Zen's Profile

[Storm Wolf]

Username: _"PACER"_
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RP Name: Zain Bolton
Level: 13
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Race: Human/Demon
Alignment: Holy
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Appearance:

He has blonde hair that is fairly medium in length, with silvery blue eyes. He wears a blue leather tunic, but has a white sleeveless robe. Wears a holder on his back for his weapon. He has a scar on the left side of his chin. Fairly muscular.
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Weapon:

Falcon Talon: lv. 2
(A falchion with a marking of a rushing falcon on the hilt. Gifted to the most worthy in the Falcon Clan apprentices.)
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Spells:

Frozen Blitz: lv. 8
(Launches an ice orb at the enemy which explodes on contact, may cause freezing)

X-Fire: lv. 7
(Zain creates an X-shape flame to do damage to an enemy)

Chaos Lightning: lv. 7
(Zain lets a stream of dark lightning energy from his hand to hurt the enemy, this is Zain's demonic move)

Wind of the Falcons: lv. 7
(Sythe-like winds controlled by Zain's sword movements but only when called forth)
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Fighting Techs:

Swift Falcon: lv. 8
(rushes at the enemy with blinding speed, and slashes them)

Frozen Talon: lv. 1
(Zain calls upon the spirit inside him gained after killing Frozen Talon)
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Items: none

Money: 50
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Background:

Zain Bolton is part of a clan of warriors, priests and sorcerers known as "The Falcons". Zain was, even at an early age, seen by the clan as a future leader, the one who will carry on the fight for good and teach their ways of battle and sorcery. He proved this by becomeing a divine sword-wielder and spell caster. Learning the way of the Falcon Clan made him able to run with piercing speed and manipulate the wind with a single command, this made him one of few that was worthy of receiving a blessing from the Elder Falcons. But he had a dark secret.. Two years ago, he received his blessing of the Elder Falcons, this was known as the Falcon Blade. He told his parents Kraze and Mari that he would go out and explore Illuyad. He was then told of his demonic ancestry.

Zain was told by his father Kraze that his great grandmother was of demon blood, and that he was part demon, part human. This meant that like Kraze, Zain too was part demon. Zain was also told of the horrible prediction made by his Great Grandmother.. “Any born of male, shall share my blood, my power, my evil.. There will come a time, where the whole of Illuyad will fall. By the hands of a full blood prince from my lineage”. Zain recently learned a much more disturbing truth. That the full blood is already unleash. Jaiden, his uncle, was the one prophecised to end Illuyad. Zain knew Jaiden under another name, Hieros, the current leader of the Falcon clan. His tricks to lead Zain to Kraze proved good, and disposed of Kraze, seeing him as more of a threat than Zain. In the dark castle of Reneida, Zain clashed with Jaiden, but was quickly beaten.

[Dan]

Zain saw a bright light emerging from the room. He noticed a small crystal. Zain grabbed it quickly and left the room. As he examined the room, he saw a podium. Upon inspection, he noticed the crystal fitted perfectly. As he placed it in, the staircase began to switch positions, leading to a new area. Zain ascended.

[Storm Wolf]

This was rather strange, Zain had not seen a staircase made in such a way that a crystal can change the formation of them.

"Hmmm, there must be some very serioius magic being practised in this castle. I have to be careful."

As Zain reached the last step he pondered once more. "Why do I feel afraid?"

[Dan]

Zain examined the room. It was almost empty. As he looked up, Zain realised there were more levels above him, but there were no staircases.

"How am I going to get up there?" Zain asked himself. "Perhaps there is more than meets the eye in this room."

[Storm Wolf]

Zain looked around vigorously, trying to find something that may give him a clue as to what he must do. Somehow a staircase must appear from somewhere, he thought as he searched; that is when he looked down. The floor was tiled, and quite neatly packed together in some parts. It seemed like the perfect place to stow a secret staircase, and with the dark magic he had seen for the other parts of the castle, he thought It was more than likely that this was the staircase.

He walked around the tightly packed tiles, which semed to spiral to the centre of the large room. He looked above him and directly above it; the series of levels above him centred around here. Looking around once more he noticed an oddly positioned shape on the back wall.

[Aphrodite]

http://forums.gamewinners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=536066

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Thanks Aphrodite!! Danny, do the profiles of the remaining members in the RP tournamentget put on hold?

[Dan]

OOC: No, I'm just...busy :paranoid:

Zain examined the odd formation in the wall. It appeared as if there was a triangular shape in The Wall. As he pressed it in, there was a soft quake, the ground shook slightly. As Zain turned around he noticed a three dimensional triangle like the one on Dark Side of the Moon (see my sig). Zain carefully walked towards it.

OOC: Lol Pink Floyd references lol.

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Your sig. That's off the cover of "Dark Side of the Moon" right?.

Zain didn't understand what this was meant to mean, and nothing was making sense to him anymore. This made him feel uneasy. He approached slowly, checking his feet for any hidden traps beneath him; nothing. He saw that they were panels in the wall, and decided to push them slowly and carefully.

[Dan]

After carefully trying many of the possible combinations, Zain finally got it correct. The wall opened to reveal a Light Orb. Zain grabbed it. Figuring it would need to be placed the triangle, he did so. The room was illuminated. As Zain removed his arms from his eyes, he noticed a sign.

'Level XIX'

"I'm on the 19th floor!" Zain shouted.

[Storm Wolf]

Suddenly the tiles beneath him began to shift. The mass of slate encircled the room, stopping at certain points in the room. When it had finished, a huge staircase was constructed; each step floating above the ground and spiralling almost to the very top of the room.

[Dan]

"This is it. I don't know what will be up here, but I hope that I have the strength to overcome it."

Zain walked up.

[Storm Wolf]

Zain began to feel an awkward presence with him, and he didn't know what it was. He looked around suspiciously as he ascended, but saw nothing. He decided to put the feeling into the back of his mind, though still keeping it know to him because he felt his subconscious was warning him that something bad would happen to him if he didn't take notice. He slowly walked up the floating steps, his warning signals going off like an alarm bell in his mind.
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OOC: Nice to see you back, Andi was going to take over RPing in this profile while you were gone, but I told her not to disturb the awesome storyline.

[Dan]

OOC: Lol, good job. I hate it when people try to do my job while I'm away and ruin my plans. And sorry for not updating either :/

Zain reached the top. He seemed almost disappointed that nothing was there. As he scanned the large room, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. Zain swung his body just in time as a large iron sword smashed through the timber flooring. He drew his weapon, ready to fight.

[Storm Wolf]

"Didn't anyone tell you it was rude to strike a man from behind?" Zain smirk to the swordsman in the shadows.

He slowly moved his sword laft and right in anticipation for another attack. He could not see the face of the person he was fighting but due to their stature, figured it was a man. The sword was the only thing looming out of the shadows in which the man had dove into. Zain began to wonder who this person was.

"Just who do you think you are, attacking me, Zain Bolton, huh?!?" He added with agitation.
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OOC: I am sorry for my absence. But, I am going to be off for a while still.

[Dan]

"Zain..? B..B...Zain Bolton!? No, no, no!"

Zain was unsure of what the man was doing. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks.

"My...son" was all the man said.

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Yay, he finally meets Papa.

"Son!?!? How dare you call me that!!"

Zain said in a tremendous outburst. He stepped back and pulled out his sword from his sheath.

"You have such nerve, after massacring most of our clan, and murdering my mother!!"

His blood ran hot and his heart thumped like a hammer in his chest. His anger intensified with every second he maintained sight with this man he once called his father. A dark bolt appeared in his free hand and he lunged a strong lightning bolt at the man. He shot across the room as the bolt struck his chest, sending the man flying into the wall.

[Dan]

"No my son...you do not understand!"

"What is there to possibly understand you monster!?" Zain yelled in anger.

"It was the...the." The man struggled to finish his sentence.

"The what you bastard?"

"The Falcon Clan. They set you, I, us up. This is their castle right now. You're in a trap."

Zain was in awe.

[Storm Wolf]

Zain's mind began to swirl, he wasn't sure who to trust. He began to ask question in his mind, but he was too dumbfounded to convert them into words. His heart was pumping harder still, and his head spun like a cotton reel. After a very long spell of silence, Zain sat down, his face harbouring a blank expression. He looked up to his father and bluntly asked him a key question; one that'll clarify the truth once and for all.

"So how did our Family etching end up on a confession letter written by a man called Jaiden?"

[Dan]

Zain's father was completely in shock.

"Zain...Jaiden is my...my twin brother. He was born pure demon, no one knows why. He must have been responsible for this. Please my son, the Falcon Clan does not have good intentions. You must be careful. Go on, Zain. You must defeat the Falcon Cl--"

Zain's father was cut short.

"Father? What is it father? What!?"

Without warning, Zain's father collapsed.

"No...NO!" There was an arrow protruding from the back of his head. Zain rushed to his side.

"Father, please stay with me."

"Zain...behind you." He gasped once more, closed his eyes and died.

Zain turned around. There he stood, the leader of the Falcon Clan.

"Well, well Zain. It appears we have been discovered. Not to worry though, you will never leave the castle."

The leader of the clan suddenly began to glow. He was morphing, a bright light consumed the room." As it disappeared, Zain was staring at a monstorous beast. The man resembled Zain's father.

"...Jaiden."

[Storm Wolf]

"You..... You, You BASTARD!!!" Zain Shouted at the top of his lungs. His emotions exploded as all of the things that happened to since up until now had begun to make sense. The monster on the way to the Clan, the note with the marking, the ploy to lead him here to his father. It all began to make absolute sense to him now, but it was too late. His parents slaughtered by a madman, many of the clan massacred, and nothing left to go back to. All that he was taught now felt like a lie, and Zain could feel each and every memory only add to his rage.

He could not contain his anger for much longer and his blood boiled like magma, his eye began to twitch outrageously, and his fists were clenched so tight, that his palms bled from the fingernail cutting into his hands. He drew his sword and lept towards the beast with lightning speed, and mustering all of his rage, took a deep swing at him as he rushed by. He force was so great, that an aftershock pounded into Jaiden, causing him to stagger back moreso than before. Blood began to seep from Jaiden's shoulder, but he merely cupped it with his hand and drank it with glee. "My blood has been spilled, but won't flood these floors, Zain" Jaiden replied. Zain noticed that the voice sounded familiar; the man he knew as Hieros.

"You!" Zain retorted menacingly, as he readied for another attack, but suddenly found himself overcome with a massive sphere of dark lightning. Zain cried out in pain as the attack singed his skin, and flew back from the raw power within the blast. He struck the wall, causing it to have an imprint of his body. After a few moments, Zain dropped limply onto the floor, his sword laying next to him. The beast walked upto Zain, thinking that he was weakened, but Zain's raw fury kept him conscious, and soon he got up much to Jaiden's surprised. Zain's aura began to glow a vivid red, then a dark blue. With one loud roar, Zain summonded an almighty gust that swept from all angles, knocking the beast back several strides.

Jaiden stared at Zain, growling deeply with annoyance as Zain took slow steps towards him and grabbing his sword from the cold floor. "You want to kill me now. You had the chance back at the mountain, Jaiden. You had the chance in the infirmary, you had so many chances to kill me, so what stopped you. Huh?!? COME ON, ANSWER ME!!" Zain bellowed, but Jaiden snickered.

"You see..." He started, "I first was stopped by one of my members who came looking for me in the mountains. when you were injured I felt pity, but I also knew that Kraze woulkd come looking for me if I killed you. An annoyance that I didn't want,for he could kill me if I wasn't prepared." Zain stood utterly enraged, but refrained from striking long enough to hear the rest. "I played a little game and made up a few lies so you would find him. That made him easy to find. And when you found him, we were there to put an end to him whilst you distracted him with your hatred for what he did.... Well, what I did. Hahahahahahah!!!"

"Enough!!!" Hollered the young half-demon, it all began to make sense to him now. He felt responsible for his father's death, but something else inside of him told him that that was but another lie. He could not be held responsible, because he knew that he was being played for a fool. "I am tired of you sick and twisted fantasies. I will not be your puppet any longer. I will cut the strings on this little game once and for all!!" Zain shouted once more, his voice rumbled through the castle. "It is time for us to fight. And believe me Jaiden, not even you will stop me from winning" He snarled with a callous tone in his voice.
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OOC: I had to physically stop myself from carrying on with a fight sequence. This'll be terrific.

[Dan]

"Zain, you fool. You will never beat me. I am a demon...a demon GOD! Every last man, woman and child could be slaughtered brutally at the click of my fingers. You will just be more scum that is merely washed away by the power of darkness."

His eyes closed, focusing sharply on Zain. Moving his hand away from his wounded shoulder, he grabbed his Demon Sigil from his pocket.

"...No!" Zain cried as he realised what Jaiden was doing.

Jaiden drew his blade, the Falcon's Might from his holder. He held each item upwards, and with a display of black magic, fused the sigil with his blade, forming the all powerfull Falconic Rage, the most sacred demonic blade.

Jaiden snarled.

[Storm Wolf]

"Bring it on!!" Zain said commandingly, his demeaner turned callous. He could feel his energy grow within him as he powered himself, ready to strike. Both stared at each other, their aura's shining brightly around them as their very essence could be seen. Zain's sky blue aura matched Jaiden's black aura perfectly in size, but Zain was rather cautious as to how much Jaiden was holding back. As if they read minds they sprung into an attack simultaneously, both holding their swords behind them. A roar from both fighters ripped through the castle walls, both men within striking distance of the other. As if in slow motion, the two swung their swords, which connected with an almost ear splitting clatter. The force of the blows sent shockwaves through the room, yet they remained fixed in a battle of strength as they tried to deflect each other's swords. Jaiden's figure made Zain look quite small, but Zain's power was anything but a pale in comparison. However, with one sadistic laugh, Jaiden forced Zain back with a mighty display of strength, almost careering him into the wall.

Zain tumbled to the floor, but Jaiden didn't give him a chance to get back up, and thrusted his sword at him. Zain, being lighter and much faster jumped sideways, leaving the Falconic Rage empty of a victim, and filling Jaiden with frustration. He caught a glimpse of Zain in his left eye and swung round to meet him, only to find thin air greet his blade. Zain was using his swift Falcon technique; something he was taught unknowingly to Jaiden by his father. Zain pummeled Jaiden hard in the jaw with a rapidly moving foot, and Zain followed that up with another lightning roundhouse kick. Jaiden hit the stone floor with a loud thump, and Zain laughed heartily, "You can not expect to keep up with me!!". Just then, Zain was struck painfully in the gut by a black orb, which buried deep into his chest and carted him 10 feet across the room. "Should of kept my mouth shut..." Zain stuttered, groggily getting to his feet in time to dodge a rushing Jaiden, but then felt a burning sensation emit from his side. He looked down to see Falconic Rage had gashed his hip. Zain rolled and lifted his sword, hoping to meet with Jaiden's flesh, but instead found himself skidding on his back by a forceful parry from his foe. Zain sat up after a moment, breathing heavily and clutching at his side tightly. "Your power... It's... far greater than I first thought..." Zain stuttered in dismay. Maybe this was a fight he wasn't going to survive afterall.
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OOC: Again, I held back, in terms of typing more.

[Dan]

"Far greater? My, my, my Zain. You do not realise how much of an understatement that was. Oh well, at least you put up a better fight than your father. He was...pitiful." Jaiden smirked as he saw Zain's face fill with rage.

"You...bastard!" Zain cried.

Jaiden only laughed harder has he grabbed the Falconic Rage and begun to swing violently around, destorying the room in a sadistic fit of rage. Then, staring at Zain, he yelled viciously.

"UNHOLY RAGE!"

Jaiden threw his hand in the hair, facing the flat side towards the sky. His hand begun to glow a demonic red as he thrusted it towards the hilt of his sword. The sword raged with demonic power as he ran towards a weakened Zain, his eyes opening in terror. The blade smashed Zain's body with full force, slashing his body from his chest to his face. Mortally wounded, he blacked out.

"Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?"

[Storm Wolf]

Zain began to stir from the dreams he had whilst being in his unconscious state. Every word, every feeling of pain, and every emotion he felt, all of that emulating fight with Jaiden. In the void of Zain's subsconscious dreams, a voice echoed, beckoning him to wake up. The voice seemed familiar; a soft, gentle voice of a young woman. In his dream Zain could see Jaiden announcing the Unholy Rage attack once more, and felt his mouth utter the word "No!!" But no sound came from his mouth. In fact, all noises around him stopped; alll but one. Suddenly, Zain bolted awake, the cold sweat dripping from his from his head and some seeping into the wounds around his eyes.

I'm alive...... But, how?!? He thought, it was a mystery to him how he managed to live through the attack. He knew he caught it, the scar on his chest proved that. Scar, a scar? He then though, inspecting the large pink blemish on his body. "It is glad to see you are awake, Zain." A petite female said, Zain jolted in surprise. "I thought you were going to die." She added with a cute smile. A strange resemblence struck Zain, this same woman looked exactly like the one in the Falcon Clan's infirmary. But this isn't the dorm, Its much different, and much smaller too. He notioned, staring at the grey stone walls and comparing it to the white washed walls of the infirmary. "I've noticed you once before, You have saved me twice." He replied laughing, coughing and spluttering as he did so. The impact of the attack made his lungs bleed, and would take a little more time before the lungs were fully able to function well. "Who are you? My Guardian Angel?" He added, laughing again. She did not answer.
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OOC: There is a relevance to the scar, it is a hint as to how long he's been unconscious, something you may have already clocked on to.

[Dan]

OOC: I'm losing passion for this :/

"Zain, that does not matter...for now. What's important is Jaiden. The Falcon Clan disbanded over the week you were unconscious for and how now become a resistance. Many have turned to the Demon Alliance, but some have remained on our...side. You must quest to defeat Demons once and for all, Zain."

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: For the storyline, or just in general?
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Zain looked at all of the now healing wounds he'd sustained in his battle with Jaiden, thinking himself miraculously lucky to have woken up at all, let alone after a week. He slowly rose, painful stabs at his back, chest and neck rippled through his nerves. Zain inhale short and sharp breath, the wounds weren't fully healed, but he knew that they would heal up soon enough. His demon heritage would help him do that.

"Okay..." Zain said through teeth gritted with agony, "But I need to become stronger, in order to beat Jaiden and his new alliances. There is no way that I am even remotely strong enough to fight him now, I need to train!!"

[Dan]

"Well Zain, you are in a Falcon Rebel base. I'm sure we could allow you to use our facilities." She smiled as she finished her sentence. Zain noticed something about her this time. Her smile was...beautiful.

"What is your name?" Zain asked.

"Louise." She smiled again. "Well come on, you have training do."

[Storm Wolf]

"Okay" Zain replied, hoisting himself up from his bed with a painful moan.

He shuffled off of the edge of the bed and stood up with a wobble. He walked around for several minutes to regain the bloodflow to his unused legs before striding off along with Louise to the Rebel battle tent. As he entered the batle tent, he noticed that some of his fellow apprentices had come back from their duties overseas to aid in this fight.

Zain was surprised to see that training had begun whilst he was in a coma, with his collegues leading the regime. Out of the group of many people, one man stood tall. In his hand, the man held a shaft with two voulge blades attached to each side. The shaft itself was white in colour, with blue markings along the flat surface of each voulge blade. The man stood 6'5" and was a very muscular man. He wore white clothing with guantlets and armour draped in gold cloth. The man stared at Zain for a while, giving him a welcoming smile before ordering a few of his students to spar.

Zain walked over to the man with a huge grin, stepping rather clumsily as the bloodflow hadn't quite yet restored full mobility to his legs. The man looked up again, and walked over to Zain, holding his voulge by his side. As the two got close to one another they shared a manly embrace, patting each other's back firmly. Zain winced a little as the wounds he sustained were still rather sensitive, but managed to laugh it off. "Ahh, Ronan, so long it has been since I have seen you." Zain stated merrily, "So was it you that started the rebel forces?"
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OOC: I am thinking of changing Zain's appearance a bit.

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: A summary would be most appreciated.

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Okay then, big update, get ready...

It started off with Zain in a bedsit, where he was being spied on. He noticed the spy and killed him (naturally for Zain). He was told that his old clan, The Falcon Clan, had sent someone to find him right before the man died.

This led Zain to return to find out what was going on.Later, a warrior attacked him, but was easily disposed of, where Zain came upon a note to send orders not only to find Zaiun, but to kill him. He was nearing the summit of the Reneidan based clan (my made-up kingdom) where he found a mysterious monster and was beaten up. He later found himself in the infantry.

Once he recovered, the leader of the clan at that time, a man named Hieros, told him that they had been anticipating his arrival. Knowing of his demonic background, Hieros gave him a letter that had a strange marking that Zain recognised as his father's, but under a different name; Jaiden. This turn of event led Zain to a large house in the middle of the Reneidan mountains. The house consisted of riddles and traps. Eventually he found his father, who tried to welcome Zain, but because of the note, Zain did not believe him.

However, Zain's father's tears made him relise this was for real, and his father was able to tell him the truth, right before he died. The leader of the Clan was in fact Jaiden, the one prophecised to usher tyranny back into Illuyad (I decided a minute ago to change it from being the one to end Illuyad, go me!!).

A fight broke out, but Zain was defeated and nearly killed, but somehow managed to escape mysteriously. He met the same nurse that attended him back when the was attacked by the beast, only this time, he had awoken in a rebel camp. In this camp, thirty young apprentices and the old graduates of the Falcon Clan lead the coallition against Jaiden and his group of minions.

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: So, basically, new Falcon Clan, after Zain left, is evil. The old members have left because they feel the original meaning and purpose of the clan was destroyed when Zain's father took over? And now those members are leading a rebel group which Zain finds himself in right now. I think I understand, update to follow tomorrow. It's a bit late here.

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Pretty much yeah, well, here's how I see it...

Zain's uncle took over his father (after his father left to hone his skills further) as leader of the Falcon Clan during Zain's exploration of the world outside of Reneida. Zain's uncle secretly plotted a way of eliminating his own brother, and when Zain's father caught ear of this he flocked to the dark castle. When Zain was about to return to the Clan, almost all of the members were either killed or forced under his reign, later to be replaced (hence there being a note saying that a massacred had occured, something I think I neglected to mention).

Since Zain's battle with Jaiden, his uncle, the old members (either the same age or a little older than Zain) that had gone on to teach the ways of the clan in other places have returned, leading a new force made up of lucky survivors of the massacre along with other volunteers.

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: Sounds good.

With a small laugh, Ronan replied, "No, not directly. But I'm pretty sure nobody would be alive if it weren't for me." Zain smiled at this simple attempt at a joke. "But we don't have to worry now, we have the runt to protect us." He started walking with the injured Zain, through a few doors and away from the bed.

"You might want to hurry up with the recuperation, though. Davon, our semi-leader, wants to talk with you right away."

[Storm Wolf]

With gingerly steps, Zain walked alongside Ronan as best he could. He was also quite surprised to hear Davon's name mentioned. "Davon is really here?!?" Zain asked, with a slight smile forming between his cheeks. Ronan gave a chuckle in response, "Yes, why... Are you surprised?" He laughed.

Zain looked towards the room they were about to enter, still in shock. "Just a little..."
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OOC: Is Davon a he?

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: No, a she. Sorry about that.

"Well, if you're ready, here she is," Ronan said with a chuckle, opening the door and ushering Zain inside. Davon, a fairly short woman with a white shirt and dark blue pants on, turned towards them. She was pretty, with deep red hair cut short to the bottom of her neck, and piercing blue eyes.

"Ah, Zain. Long time, no see," she said fairly nonchalantly, sitting down in a small makeshift desk in front of the two. "I'm glad to see you're fairly healthy, if not alive. How long has it been since we've 'fought the good fight?'"

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: You could definitely see how restricted I was not knowing the gender...
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"Too long yet too soon, my dear Davon..." Zain announced in a melancholy tone of voice. He gestured a request to sit, and after a reassuring nod, he sat down. "I love seeing you again, It is just under these circumstances..." Zain started, but just as he was about to continue Davon stopped him.

"I know it is a shame, but you know that now we are heading for battle we must not think of such things..." She vindictated. She leaned over the table and stared deep into Zain's eyes, unnerving him a little.

[Addicted to Oi!]

"It's been a while since I could stare into them..." she trailed off, smiling slightly. "Make sure that if you die, those stay intact. It's the only interesting thing about you." With a laugh and a slight tap, she sat back down.

"Well, this is it. Our fight is here, and it's knocking on our door hard and fast. I believe Jaiden will soon strike directly, so we need whatever knowledge you have, as well as your blade."

[Storm Wolf]

"Speaking of which, I need my blade, and some time to get back to my best and then some..." Zain replied instantly, remembering that he is still paling in comparison to Jaiden, moreso than ever considering that he had been in a coma for however long it was. Based on the size of the rebels and of the amount of returning Falcon members, he assumed a good few weeks, maybe a month.

Zain reached for his blade, but to his dismay, he unsheathed nothing but air. Davon averted her eyes to the far corner of the room, to which Zain's eyes followed. There in the dark corner, lay Falcon Talon. With a grin, he summoned a gust of wind to carry it to his hands. As he gripped its hilt, a fighting spirit came flooding back to him, with a new urge to battle awakening from its slumber. "Now..." Zain began, unveiling the falchion and buckling the sheath to his belt. "Where do I begin training?"
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OOC: Putting things into perspective, Jaiden strikes me as between levels 30-40, if not a little higher. It is probably the reason why Jaiden was able to defeat Zain in so few posts...

[Addicted to Oi!]

"With Ronan. He's been itching to fight beside someone other than our...less experienced members for a good time now. If you go outside now, they should be starting up training. I'm afraid we have no program that can ease you back into our fierce regimen. Just realize your limits, and don't push it. Dismissed, soldier," Davon smiled, averting her eyes slightly.

You devil-dog, said a fairly odd voice in Zain's head.

[Storm Wolf]

The strange voice baffled Zain. It didn't resemble Davon's voice, and he wasn't sure of what gender it was. He assumed someone was contacting him from somewhere else, but the words "devil-dog" sparked a suspicious thought; unsure of whether or not this was meant to be an insult. "who is this!?" Zain asked with his thoughts, curious to find out who this was.

[Addicted to Oi!]

Aw, you don't recognize your own uncle's sweet voice? My dulcet tones are said to be unforgettable by my enemies, disturbing to their last dying breath...I see everything you see, Zain. I see your affection for Davon, your trust in Ronan, and how to hurt you most effectively. I must thank you, actually, for leading me to the answers.

[Storm Wolf]

Zain suddenly stood completely deflated. Davon had been watching him for quite some time, baffled at why he was just standing still. Meanwhile Zain's mood turned to anger and hatred, he felt sick that Jaiden was able to see everything that he could envision. "You sick twisted freak, how dare you invade my mind. How are you doing this?!?" His thought snapped back, gritting his teeth tightly. Suddenly he heard footsteps from behind him, turning to see a concerned Davon.

[Addicted to Oi!]

Well, with a strong mind, one can accomplish anything. And I think I know what I'm going to accomplish next...adieu, my loving nephew.

Davon walked up to Zain, a look of concern and confusion on her face. A drop of sweat rolled down Zain's face, a face contorted in fury and fear. She touched his shoulder, which immediately tensed. Spinning him around, she stared deep into Zain's eye.

"What is it?!" asked the now just as frightened leader.

[Storm Wolf]

He looked down, unable to look her straight in the eye to tell her. "It's Jaiden..." He mumbled with sorrow, turning to punch the wall hard, causing his knuckles to bleed. He continued to punch repeatedly until Davon grasped his arm desperately, holding it back with all of her might. "Stop that, please!" She yelled with a tear in her eye, causing him to look at her. "Tell me what's wrong... What was bothering you?" He said in a soft tone. Zain lowered his bloody hand and turned.

"Somehow Jaiden has learned how to get into my mind and see what I see..." Zain answered, sighing deeply. A look of heightened concern filled her eyes. "This is very bad, what are we to do...?" She asked. Zain shrugged, "I honestly don't know... But I do know that I need to be ready more than ever."

Zain took to the door swiftly with only one thought in his mind; surpassing Jaiden. He was met by Ronan, but only gave him a glance as he walked by. "What's up Zain?" Ronan called out, but no answer came. A little way down the hall Zain turned to his old friend with a stern look. "Jaiden's planning something... And it won't be long until he finds us." he replied.

[Addicted to Oi!]

Ronan's face whitened, but he remained steadfast.

"Well, that means we need to train. Go get ready, and meet me up top on the field. We're going to have to get into this right away, alright?"

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: I have left this untouched for 10 days!?!?
__________

Zain nodded and went back to the infirmary to get properly attired for training. He placed his tunic and robe on, folding the hood of the robe down around the back of his neck. He then fitting his boots and arm guards, tying them fairly tightly and folding the loosely hanging ends within them. The tunic felt comfortable around his wounds, allowing him to move as best he could whilst the gashes were still healing. This pleased the young half demon, notioning that he could still prove a worthy match for whomever or what ever he'll be training again. He felt ready.

It wasn't long before Zain was fully suited and booted, and he grabbed hold of his falchion as he exited the infirmary quite hastily. He made his way into the fresh open air, squinting at his first ray of light he'd seen in days. Eventually his eyes adjusted to the Sun and he met up with Ronan at the top of the hill. "So, what you got planned for me in the way of training?" Zain asked eagerly.

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: Apparently.

"Magic, and lots of it. Unfortunately, flashy knife skills won't cut it now. Jaiden and his forces have been up to some trickery, and it's gotten bad lately. Now, I think you already know how to effectively implement magic into your fighting, but how are you at straight casting?"

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Am I.... Losing interest? No, I f*cking hope not!!
__________

"Straight casting?" Zain remarked rhetorically, raising a brow. "Well, I don't think I've used much casting in my adventures so far. I used a lot of magic at Frozen Talon, but that was a year ago at least." He added filled with thoughts of that encounter once more.

He mainly used fire and lightning, attempting to cut chunks out of the great beast with his wind-based scythes more often than not. Zain's gaze flashed back to Ronan, "Well, whatever you have in sotre for me in that department, I'm sure I'll be ready for it."

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: Relax, it happens to the most committed of us. Just give yourself a break, breath, and remember that you can go through life perfectly fine without GW. It makes coming back all the more enjoyable.

"Your elemental magic is potent, but it's time you learn the Primal schools. Those schools are the very basic of the basic. Shadow and light are the most common, but since Arcane is so volatile, and rarely stays in pure magic form, it's not used that often. You'll be learning all three, though."

[Storm Wolf]

"Shadow, Light and Arcane you say..." Zain answered with a raised brow. "Well, that's a lot for an injured fellow like me to cope with. Nevertheless, if I must do this, then I shall do this. Let's get underway with the training, shall we?"

[Addicted to Oi!]

"Yes. So, your first assignment is to control your own shadow. It's basic, but you'd be surprised how useful it is."

[Storm Wolf]

"Shadow manipulation? I haven't done that since I were a kid!" Zain screamed in surprise. He had forgotten how to do it when he arrived at the Falcon Clan as a little boy and trained. He was so focussed on being an apprentice, he lost that ability in the back of his mind. Now after many years of neglecting this skill he had to relearn it.

Zain though back to his childhood, remembering that he used to calm himself down with deep and focus upon his shadow. He would then think of a movement and slowly imagine this over and over, focussing his energy on making his shadow perform the pattern. Zain tried this, but his first attempt did not succeed. On his second attempt however, he imagined punching Jaiden with the shadow, which made Zain smirk, suddenly realising the shadow was punching furiously before his eyes.

[Addicted to Oi!]

"That's very good. Now, do you know how to sever the link between your physical self and the shadow you see before you? Make it move independently?"

[Storm Wolf]

"What?" Zain gasped. He found it difficult enough just to move his shadow on a whim when it was still part of his physical body, now he had to do the same without. Zain tried to focus really hard to sever the bond, but as he tried, his shadow stood tapping its foot expectantly. Zain just couldn't do it. He tried again, but as with the last attempt; it failed miserably.

"Urgh... This is going to take some doing!!" Zain grunted.

[Addicted to Oi!]

"Yes, it is, but just try to focus on making it stay there, possibly, while you back away slowly. That seems to help the others."

[Storm Wolf]

"Hmmm, " Zain replied sceptically. "I'll try that then."

Zain gestured to his shadow, signalling that he didn't want it to move. The shadow nodded and he began to back away. He slowly staggered back, and soon the shadow was beginning to thin at the legs. To add, Zain could feel a tingling below his ankle.

"Ronan, is this meant to be painful by any chance, because I am starting to feel my pain receptors twinging slightly..." Zain asked staring cautiously as he edged further away.

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: Long time no see.

"There's an element of separation anxiety, but it's nothing too bad after you get used to it."

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Yes, I know... And in three days I'll be 19.
_____

Zain nodded in acknowledgement, and continued to pull away. Suddenly sign of the separation started to show, and made Zain ever more persistent. Finally, after a good few minutes of trying, he made the last fibre of his shadow release and he was now standing free from his shadow.

"WELL, that was quite difficult..." Zain said puffing out his cheeks as he breathed out.

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: Well, that's cool. I'm guessing you're already in a college/university, right?

With a laugh, Ronan stepped backwards. His shadow stayed on the ground, and after a few seconds, it rose to its feet.

"It gets easier, believe me. Now, you seem to have gotten the hang of it, let's move on, shall we? You'll be fighting my shadow, here, so go all out. But, I want you to use only magic, no melee at all."

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Actually, no. I was thinking about it, but student debt and no having the ability to legally drive, no current job, potentially insufficient grades kinda fails me a little. I should have prepared more for my exams really, oh well, skilled trades here I come!! I'll probably write a story on the side...
_____

"A battle against a shadow. Should be interesting enough." Zain shrugged, cracking his knuckle eargerly. Zain stared at Ronan's shadow for a time, not knowing what to expect. He held his palm out, flicking his palm skyward. Black sparks emulated around the open space between his palm, and soon a sphere of black lightning energy swirled in his hand. It grew in size until it covered his whole hand, and once it had reached this size, Zain grinned.

Suddenly, Zain's palm twisted towards the direction of Ronan's waiting shadow, casting the orb in a stream of lightning. The shadow fell backward, but made no noise. The only sound was the quickly fading cackles of the static sparks escaping to the atmosphere.

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: Well, your writing style is really refreshing. Just your sentence structure alone is different, and has a really nice flow. I would suggest going to a good journalism school, maybe, I think you'd be great at it. Working a trade skill kind of job to supplement it, of course. I'm only 15, but I know potential when I see it.

Ronan clapped.

"Good, good, that attack has potential. Though, it was a bit slow to cast, and you put your arm in a compromising position when you started to gather it. Might want to work on that," he said, the shadow rising off the ground once more.

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: Wow, thanks.
_____

Zain gave Ronan a dodgy glance, parrying the attacking shadow with his drawn Falcon Talon. He then draws another blackened lightning bolt from his palm, this time with a hastened pace. The bolt send Ronan's shadow away, almost 8feet away. However, The shadow suddenly stretches out at Zain's outstretched hand, and slams the half-demon into the ground. Zain's bruised ribs caught the brunt of the pain.

"Now I know what you mean by compromised..." Zain sighed, clutching his left side. Zain gripped his falchion even tighter than before, then hurried at the shadow. He raised his sword high, then swung down at his foe. The shadow leant back, but realised the sword came nowhere near. Instead, it lay imbedded into the terrain unheld. In place of Zain falchion was a sapphire orb, expelling a frosty haze from all sides.

"Forzen Blitz!" Zain rumbled, tossing the orb at the Shadow's feet. The orb exploded on contact, just as Zain rolled away from the blast. The cold energy from the orb took its effect, and slowed the shadow's oncoming downward strike.
_____

NOTE: I am taking into account Zain's healing wounds and lack of practice makes spellcasting longer and with less force than usual.

[Addicted to Oi!]

With a giant grin, Ronan called back his shadow.

"I think there might be some hope for you yet, Zain. Integrated magic in sword combat? Most people don't learn that for quite some time."

[Storm Wolf]

"Just a few things my father taught me when I was young. He wanted me to be able to disguise my elemental combat by using not just my empty hand, but going as far as my wielding hand." Zain stated, getting up and grabbing his sword. Zain then forced out a sickled gust with a downswing. "Like that!" He added, just as the ravaging gust dissipated.

Just then, Zain felt a strong feeling of burning. With a short yap, Zain crouched clutching at his side, the wounds on his tender side seeped splotches of blood and staining his robes. For a moment he waited, until he felt that he could bear the pain. "I'm fine" Zain murmered, sensing that Ronan might stop training because of this. "Jaiden isn't going to let me stop if I have an injury, so I don't expect you to..." He added, smiling.

"What is next?"
_____

OOC: Just wondered, will there be possiblities to level up, both spell-wise and character-wise. I don't expect anything yet, its just that I've gone a long time without this character leveling up, last lvling I got was for winning the Illuyad tournament last year. Also, the Arcane lessons will give me access to new spells, right?

[Addicted to Oi!]

OOC: Yes, and yes. Sorry about that, I'm much more of a story based updater, and have an awful tendency to shirk the actual character growth aspect of it, I'll work on that.

"Next? No, there's no time for next, we have to get you to the frontlines, Zain. Rest up for a bit, we need you as healthy as possible for tomorrow's invasion. We're taking back Magnydrasil, our Great Tree. Should be fun, eh? The possible chance of meeting Jaiden head on right after battling through his hundreds of forces stationed in the treetop fortress?"

[Storm Wolf]

OOC: I've completely forgotten my old Arcane Art, so I'm gonna try for a new one. Its a good name I've though of for it, though...

Also, no problem, its good that you like to focus on the story because it makes it all the more enjoyable to read. I wanted to know because Zain hasn't had much in the way of battling.
_____

Zain gasped, the deadline for combat was much closer even his wildest thought could muster. He knew that unless his wounds could heal substantially, and that he could improve drastically, this would just be playing into Jaiden's hands. Zain wanted to rant, but all that would do is cause tension and doubt within the newly formed clan; something that would tear them apart before setting a foot near the fortress.

"Magnydrasil will be hard to take, but I trust that you have trained the recruits over the last few weeks as perfectly as you trained me over the years." Zain finally replied, glimmers of hope in his eyes. "It is great to see that you brought together many of my fathers' finest apprentices, officers and Captains. He would be proud."