Aelith was suprised. Had she been followed? She wasn't kept waiting long, but now she had found her prey, she wasn't going to get it over with quickly. Even from here she could see how far it might be before she found anything interesting, so she wasn't going to cut her fun short without a good reason. And it looked like this one would be worthwhile, too. Two swords, meaning either this warrior was very good or just thought they were. Either way, he had likely never fought one of her kind before. Always funny catching someone off-guard like that, in the way only the Dark Ones can.

[b]I thought the gods weren't supposed to answer the prayers of the wicked. You don't know the way to the nearest city, do you? When you're finished, I could use a decent-sized population to terrorise.[/b]

A nagging voice hung in the back of Aelith's mind, advising her. Whether this was Mephistopheles speaking to her or her own survival instinct, she didn't know. [i]Look carefully, Aelith. You're missing something.[/i] His scars, up and down his arms and probably everywhere else, too. He likely thought of them as badges of honour, representing years of glory in battle (there were certainly enough), while others might think of them as brands, curses, ugliness. Aelith saw them as a tool. She began to raise her hand, ready to let him relive the pain of battles long past, then hesitated. [i]Wait! Hold something back. Take him by surprise. He knows about the fire, use that, and you might be able to end this now. If he's good, you may need everything in your arsenal.[/i] This was annoying, but it was also true. She didn't know what she getting into. The scars suggested a lot, besides what she could do to hurt him. [b][i]Fine. But if I get a chance to make him scream, it's happening. Don't try and stop me, or I'll find a way to hurt you, too.[/i][/b]

Aelith watched her opponent just a little longer, then lowered her hood.

[b]You think this is abrasive? Wanton? By my standards, this is practically frugal. Let me teach you a thing or two.[/b]

She felt the spirits of the dead, lingering here after ancient battles. That's what Aelith liked about battles - there are always casaulties. She called on them, adding their strength to her own through the power of the Lifehunter Amulet. She flung her arms forward, unleashing a veritable inferno at her opponent. [i]So it begins.[/i]