Gwendolyn Vascocellos Vs. Izra Amun Ishi

Egypt
Unknown Desert several miles from the Nile
Night - New Moon


Several days have passed since the journey into the desert began and time had played a major role in Gwendolyn’s life. The abandoned ruins were in the sight of her golden eyes behind a rectangular framed glasses, her entire figure was hidden beneath a navy blue cloak with gold lining on the edges that were worn out from the heat and drastic weather. Gwendolyn kept her posture as she walked towards the ruin. A white gloved hand reached out to touch the stone walls of the ruin, and she breathed it in for a moment. This time it was not a marriage and it was correctly described by the villagers several miles away. The hood of the cloak was removed from head and the moon revealed her gentle features as the wind picked up her long green hair. Tears seemed to form at the corners of her eyes but she quickly shut them closed to prevent them from falling.

“I won’t let you down…” Gwendolyn whispered to herself.

Without a moment to lose she circled the ruins in search of an entrance to no avail. From the birds eye view the ruin was a mere tower of stone with no windows or doors that would lead inside. It seemed that the journey was hopeless but it was not enough for Gwendolyn to give up. Placing her gloved hand on the ruin once more, she focused her energy at her finger tips. Strains of sand began to circle in mid air around her forearm at a slow place and the more she concentrated the speed of the sand circling her hand became immense. Within minutes the sand circled the ruins like quicksand and the moment Gwendolyn raised her hand from the wall the sand shot ten feet into the air and scattered outwards from the ruin. The base of the ruin was revealed under the moonlight and the door she had looked for lay in the sand marked with several Egyptian glyphs that she was unable to decipher.

“Perfect.”

Gwendolyn placed her hands together for a brief moment and outstretched her arms, focusing her energy on the entrance. The heavy stone slabs slid across the sand from the center slowly as the moon lit the stairway that led into the underground desert tunnel of long forgotten tomb. What was inside was unknown to her but she was yet to discover that the untouched tomb held a deeper secret that she could ever hope for. The villagers informed her that she would be able to acquire the remedy of her problems within this tomb and she would have to leave behind something precious in exchange. The cloak around her body slid off as she untied it from her neck and proceeded down the stairway with caution. The walls held several unlit torches and without a second thought she lit each one with a flare she kept tucked in her belt. There were more Egyptian glyphs on the walls accompanied with painting of people, the deeper she walked into the tunnel, the more the walls told of a story of the ruins.

The flare eventually gave up flame as she reached the end of the tunnel and into the cylindrical tomb. The light from the tunnel was very faint, but the salt deposits in the walls reflected what little light touched it and illuminated a blue hue of light at the center of the chamber ground, where her attention was drawn. Gwendolyn quickly rushed to the center and fell on her knees; she placed the side of her head at the center of the chamber, and knocked on the ground faintly. Beneath the heavy stone floor lay what she was looking for and she could feel its power drawing her in. Gwendolyn breathed heavily and closed her eyes as she embraced the stone ground, breathing in the cool air of the chamber. The sound of sand falling from the ceiling to the ground quickly woke her from her trance, and she stood up immediately. Placing her white gloved hand above her chest, she had the feeling that she was not alone . Her free hand traced the side of her thigh lifting her skirt slowly as she gripped a blade between her fingers, sliding it off the hidden holster that was strapped around her thigh.

His breathing had not been read, heard or even sensed. Izra had watched her enter the chamber, had watched her shuffle around uselessly...And yet the feeling could not evade him. Izra had known this woman, somehow...Somewhere. As the girl rose to her feet and graced her blade, Izra reacted. With so much as a simple breath, a will beyond her very mortal mind the torches that outlined the crevices of the tombed walls erupted forth. Izra stood at the far end of the chamber, his right arm raised to the side slightly. His fingers outstretched towards the wall. Was Izra really there all along? Or was he somewhere else? Izra had no shirt on to speak of, sweat and blood mingled on his toned and built body. Grooves ran along his chain covered arms and torso, grooves that would speak of a more horrific time in this mans life. The grooves were black as night itself, they were burnt scars from years past. The scars climbed like vines across his body from the back, to his palms and to the right eye which looked sealed shut; which would have been a new development if this woman would remember him.

Izra Amun Ishi, the Executor of the Crimson Battalion...Or rather, what he had been known as. He was listed as KIA, but was quite real and standing before her; in all his disfigured glory. Izra's hair was matted from years of unkempt training, it lay against his back and face, covering little of the scarring but only making him seem more feral. His once proud silver eyes had lost their sharpness and instead faded back into the mottled gray darkness that they once were. Izra wore a simple Hakama training pant, in gi fashion. Tied around his waist was a blood red cloth and his Katana's were hastily placed by his left hip. Izra began walking towards Gwendolyn; his bare feet kicking up very little dust as he approached. The flames flickered almost silently along the rooms perimeter and Izra eyed her curiously. Izra came to a stop about thirteen or so feet from her and jingled the chains on his arms slightly, he gazed upon her with broken eyes and spoke; his tone soft.

"I feel as if I should recognize a familiar face...But I do not recognize friend from foe with these broken eyes of mine. All has left me and nothing has returned. I sense you wish to pass here, into the Shattered Ones home...But you cannot be allowed. I do not understand what it is you seek, familiar one...But it would be safer for you to leave and seek it elsewhere."

Izra seemed to speak as if he couldn't see at all. It would make sense given the color of his eyes and the fact one was sealed...But Gwendolyn, having worked with Izra would know what this man could see or sense at any given time."

"What shall you choose familiar one? Death or Life? Eternal Servitude or Freedom?"

Gwendolyn grimaced at the sight of Izra for a moment she did not recognize him and assumed he was a tomb raider. As soon as she heard him speak, she knew right away who it was, but he had changed drastically. Was she dreaming? Why would he appear before her again in a place like this? The days of the Battalion were numbered, and everyone parted ways. Gwendolyn was left for what she held dear to her life and she had traveled aimlessly for days to arrive at the tomb she stood in. Even if she had ties with the man that stood before her it was meaningless, he was far less important in her goal to enter the tomb. Her white-gloved hand over her chest traced over breast and dropped to her side as her other hand slid the blade back into the holster on her thigh. The light from the tunnel revealed the usual attire Izra had seen before; a white corset, a navy blue long sleeve fitted jacked with gold lining that touched the floor, a navy blue skirt, and black thigh high boots. Around her neck was a white collar with a gold cross, a symbol of her beliefs.

“Is it really a coincidence that we meet again? Here of all places? Why do I need your permission to enter the chamber? This has nothing to do with you, so leave my sight. I have far more important matters to attend to.”

Ignoring his last question Gwendolyn walked past him, she glanced over his shoulder and stopped in her tracks as she stood behind him, their backs facing each other. At that moment she realized that he must have been the gatekeeper of the tomb, the paintings on the wall had a man with a single eye shut, and at that moment she understood what it meant. Was it really fate after all? Of course nothing in life was easy and she had suffered just as much as the scars on Izra’s body—with the exception of Gwendolyn’s scars being emotional ones. Gwendolyn adjusted her gloves and raised her glasses to the bridge of her nose she licked the edge of her lip before speaking again.

“This time we’re going to have fight for real, don’t we? I won’t hold back.”

Gwendolyn reached out for Izra’s chained arm and grabbed his wrist twisting it backwards and placing a firm amount of pressure. With a quick raise of her right leg she bent it quickly at an angle and aimed a kick at the side of Izra’s ribs with the heel of her boot. The blow would knock him off balance while maintaining a firm grip at his wrist for a second maneuver if the first blow succeeded in making contact. The last time they made contact was during training and he bested her, but with proper training she improved her physical combat and build up a better defense and offense against any opponent.

Izra nodded at Gwendolyn as she spoke to him. His gaze remained constant as she spoke to the once proud soldier. Izra spoke to Gwendolyn as she approached him. His tone still the same as it was once before.

"What you risk if you should pass this point is far greater than any reward you reap. Turn back."

Izra followed her every movement, turning with her as she walked past him. Izra had more at stake that she could imagine. Izra faced Gwendolyn's back, not making any move to attack her. As Gwendolyn reached back to grab Izra's wrist he launched forward forcefully, his right arm reached under her right arm and hooked at the back of her head, getting her in a half armed lock. At the same time Izra also launched his knee into the middle of her back, which would essentially force her upwards; off her feet. If the knee would have connected Izra would have dropped to his left knee while taking another step back, which would force Gwendolyn into a laying position, with her head propped against Izra's knee.