PF vs Rokazu.

[Purple Feather]

In the darkness that resided in this place, there was but a single being, staring at the ground, as if there was actually something significant to look at. His emerald green eyes pierced through the darkness as the rest of him seemed to blend in, omniously, due to his dark clothing. Those eyes of his lifted cynically, looking foward and outward at the endless expanse of this...sanitarium. He breathed in and slowly let it out from his mouth, releasing a tiny orb of light, eradicating the darkness that surrounded him and revealing his facial features.

"Well...that's strange." the man muttered. He looked quite young, though definitely an adult. Perhaps in his early thirties or late twenties. His hair was jet black, reaching to his jaw bone, though parted in the middle.

His voice seemed to thunder in the silence of the place, for there wasn't a single sound or being or...anything. In the silence, whispers could be heard, from the man, as he continued to mutter more inquires and other phrases under his breath, as though he no longer had much sense or simply incredibly confused.

Suddenly he stopped and his eyes darted from one direction to another, as though he had detected something.

"...Who else could possibly be here?"

[Rokazu]

The teenager stared into the expanse of emptiness, shrouded by an eerie curtain of darkness that seemed to not only lack but extinguish any presence of light. She had never witnessed such changeless and calm vastness. Had it not been the dark the girl might have loved it the open plain. Had there been light, perhaps there would be a strange yet sense of freedom that Ivana could find in this place. But would it really be the same, without grass, insects, or any kind of life forms at all?

Ivana was in her mid-teens, standing about 5 feet 3. She preferred – and was – wearing a light blue shirt with jeans on, but the darkness stole away all the color. She had a bright and comical personality. On the surface she was violent, but quite ironically Ivana’s temper was longer than many others. She had long silky hair reaching halfway down her back, which seemed to annoy her every now and then as it often obstructed her sight when the hair got blown in her eyes.

A weak light was illuminated weakly not too far from her. Apparently Ivana was not the first to discover this plain of….nothingness. Though the term fit this place physically, nothingness seemed strangely unfit for this particular plain. There was something special, yet inexplicable about it. The teenager disappeared into thin air, less than a blink later rematerialized twenty feet away from where she was originally standing, halving the distance between her and the light. With another jump, Ivana found herself standing next to a man. Even in the faint light, he was hard to outline.

“Hello,” Ivana greeted the stranger brightly, bearing no sense of hostility in her voice. Then again, what was the point to fight? Yet then again, did she not always end up in one?

[Purple Feather]

Hello"

An optimistic and sudden voice rang in the man's ears as he was taken by surprise. His head turned quickly, though baring little expression as to what he was thinking. He had specifically come here to be alone, and he knew only a handful that even knew of this place. The odds were very slim, to meet someone else here. However, it baffled him for only a moment, and he took several steps away from her, wanting to keep a respective distance. As he did so, he examined her briefly. She was quite young, much younger than himself, and her choice of clothing seemed to oppose his.

"The name's Iraltiphos...but you can just call me Iral." The man introduced himself, though in a somewhat cold tone of voice. He wasn't glad to see her. In fact, he wouldn't have been glad to see anyone in the mood he was in. There was a tiny speck of sympathy for the girl, deep within the corners of his mind, knowing what was to come.

"How have you come here and who are you?"

With a sudden pang of annoyance and impatience, Iral clenched his fist and the orb of light disappeared.

"Nevermind that. If you know of this place, you must be in league with the enemy." Iral spoke as quickly as he had jumped to the conclusion as he began to slowly walk in a circle around her, keeping several feet in between. This wasn't of normal darkness that a being's eye could simply adapt to, but it was one that completely rendered sight usless. However, he could still detect her position through her spiritual signature.

"Do you value your life?"

[Rokazu]

The man asked several questions, but each time Ivana began to answer the stranger cut her off. Iraltiphos, or in short Iral, was all she knew about the person. It wasn’t the kindest man that the teenager had encountered, but Ivana had no intention to give the man false alarm. Perhaps that childish showoff of her power wasn’t too intelligent to begin with. She would need second thoughts next time, yeah right, that’s what I always tell myself.

To make things worse, this barren place didn’t seem like a place where anyone could just walk in, seeing as the man questioned how Ivana had stepped into the realm. And with that, Iral seemed to take it for granted that the newcomer was an enemy – exactly the opposite of what Ivana wanted to introduce herself as. She was going to be honest; there was nothing Ivana had to hide.

The teenager had nothing left in the world – for she had nothing to begin with. She belonged to the Lord, and that was all the reasons she needed to live on for. Surely she would find friends every now and then, they all came and went. Ivana’s life was made colorful by the Lord. The girl had known no peace since young childhood. First she was taken away from her parents, then even her friends…Deep down there was an immovable part of sadness that – despite her ability – Ivana could not remove. Yet her incredible optimism was one of the reasons that made her smile – that made her who she was. The Lord had given her everything – her life, her smile, and her power. If anything of Ivana was invincible, it was her ability to smile despite the worst scenario.

"Do you value your life?"

It should’ve been an easy question because, without doubt, Ivana loved what she had. Yet, this unfriendly inquiry seemed sharp and cold, dragging out that sadness the girl had long since buried. Ivana’s smile faded for the briefest moment as she subconsciously and involuntarily thought to herself, What I had in this world was long since taken away from me. Then the smile returned; the faith she had in the Lord dominating all that mattered to her now. Her purpose wasn’t to complain about her sadness after all. It was to bring out that smile to every one and all.

"Of course," Ivana replied, " and to address the questions earlier, my name is Ivana."

Iral began to circle around the teenager, observing the girl, seemingly. Although she could not see where the man was exactly, the echoes of his steps gave away most of what Ivana needed anyway. But then again, if she really needed sight so much, all there was to it was a simple illumination magic that would render the place as though it was in daylight – and Ivana had so much more in her than just magic.

"And regarding the accusation of ‘enemy’ you’re talking about," Ivana continued, "trust what you will, but I belong to no sect and nobody but the Lord, His Holiness."

There was something that Ivana didn’t feel so comfortable about, so the girl took a stance anyway, readying for any incoming attacks. It wasn’t death she feared, for Ivana knew it was the Lord she would return to. It was the fact that the smiles that she could have put on others’ face may never appear, simply because she did not live to realize them. Sometimes, it was this endless path of sadness that engulfed the world despite her efforts that made Ivana cry. Was smiling that hard for us?

[Purple Feather]

Of course," The girl replied, introducing herself as Ivana shortly afterward. Iral could see that her spirit hadn't leaned toward the darker side of it the slightest bit. It maintained its serenity and alliance to the holy side of the spiritual spectrum. This much Iral had to admire, for it was a curse he and the rest of them suffered that didn't allow for their hearts to ever remain in one set place. It was an ever swaying and unpredictable mechanism that allowed him and the others to be capable of both healing and destruction. The significance of this, he never understood, and yet the answer lied within that single phrase that laid deep within the corners of his mind, along with the rest of his kind.

"And regarding the accusation of ‘enemy’ you’re talking about," Ivana interrupted his meditation, "trust what you will, but I belong to no sect and nobody but the Lord, His Holiness."

Iral's wolfish eyes narrowed and pondered upon this Lord that she had spoken of. Apparently, it was someone of everlasting faith. How quaint. He couldn't help but despise these type of people, but at the same time he had always had some sort of jealousy toward them, for it was their ignorance that always kept them happy. It was a battle within his own mind; to resort to blissful ignorance or agonizing clarity. And his heart began to sway again. However, if it was one fragment of him that remained the same, no matter his intentions or what he showed, it was his love for Lassistaya.

She was one of those--those who smiled.

"You seemed somewhat quick to answer that one, Ivana," Iral began, maintaining that cold tone and almost mocking tone, "but you're life isn't the amount of diamonds that you are deluded to believe your life is worth. I could kill you now and not a single molecule of this universe would have swayed in recognition of your death. And I guarantee you that you're nothing more than a pawn to this 'Lord' of yours." The man wanted to say more, but nothing came out of his opened mouth before he closed it and realized that he was at a loss for any further words.

"I have a little poem for you."

He took a moment to search and focus his mind, before he spoke once more.

"Through this winter storm,
which is dark and cold,
all is done is to weep and mourn,
and to drown in lies that you are told.

But listen now, my tiny puppy,
those jewels and diamonds will cease to be.
No matter you try, no matter you fall,
like a breeze blowing that ash through the rye."

Immediately afterwards, a high concentration of gaseous energy manifested several yards away from the two, heading toward them faster than one could have spoken in recognition of it. It was a thin wall, but it traversed down the endless hall that was darkness and towered at an equal length, making it impossible to phsyically evade as its length and width were literally infinite. This energy was one that simply destroyed life as it came in contact to it. Anything with a mind, spirit, or simply the ability to move were considered as such to this manifestation. However, 'energy' wasn't exactly the best word for this, as it seemed that its properties were unable to be defined. It was simply there as a manifestion of Iral's thoughts, with a single purpose, and would cease to exist afterwards.

It was a great power at his fingertips, but so difficult to control for most that it drove them to insanity. The poets had powerful minds and were designed for such tasks, but were burdened with a terrible curse that would never seem to cease untill their purpose is fulfilled. While some had rather killed themselves and have actually done so, some remained and clinged to their passion for their writing.

With a hellish scream, Iral's complete phsyical make-up had morphed into the very same substance, rendering him immune to it as it had passed. His skin bubbled and literally melted in an instant, revealing absolutely nothing, for he was now invisible to the girl, regardless of the darkness. As the wave had passed, he took a solid appearance, standing before her as an outline of what he once was, glowing in red. A pair of emeralds appeared, glowing a bright green as they took the appearance of his eyes. At this point, he looked nothing more than a shadow outlined in red. While the prior substance had ceased to exist as it had passed, he was now made up of pure Arcane energy.

"Let me introduce you to this place...

This is where all Nightmares are born."

[Faint_Remnant]

Routing for ya Feather. Good luck to you both.

[Rokazu]

The man took a brief speech, making offenses against Ivana’s mind, though whether or not he did so purposefully or accidentally the girl did not know. As a matter of fact, it did not matter to her at all, for his…inquiries and offenses she had witnessed and encountered so many times. Seeing it asked again simply strengthened her faith. One may claim that Ivana knew of the Lord, not believed, but the fact was that Ivana had always believed in Him, until one day, she was awarded – entrusted – with this ability and responsibility.

“You seemed somewhat quick to answer that one, Ivana,” Iral replied, “but you're life isn't the amount of diamonds that you are deluded to believe your life is worth. I could kill you now and not a single molecule of this universe would have swayed in recognition of your death. And I guarantee you that you're nothing more than a pawn to this 'Lord' of yours.”

The childish side of the girl gave her more confidence as to the fact that it was usually the same problems that haunted people wandering in the mortal realm. However, deep down, Ivana could also appreciate the man’s feeling – his desperation and his hatred – because that was what the girl once felt. Ivana understood her, but at the same time she questioned herself. The man was definitely in his adulthood, thus much more experience; if the Lord’s love was real, then…should he not have seen that so much more vividly than she did? It was a reason to investigate, because if the Lord was omniscient, why had he allowed evil and despair in the beginning?

“My life is worth no diamond,” the teenager talked back, seeing that Iral had fallen silent, “no amount of diamond can buy my life, or anyone’s. Life is not measurable materialistically.”

Ivana wanted to point out that Iral’s accusations were false, but such a direct conviction would only cause conflict and confusion. She needed delicacy in her argument, one sufficient but not sharp, convincing but not attacking.

“It is true that I am no more than a pawn to my Lord; for I assure you I am well aware of it. To you, a mere pawn is a useless piece used for sacrifice, but without them, where do would the King find shelter and protection? Without pawns there is open conflict, it is us – the pawns who are willing to sacrifice, and be sacrificed – that prevent it. It is undeniable that the Universe will not falter for the slightest bit with my death, but it is the infinitesimal that composes the infinite, that makes up the whole. One atom may be insignificant, but what would the universe be without even one of them? Naught but emptiness. The Lord could have allowed it to simply remain, but He created it to allow for lives and colors. And it is this that we, the pawns, but preserve, in His name.”

Iral seemed to disregard Ivana, for as she finished the man began a poem, one filled with despair and hopelessness. It made the girl sad, for Iral’s kind, for what he had been through. But what exactly must he have been through to see the world so dark and grim? There was a sudden influx of energy behind the two, immediately afterward Iral changed his form physically. Ivana lost sight of him, but for now it was not the girl’s priority. Ivana gave sent out a brief light echo with her magic; none of the energy surpassed the incoming wall. There seemed no way to avoid the wall…

....

Iral began to glow a dark red light; the wall had ceased. Within the sanitarium stood the man, shrouded by his red aura that was further engulfed by the impenetrable darkness…Several yards away, there was another figure, hidden in the dark. Ivana recognized this sort of magical influx; arcane magic. I guess no choice but to fight you, the girl thought to herself. But may you regret that out of all forms, you chose energy. Now let’s see, where could you be potentially, 5 minutes later?

With that thought, the region of energy that should have been Iral’s head winked out of existence from the humanoid-looking energy cloud. Several hundred thousand miles away, Ivana further dispersed the energy that was once attached to the man’s cluster of energy. Then once more…and once more…In total Ivana repeated the process by five times. By now, if Iral’s head still existed as part of that energy head, Ivana had effectively “broken” it up, and scattered the pieces deep into space.

[Purple Feather]

Iraltiphos listened to her response, and the energy making up his face seemed to shift and appear as one might recognize as a grin. The duty of the pawn and the pawn's justification for it; oh how he always watched in marvel of the courage one had, knowing their soul is immortal. They were created in god's image; and gods they were, only, through generations of selfish intentions, they no longer remain faithful to the after life. At least, not enough to cease a painful struggle to have an eternity in heaven in return.

"How would you like a boost to the afterlife?" Was all Iral asked as he thought it through. His voice was no longer human like, but almost beastly, in that his words seemed to be growled from deep within his throat. After manifesting that poem, his mind had taken a sharp swing to the other end, giving in to the cynical portion that seemed to constantly keep a grip on him, no matter how far he strayed from it.

Suddenly, the energy that made up his head began to feel different, before it had seemingly dispersed from the area and reappeared elsewhere, being seperated into several pieces. They were much too far away from him now, but for some reason he had felt like laughing, as if the assault had been insignificant right from the start. Being this manifestion, he was no longer limited to the weak point of the head, where the consciousness would generally lie. His conscious was now a part of this energy, which gave him complete and utter control over it.

The headless figure clenched its fist as Iral focused his spiritual energy through every molecule of his being, resulting in an extremely fast regeneration of the energy lost. In a matter of a few seconds, the lost head had been re-materialized, exactly the way it had been prior to the teleportation.

"Ah..." Iral began, stretching his neck a bit, as though testing the newly formed head. "I suppose it would be nice that you are a pawn to what you believe is a good cause, but your Lord is no better than any human that he has created, as he is as selfish as they are, in his dedication to win a meaningless war that he himself had raught upon your race. He doesn't need to fight nor think, but simply be and sit upon a throne while he lives a life of piggishness. All the Gods are the same. And we amuse them in our attempts to justify their wars as it is thrust upon us, in promise of a salvation. You to wish to live a life of piggishness and, although you may want to make yourself sound loyal to your Lord, it is out of the selfishness of all of your kind. It is an unavoidable fact that you will strive for the advantage over the other. It is a mechanism that was built from the first of your kind and has been passed down to every generation untill yours. Within your eyes, I see your ancestors still subconsciously influencing you. It is inevitable."

He took a moment to pause and think before he lifted up his left hand and looked at it in the same way one would look at a newly obtained weapon, with the intention to use it against their enemies.

"So, I'll ask you once more..."

Iral's eyes narrowed as he took a single step foward. "This life I have spoken to you about is closer than you think. Deep within yourself, you know you want to grab it. All you need to do is cast this shell in which you are ignorantly living in. Unless of course...you are still unsure that this afterlife actually exists..."

With a cynical grin, he thrust his hand foward, manipulating the energy that made up his arm and caused it to increase in length at an incredible speed. His hand raced toward her, completely outstretched as it began to expand in size, being able to crush her entire body in one swift movement.

"Do you still cling to this usless life?!"

[Rokazu]

The head returned. Ivana’s attempt to finish off the man seemed as futile as an egg against a stone. The man’s entire conscience lived throughout his humanoid but energized form. Seeing the phenomenon occurring once, the girl would not be so foolish to try doing the same thing again. Perhaps the first time in her life, she faced certain death. With a strong conviction, Iral questioned the teenager once more,

“Do you still cling to this useless life?!”

Her faith almost shattered on the spot. Spreading smiles were acts of selfishness – such talk she had never even considered. In her short yet rich life Ivana had done nothing but trying to put a smile on others’ face. She had gone through troubles most other girls – boys even – her age had not seen. For this purpose she had even come close to death many occasions. Not for once had her determination weakened. But now…With Iral and his accusation of her actions rooting from selfishness almost destroyed Ivana. Why had the Lord never fought? This question she had long since buried and forgotten was raised once more. Why had He allowed evil?

Ivana’s form shivered with anger and frustration – that her faith was so easily broken. Yet it was true; without faith reason took over. Faith was where reason ended. From those encouraging her to continue her work, Ivana had always been told that she needed faith. Was faith as blind as Iral seemed to be implying? And if there were truly a life of prosperity and peace after her mortal death, what did she fear? Why did she fear?

Iral’s arm composing of energy charged at the teenager as it expanded to larger than even Ivana herself. Why did I have to wander here? The girl thought in panic, her mind empty of ideas and swiftness that she had just moments ago, replaced with fear and confusion. It was not until the very last second did Ivana once more erased herself from her original spot and re-existed several yards away. She had to try it; she wasn’t ready to die yet.

But why? She thought, if there was prosperity and peace, why should I cling on to this…useless life?

There was no way but to use it. Trying her best to not think of her destructed faith and clinging on to its reminiscence, Ivana conjured a special shield around Iral’s entire being. It wasn’t made of energy; in fact, quite the opposite. By ejecting energies around Iral out of their place, Ivana created an multi-planar barrier that thirsted for energy. However, it wasn’t exactly emptiness. The barrier was filled with isolated anti-matter, most of which was deprived of their energy. As soon as Iral simply even touched the barrier, the energy of his being would – by laws of entropy and enthalpy – spread among the “cold” anti-matter before Iral could even begin thinking of regenerating himself. Then the energy would automatically be transferred to the anti-matter in the physical plane.

Ivana gave the man – no, a humanoid monster – no chance. Immediately, the teenager forced the barrier to shrink, moving closer and closer toward Iral’s being, fast enough that he could not react to it, but slow enough that his energy would surely be absorbed. The girl was scared; and she hated Iral. Why was reason always right? Why was reason always more overwhelming than…faith?