Welcome to Gaia! ::

“You ready for me this time, little boy?” Century taunted Halberd, drawing his blade. “You know last time you took a very thorough beating.” Century laughed.
“Yes, but that was when I was weak. I won’t let anything distract me this time.” Halberd responded to Century’s jab. “You are weak if you must taunt me so.”
“Let’s say we raise the stakes a little bit.” Century said to Halberd. “Mix things up a little. If you win, then I’ll tell you a way that you can spend sometime with Ra’Shae.” Century laughed at the way that Halberd’s eyes suddenly opened wide. “You lose, and you don’t see her over the summer.”
“Those are very high stakes, old man.” Halberd replied, yawning. “You sure you can go against the elders in such a way?”
“I’m impressed that you say through that one so quickly.” Century said proudly. “Yes, I will tell you where, and how you can see her if you win.” Century switched which of his hands were holding his sword. “What do you say, little man?”
“I wasn’t planning on losing anyway.” Halberd yawned again. “I take your challenge. I hope you have fun being humiliated though. I won’t lose with such stakes.”
“We’ll see about that.” Century laughed. “Summon your blade, let’s begin.”
Halberd twisted his hand, and suddenly it was surrounded by light. His metal vine shrouded sword appeared in his hands. He moved one of his hands over it, and everything seemed to grow duller, the details, the edges, and the colors even.
Century did the same, and the two of them stared across the room at each other.
“Let’s go.” Century said. When Halberd didn’t move, he lowered his room and started to walk towards his sparring partner.
Halberd exploded into motion as soon as Century came within fifteen feet. He shot forward like a dart, his blade sweeping in at diagonal direction. Century raised his blade and parried the powerful blow. Then his left hand shot out, punching Halberd in the chest. At the same time, Halberd launched his own left hook, which caught Century across the jaw. Both of them stumbled back, staring at one another.
Century made the first move after that. His left foot slid back and his right foot forward. Then he sprinted forwards, but at the last moment, he twisted to the right, and then to the left, his blade heading towards Halberd’s chest. Halberd ducked under the blade, and turned with Century’s charge, kicking out one of his legs. Century collapsed to the floor, and his blade almost fell from his hand.
Halberd was upon him as quickly as he fell, his blade in reverse grip, and he thrust downwards. Century had deceived Halberd though, and his blade slipped up to deflect the blade harmlessly wide, while his left foot shot out to sweep at Halberd’s. Halberd jumped over the foot attack, and swept his blade down at Century’s other leg. Century managed to dodge the attack, but at the cost that he didn’t have the footing to get back on his feet. Halberd’s blade descended in reverse grip again.
Century rolled to the side, his left hand shooting up to grab Halberd’s sword hand. When he gripped the hilt, he pulled as hard as he could, while his sword swung up to hit Halberd in the side. To Century’s surprise, Halberd went down with the pull, and avoided the sword of Century. Halberd smacked his forehead into Century’s and then rolled away, back on his feet.
When he turned, he noticed that Century was on his feet as well, with his sword swinging in a powerful arc towards Halberd’s head. Halberd jumped to the side, and then he rolled under the next attack, his free hand punching Century’s knee as he passed. Century groaned, but his left hand caught Halberd’s wrist. Halberd was pulled to his feet, and towards Century’s returning sword.
Halberd did something unexpected. He jumped high, cleared the sword, and smashed both of his knees into Century’s back. Century let go of Halberd’s wrist and the two of them crashed to the floor. Century, for his credit, was fast enough to roll Halberd off of him, and the two of them returned to their feet. Halberd’s face was clear of emotion, and so was Century’s. The two of them scouted each other, searching for a weakness.
At the moment, Century was much more beaten up, but he was the more skilled, and experienced fighter. He’d seen it all before. If Halberd could just come up with an attack that Century’d never seen before, then the battle would be his. An idea came to his head, and he charged Century again, his sword lunging in at Century’s knee.
Century acted in the way that Halberd expected him to, and he shifted to his side. But instead of his sword leading the way, it was a bare fist, and when Century sliced down with his sword, he missed cleanly, and Halberd’s fist connected with Century’s knee. At the same time, his left hand held the sword, which swept down towards Century’s exposed back. Century smashed his left hand into Halberd’s face, making him stagger back before the sword could connect.
Taking advantage of this, he rammed his knee forward into Halberd’s stomach, and Halberd once again fell to the floor. Halberd had seen this coming however, and had braced himself at just the right moments for each of the hits he endured. When Century stabbed downward with his blade, Halberd rolled to the side, and his left hand shot up again, making his sword connect with Century’s chest.

Ra’Shae seated herself in one of the chairs against the wall, watching her schoolmates dance, laugh and have fun, while the music blared loudly in her ears. Alicia followed after her friend.
“Come on Shae, there has to be somebody out there you want to dance with.” Alicia tried to comfort Ra’Shae. “I mean look at all the other guys out there.”
“I am, and all I’m seeing is how none of them is Halberd.” Ra’Shae answered.
Alicia seemed stung by this retort, and she looked down on Ra’Shae, standing up. “Fine, I’ll go have myself a wonderful time, and you can sit here and be miserable.” Alicia took off into the crowd of people.
“Alicia!” Ra’Shae called after her, but it was no use.
Ra’Shae glanced down at the floor, maybe it was time to loosen up, and try to forget Halberd. He wasn’t like to come here, and he probably wouldn’t ever take the time to find her after this dance either. She made up her mind, and stood up, determined to dance, and have fun, if only for this one night. She moved off into the crowd, searching for Alicia.

Halberd nodded, and took her hand. She lead him back outside the way that he’d come in, and across the busy road over to a garden. To his night eyes, the colors were much more vibrant, and richer than they could ever have been in the day.
Ra’Shae threw her arms around him again once they were out in the garden, and he could feel her shaking with tears. Halberd brought his arms around her, and stroked her silky blonde hair.
“What’s the matter?” Halberd asked her softly. “Why are you crying? I can make it better, just tell me.” Halberd rocked back and forth slightly as he held her, and he could feel his shoulder getting wet.
“My f-f-father, h-he’s d-d-d-dead.” She stuttered, and a fresh torrent of tears overcame her.
“When did this happen?” Halberd gently asked, putting his lips against her ear. “When did you feel this great pain?”
“A week ago.” Ra’Shae responded. She sighed when she felt his lips tickling her ear, and she stopped to crying, trying to enjoy the moment. “He was away on a business trip, and he got killed by a random terrorist act.”
Halberd patted her shoulder, and kissed the crown of her head. “What type of world is this that such things must happen?” Halberd inquired of the crisp night air. “Why is it that the old die and the young suffer?”
Ra’Shae could sense in his a pain greater than her own. “What happened to make your words so sorrowful?” Ra’Shae asked, burying her face in his neck.
“I’m an orphan.” Halberd replied quietly. Were the night windy, his words would have been lost.
Ra’Shae came out of Halberd’s neck to look him in the eyes. “I’m so sorry for you.” Ra’Shae laid her head against his muscular chest. “I don’t want this to end.” She said after a while, as the two of them rocked gently to the music of the crickets, and the far distant cars.
“It doesn’t have to end.” Halberd told her. “You can come with me.” He whispered into her hair. “We don’t have to let it end like this, not tonight.”
“I would do anything to be with you, just tell me what I’d have to do.” Ra’Shae asserted her face still against his chest.
“Are you sure you’d do anything?” Halberd asked. “Anything at all?”
“Yes.” Ra’Shae answered quickly.
“You’d have to let me blood you then.” The vampire told Ra’Shae.
“What’s that?” She asked, pulling her face away from Halberd’s chest, looking up into his eyes.
“You humans would probably be more familiar with the term transfusion.” Halberd explained. “When a vampire transfers its blood into a human, we call that blooding.”
“Oh.” Ra’Shae said lamely. “I didn’t know that.” She paused. “Alicia probably did though.”
“Who’s Alicia?” Halberd asked.
“Oh, she’s just a friend of mine.” Ra’Shae laughed. “She’s crazy about vampires.” Ra’Shae paused, looking deep into Halberd’s eyes. “What would happen if I let you blood me? Would I turn into a vampire as well?”
“Yes, you would, and you’d also have to leave your life behind, and take a new one with me.” Halberd supplied quickly. “There would be a tremendous price. One of almost constant pain for a month and a half, at least.”
“Why would there be such pain? I thought that it was a simple process. You bite me, and then I turn into a vampire.” Ra’Shae laughed.