the same time.
"If you insist..." More shadows slid up from the floor and Citea's other half appeared. She looked exactly like her, except her eyes had kept the blood red color and she possessed the lavishly decorated ears and tail of a black cat. "Hello... suppose your little guards will be here soon...Correct?"

The knight arrived at the guest quarters bleeding from a shadow attack "You must go quickly....Citea...is in danger.....we were...all...betrayed" he collapsed dead from the wound "We have to go, Citea needs us" they ran off towards the chamber, meanwhile..

Citeakari was circling Citea with a smirk, licking her long cat-like fangs. "So...Is your new guard a cute one? I have grown rather tired of being around the men in Eclipse by now..." She laughed.
"You know perfectly well that I can't tell...And that's fine with me..." Citea shrugged.
"Ahahaha...I had almost forgotten...You are still blind...Pitiful, really..."

The others had managed to find the chamber but it was sealed and guarded by clones of Aeron and Rynou "W...what is this" Cyrus drew his blade and readied himself, Aeron and Rynou simply stood back at started uttering a chant "Buy us some time, you can't kill them but we can dispel them!" Aeron shouted as the shadows lunged at Cyrus, back in the chamber

CItea glanced at the door, sensing the blocked door. "Hm...I'm surprised you didn't let them in...It would have been more fun for you...Yes?" She asked Citeakari sarcastically. She frowned slightly.
"I suppose...But it is also fun to watch them get killed by themselves..."

Cyrus swung at the shadows but his sword simply phased through them "Foolish, you can't hurt us" the shadow sliced at Cyrus knocking him into the wall while the Rynou shadow pinned him there leaving the others vulnerable "Noooo, I won't let you interfere" a light surrounded Cyrus and knocked the shadow away from him, he stood surrounded in a bright red aura and blood red eyes "For Citea" he let loose a volley of crimson energy bolts which pierced the shadows and bound them to the door "Now Rynou!" Aeron shouted, the spell they charged was unleashed creating a massive pulse which disintegrated the shadows and the door they were pinned to, inside...

Citeakari frowned slightly as the door shattered. "Hmph. I suppose they were a bit stronger than I expected...But that is no real problem..." She smirked again and shrugged, twirling a piece of her blonde hair around a finger. Citea glanced slightly over her shoulder at the door as Aeron entered and glanced around worriedly.

Aeron and Rynou quickly ran to Citea's side "Citea, something happened with Cyrus, I think he has unlocked his hidden power" Aeron reported to her while Cyrus entered the chamber surrounded in the same bright red aura, he simply glanced at Citea and nodded then materialized a sword with a blood red blade and dripping red energy from the tip "I will destroy you Citeakari, you have caused us grief for the last time"

Citeakari simply stared at Cyrus, one eyebrow raised. Then she laughed. "That's very funny...You humans are very entertaining..." She smirked, twirling her hair boredly still, sitting in a nearby chair. "You can attempt to destroy me all you want, but it won't work...Isn't that right, my little host?" She glanced at Citea.

"Enough with your games" He lunged at Citeakari but she disappeared letting his blade slice through the throne with ease "I will not let you use us any more" he charged up his sword causing the room to fill with an intense red light which caused everyone to shield their eyes, except Citea who watched the power flooding from Cyrus.

"mm...This might be too much for him to handle..." Citea murmured quietly to Aeron. "If needed, be ready to perform a seal to keep him in check...And make sure Rynou stays under control, all right?" She glanced at him and he nodded, watching the younger guard.

Citeakari reappeared near the shattered door hovering slightly off the ground "Ooh is this power too much for you to handle?" she teased "I...can....control....it" he let rip a massive ray of energy which tore a hole in the wall nearby and blasted off part of her body "A pathetic attempt" she held her hand over the wound and started to slowly regenerate

"Aeron...You might want to seal him now..." Citea watched Cyrus calmly. Aeron nodded and was suddenly behind the other man. He drew a symbol with his finger in the air and then touched his back. "Hold." A large light came over the symbol, engulfing both itself and Cyrus. Aeron moved back and watched the seal take effect.

Cyrus cried in pain as the power started to seal itself back into his body, there was a blinding red flash and Cyrus collapsed to the ground from exhaustion "Hahaha so you do care for him then, I can't see what you see in this one" Citeakari laughed as she faded into the shadows and disappeared "Next time, my host"

Citea rolled her eyes quietly and glanced at the chancellor. "Now I suppose someone will have to know about this..." She sighed in slight annoyance. "Citeakari is always so...Flashy with her entrances and exits..." She frowned.

The next day Cyrus awoke to a strange sensation in his chest, he opened his eyes to find himself in bed without his armor on and Citea's hand glowing blue over his chest "Uhh what....happened" he asked as Citea continued her task

"Your power got out of control. I had to have Aeron seal it." She replied simply, not seeming too phased by the ordeal at the palace. "You will be fine in a day or so."

"My...power, what power" Citea finished what she was doing a rose to her feet and sat on the nearby bed

"I'm not completely sure..." Citea gave a slight shrug, staring out the nearby window calmly. "It seemed to manifest out of nowhere...But it seems to come from the same basis as Aeron's or Rynou's...Anger..."

"I can still...feel it pulsing inside me, how can I harness this kind of power if you had to seal it?" He asked laying back down in bed

"It will take time...If Rynou can control a demon while having the memories of a child...You can most likely control yours..." She said softly.

"W..what Rynou can only remember his childhood, what happened with him and Aeron, I've seen Rynou's power but Aeron doesn't show even a hint of his, please tell me everything" He sat up in bed wrapping the covers around his body

"Aeron and I have known each other since we were children...We did not meet Rynou until I was about 8, however. He was 9, and had been attacked by villagers to the brink of death. We managed to save him, but he was traumatized beyond recovery...The only thing to do was completely wipe his memory clean..." Citea started, playing idly with her long hair.

"That's harsh, to have suffered like that as a child, what happened next"

"We both knew what he had gone through, so we decided it was best to watch him...He is a bit like a little brother to me...And to Aeron as well. But he was attacked because of a demon that was unknowingly put inside him...It only gets free when he grows extremely angry. Aeron is technically a demon himself...He just keeps it sealed very well..."

"Then what of you, your powers are not demonic yet you command the very shadows like Citeakari, but you make no attempt to hide that fact"

"Hiding one's faults if a sign of more fault still..." Citea answered mysteriously, not really elaborating on that sentence.

Rynou quietly woke up and glanced at Citea and muttered something "Mom, is that you mom" he got out of bed and slowly walked toward Citea "What's wrong Rynou?" Cyrus asked but Rynou simply ignored him "Mom?"

Citea frowned slightly and waved her hand, somehow entrancing Rynou and leading him back to bed. He rolled over fitfully, not sure if he really wanted to sleep. He eventually obeyed, however. "He does that from time to time..."

"So that would be one side effect of what they did to him, poor kid, to suffer so much yet remember none of it" Cyrus shifted himself back into bed and slowly closed his eyes

Citea went silent as well, gazing off out the window at the evening sunlight. She seemed to still be waiting for someone or something...Her own thoughts filling her mind and blocking out everything else.

The next morning Cyrus woke to the sounds of metal clashing, he dressed himself and went outside to find Citea and Aeron sparring while Rynou sat on the grass cheering them both on, "Aww If I'd known you would be sparring I would have woken up earlier" Cyrus said with a tone of disappointment in his voice

"We usually do this in the morning..." Citea explained as she calmly dodged Aeron's attacks, not even holding a weapon herself. Aeron once again was eerily silent and seemingly being rather cautious when attacking Citea. Even though he knew she would not get hurt, he obviously worried about it anyway.

"So where are we headed today? After Citeakari's attack we should avoid any encounters with Eclipse until we're ready for them" Cyrus felt a burning sensation in his right arm but it quickly faded away 'That was strange, is this my power surging through my body' he thought to himself

"We are not sure yet...But we are awaiting any extra clues about the murders committed yesterday..." Aeron finally spoke quietly, stopping his attacks. "We are to receive a letter from the guards around the city tonight."

"I can't believe she killed the Chancellor though, the whole city will fall apart without someone to reassure them it's okay, maybe Citeakari planned this all along" Cyrus sat down and started focusing his inner power into his hand

"That is what Citeakari is best at..." Citea replied simply. "Causing chaos and disorder and panic. That is her job, you know...And she does it VERY well..."

Cyrus managed to focus a crimson orb in his hands which emitted a soft heat, "It looks like I've got the hang of my power, but not total control"

Citea watched the orb solemnly. "It is small...If you want to control everything...There is still much to be done."

An arrow soared past Citea and dug itself into the wall, attached was a note with a crimson crescent moon emblem imprinted on a blue wax seal

Citea glanced at the arrow and scowled to herself. "They always find the most flashy and inconvenient ways of delivering these things..." She sighed and took the arrow calmly from the wall it was in.

"What does it say" Cyrus asked dispelling the orb and standing to join the others

Citea unrolled the scroll and read it. "Hmph. Those fools cannot find any solid evidence as to the whereabouts of the murderer...And they thought they could.." She shook her head in disgust

Suddenly Rynou collapsed and started muttering in a strange language while saying something understandable "She waits.....at the.......ruins of........Kanaid"

When Rynou had regained his normal composure, Citea scowled again. "How cowardly...She always depends on others to do her work..." She made sure Rynou was all right, kneeling next to him.

"It looks like we're off to Kanaid, north of the capital, it'll be quite a trek" Cyrus warned them "Perhaps we should stop at the mountainous village, Haithu to rest and stock up"

"That would be wisest idea, I suppose..." Citea nodded, helping a slightly shaky Rynou to his feet. Aeron nodded and turned to go inside.
"You should stay out here...I shall go on and make the proper arrangements..."

Cyrus sat back down again and once again conjured the crimson orb but this time tried to shape it into other things "Hmm, Citea is it possible to combine the energies of two people to form a new more powerful energy" he asked while forming the orb into a scythe

"Only certain people can do that...They must have certain kinds of compatibility...If two people without this compatibility try to merge, they could cause a lot of problems..."

"Then come Citeakari could merge with me and focus her power through me, this doesn't make sense" he started to expand the size of the orb until it was the size of a longsword

"I'm not entirely sure...I suppose I never thought about it..." Citea pondered, tilting her head slightly and twirling her hair around a finger. "But your control seems to be getting better..."

"It is" he formed the orb into a crude crimson longsword then dispelled it, Aeron returned from the inn and whispered to Citea

Citea nodded to Aeron's whisperings. "We can leave tonight...It is easier to travel then..." She said to Cyrus calmly as Aeron went back inside.

That night the group left the inn and traveled along the road to Haithu, on the way Cyrus's arm started burning, gaining intensity the closer they went towards Kanaid "Uhh, my arm, it won't stop burning" He dropped to one knee caressing his arm

Citea stopped as well, along with Aeron and Rynou. she held out a hand which began to glow with a silver ad blue light as she took away the pain. "It is most likely hurting because of Citeakari..."

"Thanks, it seems like her influence is everywhere" the group continued the trek and arrived at Haithu just before daybreak

Citea and Aeron walked quietly a bit ahead of Rynou, who was yawning, slightly drowsy from all the walking. They looked for an inn and managed to find a rather empty one quickly.

The innkeeper greeted them at the front desk "Oh dear, visitors, my it has been too long, please, if you need a room help yourselves there's a nice room for four on the second floor, free of charge"

"Thank you..." Citea bowed in appreciation, leading Rynou upstairs to sleep, followed by Aeron and Cyrus.

The night was filled with unusual sounds, Rynou had fallen asleep, Aeron was sitting in bed reading a book, Cyrus was creating little orbs and fusing them and Citea was sitting near the window staring at the moon

Citea stayed rather silent, seeming to be thinking deeply about something. Aeron was looking to and from his book quietly, staying alert of any dangers that might be nearby.

Suddenly a scream emanated from outside "FIRE!!! FIRE!!! ANYBODY HELP!!!" the group quickly readied themselves and rushed outside to find Haithu in flames "Dammit, how could they do this" Cyrus spoke sounding disgusted

Citea's expression again turned into a frown and she waved her hands, sheer darkness smothering the flames. Unfortunately, most of the damage was already done. "They really are...Cowards..." She murmured, Aeron nodding.

"Wait something isn't right, they wouldn't just attack the town and leave without making a move for Citea" Cyrus said as he formed his energy longsword and used it like a torch as he searched the area for anybody suspicious

"They might have just wanted to make an appearance and show us that they are watching..." Citea said softly. "They did this several times when I was a member...They leave false clues and have lackeys to the work as distractions...Like that assassin the other day."

After last nights fire the group decided to head off straight away at daybreak, half way along the road Rynou fell to his knees an held his stomach in pain "Uurggghh my stomach, we haven't eaten in days" he uttered trying not to whine

Citea gave him a mixture of some strange herbs that would help his stomach, allowing the group to continue. Both Aeron and Citea seemed to have no need for food, rest, or much of anything throughout the trip.

Eventually the group arrived at their destination the ruins of Kanaid, the symbol of Eclipse was painted on the entrance with blood and a strange magic circle lay before it

Citea frowned slightly at the circle, seeming to decipher its meanings. "Hmph. Things really are getting troublesome here..." Simply stepping onto the symbols, there was a flash of white electricity that soon faded. "There."

The entrance swung open and the group proceeded into the dark depths into a large empty room "Sure is a good place for an ambush isn't it" Cyrus pondered keeping his hand close to his sword

"That's why they had us meet here...But of course, they are not even that feeble minded to simply attack us in the open. They will most likely play with our minds first..." Citea explained softly and calmly.

They walked a bit further until Rynou tripped over a wire triggering a trap "Everyone get down!!" Cyrus shouted, they quickly ducked as a flurry of poison tipped arrows flew overhead one which grazed Aeron's cheek

Aeron merely glanced at the arrow, frowning slightly. It had passed directly through him. "Hm. suppose not have a corporeal body is good..." He waved his hands and sharp gusts of wind blew away the rest of the arrows.

A group of initiates leaped from the walls and quickly surrounded the group, they all ready then dived on them "Get back!!!" Cyrus shouted generating a crimson barrier around them "Quick do something!" he shouted to Citea

"Calm down...They want you to worry and scare yourself..." She murmured, waving her hand. Black shadows instantly shot up outside the barrier, grabbing all of the attackers and wrapping around them. In a flash, they were pulled into the ground.

After the attack the group continued into the main chamber where an elaborate throne sat and on it was Citeakari, before the group could react magic resistant spikes shot up from the ground and trapped the group within

Citeakari smirked as the spikes trapped them, her black tail twitching and causing all of her jewelry to jingle softly. "Well well..."

Citeakari rose to her feet and slowly walked towards them, she slowly approached Rynou and slowly stroked his cheek, she then turned to Aeron and spoke "I didn't think that arrow would slow you down" she then turned to Citea and hesitated waiting for Citea to say something

Rynou shuddered as she touched him and Aeron simply gave her a cold glare, staying silent. "Well...I'm sure you feel very proud of yourself, don’t you?" Citea asked boredly as Citeakari watched Cyrus.

"Oh come now, you know I wouldn't end this game so quickly I simply wanted to confine the beasts while we talk" she slowly walked over to Cyrus and gently pulled a strand of his hair out "And to get me a shadow of this one" she hovered back to the throne and sat back down

"Hmph...I'm sure that makes you still feel very special, hm?" She smirked dryly, giving a slight roll of her eyes as her other self spoke.

"Enough mocking my host now listen carefully, I have collected three of the four shards of Eclipse and soon I will have the forbidden power all for my own, if you wish to stop me then you will have to play my game" She rose to her feet and created four shadows one of each of the group, but three held blood red gemstones

"Oh boy...And I know how fun those can be..." Citea retorted sarcastically, boredly twirling some hair around one finger. "I can hardly wait...What is this...'Game'?"

"Simple, just beat me to the final shard and I'll gladly surrender my power to you but if you fail then the world with feel the true fear of darkness" With that the group vanished and arrived back at the capital near the monument

"Hmm...And where exactly is this final shard, might I ask?" Citea asked curiously once they had arrived at their new destination. "We have to go with lady Citea!" Rynou insisted. "That's our job!"

"That's part of the game hahahaha" Citeakari's voice faded off "Guess we'll have to find it ourselves" Cyrus added

Citea rolled her eyes in annoyance. "I cannot believe we used to be the same person..." She mumbled.

With that the group headed to the library to find any reference to the shards location "I guess it's best to start here" Cyrus said looking worried at the thousands of books, the group each picked a book and began their search

Citea read very fast, her mind calculating everything she read with amazing speed. Aeron also read rather fast, having been a good reader since he was a child. Rynou read a bit slower, taking more time to look for hidden messages and such in his readings.

Cyrus walked over to where Citea was, on the way he tripped on a book and caught Citea's shoulder to stop himself falling, at that moment a spark of power flooded through both their bodies and a certain book floated in front of Citea as if summoned "What was that?" Cyrus asked slightly confused

Citea blinked calmly at the book, not quite sure what to make of it. She took it from the air and began to flip through it. Both Aeron and Rynou came over and read over her shoulder.

The book was torn and crumpled in places but one page stood out from the rest, clean and crisp, on it was a magic circle with a chant underneath and a small paragraph on the Gemstone of Eclipse and the four shards

Citea read the paragraph carefully, her blue eyes studying the circle. Without warning, she slammed the book shut and stood. "Come on. we are leaving..." Rynou blinked but straightened up and nodded hastily. Aeron nodded as well.

They proceeded to just outside the west gate where Citea began drawing a magic circle on the ground with shadows while uttering something under her breath, she finished the circle then turned to the others

"All of you stand back and out of the way." She instructed, waving her hand as she tossed the book to Aeron. They moved back obediently and she began murmuring the incantation softly.

A shadow spike shot up from the center of the circle and four orbs rose up around it, a long shadow needle formed at the tip of the spike and started to scan the land for the final shard, after a while the needle stopped it pointed to the towering Mt Kaos to the south

Citea watched the tower and follows its beam towards the mountain with her eyes. "Oh joy...We get to travel more..." She waved her hand to cancel the spell, taking back the book.

The journey to Mt Kaos was short, the group decided to camp at the base and climb it the next morning, during the night the group were awoken by a whispering, when they investigated it they were suddenly separated. Cyrus found himself in a steel room with no visible doors or windows "W...what where am I, Citea!, Rynou!, Aeron! where are you guys" he slumped into a corner and slowly began to doze off again

"L-lord Cyrus?" Rynou's voice could be heard across the small hallway. "W-we got separated from lady Citea..." He whispered in worry. "Lord Aeron is next to me...In another cell-room..."

Cyrus snapped awake "Rynou, is that you, what happened, we were just with Lady Citea" suddenly the cell walls starting closing in until it had closed in by a quarter then stopped "What's happening, the cell is starting to close in"

"I don't know..." Came Aeron's voice from nearby. "But this is most likely NOT a very good sign..." He seemed very annoyed by the whole things. "What should we do?" Rynou asked.

A voice suddenly echoed in their heads, it was quiet yet pierced their hearts with fear "I am the leader of this little group, we are known as the Khaos Eclipse, the black hand of the main group and we have captured you for heresy against our great leader Citeakari"

"Um...Wouldn't heresy only qualify if we were IN your little group?" Aeron retorted sarcastically, rolling his silver eyes, which glowed lightly in the dark.

"Don't play dumb shadow, all of you have worked for Eclipse and betrayed Citeakari turning against her....but wait one of you hasn’t been touched by the shadows of Eclipse yet emits an aura of darkness" the voiced boomed "Interesting, release the one in cell A45 and take him to the coliseum and put his two friends in the viewing cage"

"What-Who's in cage?" Rynou stopped and glanced over at Cyrus's cage, seeming to realize something silently. Aeron stayed silent, obviously having come to the same conclusion.

Suddenly a door appeared and Cyrus was dragged into the coliseum and placed before the leader, he glanced around and saw Aeron and Rynou in a cage to the side, "Welcome to the arena warrior, I am Vex the leader here, today you will fight for yours and your friends survival, if you'll survive is another question" Vex disappeared and a heavy iron door swung open letting out a massive creature that looked like a cross between a mammoth and a lion

Rynou watched the creature worriedly, helplessly clinging to Aeron's sleeve. Aeron simply watched calmly. He knew that he could most likely escape and help if he was desperately needed.

Cyrus reached for his sword but realized it was missing, the creature slammed it's massive paw down knocking Cyrus backwards "Uuuh guess I’ll have to use something else" he formed a crimson orb in his hand then shaped it into the same sword he used against Citeakari "This should do it" with that he leaped at the beast and cut off one of it's tusks causing the creature to roar in pain

Aeron watched him use the orb quietly. If Cyrus' power got out of control, he would have to definitely break of and seal it away...Again. And then that would just get annoying a bothersome to deal with.

The creature swung it's lone tusk in anger and pierced Cyrus's right lung and lifted him into the air "Hahaha, it seems the challenger's fate has been sealed" Vex announced, just then Cyrus's eyes glowed red and he slammed his hand into the creatures skull and formed a crimson spear within which shot through the sides of it's skull killing it instantly, the creature slammed to the ground in a pool of blood with Cyrus still impaled on its tusk

"Oh my...This is certainly becoming a problem..." Aeron murmured, straightening up to his feet in the cage. "Wh-what do you mean?" Rynou asked, glancing up at the elder guard. "I might have to get out and re-seal him soon, if this goes too much further..."

Cyrus pulled the dead creatures tusk out of his lung and slowly sealed his power away while trying to stop the bleeding "Oh dear, it seems the challenger is injured badly, perhaps one of his friends would like to haha aid him" Vex announced with a tone of sarcasm, he pressed a button and Rynou was dropped from his cage into the Coliseum leaving Aeron alone

"U-um..." Rynou blinked in confusion, a tear sliding down his cheek worriedly. "Uh-oh...They're in for it now..." Aeron murmured, smirking slightly. The whites of Rynou's eyes turned black and his irises turned nothing blue bright blue, pupils vanishing. The ground cracked around him as he tottered to his feet, glancing around. His personality seemed to change completely, his expression now calm.

"Hahaha the demon is finally showing his true colors" Vex pressed another button and three massive black dragons started charging at Rynou. "N..nooo" Cyrus formed his sword and jumped onto a dragons back and plunged the sword deep into its throat killing it, but he couldn't stop the other two, "R...ryno...u" Cyrus then collapsed falling unconscious

Rynou watched the dragon's boredly, waving his hands. Black flames shot up from the cracks in the ground, ensnaring the dragons and killing even them with their extreme heat. He glanced at Cyrus boredly, seeming not to notice him there much.

"Hahaha this is getting interesting but now for the grand finale" Vex released another beast this one looked like a grim reaper with a doubled sided scythe, “The reaper will claim your precious friends soul if you don't hurry" Vex pressed another button and Citea appeared in a cage in the middle of the coliseum apparently unconscious

The reaper suddenly flew across the coliseum, grabbed by reaching shadows. Citea appeared from the wall nearby, twirling her own long scythe. "Nice try...Did you think I could really be knocked out so easily...These fools should know better..." She murmured boredly, the her in the cage turning back to shadows and vanishing.

The reaper readied it's scythe and clashed with Citea creating a massive shockwave which released Aeron from his cage

Aeron dropped to the ground, boredly landing straight up on his feet. Citea threw the reaper back again, not very interested with the battle, shadows following as she slashed her scythe at the reaper calmly.

The reaper realized it was losing and started towards Cyrus to take control of him, meanwhile Vex dropped down and brandished his Shadow Claws and lunged at Citea

Citea frowned again and dodged the swipes as Aeron used a gust of wind to blow aside the Reaper. Rynou sent more black flames towards it as well.

The reaper faded and the flames shot through him as he continued onto Cyrus, when he reached him he plunged his bony hand into Cyrus's wound and fused with him, Cyrus stood and formed his sword ready to strike at Rynou, Vex however was pinned by Citea's scythe he decided to send a blast of energy through her scythe to knock her away

Rynou narrowed his glowing eyes slightly, obviously annoyed at the fact that he had to fight. He walked quietly towards the reaper in Cyrus; body, the ground still cracking underneath him. Citea reformed her scythe from the shot and came at Vex again, her shadows creeping around him.

Cyrus leaped at Rynou and plunged his sword straight into his chest causing shadows to spill out but still not phasing Rynou, meanwhile Vex disappeared into the shadows and shouted back at Citea "I'm not about to die here, you can leave but I've stalled you long enough hahaha good luck stopping Citeakari now you fools"

Rynou moved back calmly, the wound sealing as Citea frowned slightly and glanced around after Vex's voice. "This really is troublesome...Tch..." She twirled her scythe and let it vanish. Aeron walked calmly up behind Cyrus and stuck his hand through his back, pulling out the reaper.

The reaper screeched as Aeron yanked it from it's host leaving Cyrus to fall to the ground still unconscious, the reaper faded into the shadows after it's master, as if by magic the coliseum started to deform leaving the group at the base of Mt Kaos as if nothing happened.