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 Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:20 am
Mariah was about to signal, but then what Irene said made her stop. "Well, I was actually hoping that we could talk. You know, about what to do next. Where does our road take us from here? I have nowhere to go... So if it's not too much trouble I thought I could, you know, follow you for a while."
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:30 pm
Niko looked down at her a bit surprised. "You know that as long as you stay with me, you'll be in danger," He said, worried. "I don't want either your or Bana to be in danger." He recalled last time he had told Bana he meant to leave them; it hadn't turned out so well. But what if Shadow appeared one day, and killed them both? He was still not sure why Shadow had spared Irene last time, but such mercy was extremely rare. Who knew how long it would be until Shadow was seperated from his body? He might remain like this for the rest of his life.
Yuki laughed softly. "No, I'm not famous," Yuki said. "I used to come here for a few years to train, everyone knows each other. Apparently a few people still remember me. Lets go then, hm?" She led the mare through the street, people going to the sides of the street willingly to clear a way for her and the other horses and carts going through. Yuki led the mare towards the large castle-like structure in the middle of the city. Yuki surpressed a sigh of relief as she felt the familiar spider-web sensation of the protection spells around her. It was always great news to know that the spells were still holding. Heathenrow wasn't a fortress, but it was much better protected. Many people thought that if a war were to take the whole continent, Heathenrow would be the very last haven to fall. "Have you been to many cities, Bana?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:41 pm
"No, Mommy didnt like places with gates and walls so I've stayed away from them. I wonder why she dosnt like places like this. There so pretty." Bana looked around as tried to figure out why there was a weird sensation. "Do all big cities have weird feelings?" Bana asked as looked around confused having never been to or seen Heathenrow before.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:47 pm
Yuki wondered why her mother would have stayed away also. If she had a hard heart, then of course she wouldn't be able to get into Heathenrow, but why other cities? When Bana asked about the 'weird feeling', Yuki shook her head. "No, only if they've got special magic in them. The weird feeling is because there are so many spells to keep us safe here." They stopped at the large oak door that was the entrance to Heathenrow Mage Academy. Runes were all along the walls, and Yuki nudged Bana slightly. Take a look." She pointed along the wall aways, where someone had carved a large dragon in the wall. As they watched, the dragon moved, pacing along the walls length, tail twitching and wings slowly furling and unfurling. It was like a moving picture in the stone, and as they watched it raised its head and looked straight at them, then snorted slightly with a puff of smoke contained in the wall, returning to its idle pacing. "The Academy's guardian dragon. Another protection against dark magic."
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:44 pm
Irene suddenly wrapped her arms around Niko in a hug. "I know you're talking about Shadow Niko, but I also know that you can fight him. If only you have somehing worth fighting for. Something strong enough to withstand Shadow's hatred. I want to help you find that something. I don't want to leave you Niko, please don't make me."
Mariah's eyes widened as she smiled. 'Yes! Her biggest weakness. I knew Irene's heart was too much for her. In order to weaken her, I have to get her in a situation where I have the advantage.' She quickly started to devise a plan.
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Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 9:07 am
He was surprised by her hug. After a moment, he raised his arms and hugged her back. "Your faith in me is amazing, Irene," He said quietly, eyes half-closed. "I've been with Shadow for nearly half my life, and I have yet to find something to help me fight him. But, if you insist on staying with me, I'll try to believe in your words..." How could she be so sure of what she was saying? It was pure foolishness, and yet he couldn't help but feel his heart lighten slightly. He held onto her for a few moments longer, then slowly pulled away, his eyes meeting hers.
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Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 11:51 am
Irene pulled away as well. Then she nodded with a smile. "You'll find a way to get rid of Shadow, I promise."
Mariah made the signal to advance and trap the two in a circleat that moment. In the sudden confusion, she jumped down from the tree. "Aw, isn't this special. Your time is up Irene, for you and your precious boyfriend."
Irene snapped back and walked to look at her eye to eye. "He's not my boyfriend! Just a friend that I care about very much! A friend that stuck by me through more than you have!"
Mariah punched Irene hard in the face, making her fall to the ground. "Shut up! We don't have to make this personal Irene, just hand me the necklace and I'll be on my way."
Irene realised then Mariah didn't know. She put a hand over the hit cheek and slowly tried to stand again. Irene knew the necklace was her mother's. She didn't want to part with it all the same. But Mariah didn't know that a neckace no longer controlled Irene's powers. Maybe this may come at an advantage. "I will never give the necklace to you!"
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Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 3:58 pm
Niko stepped up and slightly to the side, so he was shielding Irene from Mariah. He helped her stand up again, anger showing in his eyes at Mariahs attack. He knew that Irene no longer needed the necklace, but understand why she didn't want to let it go. If things came to a fight, this could get out of hand. He ducked his head down slightly, and he spoke quietly, so that only Irene could hear. "I'll hold them off. Get to Heathenrow, the spells there will protect you." He trailed his hand in the air in front of him, his white energy gathering and taking the form of his white staff. He didn't so much as glance at the sword strapped to his side. He held his staff tightly, then without warning lashed out at the bandits blocking the way to Heathenrow.
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Posted: Sun Jul 29, 2007 4:57 pm
Bana stared at the dragon in awe. “Its sooo cool!” Bana’s tail wagged happily as stared at it. "I heard that dragons eat people. Does this one do that?" Bana asked curiously.
Listu kept her scythe attached to her back in order to avoid accidently causing bloodshed. Listu made a flame around her fist and jumped out of the tree lunging at Niko.
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Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:51 pm
Irene looked hesitant, but took a few steps toward Heathenrow. But she stopped. "Niko, I can't leave you here alone!"
Mariah yelled at her bandits. "Capture the boy! Don't bother with Irene just yet!" Mariah had a plan, but first she would have to capture Niko. The bandits all ganged up on Niko, though one fell unconcious from his attacks. The other five tried to disarm and hold Niko while Mariah rose up a wall of sand keeping Irene from going to Heathenrow. "Then don't leave Irene, come here and play with us!" Mariah said as she threw a ball of flame at Irene. It was so hot it made her wall of sand turn to glass where it hit when she missed.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 5:59 pm
"Don't worry about me! Just go!" He replied, trying to hold off the bandits with his staff. He was alright until a strange demon leapt out of a tree towards Niko. His eyes widened in surprise and leapt to one side while swinging his staff up to knock the demon aside if he could. The split second that he looked away from the five bandits gave them the advantage though, and his staff was knocked from his grip, vanishing as soon as it left his hands, white energy lingering in the air before dissipating.
About to summon another staff, he noticed the sand walls Mariah was using to block Irene. He bit his lower lip slightly, making his decision quickly. Instead of calling his staff back, he gathered his energy into his palms and released it in the form of a beam, not aiming at the bandits but at Mariah, or more accurately at the sand preventing Irene from escaping. It was just lucky chance that it had to get by Mariah first to strike the sand, blasting a hole through it. "Go!" He yelled. The bandits would easily be able to overcome him now that he had wasted precious time to blow a hole for Irene to escape... If they were smart enough to avoid bloodshed. But if Irene got herself away in time, then he would have no reason for holding Shadow back anymore...
Yuki glanced at Bana with a smile. "If the Academy is being attacked, then yes it will," She said. The dragon glanced at them both again. "Lets go inside, Bana?" She asked. She was anxous to find out whatever she could and get back to Irene and Niko quickly.
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Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 10:32 pm
Irene went through the hole, but the bandits held Niko so he wouldn't escape. Irene looked back and gasped. "Niko, no!"
Mariah dodged barely. Not paying attention to the wound on her side, Mariah laughed softly. "Poor Irene. Caught between her safety and her friend's. I wouldn't leave Irene, or you may never see Niko again. You see, I know about Shadow. Which is why I have my best bandits and a promising ally with me. But even if this other soul comes, I'm sure I can 'persuade' something to him. I have something he might want." Mariah was healing herself as she spoke.
Irene had a chill down her spine. "What are you going to do to Niko?!"
Mariah laughed again. "Nothing... That is, if you do what I say. Whatever I say." Mariah merely snapped, and the whole ice and sand wall fell to the ground.
Irene slowly put her hand to her necklace and took a few steps forward.
"That's right Irene... Listu, the unconcious bandit. Bring him to me if you please."
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 1:58 am
"OkieDokie" Bana hopped off the horse so could walk next to Yuki.
Listu stood up from being knocked to the side by Niko's staff. Listu nodded to Mariah and picked the unconcious bandit up and slung him over the shoulder like a sack of patatoes and walked over to Mariah. "What you want me to do with him?" Listu's tail twitched as waited for next order.
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 10:47 am
Mariah went to the bandit and made his face known. He had a handsome face. As he was unconcious he looked like he never did any wrongdoing. "This is perfect. Just lay him here, under my feet."
Irene looked a bit in fear for the bandit. "What are you going to do to him?!"
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Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 5:29 pm
Niko struggled against the bandits grip, but they held him firmly despite the white sparks he shot off. "Irene, don't listen to a word she says!" He exclaimed. "Just go!" He released more sparks and was rewarded a blow in the back of the head. Of course not hard enough to cause him to bleed, but he was still seeing stars.
Yuki walked through the dors into the Academy. A few people stood around in the hallways, the humanoid creatures wearing mage robes similar to Yuki's. It was important to state 'humanoid', because not everything was. A winged cat was curled up in the corner, glowing eyes walking them as they past. A small group of fairies wearing miniature versions of the mage uniform made from leaves flew past at lightning speed, onto nearly colliding with Yuki's mare before swerving out of the way. A brownie girl was talking animately with an anthro mage, waving small furry arms as she tried to make her point. She wasn't much taller than Bana, and resembled a large squirrel-fox on its hind legs more than anything.
Yuki waved to a young man walking down the corridor. "Arda, over here!" She called. The man stopped and looked back, a small squirrel-marten creature perched on his shoulder. "Ah, Yuki! You're finally here!" He walked over. The small animal leapt to the floor, approaching Bana. It sniffed the air, long furry tail wagging slightly.
"I've got some books I'd like to show you, someone dug them up from the back of the library. They were so well-hidden that no one even knew they were there. They've got a few pages on possession and dark magic, you might want to take a look..."
Yuki smiled. "That's good news." Noticing the small animal staring up at Bana, she laughed softly. "Bana, this is Arda, and this little fellow is Minx." Minx sat down and tilted its head slightly to one side, tail stirring up dust from the floor.
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