NationStates Jolt Archive

OOC: This is going to be a private RP, no one else is allowed to join. Only other person beside myself allowed to rp in this thread is Redeemed Heroes.

IC:
Deep in the heart of the forest, where no winds could reach, stood one lone figure. On his back rested a powerful and reliable weapon. Yet, for once, he would not need its voice in his actions. Here, he was safe. Nothing would harm him. At least, nothing of evil intentions.

His pure black abysmal eyes peer into the trees about him. He could sense many beings watching him, yet he could not find them. He sniffed the air, trying to pick up their scents, but found nothing. He remained still, knowing that they were perhaps training many weapons unto his heart. And if they chose to fire, they would not miss. They were legendary experts. Yet the forest’s many lush colors of green and brown hid them well.

The figure remained motionless, no sign of worry crossed his face, nor his mind. He was still safe.

The beings he sensed about him were the cousins and descendants of his ancestors. They were the Elves of Lothlorien Forest. And he, Maximus Destroi, was a descendant, although he looked human and did not have the elven traits of pointy ears and the like.

There was only one thing that made him stand out from the others. He was a stalker of the night. A hunter of fear. Unnaturally strong. Unnaturally excellent with his senses. A vampire, many called those like him. Furthermore, he had some psychic capability that had been with him ever since birth, merely enhanced by his vampirism.

Maximus could sense the tension about him, the curiosity that leeched into his presence. Some, he could tell, recognized the elven blood that flowed within him, but remained hidden from view.

It was here, Maximus would train with his mentor, Kain Shentavo. Here, Kain would guide him as he unleashed his magical abilities, unleashed the powerful magic of the Elves.

A hand reached back, and took hold of the sword that rested upon his back and drew the sword. With both hands, he held the sword horizontial, before casting the sword into the ground. This was soon followed by the two daggers that buried partially into the ground as well, sending their own clouds of dirt swirling about.

Maximus lowered his arms and remained still, looking straight ahead, unwavering in his gaze.

The other would soon arrive…

He calls. This should prove interesting Kain. You have everything you need?

Of course.

Well, good luck then.

And to you.

The two finished thier conversation, the two figures freinds and companions. One, a calm and intellegent vampire, and the other a spirit within a cloak. A odd set of people.

The cloak lay within Kain's fine delicate hands, as it faded away. Kain did not know where it needed to go, but it had it's reasons. It became intangable in Kain's hands, as it drifted off into some other realm of existance.

Kain smiled and looked around at his room. Upon his desk was all the items he would need, all in a brown leather bag. Potions, items, books, wands, armulets, a few ritual items. He was preparing everything. They all were within this magical bag, which could fit a claymore into its small self without a trouble.

When he was ready, he simply said a word, and he went off to teach his studant.

--------

The forest sighed as the figure formed from the mist around the tall grass. It seemed to heave in fatigue for some reason, as if the leaves were about to flal to sleep on thier bed of rushing air.

A low mist began to form near a white stone, perfectly placed within the forest. It billowed up, the vapour flowing onto itself, forming a greater being. It was like a minture whirlwind, the mist forming into a column about a man's height. And slowly, the mist soon faded away, to reveal a pale, calm individual.


"Ah, so good to see you once again Maximus." The figure said, and sat down upon the rock slowly.

The figure wore a white suit, as if it was formed from the whitest of clouds and was untouchable by any dirt from this world. It was perfectly made, a tailor's dream. With his white suit, was a blood red tie, which was like a greta bloodstain in comparison to the figure's all white form. Indeed, this figure was like a marble statue. His flesh was that of a typical vampire, although a old one. HIs mirror-like white flesh reflected the sunlight, and although Kain was not fatally effected by the sun's rays, it did cause some irritation, as did water.

He had a great flowing mass of white hair, which was like a mane. It seemed to be like quicksilver in this light, the shimmering curtain which moved with the wind easily. It seemed so full of life.

Kain's eyes were brown spheres, in which a vortex swirled around curiously, in a absant minded puzzle.

Kain Shentavo has within his thin elegant hand, a small leather bag, which he proceeded to place down without a sound upon the stone. And looking at Maximus, he spoke. His voice had hints of a ancient language's accent. Something like latin, one could mistake his accent for french. He spoke slowly and with a rare elequence and sophistication in this modern world and culture.

"Where shall we begin?"

Maximus bowed respectfully to Kain, before addressing the question.

“Maestro, it is also good to see you as well. I trust you have what you needed for the lessons?”

Kain pointed to his bag with a single white finger. His face remained upon Maximus’s own.

“That I do.”

Maximus nodded, and walked about the small clearing, holding his arms out, as he spun.

“Excellent. This area will suit us fine to start off.”

Maximus let his piercing gaze delve into the deep forests again, sensing a shift in the behavior in the psychic patterns being ever so discreetly passed amongst the Elves. Undoubtedly, they would both watch the two vampires, and send word to their leaders of this unusual situation. Maximus turned his attention back to Kain and spoke telepathically:

Many eyes watch us. Do not look, for they will know you know of them. This may cause unwanted events. I am only able to detect them myself for I have their blood running through my veins. This blood establishes a basic connection with them. Without that, I would be in the same position you are, oblivious to these masters of hiding and power. Let us proceed with your first lesson, as if we knew nothing of them. They will reveal themselves in time.

“Let us begin, maestro.”

A silence fell upon the forest, yet its inhabitants were moving with stealth. Maximus could sense the curiosity and wariness of the Elves. Naturally, their concern lay about Kain Shentavo, and what magic he possessed. They worried if Kain’s magic would cause destruction to their beloved home.

Kain, choose your lessons carefully. They are particularly watching you.

Kain remained seated upon the rock, appearing completely still. Maximus could tell that he was thinking carefully.

The forest allowed a rare breeze to filter in from above, swirling the leaves that lay about the ground. Several even were lifted up into the air, where they slowly floated back down, flipping, turning, and maneuvering the wind until they fell to a rest upon the ground once again.

Very well then.

Kain said raher simply, and in a matter of fact way as he rubbed his two pale hands together very slowly, "Let us start off with the fundamentals of magic."

Kain got up slowly from his rock, and began to walk in front of Maximus, his hands behind his back. His eyes swirled in thier own comtemplation. And Maximus saw, around Kain's neck was a pendant of a heart which glowed a strange crimson. it indeed was magical.

It was an item given to Kain by Ravelyn Shentavo, his sire. The bloodstone fed him constantly, so that he would not have to feed from mortals.

Kain asked a simple question.

"What is magic? How does it work Maximus?"

Maximus, after a little thought, replied, ""The magic of the Elves is drawn from the many mediums of nature, from the waters, to the skies, to the earth. All the magic is in harmony with one another, and when used properly, it will weild powerful results few ever see."

Kain gave a few moments for the words to sink in, for Kain to understand all of its meaning. He responded.

"But how? How, in actuality, do you think magic works? You have named where the power to do such wonderous feats coems from, but how does it occour?"

""It is done by tying the soul within the forces of nature, and in mutual harmony, Gaia, the spirit of the earth lends its strength to you. Everything has a spirit, even the rock you sit up right now. It is merely a commanding control over these that is needed. Experience, Trust, Love, Harmony. All come together and form the ability to harness the spirit's own powers."

Kain paced after Maximus' explaination, and he took longer to reply. It was not that kain was doubting his knowledge, far from it. He was simply trying to find the best way to teach this.

""You have some fact in these words....but not all of it is correct. I was taught by those who were born in the vien of magic. And I have written thier words, as I was taught as a boy. I was one when I was a mortal, a Psi. Now, the words I am going to tell you are the product of a magic dependant race over many centuries. The names of the Gods and the names for places may be different, but the facts are there. Make what you will of it."

And then, Kain quoted an entire page from his people, the words which had been taught to him, and the words he had written to record at the brink of his people's destruction.

"Magic is a thunder heard in each of the sundered realms. Its power reverberates through the foundations of all Existence. It echoes the lightning of creation itself. In its voice is heard the promise of life and death. It is a power to be coveted and feared.

Theorists tell us that magic draws its power from the original creation of the Omniverse. In the beginning, Elihn, God in One, stretched out his hand amid the Chaos. The motion of his hand ordered chaos into infinite possibilities of creation. This motion was the first Order out of Chaos. It is called the Wave Prime or more often simply the Prime.

Elihn saw in the Prime the creation of the ethereal and the physical, and the seeing of it made it so. In the creation of the spiritual and the physical, the Prime split into two sets of waves, each infinite in their possibilities... "

""Reality is simply the manifestation of intersection waves of possibility. It is a vast and almost incomprehensible weave of solid physics in the midst of a myriad of infinite potentials. Science, technology and biology all use the woven rope of reality.

Magic, on the other hand, functions by reweaving the fabric of reality. A wizard begins by concentrating on the wave of probabilities rather than on reality itself. Through his learning and his powers, he looks out upon the myriad waves of infinite possibilities to find that part of the wave where his desired reality would be true. Then the wizard creates a harmonic wave of possibility to bend the existing wave so that what was once only possible becomes part of what is true. In this way the magician weaves his desire into existence. "

"For example, a wizards stands on a field of battle against a great knight. The spell caster, wearing only his robes, is at the mercy of the armored and more powerful knight. This is reality and, if left alone, the knight will most likely slay the wizard without much resistance. However, the wizard knows from his study where the possibility (desired effect) of a protective shield exists on one of the countless waves of possibility. The wizard sets up a harmonic wave of possibility through his motions, thoughts, words, signs, and other aids. This magic alters the possibility wave so that what was once the possibility of a magical shield is woven into reality. The new reality includes the desired effect and so the magical shield now guards the wizard.

Although, to the outside observer, the protective field seems to spring up around the wizard from nothing, it would be more accurate to say that the possibility of such a field has been called into reality from the infinate possibilities of the Omniwave.

To use magic, one must be able to find and weave the approcprate portion of the Omniwave in some small degree. This is far from omnipotence or omniscience, even those who ee a vast section of the Wave. Being able to function in the discipline of magic does not explain why magic exists or its origins. It does not lead one to the reason for being. Just as aknowing a rock will fall when dropped does no tell us why gravity exists or what intellegence brought such order out of chaos, so it is, too, with magic."

"Do you understand? Are there any questions?"

Maximus looked at Kain with a renewed respect. Kain possessed a knowledge of magic that far transcended his own. He felt a sense of pride and gratitude that Kain had agreed to be his mentor, his instructor.

“Yes, I understand. You speak clearly, and make much sense.”

A quick check on the Elves revealed them to be completely still, but their attention was fixated upon Kain’s words.

I think we’re on the right path. I sense an appreciation of your knowledge of magic.

Maximus took the liberty to levitate his body into a sitting position, crossed legged and floating several feet above the ground. Such an ability was possible for he was a vampire. He focused his attention upon Kain once again. Kain paced back and forth with his head down. He was the type that carefully chose his words, despite the Elves watching. When he would speak, he shone an intelligence that far surpassed many individuals’ expectations.

Maximus looked down at the small bloodstone that hung from Kain’s neck, noting the stone having been shaped into a heart.

The core of the Shentavo clan…

"You were human correct? Before you transgressed into this form, this vampire blessing and curse...although, of course, you would carry the blood which you were born with, it would still flow within you. Within my own viens flows the blood of the Psi, a branch of the human kind, but in tap with the very throbbing heart of magic itself. Oh the wonders you should have seen, the great wonders of Velmora...." Kain's tone was one of great awe and passion, his words tumbled out with great zeal when he spoke of his people.

Kain trailed off in through, his eyes filled with memories. He held them close still. And in his mind, he still remembered the great sights. The great feilds of grass....the deep forests which filled the great valleys....the snow topped mountains which revealed the entire nation in all it's glory.....the caves which held the silver dragons....

But Kain grew slightly remorseful in rememberace of the fate they fell. Of his actions, of all the events taken into place. He still felt guilt for them, for his nation, but he knew what he had to do. The choices had been made, he could do nothing about them now.

"But sadly....my people, the people I ruled are now gone. A great civil war took place, due to our discoveries. We delved too deep, we were arragont to our own illusions of grandeur. In our folly, we had made a new god, the god of a god, so to speak. We worshiped the acts of God, the acts which whatever God is up there, instead the God instead. But....that is in the past. That is in the past..."

Kain sighed gently, and paused in rememberance of the deeds done.

"Magic users now often forget god. I find it intensly iironic, that there are some mages who even say that God does not exist! But mind you, it is like someone dropping a stone and knowing it will fall, relying upon the falling stone. God created the law of gravity, but the person who drops the stone may have forgotten, and know only that the stone will fall, and that the law should be used. Somewhere.....we forgot who created the laws in the first place....."

Kain was obviously talking about his people. He broke out of his reflections.

"We, those who can make reality change to do as we choose it, have a great responsibility. I am sure you can appreciate this. Everyone normally relies upon the current laws, the expected occourance and relying upon the usual. With maigc-users, we cna change what others would expect and rely upon, and thus, some think themselves as God. True, we may become powerful. But.....the Gods in their wisdom prevented magic-users from becoming Gods with their powers. Some age greater than others when they cast thier spells. Some need rest to refresh thier memories of the incantations. Other require matierals and the like to cause a harmonic wave to come into being, which I will go into later. But, never, ever, make the mistake that we are Gods. Such a mistake is grave indeed."

Maximus nodded in understanding.

“Of course not. We are all merely the paints that are cast upon the canvas. God is the artist, who brushes us each to our own paths, all with a greater plan in mind. The magic of the world can be analogous to the paints mixing colors, creating special colors to be applied to the painting. But in order to do this combination of color, the magic user must grasp the brush itself, and imagine the magic happening. Sometimes words clarify this motive and thus bring the spell into focus and delivering the desired effect.”

Maximus smiled slightly as Kain appeared pleased with his response. Kain was about to say something else, but Maximus held his hand up.

“The brush may be what forms the magic, but the ideas, the creation lies within the mind of God. Without the creation, the brush is useless.”

"You are correct in most of this."

"To create magic, which is a manipulation in the Prime Wave, one must create a harmonic wave. A harmonic wave is a wave which is one of the infinate waves of possibilities which we grasp upon to wave into the Prime Wave to make it so. We do this by a numerous methods. Runes, gestures, chanting, components and so on and so forth. Using our knowledge in the infinate possibilites where the reality we want is, we chant and use what we have to to create a harmonic wave with the wave of possibility. This harmonic wave...how can I put it....makes the possibility weave into the Prime wave, making it reality. Now the most important thing here, is simulatanousness."

Kain paused a moment, reaching within his brown bag for something. He produced a small wooden wheel, very plain and simple.

"Now, do you know the reason why everything has to be perfect within a spell? The chanting, the movements, the timing? Why a small mistake in the pronouncation of a word within chanting can cause a fatal error in a spell?"

#tagged...

So Maximus finally will meet Kain in battle...

OOC: actually, we've already got the two fighting before...in the thread Immortal...but technically, it takes place long after this would.

IC:
Maximus listened as Kain spoke his lesson.

"No, I do not know why. That is why you are here after all, to teach me."

__________________________

[Elsewhere deep in Lothlorien Forest]

The elf quickly moved, silently yet efficiently as he moved up the steps. His bow was sitting upon his backside, his quiver beside it. Walking into the forest palace he bowed to the Elven King, Elrond.

Galadriel appeared by his side and spoke quietly, her kind eyes watching the elven warrior.

"You have come because of two vampires in the forest." she said more as a statement than as a question.

"Yes, it appears that one is training the other in the use of magic. However, the student is the one of most interest. We have sensed Elven blood running in his veins, and he is aware of our presence surrounding the area. The other vampire does not know still, or, at the least, gives no indication of doing so."

"A vampire with Elven blood? Are you sure?"

"Yes, he appears to be of human design, for he does not sport the physical features of an elf."

Elrond held his hand up.

"If that is so, I will want to speak to this one and see why he is here as well as find out his lineage."

"Do you want us to apprehend them?"

"In time, yes. But for now, keep an eye on them. Wait for the right time. You will know when."

The elven warrior bowed again and left the forest palace.

Elrond turned to Galadriel.

"This is most unusual. Can you forsee anything on the matter?"

"I will try."

(OOC: Can I join Tarlachia or is this only strictly between you and Kain?)

(OOC: Can I join Tarlachia or is this only strictly between you and Kain?)

OOC: Strictly between us two...sorry. We've already planned this out. It's a sort of spinoff from the "Shentavo Academy: 3rd year" thread.

Kain nodded in understanding. He began to throw the wheel up in the air absent mindedly, the spokes of the wheel spinning oddly.

"They key to magic is that the harmonic wave that weaves a possibility into existence must be created with as much simultaneity as possible. This means that the various motions, signs, thoughts and elements that go into making up the harmonic wave must be completed as close together as possible. The more simultaneous the harmonic wave structure, the more balance and harmony will be maintained in the wave and the more powerful the magic itself. This is rather like the difference between rolling a wheel."

Kain caught the wheel, and reached into his bag for a second, identical one. He rolled them in the same direction, towards Maximus. It was evident that one was beginning to roll slightly, and as a result, went off course, whereas the other wheel carried on further.

"A wheel which is rolled straight with roll farther than one which is sent wobbling."

Kain let the wheels roll for a little while, before they fell down, in a spiraling motion. With an absent minded gesture, he let out his hand towards where the wheels were and as he did, he spoke.

"To attain this simultaneity, both the Sartan and the Patryns have developed magical languages and structures to convey their magic. Used only for magic, this language is unlike any other used in any of the realms. A second, more traditional language is used for standard communication. As I am sure you know, I am just going over what I was taught."

Kain's hand now contained both wheels, yet they had never moved! Kain tossed them absent mindedly into the bag, and they were sucked in as it were.

"The language of magic is not so much spoken, although that is one element to it, as it is performed. Traditional languages are sequential in their structure along a page, he reads letter after letter, word after word, sentence after sentence to build up a complete thought or meaning of the text. This means he is taking in the message through only one channel or source of experience at one time. When people watch a play however, they re taking in several channels at one time, the words spoken, the gestures and poise of the character, the lighting of the scene for example. One might also get multiple messages over a single channel at one time, seeing the actor, the actor's chair and the backdrop of the stage all at the same time. The play's messages are all hitting the audience simultaneously. For this reason the play is said to have simultaneity in its communication of ideas."

"The complexity, balance and harmony of magic requires perfection in simultaneous communication of the magical harmonic waves. This is generally conveyed through performance of the magic by the magic-user through words, tones, gestures and motion. In rune magic...well, I do not need to divulge to you that. That is a magic form of my people, a dead...yet highly potent one. That goes on to more complicated matters of rune structures, and why they are so powerful, and the laws and study which has gone with them. Do you understand? Please do tell me if I am not making something clear, I must admit I very rarely teach."

(OOC: Hold on a sec, aren't Maximus and Kain mortal enemies or something!?! How is Kain then teaching Maximus?)

(They made up. Don't worry about it...time heals, plus the removal of the demonblade made Kain's memory a little fuzzy. Really.)

(They made up. Don't worry about it...time heals, plus the removal of the demonblade made Kain's memory a little fuzzy. Really.)

(OOC: okay... just checking...)

OOC: You have obviously not been keeping up with the threads that the two have been in together...things have changed.

IC:
Maximus nodded slightly, his black hair shifting to fall in front of his eyes.

"Yes, you make complete sense, maestro, even with little experience as a teacher."

Maximus began to wonder when he would begin his actual lessons using magic. He couldn't get rid of a strange feeling he was having, one that sent chills up his spine. Nevertheless, he tried to keep focused upon the lesson at hand.

Kain felxed his white pale hands, the mirror like surface of his face seemed to be warmer than it once was. His brown eyes were contented and peaceful. He sighed, not with fatigue or irritation, but in a satisfied way.

"Now. Practical application. I believe I have gone over the basics. I find it highly amusing that some of these great mortal mages, who would attempt to lord over me, do not have the faintest comprehension of such concepts of the whys, and hows. They were highly amusing when they came to burn me, not that I killed them of course. My old people, my dead people thankfully never declared war upon another nation....apart from themselves during my forced retirement into vampirism.....but that is another tale."

Kain shrugged at the thought.

"Show me what you have. Shall we do something interesting eh? Combat magics. Attack me. I am ready for you, and I will show you the power of simultaneity at it's highest level...well, the highest that we can achieve on this plane of existance....demons and angels are the true masters of magic...."

He stood ready, no staff, only his hands by his side, the plae white hands which had only recently grown used to runic magic. But he had the knowledge of his people, the highest rank in magic from his people. Well....almost.

Maximus squared off against Kain several paces back. He looked at Kain, noting how comfortable Kain appeared, the grasp of magic well familiar to him.

And he himself was only beginning to learn...

"I'm afraid I cannot show much, however, I shall do what I can..."

Kain nodded his understanding. Maximus searched his mind, closing his eyes as he did so, struggling to think of something. His eyes suddenly shot open as he whispered for the first time in his life, words of a language he did not know he could speak.

Sindarin, the language of the Elves...

Tintila, kemen!!

The ground under Kain suddenly began rumbling with ferocity as the earth heaved and shifted, splitting open down a fault line that ran jaggedly below Kain. The surrounding trees shook as they buckled to the commanding force of the earth.

Maximus watched in shock as this all occured. He had never known that, nor the language that had flowed from his tongue. How then, had he done so? Did it have anything to do with the location? Or, did he somehow subconsciously tap into a magic, a language nearly forgotten by the rest of the world??

Kain raised his eyebrow, recognising the language of the elves. He began to cast his counter-spell, a normal dispel.

What Kain was very strange to Maximus.

He placed both hands in front of him, and he began to move his hands at rapid speeds, his hands appearing in two places at once. And with his movements of his hands, it seemed like he was playing a musical instument of some kind, his fingers moving on thier own accord. And as he did so, the fingers left a trace of blue energy, which hung in the air. And within seconds it was apparent that it was a rune which he was making, yet it was not like any normal rune. It was seemed like a jigsaw of pieces, all connected together as energy was pulsating.

All of this was done lesuirely by Kain, his eyes open and looking rather relaxed and calm, the rune being constructed easily. As he was moving his hands his lips were moving, his deep elaborate speaking the language of his people.

It was intensely deep, it seemed to echo as if they were in a great chasm, his words seeming to come deep within him. And they were like a flowing river, the words forming into one another, flowing.....it was almost incomprehensible at all, the words not like words at all, but noises.

All of this occoured within two seconds, Kain's vampiric form allowed him to construct the runes far faster now, but runes required his full attention. Unlike demons and angels, he could not multitask when it came to magic, sucha thing was impossible. The reason why demons and angels are so powerful is for this very reason, they can be casting four spells at once, one to dispel your spell, one to cripple your spellcasting ability, and the other two to smash you into the ground, while still being able to hack and slash. At least, the more powerful ones.

The spidary words of magic flowed from Kain's pale lips, his eyes fluttering as he did so.

"Astetha-a-a-thieru, sinalipretith."

The words were not rushed, and yet when the words were complete, such wonderous event occoured.

The rune structure began to spin wildly, and as it did so, the earthquake ceased to be, quelled by this spinning rune. It was spnning with impossible speeds, it was simply a ball of blue light to Maximus' eyes. But to Kain, he understood what was going on, the runes meaning, every line's affect upon the wave of possibility, the importance of using runes, and why such a small action had quelled such a powerful spell.

"Simultanity is the key."

Kain's voice whispered into Maximus' mind after the earthquake had ceased to be, Kain's eyes open and his arms by his side.

"Impressive. You remind me of a bird who has been dropped from the nest. It did not think that it could fly, yet it could when it needed to."

The fault line still remained, and Kain tapped his foot, a green ripple coming from his foot as he did so. It was small, and remained close to Kain's foot.

"Terra."

Kain began to chain again, creating another rune, a green one this time. Maximus realised that Kain had made this rune structure earthen in it's element. The rune was completed in a few seconds, shorter than the first one.

He tapped his foot again, and the rippled covered the field, causing the wound in the earth to heal. Once it had done so, Kain breathed in, and then out, seeming refreshed. he was smiling slightly.

"Now defence. I shall begin with a simple attack, one of more...conventional magic which you will be able to handle easier."

Kain now prepared his new spell, making very different movements. His right hand swirled in the air, while his left one reached for a item in his pocket. He produced a small strip of shining metal. Kain chanted, although the language was different. It was spidary, and sounded very erratic, like lighting jumping from place to place.

"Kariak-carithak."

The metal faded into nothingness, and from Kain's right hand shot forth a small energy bolt, a bright red one. It was not too harmful, just it would stun him should it touch, possibly a bruise or cut.

Maximus panicked as he saw the bolt being formed.

I need to protect myself! But with what?

From the depths of Maximus's soul came the Sindarin words:

Vara tel' Seldarine!!

Maximus's body suddenly glowed emerald-green as he uttered these words. The bolt impacted, but was absorbed and nullified by the protective shielding that covered his body. Maximus stared down at the spot where the bolt had impacted.

"I...don't..." Maximus fumbled his words as he looked at Kain with an incredulous look upon his face, "I don't know how I just did that! I've never had magic training before!"

At this a voice called from the depths of the forest:

"A natural use of the magic, cousin. Magic that runs in your blood. You are merely awaking it from its dormant stage now..."

And with that, the Elf stepped into the clearing, instantly mimicked by the others, until they surrounded Kain and Maximus. Maximus's eyes looked about them, a look of surprise on his face. He knew that there had been Elves watching them, but never did he expect so many!

The one who had spoken the first words to Maximus addressed the both of them:

"Come. Your attendance is required."

Several Elves stepped closer, but keeping their hands upon their elven swords which still remained in their sheaths. The lead Elf turned and led the way back into the forests, leading into deeper and thicker brush and trees, seemingly walking in a random direction, but still moving on a path hardly noticeable.

Kain raised his eyebrow the the elves which seemed to form from the forest itself, simply forming into being as if they were aprt of the forest itself.

He was pleased that Maximus had gotten his first taste of what dormant power lied within him, although, he admitted to himself that he hardly knew anything about the elven people...thier magic was not the one which he had studied in depth, but he knew something of it. He was rather suprised by this abrumpt interuption, but Kain's calm demanour never broke, his eyeborw raising was the only indication of concern. If he was worrying, he certainly did not show it.

Hearing the elves request, Kain saw no real reason to deny it to them. He could have fled easily. But it would not have advantaged either of them Kain thought. Kain walked, following Maximus. As he passed the small rock, he picked up his brown leather bag with his items in, and followed attentively, taking a passive role in this.

This was obviously for Maximus, not he. He was not the one learning from his own "race"...or at least the one which he had been born as. Such a thing was impossible now Kain thought sadly.

Elves surrounded the two as they made their way deeper into the forest. They walked for some time before they suddenly stopped as the lead Elf held his hand up. Maximus and Kain watched as he stepped forward and looked at two trees on either side of him, then spoke cryptically in the Sindarin language.

Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen! Lietha guldur amin quella!
"Gate of the Elves, open now for me! Dispel invisibility!

Suddenly, before them, and situated between the two trees a shimmering view came into sight. It focused and became sharp in image, revealing an entire Elven city located before them. Maximus looked around the outside of the trees and was shocked to see that the same image was not there. He looked back at Kain and mouthed silently, invisible city.

The lead Elf led the way into the shimmering image, stepping into the water-like wall that separated the city from the surrounding forest. Maximus was pushed forward, and so he followed, somewhat reluctantly. He stepped through, feeling a slight tingling as he passed through. Once inside, he looked about and stared in shock at the entire city surrounding them. He turned to watch as Kain and the others followed, seeming to arrive from a distant world. Kain stared in surprise at the city that lay before him.

Maximus...these Elves, they are strong in their magic. This will be good for you to learn to use.

Maximus spoke back telepathically his agreement. He turned to follow the Elf through the streets of the Elven city, passing hordes of Elves going about their lives, some stopping to watch the party move past as they headed toward the palace.

The first thought that Kain thought, most oddly, was that this race was obviously inferior in magic than his own. It was a most alarming thought to Kain, for it was not a rational one, one based in any logic or reason....but it was a simple prejudice which he encountered now. He forced the thought out of his mind. It was obvious, that he did have some hint of his former self.

Well, the former self which had not explored and learned from the world. Before he was rather arrogant and self-rightous, like most of the Psi. A trait which was to be Kain's races undoing with the powers they released. Kain reflected upon this morbid thought, and disciplined himself in his thoughts. He knew of the potentanal and power of this race, it could...possibly, surpass his own dead race, in some way or another.

Once again, the same complaint that this kind of thinking was wrong came about, although the voice was quieter. Kain did not listen, but instead concentrated upon judging the situation, what was around him, who was around him. He sensed the enchantments now......the enchantments had created the possibility, that one not looking for this place, would never recieve a hint of it's presance....and even if they did, the words of sealing held thier path closed.

Kain still remembered the words which the elf had spoken. He had memoried spells which a necromancer had used to use his pendant's power. The pendant was immensely powerful, and resistant to the most powerful of spells...and at the time, Kain was relatively weak in his mortal years. It was protected from all spells....

But not sleight of hand.

Kainhad stolen the pendant with the assistance of some bracers which he had been given for the task, his wise mentor giving him the bracers so that he could form the complex runic structures easier on his journeys. Kain no longer needed such items. Kain had stolen the pendant from the necromancer while he was casting a spell, and Kain, armed with the necromancers most powerful item, used the command word to destroy the ncromancer utterly. Words he had only heard once, two weeks beforehand, and the language was that he did not know.

The Shentavo felt completely detacted from this city, as if he was a ghost wandering through these streets, as if he could not affect them. Yet his quiet confidance and long stride remained constant, his face remaining that mirror surface of pale marble which could calm a thunder god.

The Elf led them inside a fortess palace, seemingly unguarded not. The elves were not fools when it came to the dangers of the world. Long years had passed in their existence, long years full of peace, and of war. They had seen the rise and fall of many civilizations and had watched as they destroyed the earth with their greed and corrupt natures. And every time, the Elves were sent to heal the Earth, to bring life back to the portions of Gaia that had been destroyed.

They were led into the palace, an elegant structure, yet still in harmony with the forest around them. Elven soldiers stood by the doors, elven spears in hand as they watched the newcomers pass by. They were halted in the center of the room and there they waited.

From the shadows of the palace came a voice, soon followed by the form of the Elven King as he approached them.

"Mae govannen Maximus, istannen le ammen."

Within Maximus's mind a misty voice spoke the translation within his mind:

Welcome Maximus, you are known to us.

Switching to English, the King spoke to Kain,

"Welcome, I see you have taken it upon yourself to train Maximus in our magic. We have been watching you, and I have been told that you know much of how the universe works with magic. For that, we are pleased to know that the entire world is not as destructive as we sometimes believe. Tell me, of whom did you learn from such wisdom?"

Kain bowed in respect, knowing the authority which this figure had. A fact not known by many, that Kain was once a ruler of a nation, Velmora. He knew the ettiquite of royality, tactics of combat, politics, resources, logistics and many more vital things a ruler must know of.

Kain, as he got up, his brown eyes seemed to change in thier perception, it was almost unnoticable. But Kain seemed to now fit into place, the previous distatchment from the world faded, his position as a High Peacekeeper...then a ruler remained part of him.

He folded his arms behind his back, the hands wrapped around one another. Kain did not know if such a gesture would be appreciated, but he did it out of habit now for anything else. With his hands behind his back, it meant that he meant to harm, because he would have to have his hands in front of him to cast a spell at all.

Kain spoke, his words coming out in a passion of articulation and sophistication, his well placed words coming out wonderfully. And what was most astonishing....it was elvish, his voice coming out as that of a born and bred elf, his accent perfect in every way.

"You need not speak within the confines of one of my many second languages, although they have become primary to myself now almost. Almost. I can speak in many toungues of many realms, the language of magic being my most fluent of the words I can speak. I have indeed begun to teach Maximus, but I see that my apprentis here has a pool of wisdom flowing from ancient roots, yes? And such roots, for all my knowledge, I do not know of, do not know the way the rivers trickle down the mountain-side."

Kain paused, ready to answer the other question.

"To whom I learned this? I learn from any teacher I can find, and I have had many teachers within my time. My own people, my parents, my lovers, my enemies. Mortals, immortals, angels, demons, and gods have all assisted in all of my apparent wisdom."

Elrond raised an eyebrow in surprise.

So this one has experience with many languages...

"Perhaps then, as you are teaching Maximus the skills of harnessing the powers that lie within him, you will learn of our magic as well. Therefore, I make this official. You, instructor of Maximus, cousin of the Elves, are hereby invited to become an honorary guest of our realm. You have displayed much intellect, and wisdom, both of which we value greatly. In return, I shall provide for you one who will guide you both in learning the Lorien elven magic."

Elrond turned to Maximus, with a kind look in his eyes, yet Maximus could see many years of trying times reflecting through them, many memories.

"You both are welcome to take refuge here until your training is complete."

Maximus bowed, and replied, "We would be honored."

Kain smiled in politeness.

"I accept your invitation most warmly. It will be an honor to learn from your people, as I have learned from others. Namely, the human race, not that they are are so different from my own people's. Psi are an offshoot of humans if you will, although the Psi culture is radically different, and more similiar to the elven ways. I am most heartened that the things that I sacrificed so much for still remain within the world, if not because of me." Kain said softly, his tone remained humble.

Please, do not speak for me. I make my own decisions. It may come as no suprise that I have many enemies, and that some species harbour more spies than others. Not that I would deny this, but bear in mind, I decide for myself. Kain lectured Maximus. His tone was rather mroe sharp, less of the calm Kain that was usual to Maximus.

Kain reflected upon this....he was at edge for some reason, irritated. Is appearance did not show this, and his speaking with the elf did not show it. But Kain's mind was working cynically in many ways, finding certain things amusing and the irony in many things. It concerned Kain, and he tried his best to wash the thoughts away.

Maximus listened to Kain's words carefully. It seemed to him that Kain was not trusting these Elves. Maximus, however, could understand why he'd be acting so.

My apologies maestro. I did not think it would be a big issue for you that I speak for both of us when they are merely inviting us to take temporary residence among them. And from what I can gather, this is an exceptional treat...

Elrond spoke up again, interrupting their thought conversation unwittingly:

"Arleni will take you to your room."

http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0WgDfAtQcZEE7ExR7viPtFN0X!nUU8drtlv49yOZkdH*MLcha5z8f46lbT0Rn7PP0l0mfI7v0MdrswtMiaAbhs5TxQtQks4bSAiS D9MLYp!9KIA0UquTLC2DUNMpMwVKLlipVfX8G3Rk/Arleni%20Greenwood2.jpg

The female Elf was a stunningly beautiful Elf, with a slender body and blonde hair framing her impeccable face, and wearing Elven armor that seemed to be more of a dress than actual armor. She smiled courteously to the two visitors and led them down a hallway, open to the breathtaking scenery outside, with the pleasant smells of the forest penetrating every pore. Soon the three were in front of a single room which held two beds and had a balcony overlooking a nearby waterfall. An incredible sight to behold it was!

"Elrond has instructed me to guide you in your training of the Elven magic. If you wish to continue today's lessons, our gardens are welcome to you."

Maximus simply nodded, then realized that Arleni was expecting a verbal answer.

Well maestro? What shall we do?

Kain walked with them, walking down the hallway slowly, his arms behind his back. He was deep in thought, he was detatched from those around him, his brow durrowed in it's own thought processes.

He looked at the elven female as she walked past them, and guided them. He was not attracted to her in slightest, she was just another person. Kain was irritated more so, he did not know why. He tried to find the source of it, but he could not locate it for all he tried.

He walked down the stairs behind Maximus, taking the passive role. His feet made a loud "click" unusal for Kain to do. He was wearing a different set of clothes from normal, but he would normally never make a sound. It might have been an indication that he was preoccupied.

Kain walked down....and then froze when he saw his "room". He was rooted to the spot, his mouth agape, his hands were shaking. But it was not with pleasure....it was from utter shock of what he saw.

The sight which he saw, was the not the sight which the others saw. It was something far more terrible than they could imagine.

Kain was rooted to the spot, a pillar of white. His entire body was shaking for many long seconds, and he whispered something in his own language something barely audible.

He then, completely turned in emotion. From his fearful and shocked self, formed the angry war mask of utter frustration. His eyes seemed to explode with rage, the brown orbs rumbling with the fury which sprang from Kain's very soul.

He turned upon the spot, and immediately ran up the stairs, shouting at someone. It was in his own language, and he was summoning the worst curses he could imagine. The word "frell", a word which Maximus had heard Kain use some times before, along with other, darker words. It made everyone's blood chill, and Kain seemed like a war-machine.

Kain sprinted up the stairs, his hair a great flayling mass of white serpants. He ran away, keeping well away from anyone who would pass, as if they were pillars which if touched, would cause his death. And slowly....he stopped. He put his back to the wall, and went to sitting against the wall, his chest heaving. Not from the physical exersion, from the emotional strain of what he had just seen. He could not believe it, his hope was shattered.

He brought his fist thundering down into the floor in frustration, and sat seething, trying to figure out what had happened. Kainc alled for his magical companion.

CLOAK! CLOAK DAMN YOU! Get here! NOW!

No responce.

Damn you, you worthless rag! Answer me! What is the meaning of this! Frelling MADRIN! Answer me!

No responce.

Kain's mind was an erratic array of confusion and frustration, he was trying to figure out what the hell he just saw.

Maximus heard no response.

Kain?

Suddenly, Kain's voice could be heard screaming in erratic behavior. Maximus wasted no time in following the voice, running at full speed, through the elven palace. All around him, Elves came running from the many hidden rooms. Arleni was behind him, an elven bow having appeared out of nowhere into her hand.

Kain! Where are you! Answer me!

No response.

KAIN SHENTAVO!!

Maximus halted, sniffing the air for Kain's familiar scent. He turned left, and ran up the spiraling stairs and continued following the scent. Maximus soon detected him to be nearby.

"Kain! What in the hell is up with you? What has driven you mad?!"

Behind Maximus, a number of Elven warriors appeared, all armed with swords or bows. All had a look of business upon their faces as they struggled to understand what had happened. Maximus held his hand up to them, requesting a moment alone with Kain. They halted, and Maximus slowly approached Kain, wary of his erratic behavior.

"Kain...what's wrong?"

Kain did not speak for a time. He simply mumbled.

"Get away from me....give me a little time. I...."

He trailed off, and his entire body shuddered. He was staring away from Maximus, he did not want to look at anyone.

Kain spoke again, although seemingly not to Maximus at all. To someone else, as if he was talking to someone whow as dead or something. His voice was solf, slightly quivering. Kain had fought demons and not shaken any way, but this had truelly filled him fear.

"So you frelling yotz, you still have it....but how? Iik! How the hell did you do it?"


Kain sighed, and kept his sight away from Maximus, as if he was avoiding the sight of him.

Arleni spoke to Maximus quietly, watching Kain carefully.

"What is his name?"

Maximus turned to look at her quizzically.

"His name is Kain Shentavo..."

Arleni nodded briefly, before slinging her bow over her shoulder. She slowly pushed Maximus out of the way as she raised her hands upwards and began to twist them, the fingers flowing into invisible intricate patterns. Her voice became melodic and soft, like an ethereal singing.

karn aduamin elea ie' Kain Shentavo

Suddenly, before them, upon the wall, a wall Kain could not see, was a circular shimmering image of what had driven Kain away. Arleni stared at the image.

"What is that?" she questioned, trying to make sense of the image.

Kain replied monotonously, his voice deep and dark.

"Death."

And such a description was perfectly placed with this image.

The image portrayed upon this wall, was the visages which had haunted Kain's vision 24 hours a day, when he was a green skinned vampire. The image was the same....but not.

The land was grey. Everything was a dull grey and black, few whites, appart from the harsh blankness in places. Plants drooped and died, thier leaves crumbling away, becoming whispers of thier former self. Bird were rotting corpses, and what flew with them were apparations.

Great black robed ghouls which swam around in thier air, mocking Kain, thier great gleaming blue eyes filled with a promise of torment. Thier great shadow figures cackled, thier histererics and this figures torment which he thought he had escaped.

Everything living, was dying. People he saw, he saw dying constantly, thier souls flaking away. This is why he prefered the company of vampires and immortals, and could tolerate thier presance, because he did nto see death huant their figures. And wheever he saw something die in reality, he saw thier souls being ripped from thier carcasses, screaming as they went to whatever afterlife they would enter.

Kain whispered, "This....this was my punishment."

Arleni stared at the image on the wall in shock as she realized what she was seeing.

"Horrible..." was all she could say, as she looked down into Kain's eyes, eerily haunted by his past.

"Kain Shentavo," she said softly as she knelt before him, "listen to me, I can help you take this pain away, this punishment. I sense it to be a powerful curse, but nothing done can't be undone. Do you want to rid yourself of this? Will you trust me?"

Maximus blinked in surprise as she spoke those words. Surely she did not realize the power of the curse that so obviously was held over Kain?!

"Arleni, are you--"

Arlenin Greenwood turned sharply, her eyes piercing into his.

"Maximus, you will learn that we are powerful healers, perhaps one of the most powerful of all Elves. You will learn to have faith in the magic that lies within yourself. It will surprise you of its capabilities."

Maximus nodded and replied:

"My apologies. Please, continue..."

Maximus looked back at Kain, waiting for his answer.

"Oh you sound so stupid to me. You are so arrogant in your own abilities." Kain said with great malice, as he was slowly getting up. He did so witha greta slowness, like a snake who was rearing up to bite. His eyes held a certain enjoyment in all of this, the entire scene was so delicously placed so that he could be harmed the most. It filled Kain with such a anger that this entire event was possibly orchestrated.

You give the kid an ice cream, allow him to lick it a few times, before you steal it from him. If the kid doesn't know what it was like to have those few glorious moments of the ice-cream, why the hell is he going to cry?

Kain brought himself to full hieght, and he seemed to tower of her....even though Kain was not much taller than her. He seemed to draw light towards himself, the gravity for the eyes sights.

With slow, long steps, he began to walk towards her, his face still lerring and menacing, truelly terrorfying to her. His mirror-like pale skin, and fangs made him seem like a demon.....his eyes swirling with the visions of death, seeing her crumble away. She could see them....the spectres in his eyes.

As he spoke, he slowly rose in pitch, his voice booming and shuddering through thier souls. he was walking into the woman, backing her into the wall, she could only recline at this creature in front of her....this was no vampire!

"Who the hell do you think you are? You really think you could break this frelling curse you ignorant bitch of a yotz? You honestly thought, that for one second, that your magic's surpass my own which has tried against this curse, let alone that of a demons? Is that what you think? Foolish elf!"

Kain drew his pale white hand back, ready to cast a spell of some sort. One could sense that there were energies flowing around his left hand as he held her by the right.

And then....Kain pushed back, and backed himself into the wall, Kain now seeming to change in who he was. He drew back, his person no longer containing the visions. The elven woman became the elven woman, not the walking decaying corpse.

He looked shocked and intensely embarressed, looking around to see what he had done. He was no longer Kain Irenicus....he went back to that calm, peaceful Kain. Kain Shentavo.

"I....I'm sorry. I don't....quite know what...what happened...."

Kain withdrew from the others around him, who was shaking slightly. his eyes returned to normal, those brown crystals of knowledge. The wall of the visions stopped in thier nightmare, and returned to normal sight.

Arleni had been spooked by this...this creature before her. She looked over at Maximus, who was simply staring at Kain.

I've seen that side of Kain before...this is not good...something here in this forest is setting him off...

Maximus watched as Arleni moved closer to Kain, though somewhat reluctantly. All about Maximus the other Elves had raised their bows, notched with an arrow, ready to release upon the next possible outburst. Maximus tried to get them to lower the bows, but a fierce determination shone within their eyes, one that would not listen to him. Maximus could do nothing but look back as Arleni moved closer.

Arleni's soft eyes searched Kain's own, seeking his good side. Her voice was soft, caring, understanding. Her words flowed like music to the ears.

"You speak of magic of darkness, magic that binds you to this curse. To honestly tell you, I cannot guarantee that our magic can defeat it for you. But I can guarantee you this, I can help you ward off the hostile side effects of the curse you are experiencing, at least while you are within the realm of the Forest. Here, in this forest, which flows with eons of powerful magic, you will be safe, you will realize that we are more powerful than you give us credit for."

And with that, Arleni reached out with both hands, resting them upon Kain's forhead as she began chanting in her native language:

"Lova poldora Thanga yassen templa, Vara telae taurninin Kain Shentavo!!"
"Weaken the curse, give Kain Shentavo archprotection!!"

Arleni's hands began to glow with a powerful dark green radiance, as the curse began to weaken under the power of the magic. Swirls of wind gusted within the room from the open windows, whipping every loose object about. She continued her spell, sealing it at last:

"A lasta quettenya, kela Thanga yassen templa!!"
"Listen to my word, Go away Curse!"

At once, the glow flashed blindingly to the sight, brighter than the sunlight could ever be. And as soon as it flashed, everything ceased, the wind, the breathing, the thoughts. All that remained was silence. With the silence came an immense sense of peace upon Kain, peace he probably had never felt so wondrously before...

As the spell enveloped Kain, his skin flashed a bright blue colour. Kain felt the sensation all around him, that feeling of draining the magic. Than his defence system overloaded, and the magic flowed as normal. Kain grew more concerned, as this ability was an attribute of his green skin. Whenever a spell, good or bad, was cast upon him (except from himself), his skin would attempt to asborb it and allow Kain to use it back. Kain was growing mroe and more alarmed as this was not possible!

Kain felt that peace, and his face became fully calm, his white features resting now. And as he slumped to the floor from relief and the sheer shock of events, something formed around his shoulders.

It was a white Cloak, one which had upon the back, the symbol of Shentavo, a heart with a sword within it. The same clan symbol which he had a pendant....although sustained him, the bloodstone a gift from his sire, Ravelyn.

"Care to explain to me what just happened, Cloak?" Kain spoke softly to the magical garment which was upon his back now, warming him. It shimmered, and it seemed to have a life of it's own. It was if the laws of gravity did not ally, as if the Cloak only followed natural laws when it wanted. Currently, it was falling slower than it should.

What you just experianced, was a lashback. Rave, did indeed remove the curse completely. But in your recovery, you remember that you were sifting through your life memories? Well, you simply had a odd....how can I say? Hiccup? The curse is gone, but your mind, due to the spell used upon you to remove the curse...well, the more accurate term would be curses, not forgetting Qui's one, and the ones that the Seer gave you, your mind still remembers. It is complecated, but consider it a kind of a "flashback", as such, yet with actual properties. The demon did not manifist this.....you did.


Kain sighed, closing his eyes, hesitating to rub his eyes, until he remembered that he had actual hands now.

Thank you. I am sorry I had to call you, and I am sorry that I called you such things.

Understandable Kain. It is understandable.[/B]

[I]But the question is....what triggered it?

That Kain, I do know. But, it would be better if you discovered it for yourself.

Kain rose slowly, as if not completely trusting his legs. He was rather puzzled at Cloak's last comment. He looked at the others around him, trying to think what to say.

"This is so intensely complicated to explain.....but first, whatever I said back there, I am sorry for. I...I did not mean that, that was someone else speaking....rather literally. But you must be wondering what the hell just happened...well, to be honest, I am still trying to get to grips with that myself. I will explain in due course...but....thank you."

Arleni's eyes watched Kain's every move, still being cautious around him. A natural course of action, considering what had only happened shortly before. The mirror image had long since vanished, but the memories of what she had seen in Kain's vision remained fresh in her mind. And there, they would remain till the end of her days. That was one of the Elves' traits, extended and perfect memory recall abilities.

"Your apology is accepted. I'm glad to have helped you." she replied softly. She turned to the other Elves, nodding slightly for them to lower their weapons. They did so, relieved that no real violence had occured.

Maximus held his hand to her shoulder, surprising her slightly with the coldness of his hands, a side effect of being a vampire.

"Thank you. I don't know what you just did or said, but it seems to have worked."

I'm glad to see you're all right now Kain. Did you slip into some past habits of yours? Did something trigger this in you?

"You're welcome, Maximus." Arleni replied, "what will you two do now? Will you be taking up rest now and joining us for supper or will you continue your training?"

The group made their way back down the stairway once again. Maximus simply asked,

"Maestro Kain?"

"I could do with some rest, and then I might join you if I feel I can attend. Maximus can certainly go on without me if he wishes. I need to comtemplate what just happened....again my apologies." Kain said calmly, rather softly. He walked slowly away, as if his legs were not his completely, that at any moment they could decide to fall again.

Something triggered this. I need to find out what....

Kain started to walk to his room.

"I think I will like to explore the area for a while. I shall join you later Kain. If you need me, you know how to find me."

Kain nodded his understanding as he continued on his way. Maximus turned to Arleni.

"He's a good guy really, he's just had a lot of things happen to him over the years, and a number of them weren't pleasant..."

Arleni thoughtfully smiled.

"Well then Maximus, let's go show you your family's lands yes?"

With that she turned and walked in the opposite direction of where Kain was headed, with Maximus following. She led him past the commons and out onto a barely treaded trail.

"Maximus, you will find that the magic that lies intertwined with your blood is a powerful force. Using this magic in its natural state will yield powerful results for yourself. Not far from here is a place I want to show you, and it will be where I begin my lesson to you, a lesson I'm not sure your friend is capable of doing from our perspective."

Maximus did not respond beyond, "I see..." as he wondered what she was leading him to. He didn't have to wait long.

Before the two and deeply nestled in the forest was a spectacular waterfall, sparkling so radiantly with a brilliance Maximus had never seen before. Arleni turned to him holding her hand out to the waterfall before them.

"As you can see, the land is very healthy and plentiful. As such, it gives us water so fresh, so pure. Yet, at the same time, it gives us an unlimited amount of magic to tap into. This waterfall comes from a river that winds through the Misty Mountains around here. Now...let's get started."

Arleni took Maximus's hand and led him to the edge of the lower portion of the river, into which the waterfall emptied.

"You will see that you already know many spells, many incantations within yourself, yet you are unaware of it. In time, you will learn how to listen to yourself, to your magic. From thence the words will come naturally, binding you in harmony with the magic. This is where your friend differs, if I'm not mistaken, for he must force the words to come to his lips. He is a powerful one, but by doing this, he is in a struggle with the magic that he cannot comprehend, cannot understand why it fights him as it may do sometimes."

Arleni stepped forward into the water, pulling Maximus in with her. They stood up to their waist in the water as she continued her lesson.

"Now, I'm going to show you a spell that will exhibit the waterfall doing an extraordinary thing."

Arleni released Maximus's grip, turned to the waterfall and held her hands out as she called out in a soothing melodic voice,

Yala onna en' alu...

Suddenly, the waterfall shifted its course, and began to pull closer to Arleni, who pulled it by invisible means with her hands, almost as if a rope held onto it. Once the waterfall reached her, she swung her hands about in a circle, to which the water immediately followed suit as it completely surrounded her body, creating a powerful wall about her. Arleni's voice was heard beyond the rushing of water, speaking softly, yet amazingly clear:

"Maximus, you will find that many spells have different uses, it is a result of the balance you are in when using magic. If you had sent a magical attack upon me, my shield of protection would have deflected and scattered it. The shield will disappear as I wish."

The wall of water suddenly ceased falling about her as the last couple of gallons fell to the surface of the water. Moments later the waterfall was back to its original course, flowing as if nothing had changed. Maximus recieved another shock as he looked at Arleni.

She was completely dry, except for the lower part of her body submerged underwater as well.

"Now, you see that tree above you with that branch overhanging the river?"

Maximus turned to look, before nodding his answer.

"Do you see the fruit hanging on it?"

Maximus nodded again.

"Bring me one, but only use magic. However, do not use magic to touch the fruit itself."

Maximus turned back quizzically to her. Arleni smiled gently.

"Go on, you can do it."

Maximus turned his attention back to the fruit as he pondered what he had to do. To use magic, but to not touch the fruit itself with magic...such an odd request...

Then it hit him. It was a rather simple idea really, but it would require his complete attention. In time, as he became more accustomed to the magic, he would become more versatile in its uses.

Maximus turned his attention downward to the waters coursing past him. Running his fingers along the surface, he began to 'see' what he wanted to happen in his mind. He spiraled slowly around as he suddenly heard himself speaking the Elvish again:

Yala onna en' alu..

Suddenly, the waters about him spiraled closer and closer, and Maximus found himself rising upwards, with a steady column of water underneath his feet, with him standing on top. Higher and higher it swirled until Maximus was in arm's reach of the fruit and he gently plucked it off its branch. Slowly the water receeded below him, lowering him gently to the bed of the river once more.

Arleni smiled broadly as she accepted the fruit and took a bite of it.

"Very good, you may realize that the spell you used was the exact same one I used. Thus, it is my lesson to you on the versatility of magic."

Maximus smiled in response. He had enjoyed doing that spell very much.

"I have noticed. An interesting phenomenon. Is there anything else you'd like to share for today?"

Arleni giggled slightly,

"Of course, after all, you've only tip the uppermost part of the iceberg..."

With that she continued teaching Maximus many things, who was a quick-to-learn student. When night fell, the two made their way back to the city once again. Supper would begin soon, and already, they could smell the food drifting tastefully in the air.

Kain sat within his room, with his great diary in front of him, the book which he could conjour at will from within his pocket plain. He was writing with a long, rune encrusted silver pen, which as it wrote in the language of Kain's people, danced upon the page, making it unreadable to anyone but Kain. It was an intensely powerful spell upon the book, it would take at least twenty years for someone to break that spell upon this book, let alone decode the complicated runic language of his people.

He scribbled his mind, as it flowed. It was like exorcism, once a thought or concern was written down, Kain could deal with it, or think about it better if it was in a physical form.

To all my efforts, I have this one main concern to which it made me as shocked as I described when I saw that view, the cold liquid terror which consumed my entire body I wish not to feel again. Something has triggered this, a catalyst to all of these things which have manifested, wheter the prejudice deep rooted within my being, or the visions which I saw in that stunning view. But, the splinter in my mind remains, for I cannot fathom what is the cause of all of this. Possibly something from the past triggering it. I shall think of this, as I have a tenecity of doing. I certainly hope that some of the more worse effects come into play, I shall do my best to remain calm.

Kain closed the great book, and it faded from view, along with the pen. He decided that his current state of dress was inappropraite. He sighed, and had one hand pointed up, and the other downwards, and visualised his soft white robes.

Much to his alarm, after a few seconds, something very different came forth. It was armour, a great suit of crimson plate mail, with closed eyes upon it. Kain was very much alarmed, he could not breathe as he loked upon this object. Then....the demon eyes opened thier horrible eyes.....and Kain screamed. But no sound came out, his mouth simply open in a silent scream. He fell to his knees....

And as he did, reality snapped painfully into focus.

Kain looked at the plate mail again....and it was no longer his demonic plate mail, which the Brightblade had granted to him! It was his own Robe, a great flowing white robe with golden runes accross the edges.

Kain shuddered a moment, trying to get back into focus.

Kain got up, and got dressed into his robe, the soft warm touch of the robe welcoming. Cloak fastened itself onto his back, it was a light blue in complextion now. The two conversed for a short while about nothing in particular, and Kain headed out.

Maximus walked aside Arleni, marvelling at how well he had done with his first lesson from the Elf. She was obviously pleaseed as well and made no effort to hide it.

"Maximus, you have already shown promise that with training, you have every capability to become a powerful user of magic. I must say that is a strange case, especially considering your position in the lineage, and your dominant species..."

"Really? Thank you, it's my pleasure... to hear that from you..."

"Let me teach you some of our language as we continue along our way to the palace. It will help you to converse with those of us who speak only Sindarin. For example, I shall use what you just said to me as an lesson. Here's what you would have said in Sindarin.

"Diola lle, tanya amin saesa."

Arleni smiled as Maximus stared at her dumb-like. She laughed.

"What I said was "Thank you, it's my pleasure."

Maximus finally smiled, "Oh...now I understand..."

"Come, Elrond will have had a feast for your arrival. I imagine he might even have a surprise for you..."

Arleni led the way into the great hall, and over to several seats along the head of the table. Already, a number of Elves had arrived and were seated, waiting for the remainder of the guests to arrive. The smells of the feast from some unseen room was strong in the air. Maximus looked about quickly, but did not see Kain.

Kain, where are you?

Kain heard Maximus and did not reply. His presance in a few short seconds would answer enough.

And so he did, wearing not his white suit with the blood red tie, but his long flourishing white robe, which was magnificant in it's appearance. It was from a odd matieral, one everyone had not seen before. It shimmered slightly, the subliminal touches of the golden runes barely noticable.

He walked in slowly, his long strides entering the hall with a slowness. He was like an ocean which was coming in like the tide, slowly appearing with barely a noise but the rushing of robes.

He was beside Maximus, and he looked at the feast.

Maximus, care to explain to me, how we are going to eat this...? Nevermind, I have a rather unique drink for you, if you are willing to sample on it's fine qualities. I doubt the elven people have catered for our....your unique needs of sustinance. They do realise what we are? Tis very rare to encounter such.....equality?

Kain corrected himself, and once more, took the passive role as Maximus was in his enviroment here. Once again, Kain felt decidedly unconfortable somehow.

Maximus looked over at Kain smiling slightly.

I do think they know what vampires are, but just to be sure we don't insult them, let's see what they offer first...

Maximus sat down, and watched as several Elven musicians began playing Elvish music that flowed smoothly, like silk to the ears. He watched as Elrond, Galadriel and some others walked in and took their appropriate seats. Elrond sat closest to Maximus, and soon the two were exchanging various words of interest.

Maximus looked down at the table, admiring the intricate details of the tablecloth's fabric. Moments later, his view became obstructed by a plate of greens and vegetables laid before him. Maximus looked up at the Elf who had served him with a somewhat perplexed look. The Elf did not notice, or did not give any indication of having noticed.

Kain...I think we might need to partake of your 'drink'...but before you do, if you wouldn't mind, why don't you inform them of our situation?

Bah, why must I? These are your damn people. Kain snapped irritably as he addressed the situation. He was completely not in the mood for this, diplomacy and such, he just wanted to be alone right now.

Completely alone...

Kain's inner voice was working again, as it had done in the past. Kind of like thunder in a sealed room, constantly richochying in the room, creating loud snaps of frustration as each effort was simply producing a circle of increasing futile proportions.

Bah, this is utterly stupid. Why the hell, am I helping this vampire in his own stupid persuit of knowledge? This is utterly pointless and stupid, it is a remarkable waste of time. Hell, you are not in control of yourself right now! Frelling hell, into one prison of manipulation to another, only this time, I am making it! God d....bah. I will leave soon, head away from all of this. Go back to my home and sort all of this stuff out in my head.

Kain addressed the people now, sighing irritably, as if this entire scene was all too familer. And in all ways, it was.

"Can't you tell that we are vampires? We require no food of yours, we have our own......" Kain said, rather nastily. After a few seconds, before they left, Kain tried to rectify the situation by saying in a rather patetic attempt to recitify the situation, "Er....thanks anyway. Really."

For a frelling ancient race they are none to bright, common sense seems to elude them. Surely they must know we are vampires!

Kain closed his eyes and held his fingers to them, rubbing them. He looked tierd, although he required no sleep. He spoke soft slyables of magic, forming to words.

Now, within the fine and delicate wine glasses which were beside Kain and Maximus, did raise, very slowly, a stormy red liquid. It was if there was a creature within that liquid storming around it's violant and fiery liquid. It was blood....but not like Maximus had ever seen.

Kain said, softly and with such reverance for the liquid in front of him it made Maxmius wonder what was in the glass, "Do not let a single drop fall upon the floor, for this....this is something many vampires will never try. Try it, but appreciate every drop, every flavor, every sensation. Drink it slowly, lest you alarm someone. And anyway, such a meal is quite the experiance."

Kain, with this, placed his long delicate hands around the elaborate and delicate wine glass which was filled with the stormy blood. He breathed in, his eyes closed. His eyelids fluttered, and he smiled in anticipation.

And then, he raised the glass to his lips, and with a few long seconds of anticipation he let a few drops into his mouth.

Kain....Kain knew what the experiance would be. He knew it, and it he treasured every second of it. The blood was a hundred time more delicous and consuming than mortal blood, any blood of this realm. It filled Kain up, billowing through him and made him freeze in this moment of utter ecstacy. His mind was blank for many long seconds, his white face flushing.

And then, he placed the wine glass down, without a word, reflecting on the experiance. He looked to Maximus to do the same, to drink what this fine wine of life.

Maximus took a gentle, yet firm hold of the wine glass filled with the seemingly sacred blood that filled it's reservoir. Bringing it closer to his mouth, he closed his eyes and sniffed it gently. His eyes shot open as he became overwhelmed with the incredible scent of the rich blood. He turned his head quickly to Kain, who merely had a knowing smile upon his face. Kain nodded ever so slightly, beckoning for him to continue.

Maximus turned his attention back to the wine glass, admiring the more fine details of the blood's existence in it. As he brought it to his lips, he closed his eyes once more, and opened his mouth ever so slightly, permitting several drops to enter his mouth.

What he experienced was almost beyond words to describe the sensations the blood gave to him. It was like being intoxicated, deeply under the influence of the essence of life that sat so richly in the blood. It was like a rushing waterfall down his throat and absorbed into his body, bringing the most wonderous feeling that Maximus had never had before. Maximus's eyes rolled back in pure joy as he finally lowered his head back down and opened them slightly.

I...I cannot describe that...so...wonderful...
_________________________________

Arleni was watching the obvious pleasure the two vampires were having in drinking their blood wines. Her people had known about vampires, but had simply made an error when arranging the meal.

So much like us, yet he's different...and he's got other strengths that we don't have too much of...he will grow powerful under his master's training, and our guidance...

Do not drink too much, for your body...and your mind will not be able to tolerate it. This liquid which you hold within your hand is demonic blood. It is a component in some extremely powerful spells and enchantments, but vampires....it is something entirely different."

[I]When I fought against the demons, against Mephisopheles with many my allies to save someone very dear to me, and to assist in the balance of the world, I drank from the oceans of blood of my enemies. God, you should have been there! Such a sight to behold, the entire demonic army before you in thier masses, a great blood bank to which it was yours for the taking! Demon blood has remarkable properties, a reason why it is used so well in magical applications by mages. It is from a different realm of existance, so it has different laws. Therefore, if woven into items in certain ways, these new or altered laws in the demonic realm can be implimented upon the item. For example, a Bexzarithanitoainaorl demon, has the most remarkable lighting blue blood, which turns a venous green when touched by a foreign being. As a result, it burns whoever touches it. I once read of a great knight wearing great plate mail, where when someone stuck at the great storm lighting blue armour, it exploded into a acid attack to them, keeping the owner completely protected. Such magics....I refuse to use.

When consumed by vampires, it sates our appitities for huge amounts of time. You might want to note the warm, glowing sensation within your heart. That will spread to the rest of your body in a short while. This has numerous advantages, ones which has aided me in combat. Pain resistance, increased regeneration, increased mental capacities, clarity of thought, magic resistance, increased speed and strength, and finally, understanding of many languages. I wasfeeding on this demonic blood, from the Brightblade, I was feeding on it for around.....I forget how long. But a long duration. So I now....did have those qualities.

But, be wary. The demonic blood will make you think differently, clearer, yes, but, more different. You will start to think more cynically, less like your own self. Do not worry, the effect on you will be extremely minor, one which you should be able to restrain with ease. I am used to such urges, I have grown resistant. I have drank so much demonic blood...proberbly why I am so fucked up in the head, beside other things.

Maximus nearly coughed out loud in surprise.

Demonic blood? Brightblade? How did you obtain this?

Maximus looked back over at Kain as he took yet another small sip from the glass.

No matter...this is very satisfying...Thank you for sharing. I'm sure it took some effort for you to part even this much...

Around the two vampires, the Elves were continuing to eat their food, food that Maximus could remember eating long long ago, but no longer felt any desire to eat. Blood was the only thing that satisfied his hunger, as was natural for him anyway. Maximus sat there, watching the Elves go about their meals, and watching the entertainers perform for them. He moved his eyes over briefly eye Elrond who had taken up a conversation with Galadriel, their voices held low. Maximus returned his thoughts to Kain's small lesson about the demonic blood, and in a few moments, he already had questions. One, he wasn't too sure if he should ask, for it might upset Kain. Nevertheless, it didn't hurt to try...

I've got some questions. Who was this person you were trying to save? Also, why don't you tell me how you managed to rid yourself of the demon's hold on you? Forgive me if these are too personal for you to answer. If you find them so, then tell me, and I will ask no more...

Kain sighed and placed his glass down carefully. He looked around him, considering if he should tell him. He saw the entertainment, the noise of people talking and chattering. He could hear everyone around him, his hearing acute and sensitive. With his rebirth, came his senses in disarray. His spells certainly were harder, but that was due to his memory.

The person I was saving…..she…..

Kain paused. His tone was sad, slow and remorseful.

She….she was my daughter. My fledgling. My…*pause*…fledgling. Daniella….Irenicus.

Irenicus. A elven word meaning “exile” “broken one”, Kain self-proclaimed name once he was cast out of the Shentavos…..and Daniella was the precise reason for that act which so bitterly crushed Kain’s spirit, when Qui exiled him…and damned him to a living hell.

Kain said no more on the subject of his daughter, it was visibly distressing to him, to recall the facts and details of the event. So, he went onto the next question. Kain’s voice seemed clearer, sturdier.

As to how I removed the demon’s grip…this is one mighty tale to tell. One best told under…..quieter conditions. I have a confession to make. I hate parties. They are too noisy, too…open and informal. I do not like them at all, I never have. I never held them when I was…..nevermind.

Kain sighed and went to sip at his blood, but then….place it back down without taking any of the crimson liquid.

He was remembering Daniella….how he still missed her with all his heart. He was still mixed up about that entire event, how everything played out. If he had done the right thing. Kain almost laughed out loud at his own question. So many paths had that same question, yet it was no longer black and white, a clear cut distinction.

Maximus placed down the cup once again, but this time completely letting it go. He kept remembering Kain's warnings on the demonic blood's effects.

And yet, here I am, a descendant of the Elves, and a vampire at that. I don't belong here. I am much too different...

Kain interrupted with his own thoughts. Maximus cursed himself, for he had not realized he had been letting the thoughts become heard by his mentor.

Maximus, you belong here. The Elves acceptance of you into their lives is an honor you must learn to accept. Elves are typically very closed off. In fact, it surprised me how easily they came to us, to you to invite you into their homes.

Maximus sighed as his finger ran along the outside of the wine glass, thinking, thinking of his past, how he had lived for so long, and so healthy, even as a mortal. Never once had he gotten sick as a mortal, and at times he had wondered why. Only when he became a vampire, he found out afterwards. Kain was right. These Elves were his family, and obviously willing to ignore certain facts about Maximus's lifestyle and his life.

You're right. I'm sorry Kain. I just--

It wasn't you, it was the blood talking. Kain broke in.

Will you wish to talk to me some more about this elsewhere then? It seems as if everyone is just about finished.

As if to confirm Maximus's words, several Elves got up and began to clean up after themselves, but were soon giving the job over to the appointed servants. Elrond got up and approached Maximus and Kain with a smile upon his face.

"Will you be retiring for the night? If not, I would like to offer you both a chance to watch some of our people set up the city perimeter defenses that go up after sunset. If not, it can always wait. I'm sure it will be a learning sight for you to see. However, I must add that whatever spells you hear, are to be kept confidential. You have my word that anything we hear of yours, Kain Shentavo, will be kept mutual confidentiality."

Maximus turned his head to Kain once more, still fingering the glass before him.

"Kain? It's your call."

Not that you would be able to understand or replicate my spells, Kain thought. He said quietly, but still in his deep voice, "Yes, we shall be retiring for the night." Kain offered no reason why he needed to, he did not see the need.

Kain walked away, his footsteps small. Odd for Kain, for he usually had that confidant stride of kings. But now, he was walking very slowly, his arms kept by his sides. Kain seemed in quiet humble reflection, his thoughts going over his past, what was, what is, and what could have been.

When he was walking to his room, he did not know if Maximus was following. He did not care. He just had to be out of that place. In one of the corridors, there was a small balcony which survayed a large and beautiful scape of land.

Placing his hands around the stone of the balcony, he was filled with a dark reflection of the world and his situation. His white robes seemed a shade of grey, like Kain was wrapped around by some ghoulish flesh of the shadows. Kain lifted his hood above around his face, a small hole at the back for his massive mane of white hair. In the moonlight, it seemed like a incorpreal cloak of its own, a curtain of shadowy light. Kain, in all regards at this moment, looked like a ghost or a shadow in mourning solitude.

Maximus bowed to Elrond as Kain left the room, before he turned and followed him silently. Not a sound could be heard with his footsteps as he followed. Kain found himself a balcony, to which Maximus followed him.

Maximus leaned against the rail, looking out at the same things Kain was. Finally, after some quiet, he spoke up.

"Kain, do you wish to talk about it now?"

Kain sighed deeply. It would have formed a great tunnel of condensation upon the cold night air, but Kain, like all vampires, was naturally cold. If the word naturally could be applied to anything like Kain.

"Daniella. That was her name. My daugther. She was killed because of me. What I did. I met her when I was a fledgling vampire, she was a queen of a nation, trapped within servitude as I had been, flooded with responcibility at such a young age. She had been closed from the world, she was not allowed to be free as I might have been when I was being prepared for the responcibilities ahead. I pityed her...and I mether when she was looking for suitors. All idiots the lot of them. Royal bastards who knew nothing fo the world and cared nothing of love. Only the security of thier nation to be melded with her nation."

Kain sighed again and reached within his pocket for something. He produced two cigars, with the Irenicus symbol upon it. Kain looked at it, reminding himself that he needed to change the symbol and the product name. He rolled one along to Maximus, and placed the cigar into his own mouth.

He lit it with a word, and the cigar began to smolder.

"I talked to her. I...taught her many things. About life. About the world. About magic. About...myself. She taught me things too. Many things....."

Kain was about to breath in the vapourous blood, but decided not to. He took the cigar out of his mouth and put it out, and placed it back within his pocket.

"One day, I was within a small town, when a demon attacked. I fought it, with the Brightblade at my side, the demon weapon. But there, when I was standing upon the slated roofs of that town against that shining demon in the rain, was Daniella. She tried to help me.....she....she...."

Kain swallowed. He was obviously remembering the scene very vividly. He4 was looking down.

"She was attacked herself. I could not stop it. She was struck by that demon....and if I did not kill her....she would form into a demon herslef...a tainted one....a mindless abomination. And so. I was faced with the same ironic choice that I had made for myself. Although slightly twisted. Ravelyn in the past had saved me, by turning me into a vampire, from the taint of another spirit which would have amde me feeble and mindless....but if I had not accepted this life of immortality, Ravelyn would have had to kill me. Now, Daniella faced the same choice."

Kain paused.

"She chose the life of a vampire. But...I did not realise the full consequence of my actions then...but looking back, if I did, I would still do the same. For I loved her, I loved her more than anything in the world. For my crime of siring another, while a fledgling, I was exiled. Exiled, and damned.....I still remember it......"

Kain trailed off, holding his face in his hands.

"I took her to my small island. A place of refuge which I had taken up due to it's solitary nature...and then. She was still not fully recovered from the changing, she was soon to turn into a complete vampire. Then....then he came."

Maximus could see that divulging this personal information was getting to Kain, but he could also tell that Kain wanted to tell his story. With a sympathetic hand upon Kain's shoulder, he spoke:

"I'm sorry to hear about Daniella, I'm sure I would have loved to meet her. Who is 'he' that came to your island?"

Kain gave a long pause, and simply said.

"Qui."

"Before I carry on, do you know who he is? Qui Shentavo?"

Maximus nodded positively. Of course he knew Qui. He had met him at the Shentavo Academy not too long ago.

"Yes, I know of him. He's Rave's son, which is really all I know at this time...what did he do at your island?"

And I remember that Qui wasn't exactly on good terms with Rave...

"Yes, Ravelyn's son. He....he came with Daja, Ravelyn's sire, and enacted the laws of the Shentavo clan. I was only a fledging and I had sired another! I could not sustain her, I could not feed her or teach her when I was only recently trangressed? They came....for both of us. Qui stood within the mouth of the small cave, while Daniella was sleeping upon the bed....it was a stormy night and his shilouette was dominating. I felt completely terrorfied for my fledgling....and I realised what would occour."

"Qui....Qui drove his sword through me, placing a terrible curse upon me. It is only now, that I see the terrible and cruel irony of the spell which he cast upon me, looking upon the Bible's scriptures. He cast upon me a curse. You shall not kill, or be killed, your thirst shall be sevenfold, and your clan name be stripped from you!. The last....the last was the worse to me. You cannot contimplate the utter desolation I felt then, I did not feel the cold blade of the sword drive through my green flesh, I only felt the agonising emptiness of failure to those who I owed so much. But....another thing I was condemed to do, one which Qui was rathe unwitting I believe. I....I watched. I watched as Daniella starved....the worst way a vampire can die, for many long days and night I was beside that bed, helpless. I could not kill anything lest I be killed! And my own thirst, it was unbearable. I was forced to call upon the demon blade for constant sustinance. And so, I was prisoner to the demon's embrace, saving me, yet condemning me. And.....I stood and watched....helpless......damn Qui! DAMN HIM TO THE HELL WHICH SPAWNED THAT BASTARD! DANIELLA SHOULD NOT HAVE DIED! I SHOULD HAVE! I....I should have....."

And then, Kain broke down in tears.

Maximus stepped closer to Kain, resting his hand upon Kain's shoulder.

"Shhhhh...it's time to let her go. I know it hurts, but she would not want you to hold her in mind if it causes you this much pain. Let her go Kain...let her go..."

Maximus thought back to the time his own wife, back when he had been a mortal, who had been murdered by vampires then. Maximus had become a vampire hunter from that point on, up to his meeting with Skadi. She had taught him to let his deceased wife's memory rest in peace. Because of this, Maximus was able to bring himself to love Skadi in time...

Kain threw Mzximus off of him, wanting none of his sympathy. He stared at him, his face controrted in anger and frustration.

"What the hell do you know? You know me not! You barely know me, you never knew Daniella! Hell, you do not even know of my crimes before this! I have no idea why I bother teaching you, was a stupid idea! Who am I to teach when everything which I touch turns to frelling dust!" Kain said in defiance and walked off, his Cloak a storming crimson which consumed the corridors.

Maximus took off after Kain, immediately trying to convince Kain otherwise about the teaching.

"Kain! Listen to yourself! You're not using your common sense! You have taught me more than anyone else could have!..."

Maximus stopped following him, and watched Kain continue. He spoke the next words softly.

"And for that, I'm grateful."

He didn't know if Kain had heard him, but he hoped that he had. Maximus truly was glad he had been training under Kain. There really was no better teacher for the job...

Kain narrowed his eyes and continued to walk away, muttering under his breath. He heard all of Maximus' reply, and continued to storm away. Then, his voice echoed through the halls.

"Why does everyone turn to me, when I don't even know who I am, or if my actions are the ones I want!"

Maximus shook his head slightly as he watched Kain go off. Kain would need to sort this out for himself. There was nothing he could do to help him.

Maximus turned and left the building once again, needing to go outside and sit amongst the stars. He scaled his way easily up to the rooftop of the palace, making sure no one heard or saw him. He didn't need to be bothered while he sat there.

After some time, a voice spoke behind Maximus, startling him.

"The stars are quite beautiful tonight..." Arleni commented as she sat next to Maximus.

"I couldn't help but overhear your friend lamenting about some troubles."

"He'll be fine, he'll sort it out." Maximus replied, saying no more as he returned his gaze out to the world.

Kain walked away, trying to fight the outer and inner demons. His face was a scowl, a complex painting of emotions, ones of past, present and future.

He walked to another balcony, and looked down. He was breathing harshly, and he did not know why. He felt his non-beating heart throb with pain. Tme seemed to draw out like a knife, everything seemed in slow agonising dimness. His eyes hurted, his limbs seemed to become poisoned with fatigue, and with hands shaking he gripped the balcony ledge.

"What....what is happening to me...?" Kain spoke out, his deep voice oly coming out a weak whisper of protest for the situation which was slowly dragging him down.

Kain's scar, where the Brightblade had been plunged through him to remove the demon's taint, began to burn with enflamed temper. Kain gripped at his mid-section, where the long sword mark remained. He felt a hot, oozing liquid....he raised his white shaking hand and saw his own deep crimson blood....not the blood of a normal vampire. One of a demonic blood mingled with vampiric.

He fell to the floor, as blood stained through his white pearly robes. His eyes became dilated....then completely red as the thirst consumed him. He was confused, totally lost within his own reality. So many things where changing, old states of being coming into play.

Another change in the tide of self, Kain's wound ceased to flow it's life blood, but with it, came a new horrifying sensation.

Hello Kain. Long time no see. A impossibly deep, vicious voice snapped into Kain's mind. The demon of the Brightblade.

This is not possible! Get out of my head! GET OUT!

Kain clasped onto his skull, pain was shooting through his brain as was upon the floor, sprawled. His robes were changing colour....from white.....to blue.....to red...to black....

Manical laughter echoed within the halls of Kain's mind, maddening him.

And then, it recided. A soft voice, not within his head, but one which was registered by his ears, not his thoughts. A soft voice, male, and it gave Kain the utter feeling of confusion.

He rapidly kicked and scrabbled away from the voice, knowing who it was. Utter disbelief consumed him, his eyes were stricken with the reality defying relevations.

"Hello Kain. My son. You tried to murder me!"

Kain looked at Xzar, his own powerful form, with the robes he wore today, the Peacekeeper robes which dictated that he ruled Velmora.....in his hand he held the Brightblade...not the demonic one, but the pearly blue one, one which was still presented as holy.

"GET AWAY XZAR! YOU ARE DEAD!" Kain tried to shout, but it only came out as a horse complaint. Xzar smiled and pointed the Brightblade towards him, directly where his scar was.

Kain was backed against the wall, as pain shot through his body. Blood flowed from his mouth like a fountain as Kain gurgled in his primal agony of mind body and soul. The Brightblade was driven through his body, Xzar's grinning face in front of him. The Demon's cackling. His people's accusations of him being a traitor. Rave's shame.

Daniella's face. Daniella's words.


Kain slumped into unconciousness, against the wall, with no-one around him. No people, no Xzar, no Brightblade, no-one. Only his blood-stained robes was the mark of this ordeal.



It was all in his mind. But in being so, it was real.

Kain walked away, trying to fight the outer and inner demons. His face was a scowl, a complex painting of emotions, ones of past, present and future.

He walked to another balcony, and looked down. He was breathing harshly, and he did not know why. He felt his non-beating heart throb with pain. Tme seemed to draw out like a knife, everything seemed in slow agonising dimness. His eyes hurted, his limbs seemed to become poisoned with fatigue, and with hands shaking he gripped the balcony ledge.

"What....what is happening to me...?" Kain spoke out, his deep voice oly coming out a weak whisper of protest for the situation which was slowly dragging him down.

Kain's scar, where the Brightblade had been plunged through him to remove the demon's taint, began to burn with enflamed temper. Kain gripped at his mid-section, where the long sword mark remained. He felt a hot, oozing liquid....he raised his white shaking hand and saw his own deep crimson blood....not the blood of a normal vampire. One of a demonic blood mingled with vampiric.

He fell to the floor, as blood stained through his white pearly robes. His eyes became dilated....then completely red as the thirst consumed him. He was confused, totally lost within his own reality. So many things where changing, old states of being coming into play.

Another change in the tide of self, Kain's wound ceased to flow it's life blood, but with it, came a new horrifying sensation.

Hello Kain. Long time no see. A impossibly deep, vicious voice snapped into Kain's mind. The demon of the Brightblade.

This is not possible! Get out of my head! GET OUT!

Kain clasped onto his skull, pain was shooting through his brain as was upon the floor, sprawled. His robes were changing colour....from white.....to blue.....to red...to black....

Manical laughter echoed within the halls of Kain's mind, maddening him.

And then, it recided. A soft voice, not within his head, but one which was registered by his ears, not his thoughts. A soft voice, male, and it gave Kain the utter feeling of confusion.

He rapidly kicked and scrabbled away from the voice, knowing who it was. Utter disbelief consumed him, his eyes were stricken with the reality defying relevations.

"Hello Kain. My son. You tried to murder me!"

Kain looked at Xzar, his own powerful form, with the robes he wore today, the Peacekeeper robes which dictated that he ruled Velmora.....in his hand he held the Brightblade...not the demonic one, but the pearly blue one, one which was still presented as holy.

"GET AWAY XZAR! YOU ARE DEAD!" Kain tried to shout, but it only came out as a horse complaint. Xzar smiled and pointed the Brightblade towards him, directly where his scar was.

Kain was backed against the wall, as pain shot through his body. Blood flowed from his mouth like a fountain as Kain gurgled in his primal agony of mind body and soul. The Brightblade was driven through his body, Xzar's grinning face in front of him. The Demon's cackling. His people's accusations of him being a traitor. Rave's shame.

Daniella's face. Daniella's words.


Kain slumped into unconciousness, against the wall, with no-one around him. No people, no Xzar, no Brightblade, no-one. Only his blood-stained robes was the mark of this ordeal.



It was all in his mind. But in being so, it was real.

*deleted*

Arleni spoke again, this time her voice barely a whisper.

"I'm afraid that the pure good that exists in abundance here is causing your friend to suffer from his tainted soul's magic...he's on edge, and I've seen this once before, a long time ago. You are correct though that we can do nothing about it, for he must make the internal choice to which side of the magic he wishes to embrace."

"I never said that."

"You didn't have to..."

Maximus fell silent once again, thinking carefully to himself about what Arleni had told him...

Kain

...

Kain.

...

Kain! Wake up!

......What?

By the Gods you scared me. You alright?

Kain resisted the tempation to throw a snide comment back.

No. I am covered with frelling blood. My blood no less. And I don't know what the hell is going on....I do not like this at all. My own reality is changing, and I cannot control these changes dammit!

Easy Kain. Easy. Remember your training. Yes, thats it. Calm yourself. Grasp hold of the situation. Understand what is going on, then, manipulate it. Describe what you have been seeing, because I felt what you were experiancing.....

Kain tried to swallow, and spat out black blood. His eyes were still closed, and his body was against the wall.

People...people from the past. Dead ones. Attacked me. All so real. Arlish thisathain anithe-

Slow down, simple sentances! By the Gods....you know what happens when you speak like that, even though it may be in your head. It is a testament to your ability if you can speak like that! Only dem- ....nevermind.

Kain was speaking in the langauge of magic, in all of its complexities. What Kain had just said in three words had created a vivid picture of events. One of distressment, some mention of them beings freinds, utter terror and lack of control.

Yes, well....it was all very grim. And the pain was real too, I can still feel that blade in me....throb in me, thiark-is....sorry. This is starting to.....really worry me. I mean......what if this gets worse? This is not real.....yet.....it....is to me.

Silence between the two, the Cloak and Kain.

Next time it happens.....keep calm and keep in mind that they are not real. They appeared as ghosts right?

Right. How did you-

I did some research upon it within the other planes. Such an occourance is rare, yet....so was your predicament. It might be different with vampries....

Surely Ravelyn took that into consideration.....

....I am not sure. But regardless, keep calm. That is what has kept you alive through most of these situations. Can you stand? Can you see, firstly?

Kain opened his eyes, they felt like cold gravestones being moved out of place. His head hurt and he felt the cold damness of his robes against his white flesh, clammy. Kain almost swore as he felt the pain sweep over him, although it was not the acute pain of a sword being within him.

He put a hand towards where he had felt the sword go through him, and only the same familar scar remained....although it still hurt like hell.

I swear, if I see another frelling spirit I am going to kick his ass next time, regardless to who the hell they are.

Maximus stood up and waited briefly as Arleni did so as well.

"Well, it's time for me to rest. The sun will rise in a half-night, and I feel I will need my rest through past the next day, until nightfall once again. I imagine that Kain will be wanting this too, while he hopefully finishes sorting out his problems..."

"Yes, a good plan. I am on duty tonight, at sector five out by the western borders of the city. If you wish to talk, just ask anyone for me. They'll tell you where I am."

"Thank you, I'll keep that in mind."

Arleni nodded briefly as she turned and disappeared into the trees, descending to the ground and moving silently and quickly to her destination.

With that, Maximus leapt lightly off the rooftop, landing surely upon the balcony and walked inside. He walked into the bedroom that the two vampires had been assigned, settling himself on top of one bed, closing his eyes. He opened them to notice that the windows were still wide open. Flicking his wrist they closed with his telekenetic skill, plunging the room into darkness...

A cry pierced the silence. Maximus instantly stood, tilting his head and squinting his eyes around the room. The cry had been psychic...

Kain? What the hell was that? Did you do that?

OOC: Let's consider the cry he heard as sounding inhumane, but actually unwittingly coming from Kain...

Kain refrained from answering at the moment, while he got his legs back working. He pushed himself off the wall which he was lying upon. He held his head and closed his eyes and spoke back to Maximus. Kain was in a simpler state of being as such, he did not want to do more than one thing at a time for fear of complicating things.

Yes....yes that was me. I'm.....not ok....come over...here please.

Kain's voice meerly sounded weary, not the hectic cries of someone deep in combat.

Having said this, Kain tried and hobbled a few feet more, but oddly he fell over. He felt intensely odd....and as he placed out his hands....he felt the cold floor with one hand, with fingers...and the other one....

Cloven talons. Three of them. As he had before.

"Oh.....great." Kain muttered as he lay there on the floor, trying to figure what to do. His body was confused, one set of commands for one hand, another one for the other. His cloven talon twitched for a moment....then it was gone.

Kain pushed himself off the floor and slowly got up, his bloody robes draped around him.

Maximus immediately burst open the doors leading into the bedroom he had just emerged from, moving his head slightly in each direction, trying to get a tracking upon the psychic waves coming from Kain.

Hang on, I'm coming...

Moments later, Maximus came upon Kain, lying upon the ground, covered in his own blood.

"KAIN!" Maximus cried out as he lifted Kain gingerly, but with strength. He draped Kain's weak arm around his shoulder, using his other arm to hold Kain's waist as he stood him up.

"Come on, we need to get you cleaned up, and I'm calling for someone to help you with your wounds you've apprently suffered."

"Maximus...these wounds...are sealed now...no need to--" Kain gasped quietly, eerily weak in Maximus's grasp.

"Don't speak any more. You're weak..." Maximus commanded as he carefully shuffled Kain toward the bedroom. Once inside, Maximus carefully laid Kain down upon the bed.

Maximus heard the entrance of a quiet being, to which he was momentarily pulled out of the way as Galadriel came unto Kain, her hands reaching out. She spoke softly, addressing Maximus.

"I saw the visions of him suffering. He struggles with his past. I came to see what I can do to help him."

With that she muttered some cryptic words, watching as a white light emanated from her hands, and seeped into the body of Kain, ceasing his pain, bringing peace to his mind, finally causing him to fall into a restful, dreamless sleep.

"There, he will be better in time. He may be asleep for a while. And considering how you two are vampires, I suspect he many not awaken until tomorrow night."

"Thank you...very much." Maximus replied, bowing slightly as she turned and left, closing the door behind her softly. Maximus turned back to the other bed and laid down upon it, keeping his eyes upon Kain until he himself fell asleep...

What the hell do you propose? Kain is suffering from the syptomes rather badly...I fear for his unlife.

There is nothing we can do. Something he has to fight on his own my dear. I hope Kain will recover, truelly I do. But you are going to have to let him fight this one, there is only one thing you can do.

Which would be?

Simply....give him mental support, and talk to him.

Right. Thanks for the guidance.

Anytime.

----

Kain?

What.

Thought you were asleep.

I never sleep. Might seem it. I certainly can't move my body. Kind of like a.....trance. Sort of. That is what I am in. But I can think. That is why I hate sleeping. Because I think too damn much.

I see. You know that-

Yes I know that, damn it all. From my benefactor, damn him.

Ah. I don't know what to do Kain....there is nothing much I can do to help you here.

That makes two of us. I wish I had more control over all this. I will bear what advice you gave me in mind.

"How is he, Galadriel?"

"He will be fine, for now, though I suspect he is still awake, despite being asleep..."

"He is a strange one, but being Maximus's friend, we shall remained friendly."

"I would recommend that, Elrond."
_______________________________________

<Eighteen hours later>

Dusk had fallen, the sun settling back into the embrace of the dark and cold expanses of space beyond the horizon. Maximus opened his eyes, and immediately looked over to Kain.

Still asleep...

Maximus sat up, rubbed his eyes, then walked over to the window, opening it once again, allowing a fresh breeze to filter in and cool his skin. He closed his eyes, breathing the smells of nature in deeply. He opened his eyes again, and watched the life move about outside the palace, and eventually cast his eyes to the rising moon...

Kain was still slumbering....and then all of a sudden, he sat up. It was most eerie. Kain's irises focused in from nothing, the pupil in his eye was almost invisible, when it rapidly ajusted to the light. Of course, being a vampire, he could see perfectly even in the night time.

Kain spoke immediately in a foriegn language. He looked around as he did so, his long white hair sprawled around him. His words sounded french, a mixture of a latin quality and the fine language of french.

Kain shook his head, his previous sentance more of a statement than a question and spoke in elven to Maximus.

"How long have I been like this? I hate it. It felt like weeks. Please, don't do that again, unless it is absolutely nessicery."

Maximus turned at the sound of Kain's movements. He replied in Sindarin, surprised somewhat at how easily he could now speak it.

Must be the 'blood' awakening the elf in me...

"Good to see you're back to your normal self... I think." he commented, "However, it was not I that did that to you, but Galadriel. She said that she had forseen your collapse in the hallway, and simply came to help you rest. Rest you needed."

After a moment of pause, he spoke again, still speaking in Sindarin.

"I do not know how I can speak this so easily Kain. Can you explain to me why I can speak this language when I have never done this before?"

Maximus enjoyed how the words so easily rolled off his tongue as he spoke.

"There is a natural ability. It is kind of like....I don't know....noticing someone's posture, to relate it to thier mood. Thier facal expressions and such. Although, more complicated than that of course. One of my people's redeeming graces, and our condemnation...was that the language of magic we could learn extremely quickly. A small child could learn a cantrip in a few days, get all the gestures and words correct, whereas a adult human mage would maybe take a few weeks to perfect it."

Kain put his hand through his silvery hair and straightened it more, so that it was not such a mess. Kain seemed like a ghost of some sort.

Maximus walked back to stand in front of Kain once again. He looked down at him, a look of concern in his voice.

"What the hell happened to you last night? You were...out of it, and covered in your blood..."

He continued to stand there, watching Kain carefully. If Kain was unstable, he wanted to make sure he could be prepared for what may come.

Kain got off of the bed, and reached out towards the wall in support. His legs were still feeling funny; he always did when he had one of these sleeps. Or it might have been not being used to actually waking up as such. Something in the back of his mind suspected it was another demon trait, slumbering and then being sluggish when woken, and then needing no sleep for a very long time.

He sighed out a deep sigh.

“Apparently it is an uncommon side affect of my release with the demon to which I had with me. It kept me alive, in many ways. But in other respects, it prevented me from living as such. I am getting flash backs….real ones to me. People from the past, events, things…..all real to me, but nothing but the air around you. Some involve me changing to my previous forms…..and you will be able to see that, so don’t be alarmed if you see a green-skinned me…or a tattooed bald one. I will try and deal with it. It might be better if I go somewhere where….how can I put it? I will not wreck should I need to fight or whatever. Any ideas for that?”

Maximus shook his head negatively, before responding,

"No, I know of no such place around here. Perhaps we can ask one of the others, like Arleni. She will be able to help us, I feel. Stay here, I'll be right back, I'm going to go find her."

Maximus made his way to the door, before pausing and looking back to Kain.

"If you need me, call for me, I'll be here momentarily. Oh...and Kain? Keep yourself safe eh?"

Maximus left the room, moving quickly.
______________________________________

"Arleni Greenwood, do you know where she is?"

The elf pointed toward a particular treeline without saying a word. Maximus thanked the elf, and took off again, a blur of motion to those around him.

"Maximus! What are you hurrying about?" called out Arleni as she saw him approaching the border.

Maximus stopped before her, nodding to her briefly.

"Kain and I need a place where he doesn't have to worry about destroying or damaging anything of significance."

Arleni looked at him quizzically, "Is he all right?"

"I'm not sure..." Maximus replied.

Arleni turned to another Elf down the way. She emitted a series of bird calls, telling the Elf to send for another to replace her while she was gone. The Elf replied his understanding, and momentarily another Elf came from the city, and took her post.

"Come, let's go see to him." Arleni beckoned as she made her way quickly to the palace.
______________________________________

"Kain, we're back. Arleni's with me." Maximus called out as he walked into the bedroom. Kain was still upon the bed, not having moved from where he was.

"Maximus tells me you need to be away from here? I might know the place in mind. Portal travel will get us there fastest." Arleni said, as she moved to cast a spell upon the wall. Moments later a green glow emitted from beneath her hand as the portal expanded and grew in size. Finally, she was finished.

"Come..." she said, before disappearing into the portal.

Maximus walked over to Kain, and lifted him with his arms, supporting him as they made their way through the portal.

They stood in a field of tall grasses, outside the forest once again, but it was barely seen in the distance. Arleni closed the portal behind the two vampires.

"You have nothing to worry about here." she said to Kain.

Kina nodded in recognition, as he walked out into the field. He walked into a random spot and outstretched his hands. His robes moved about in the wind playfully, as did his white hair. Kain purposefully reached out for something, like he was expecting a long pole to be there.

He did not even have to say the words, the items came to him. He only had to think of the words! Kain was astounded by this new found power; the seven rods which he wanted from his pocket plane sprang to him command.

The rods were a dark blue-green colour, with a glowing purple gem on the top of it. Kain lifted them into the air, again, forming the words within his mind….and they appeared to come into place! He did not have to say the words, his mind did it! The familiar rush of the power, as he channeled it with thoughts and gestures. He pointed to the sky, and the poles flew up into the air. They disappeared for a few seconds.

Kain said to Maximus, rather quietly, “How old are you Maximus? I barely know anything of you. Who were you, who are you now?”

It was an exceedingly oddly placed question, not with the content, but in the calm, slow and eerie way he said it. The poles flew back down, with the gems facing the floor. The seven poles formed a circle around Kain, around five feet apart from Kain in all directions. The others sensed a protection spell at work here, magic being worked as Kain sat down in a meditation position.

Maximus was struck by the oddity of the questions. He thought about the answers before speaking them slowly.

"My name is Maximus Destroi. I am 195 years old, in vampiric years, and was 21 when I was turned by my sire, Skadi. Who I was is no importance anymore. That part of me is dead. However, if you truly want to know, I was a peaceful mortal, living with my wife, whom was murdered by vampires. From thence, I was a hunter of vampires, at least until I met Skadi... Who I am now, I am still trying to find out. I thought I knew, but all this new information of my lineage brings me to question that once again. But one thing is for sure. I am your student."

Arleni raised an eyebrow, but said nothing as she listened to the two vampires converse.

Kain listened to his reply. He nodded slowly, thinking.

"I wish my history was so short. My life story is so much longer, due to the extra explantions. Ah well. Gives me som-"

Kain paused. His attention was grabbed onto something. Someone in the distance. He frowned, in wondering what it was. And then, Kain arched back in what seemed pain, yet Kain gave no scream or sound of pain.

He was keeping calm, even as his body seemed to twist and change. His breathing was steady, and his eyes were kept open. His entire body began to change...

First which left Kain, was his fantastic white long hair. That shedded, and flowed away into nothingness. Next, came his flesh. The pale white mirrorlike surface became to become more human like, more pink and soft. But there were hints of blue within it.

Kain closed his eyes now and said, rather shakily, "Nothing to worry about....just...."

Kain let out an unstoppable "omph" as he went to his hands now, looking at the ground. Then he started to tingle...all over. He felt something dancing around his entire body, spirals.

The two observers of this transformation saw that the blue tint in his skin was actually in fact, many many tatoos. They ran all around Kain's body, blue spirals and runes.

Next, his eyes began to change colour....to a gemstone red.....then a blue....then a soft, gold. It seemed, Kain's eyes were changing colour.

Then, Cloak took a drastic change, as did his robes. Cloak was always changing colour in what Kain was feeling, and at the moment it was a deep purple. But......the Shentavo symbol faded...and was only replaced by two white "pads" as such, which contained golden runes upon them. At the base of Cloak, there were spirals and patterns there too. Kain had at his side, a box of cystals.

Last, Kain felt his fangs depart.....fading into normal canines.

He stood up to full hieght, shorter than what he was when a vampire, although he still held that indomitable sense of power around him. His eyes glowed gold now, and a smile upon his face, one which was of surpise more than anything, and marveling curiousity. He said, with a tone more aggressive, yet higher pitched than his vampiric one.

"I am Psi again! I have forgotten the joys and advantages of such a form!"

Kain laughed, as his runes glowed and ade dancing impressions in the air.

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/EPIC_Gallery/Gallery4/44254_C4_Cloakofepicc50223.jpg

Maximus stood there...stunned...

Arleni blinked several times, blinking and staring at Kain...

Not a word was said between the two to Kain...

Maximus's jaw dropped open in shock.

Finally, after what seemed like eons of time, Maximus spoke:

"Kain...Psi?! Why?"

A million questions ran through Maximus's mind, yet he couldn't speak them all...

Kain looked at his hand, and seemingly made a movement with his hand as if he was feeling the air again. He stared at his hand, fascinated. To his eyes, he saw the trails of magic from the tatooes all over his body. They glowed blue, and turned on and off.

"Yes. Psi, mortal once more. Temporarily. I feel numb without my vampiric senses. I feel deaf, and blind. I am sure you can appreciate it Maximus. But, with this change comes something new. My previous three senses, or at least to their extent as it was before! Detecting emotion within someone to a higher degree, hightened sense of the earth's equilibrum and most importantly and the most joyous, my sense of magic! I had forgotten this sensation, of feeling the ebbs and flows of magic and it rushes past me. I can...."see" the waves of possibilities as such! It is something you could never comprehend! I am doing it naturally, as I did before, whereas I would require great concentration to visualise it!"

Kain was smiling, he seemed truimphant.

"Now, lets see if the Psi magic still works. Remember I said about simultanity? Simultanity is the key!"

Kain crossed his arms, and sections of his arms glowed, as the runes twisted around in the air, glowing a blue. He spoke a single word and a crystal from his box floated in front of his crossed arms.

Then, swirling energies came around Kain, as the cystal took it's place above Kain's bald head. His eyes went a pale blue colour as he felt the magic course through his body, felt the ectsacy of magic once more. He laughed in utter truimph as the spell took affect.

Trails of energy surronded him, around and around they went, all colours of the rainbow, and some which were never intended for this world. They floated around him, and then, collided alltogether in one massive flood of magic, becoming something else.

They were twisting together, to make a rod....no....a staff. Yes, it came clearer now as Kain observed it's creation, occasionally touching a different rune on his body. The staff was like molten glass being formed into a glass pot of or something.

And then, it was complete. It was a glowing staff of power, one which changed colours randomly, to a soft green....to a stunning gold....to a plain brown. All over it's surface were runes, all swarming around it.

Kain smiled more so, and the simply placed it on the floor. He breathed out and resumed his mediative state.

"Something will be happening soon. This change.....means something. Somethign when I was a mortal. Hmmm. Either Xzar, B'jorn.....Rave? Hmmm."

Maximus looked over at Arleni, and was shocked to see her smiling all of a sudden. She looked over at him and laughed.

"Dear Maximus, do you not realize? Are you so naive? Kain is back in his natural, pure state! This is what he was born into!"

Maximus opened his eyes wider as she revealed this to him. He turned back to Kain, watching in awe as Kain performed the psi magic like he had never seen before. Finally, Kain looked back at Maximus, a laughing youthful look in his eyes. Joy...

"Kain...I am amazed..." Maximus stuttered, a rarity for him...

Kain's last words resonated in Maximus's mind as if they were pounding drums of warning.

"Changes?"

"Yes, this is what I was like when I was a mortal. A Psi, like the thousands other of my kind, although I was different. I ruled them."

"You betrayed us!"

And then, Kain saw images. Ghosts of his past.

"Right on cue."

But what Kain did not realize, is that the other could see them too.

Psi soldiers. Psi civilians. Women, children. All walking slowly towards Kain. Kain remained calm, and stood up and looked at their accusing stares. Their torn faces full of anguish and bitterness. The soldiers held their magical weapons, women held their wands, and children their staves all walking slowly towards Kain.

Pic one (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/33175.jpg)
Pic two (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/33174.jpg)
Pic three (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/xph_gallery/80456.jpg)
Pic four (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MotP/Planar_Champion.jpg)
Pic five (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/cw_ag/75415.jpg)


They all halted outside the circle of protection Kain had created, all of them completely ignoring the other two nearby. The sky seemed to grow darker, grayer and angrier. A rumble could be heard with Maximus’ and Arlenis’ sensitive ears, but not to Kain’s. For all the Psi’s abilities, acute hearing was not one. But Kain felt the contempt the earth was resonating, the emotions to which he felt. And it hurt him, like a cold dagger slowly slicing into him, the feeling of guilt. He shook his head and ignored it, he knew why he did what he did.

“You betrayed us Brightblade! You left, you ran, you abandoned us!” They chanted together at Kain. Kain grew irritated and frustrated.

“Do you even know the reason why I left? Why I was forced to leave, to flee after that speech? I will tell you why. After that battle against Xzar, I was wounded by the spirit which possessed him. It ravaged my body, making me a cripple. I am still surprised how I even stood up when I gave that speech. I went to my room, and I saw the world dying, thanks to the Seer. I was going to become possessed, a demon. Then Rave, that angel vampire which helped us fight Xzar, and win, came to me. She offered me a choice. To die, and leave this world so that I would not become tainted and corrupted. Or to become a vampire, to become her fledgling and continue with an existence. I chose vampirism. I chose to live my own life to be free of the early servitude. Did I not deserve my own freedom?”

“You were cast out from the Wheel of Fate! The inexorable cycle of life and death, you abandoned it for this shade of existence! Traitor!”

Kain raised his tone. “Words of that damned Seer which condemned me to the vision to which I had! I destroyed them; the dead spirits of so “called” heroes manipulated us into their willing! They planned Xzar’s possession, they orchestrated everything! They knew of the Brightblade’s corrupt nature, they made it so that it would create chaos and destruction! They fed off of it!”

“Lies Kain! You have been deceived!”

“No. I believe you are the ones which have been deceived for too long. I had no choice! I could not rule you either way. Better that I left with you having the memories of a heroic Kain, than one which had turned to shadows, for your own sakes! It would have crushed Jarrid, and he was the only one which could have ruled!”

“Enough talk traitor. We shall cast ye back into the wheel of fate, fallen one!”

And then….an almighty barrage of spells against Kain….a sea of magical flames, acid, ice, and all spells which could be conjoured was sent against Kain.

Arleni had sensed the hostile behavior of the persons that surrounded Kain. She could sense the growing hostility, as could Maximus. Just before they cast their spells upon Kain, she suddenly exploded into action, waving her arms in intricate patterns and muttering in Sindarin:

"Vara tel' taurninin!!"

Nothing seemed to happen.

Maximus watched in surprise as the ghostly magic continued its deadly path toward Kain, powerful and threatening they were...

"KAIN!"

However, Arleni closed her eyes, bonding her essence into the web of the Elven magic itself. Suddenly, around Kain, a large greenish dome of archprotection rose up, completely sealing him off, who was further sealed within his own protective barrier.

Flashes of light, brighter than any eyes could take emitted as the psi magic clashed with the Elven magic. The ghosts of Kain's past stared in surprise, before wheeling about to face Arleni. Arleni returned their icy stare tenfold.

"What Kain tells you is the truth. I have watched from afar as you fools fail to open your eyes! Perhaps it is better that you suffer under the lies that you claim are good! Now you are on my lands, you will not succeed in harming my friends. Leave. Now!"

Arleni stood, spreading her feet slightly, holding her hands to her side but arched slightly upwards. Her hands glowed the same erie green that was of the dome. Her eyes were fearsome to look into.

Arleni snarled, making her point clear...

Kain felt the intense flood of magic all around him, his senses detected every pattern, every complex gesture required. He knew the intense complication of the spell which he was going to create.

He placed his arms around in a full circle, spinning clockwise. Of course, this was occouring extremely quickly and the other two could not see it.

Three seconds...

Kain tapped his left foot while swinging his right one into the air and bringing it down again.

Two seconds....

Kain repeated the proceedor in reverse. He was having intense problems concentrating upon the wave of possibiltiies. He had it a moment ago, but it slipped away from him! Franticly he tried to relocate the specific strand! If he could not find it, he might face the full force of the blow!

One second remaining....

"I will not die! I shall not allow it!" Kain screamed, not that his protest could be heard amidst the deafening roar of magic screaming around him. He felt the energies almost touching him, felt the cold of ice storms, felt the intense heat of fire strikes, felt the burning purification of holy blasts.

And then, he had it.

Kain smiled in triumph as the spell came into place. It was at this point that the elven shield came into being. Kain was shocked, he had not estimated this! She had participated in a magical act, it would target her too!

Kain had no choice but to proceed, the spell was already in affect. He simply had to pray that she called off the defence, or that something would occour.

Everyone which had cast a spell within close proximity of Kain, felt the intense draining of Kain's spell. Kain was using....thier spells as a power source! It was an incredible feat of magic, one which few knew. Well, on this plane at least. It was a combination of a spell of the Psi and the demons.

Kain's entire form changed. He became pure energie, a glowing hub of possibilities which had been conjoured. The spells still rained into him, all the while it fed his incorpreal form which was glowing more and more as it went on. It was still Kain, but he was glowing the most intense blue, similar of looking into the sun directly for an extended periods of time. it was growing brighter....and brighter....and brighter....

Every spellcaster which had cast a spell, felt thier pwoer being leeched into this vortex of magic which was Kain. And from the chaos which was the fumbling of the Psi, trying to dispel this intense and alien magic, a message was carried from Kain to Arleni.

Speak these words now!

A string of demonic words came from him, which Kain only hoped she would be able to speak...

Arleni hadn't felt the drain right away. But quickly enough, she felt it. Strongly...

Arleni gasped and collapsed to her knees, her head twitching, and her fingers digging into the earth in agony. She was beginning to feel quite drained...

"Ugghh..." she moaned as she struggled to fight against the drain.

Arleni struggled to cease her spell, to cease the flow of magic into Kain. But she couldn't! She tried again...

Nothing different...

Weaker by the moment...

Suddenly, Kain's voice screamed within her mind, commanding her to speak his words. He immediately began to recite demonic words to her, which she slowly, but haltingly muttered with difficulty, as she struggled to retain consciousness.

Maximus gasped as he recognized the language she spoke. All this was happening almost all too quickly for him to understand...

Kain's demonic magic!

Finally, Arleni struggled out the last of the demonic words, before collapsing to the ground completely. Maximus dropped to his knees, reaching out to Arleni, but she shoved him away.

"No!...Stay...away!"

Maximus looked between her and the others with a look of bewilderment, unsure of what to do. One thing was for sure, he better not cast any magic. Besides it wasn't like he knew anything...

Arleni remained upon the ground, still unsure of the meaning behind the demonic words she had spoken. But she had felt the drain cease its pull upon her. Yet, it had taken a good deal of her magical strength. She looked weakly up at Kain, but cast her eyes down as his searing light threatened to blind her in the night air...

The eye of storm which was Kain grew in it’s intensity, a thunder god raged within himself. The skies gathered around this glowing entity, the tingling clouds brewing vile colours of purple, as if they were stagnant with the rare degree of magical energies gathered here today. The clouds began to release their captive children of water, as they fell to earth in their hot embrace of freedom.

Kain heard the crackling all around him, his senses over washed by this intense barrage of magic. Thoughts rushed around in his mind, escaping his capture as each spell was sent to him with furious speed. He saw an acid arrow, how it was cast and how he could use it before his eyes and then it was snatched away from him, replaced with the knowledge of a new spell. It was overwhelming. A few seconds dawned hundreds of spells all being flashed at Kain. It made his mind hurt with the intense and inescapable barrage of knowledge. Yet he gritted his teeth and endured this barrage of knowledge, while everyone around him became drained of their magical power.

Kain knew that he could not take much more of this. He was losing control, becoming lost within him. Everything was getting out of focus, lost within the confusion of the moment. Yet his training and experiences kept him through. No Psi could have performed such a task, nor any normal being attached to the mortal coil.

He selected the moment. Prized it. Shaped it. Formed it. Contained it. Froze it. Then…released it.

Everything froze. Everyone seemed to remain still, no sounds remained. Kain saw the visages of people struggling with spells, throwing crystals in the air to summon greater power, using their staffs as their last resort as they fired their charged energies which were soon robbed from them, and wands flickered and turned to ash. The silence was the most eerie thing Kain had ever heard; the vast contrast between the crashing titans of sound and thought to this simplicity of nothingness.

And then…..everything, slowly and lurching forward with great regret, yet like mighty warrior of the Gods, time moved to as it should be.

Then hell was unleashed.

Kain broke from the absorbing sequence of this spell, one of his own spells which he had just created in the moment, and raised his arms into the air and gazed up, as one might do looking in praise of the gods.

A bolt of purple light shot down in defiance of the Psi around Kain, as it snapped against everyone who would harm him. Kain stood there….in limbo of the next move, as everyone looks upon him.




Get down.

Maximus heard Kain's warning, and without a second thought, cast himself down unto the ground as well, burying his face into the soft earth, leaving barely enough for himself to breathe.

For a rare moment, fear came into Maximus's mind...

Arleni, being drained greatly already, simply buried her face into her arm, covering her eyes as Kain was about to unleash the equivalent of hell in the realm of magic.

Would she live? Yes. Would Maximus live? Yes. Kain would make sure of that, she knew...

OOC: I'm terribly sorry, but I've gotta pull out of this thread. It's been an awesome thread. Thanks a lot for helping me do this. I'm leaving for the summer, so I won't be back in full force until late August.

IC:
Before Kain could do whatever he had planned to do, his friend and the elf simply vanished from sight.

Where had they gone? Why had they gone? Kain didn't know, but all that remained was a piece of parchment upon the ground. It read, "Kain...Arleni has moved us away with her magic. Seek your own paths for a while, for she will finish my training that you have so wonderfully begun to teach me. I am ever grateful, my friend. You have been a splendid teacher. I will catch up to you in time... Maximus."