Serene smiled at Eton. "I know you can take it, you're strong..." she began softly. "...I am weak...It was fate that caught up and brought my actions..." she reached out for Eton's knife.

Julius and the rest of the group walked into town. He had a smile on his face as he walked through the coblestone streets. Despite it's location, this one seemed fairly well off. Perhaps the town was a small colony of some sort out here.

"Perhaps we should find an inn."

---------------------


Eton saw Serene reaching for the dagger, he threw it away to the side, enough so that she could not reach it. He grabbed Serene and hugged her, holding her close to him, his head almost resting on her shoulder.

"Serene, I love you." Eton said seriously, emotion in his voice. "Don't..."

"Tania..." He twisted his hand and the shadows lazily twisted into each other and formed a tiny ball of blackness. "I control void. There are three types of magic... And every one is entirely different. The attitude, the form, and the magic itself." He opened his hand and the shadows faded. "Void is fragile. It's the rarest of the magics because not only does it manipulate this world, but another also. It tears open reality and pours out emptiness. And it is not what people think; even most druids don't understand it."


The demon grunted in its strange, terrible way, and reached out its arms. It leaned against a tree, which withered and died, and it felt momentary comfort. The world he was in drained him so terribly, but there was a great number of things to feed on.

Serene threw a punch at Eton, in an attempt to break out. "Let me decide for myself!" she shouted at him, angry. "You don't control my actions! I make my own choices!" She turned around and ran away from him.

J broke off from the group, and headed down an alleyway. He held the sword in his other hand, wrapped in what seemed like butcher paper. "This sword...I wonder if she really meant what it could do..." He muttered to himself, confused. He pulled himself together, and realized that it must be some kind of a joke. "How could a weapon heal?! It's impossible!"

Eton stumbled back, he didn't want to hold her against her will, frankly, he was surprised she had such strength.

"I can't just stand by and watch you do this to yourself. I can't bare to watch another person I care for die infront of me as i'm helpless to do anything about it." He said persuing after her slightly. He could catch up easily, but he was fast enough to catch up any time.

He caressed Violet's hand in his own and gently led her forward.

"Leon, really, have I yet to get you into something you haven't survived? I keep telling you that there's no trust in our relationship." He peered at his free wrist. "Hm, I still need another sacrifice- I MEAN guest!" A hysteric shriek burst from the right of them.

"Haahahahaaa!! Ge giet se humor agan!!" A short, stubby man with a rough voice was laughing and pounding his fist on the counter, apparently tickled by Lex's dark joke. The language he spoke was either a drunken rambling or a variation of Old English.

"Ah, Preston! Welde ágénarn!" Lex let go of Violet's hand and clapped it against the keeper's. "I see you're still alive."

"Yes! Many times attack, but still strrrong." He emphasized his build by flexing his muscular arms and puffing out his chest.

"Quite, my friend, quite. Well, I've brought a couple friends today to-"

"Ah!!" Preston shouted as he finally laid eyes on Violet. "Lex, what yoo do wit' beautiful woomon? She too preety for yoo, eh!? Hahahahahaaa!!"

"Well, I'm better looking than you, you grimy little chaser." The two men started to nudge each other and exchange "Eh?"'s. "Ahem, but like I said, we need a couple of rooms. Try to get an extremely luxury sweet for the lady and myself and throw the ugly one in the s****." Preston chuckled again. "Nah, but get us two rooms. And... special request..." He mumbled something into the man's ear. The keeper's eyes widened a bit and a creepy smirk spread across his face.

"Ooohhhohohoho, yoo want me doo it now?"

"Yes, please. Posthaste. We can't keep everyone waiting." Lex clapped his hands and the dwarf jumped into a room hidden behind him. He turned to his companions and dramatically drew his arm out toward the next hall. "Shall we, chums?"

OOC: Sorry DH....XD

Violet watched the strange man and Lex as they spoke, her head turning from each person as they spoke. She began to fade away from them as they continued to talk her mind in another world, she began to wonder who else would dare enter such a desolate looking place and if it was as good as Lex had said. She also wondered why Lex was always touching her, perhaps her skin was too soft. She awoke from her stupor at the sound of "Eh's" and found the two men nudging each other, Lex soon stopped and wrapped up his business with whisper she could not hear and the man behind the counter disappeared from sight. "Oh I wonder what my room will be like" said Violet excitedly as Lex led them down the hall, she twirled her finger in her hair as she looked around.

---

Tania nodded "I figured what you did no ordinary shaman would be able to do" she stated. "When you killed that dragon...I knew it wasn't just dark magic" her eyes widened and her stare became blank, she cried out in voice that had an unnatural echo "Who is it that feeds on my soul? Whose footprints burn my flesh. Who is it that is centuries old, and sends men to the land of the dead?" Tania's eyes widened with shock, she covered her hands over her ears and closed her eyes. It felt like a rushing wind had blown directly through her being. She fell to her knees "Why? Why is this happening to me?" said Tania in a scared and quiet voice.

---

Anna immediately put the book that she was reading down on the bench she was sitting on, things just seemed to be getting worse. Something was very odd about the Tania girl, she was always acting so strangely, she was probably hiding something, perhaps she wasn't what she appeared to be. "I guess I should keep my eyes on her while she's nearby" she thought worriedly.

---

Windy stood up on her hind legs and flapped her wings as the girl ran off from her man. "Girl who speaks to pegasi! Running will not answer your problems" Windy had a theory that Black King and the girl had frequently had conversations before, and that maybe, just maybe, she would be able to understand her.

Rana started and stumbled towards Tania. He landed on his knees and held her hand, startled by how quickly he had reacted. And image burned into his mind; Tania was standing there, her soul looking different than it had before. Around her there was a strange aura and there, behind her, was a great demon, reaching out and stealing pieces of her. The demon suddenly twisted and took Rana's form. He forced his eyes open and felt her forehead. "Tania! What is it?!" He asked, baffled and scared. He would not let Tania die again, he knew, but how could he protect her?


The demon, which had slowed down considerably, suddenly leaned forward and groaned. A great wave of some strange power had washed over him, attempting to destroy him... But it had fed him more. He moaned, and his powerful claw crashed against a thick tree, which withered and fell upon being struck. The demon again struck another tree, which also fell. He stood tall and began walking. The trees had thinned and he had a fair amount of room. As he sped up he continued destroying trees, recreating his strength from the life around him. Even the grass turned brown and crumbled, and he grew formidable faster than the earth could swallow his might.

"Actually, it should be finished right about...now." Lex stopped abruptly and slid a paper door to their side open. A flash of light blinded for a split second, however retreating to reveal a beautiful room filled with various flora. Two trees sprouted from holes in the ground, each with a bed of leaves among the branches. A natural grass was layered in dirt paddies across the floor and it had violets and daisies in neat rows. "Hm... well, I guess this will do for Leon and myself..." He smirked and looked at Violet in the corner of his eye.

Violet had to shield her eyes from the immediate light, though once her eyes adjusted she couldn't close her mouth. The scene was so beautiful much more beautiful than she believed the old building would have ever been able to muster up. She ran into the room just to get a faint whiff of the flowers and the violets, it was like being outdoors indoors. She touched the trunk of the tree admiring it's beauty. "Oh oh where's my room?" she asked excitedly.

---

Tania shivered in Rana's arms: She was in the remains of what appeared to be a great castle, how she got there she didn't know. "Hello" she called out, her voice echoed in the desolate place but eventually there was a response, it was Rana's voice. She began to run towards his voice and she saw the figure of Rana, he had his normal emotionless gaze, exactly the way he looked before she died. "Rana" she said slightly relieved and began to walk towards him, thankful that someone familiar was near her. Until another Rana appeared this one matched the image of Rana that Tania had of him currently. Tania stopped in her tracks confused, looking at both Ranas. The latter Rana who appeared, did not notice her, and looked at the other Rana with worry then faded away once again. She stepped away from the Rana that remained "You're not the real Rana...are you" she said.

Serene ran through the forest, trying to get away from everything. "I NEED TO THINK!" she shouted at Eton. So much was racing through her mind as she ran these forests. Endoh...Jay...her cousin...it all went through too fast. How could they be all related to this...to her?

J noticed the light at the end of the alleyway. As he emerged from it, he saw the small building he was searching for. "This is it." he muttered, glancing at the sword in his hand, wrapped in fine linnens. Truly a master work, she should find it pleasing. He gripped his mallet tightly, and entered the door.

Lex laughed and crouched down in the grass. "This is your room, milady. Beautiful, no? I hope you'll enjoy sleeping here, tonight." He stood up and motioned for Leon to follow. "We'll leave you to play." He smiled warmly and slid the door closed. "Ok, to our room, my friend!" He stalked the walls, his grin gleaming in the erratic lighting.

"Enjoy your night Violet." Leon said to Violet I'm sure I won't. Leon gave a grumble, this place was too crazy for his liking. He gave a grumble as he followed Lex. "You have a room like this, but you don't have any others that are half decent?" He asked Lex. "I'm not sleeping amongst the dirt and water, or on the floor."

-------------

Tekun saw the confusion going on between Tania and Rana. He knew not what to do, as he approached, he stopped. He sensed something, but knew not what it was. He drew his blade. He looked to Anna and then to Rana.

"Rana, take care of Tania. I won't lose her again." He said and then ran back to Anna. "Anna, something's attacking her, an unseen force. Perhaps what you sensed. Would you be able to help me find where it is?"

----------------------

Eton ran after Serene.

"I NEED TO THINK!"

"Then stop Serene! Let me help you!" He shouted catching up. He knew not what ran through her mind, but whatever it was, he needed to find out, help her out with it.

Rana nodded without looking up from Tania. She had begun to whisper to herself. He could feel her soul shiver, like it was cold... He heard his name. That was enough. He tore open the barriers of her mind and peered in directly. Most of the images and sounds were to strange for him to understand; he hadn't often done something so drastic. But he delved further, not minding the consequences. He would find the thing tormenting her. He had to.


The demon grunted and pushed over the last tree around him, glowing literally in satisfaction as it erupted into a plume of ash. He swept at the ground and for yards around him the grass and insects turned grey and crumbled. He did the same again, and again, but began to feel tired again. He had run out of trees. The forest was behind him now, and he knew that the only thing left to devour was what he had been following. The strange energy from the altar. He craved it, and he was close to it. It would feed him, he was sure, for a long time.

"Why would I choose for us a dirty room? Only Violet seems to like that sort of decor. Believe me, ours is much more appealing." Lex brushed his shoulder off and stopped in front of another door. "Ah, here we go." As the paper mask slid open, a similar bright light filled the room. As it darkened, much of the housing was revealed. There were two beds as well as other forgettable furniture pieces. Overall, the appearance was rather nice, save for the lackluster presentation.