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Level 1 Hero, 39 Khookies

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[img]http://ares.cooltext.com/images/442/442c3ecad362fb47092288de80b2274d4a01606d.png[/img]
Level 5 Hero, 64 Khookies[/center]

"[color=ec008c]I hope Mother Niciel will be ok,[/color]" Falas said worriedly as she wrung her hands continuously, having returned to her hut. Loth was there with her, looking somewhat upset, but remaining calm.

"[color=00aeef]I have faith that she will be fine,[/color]" Loth reassured her. "[color=00aeef]We're still inside the Valley of Peace, and I'm sure Mother Niciel is not without her own defenses.[/color]" Loth's eyes then shifted to Falas' lance. "[color=00aeef]In any case, we still need to discuss your weapon. Specifically, your compatibility with it.[/color]" 

"[color=ec008c]What's wrong with it?[/color]" Falas asked. "[color=ec008c]It's served me well all this time.[/color]"

"[color=00aeef]I'd like to believe that. I really would,[/color]" Loth said. "[color=00aeef]But be honest with me. How was it during battle? Do you find it comfortable to use?[/color]"

Falas' mind flashed back to the battle against Grot. Despite the lance's power, Falas' attacks had been limited to mere beams and a few thrusts and slashes here and there. Not a bad way to fight, but certainly not the best.

"[color=ec008c]It- it's done well enough,[/color]" Falas stammered,turning her eyes away from Loth. "[color=ec008c]I couldn't ask for a better gift from Mother Niciel.[/color]"

Loth was silent for a time, then he sighed. Loth could make an educated guess from what Falas was thinking, and he wasn't far off either. "[color=00aeef]As I thought.[/color]" Loth reached over to it to pick it up, testing its weight in its arms himself. "[color=00aeef]It may be a beautifully made weapon, but this type of weapon is not your style,[/color]" Loth explained disapprovingly. "[color=00aeef]You prefer blades, not a pointy stick like this.[/color]"

"[color=ec008c]Don't speak of Mother Niciel's gift that way![/color]" Falas shouted as she stood up, outraged at Loth's choice of words. 

"[color=00aeef]Would you describe your use of this weapon any differently?[/color]" Loth asked as he raised an eyebrow, unfazed by Falas' outburst.

Falas began to argue further, but she found herself unable to come up with something to respond with. "[color=ec008c]I...[/color]"

After a moment's pause, Loth sighed and continued, "[color=00aeef]I thought as much.[/color]"

"[color=ec008c]Well, what do you expect me to do? I can't just ignore this precious gift,[/color]" Falas said.

"[color=00aeef]And you shouldn't, but neither should you limit yourself because of it,[/color]" Loth responded. "[color=00aeef]Niciel intended well for you, Falas. I'm sure she expected you to grow rather than get stuck where you are.[/color]"

Falas was silent for a while, then eventually asked, "[color=ec008c]Well, what am I supposed to do then?[/color]"

"[color=00aeef]That is for you to decide,[/color]" Loth answered. His eyes trailed off around the room, soon landing on Falas' shield, which was resting on the wall. A strange attraction began to settle within him, and the more he continued to stared at it, the more that attraction grew. 

"[color=ec008c]Loth?[/color]" Falas said, following Loth's line of sight. "[color=ec008c]Is... is something wrong?[/color]"

"[color=00aeef]That.... shield....[/color]" Loth said, pointing at it. "[color=00aeef]May I take a look at it?[/color]"

Falas turned back to look at Loth, then back to her shield. "[color=ec008c]Uh, sure,[/color]" Falas said, going over to her shield to pick it up and toss it to Loth, who caught it in both hands. Holding it in his left hand, Loth continued to be mesmerized by it. Then, both he and the shield began to glow blue. Together, they resonated, the glow pulsing and becoming brighter every second, but then the glow faded away. Loth began to stumble backward, but barely managed to regain his footing. Alarmed, Falas rushed over to support him, grabbing him with both arms. She noticed that Loth looked rather fatigued from the short event. "[color=ec008c]Are you alright, Loth? What just happened?[/color]" Falas asked, concerned for him.

"[color=00aeef]I... I'm fine, no need to worry. Just a little... tired, is all,[/color]" Loth answered, placing his hand on his forehead for support. Surprisingly, he felt himself recover quickly, and he was able to stand up again as if nothing had happened. "[color=00aeef]I don't know what happened... I just felt like I really needed to have this shield.[/color]"

"[color=ec008c]Well, perhaps we should keep it away from you for now,[/color]" Falas suggested, reaching towards the shield. However, a semi-transparent barrier appeared in front of Falas' hand, preventing her from even touching the shield. Confused, Falas tried again, only to hit the same barrier. "[color=ec008c]What is this? Loth, are you doing this?[/color]" she asked.

"[color=00aeef]It no longer accepts you as its wielder,[/color]" Loth said.

"[color=ec008c]What?[/color]"

Loth suddenly blinked, and shook his head. "[color=00aeef]I'm sorry, I don't know why I said that. How peculiar.[/color]" 

In that moment, there was the sound of urgent knocking on the wall near the entrance. "[color=ec008c]I should answer that. You should stay here and get some rest,[/color]" Falas suggested. "[color=00aeef]Perhaps I will,[/color]" Loth agreed, nodding his head.

Reaching the entranceway, Falas was greeted with the sight of Sabathiel, one of the Archangels. "[color=ed1c24]Commander Falas, there are strange creatures in the Valley of Peace![/color]" Sabathiel said. 

"[color=ec008c]Strange creatures?[/color]" Falas asked.

"[color=ed1c24]Yes, Commander. They look similar to us, but appear to be made out of rock. They don't seem to be hostile, but they do not exactly put me at ease when I look at them.[/color]"

Falas had a sinking suspicion as to what Sabathiel was describing, but she had to see it for herself. "[color=ec008c]Wait right here, I'll get my lance,[/color]" Falas ordered him before running back in to grab her weapon. Falas hesitated a second when he saw it, but quickly put aside those thoughts and rushed back out after grabbing it. "[color=ec008c]Lead the way,[/color]" Falas commanded, and the two Angels flew off.

[hr]
Upon spotting them, Falas felt a chill down her spine. The Realta were here. The other Archangels were here as well; why haven't they evacuated the other Angels? For that matter, what were the Realta doing? Sabathiel did say they were not hostile, but why was this the case? Granted, the aura of the Valley of Peace was a likely factor, but was something as simple as that really going to stop a God who wanted to destroy the world? 

The other Archangels were already on the scene, supervising the area. Raphael, upon spotting Falas, bveckoned for her to come over. Landing, Falas asked, "[color=ec008c]How is everything so far?[/color]"

"[color=fff200]It's been peaceful so far,[/color]" Raphael reported. "[color=fff200]Everyone is keeping watch to make sure that these creatures don't cause any trouble, but they seem to leave us alone for the most part. A few Angels have engaged them in conversation, but nothing of further interest has happened.[/color]" 

Falas was relieved to hear that, but was still concerned about the Realta's presence. They had attacked Alefpria, so why were they not doing anything now? "[color=ec008c]Even so, stay on your guard,[/color]" Falas ordered. "[color=ec008c]I don't trust them. I've seen what they can do. Even for us, they'd prove to be very dangerous, the Valley's aura or not.[/color]" 

"[color=fff200]Of course, Commander,[/color]" Raphael said with a nod of his head, then flew away to continue surveillance. 

[i][color=ec008c]What are they planning?[/color][/i] Falas thought to herself. [color=ec008c][i]What do they intend to accomplish by being here and doing this?[/i][/color] While lost in thought, Falas felt the familiar presence of the only being she revered. 

"[color=fff79a]You've been busy, I see,[/color]" Niciel said, walking up to Falas. Falas turned to face her and immediately knelt down. "[color=ec008c]Yes, Mother Niciel,[/color]" Falas said as respectfully as she could. "[color=ec008c]None of the Realta will cause trouble in the Valley of Peace under our watch.[/color]" 

"[color=fff79a]Rise, Falas,[/color]" Niciel ordered, and Falas got up from her knee. "[color=fff79a]It is important to keep the Realta from causing trouble, but take care that the Angels do not cause trouble for the Realta either. I have promised Logos the Valley of Peace as a temporary haven for his Realta, and I have no intention of breaking that promise.[/color]"

Falas was shocked. These monsters being granted safe haven in the Angels' home? "[color=ec008c]Bu-but Mother Niciel![/color]" Falas objected.

"[color=fff79a]No buts,[/color]" Niciel interrupted, raising a finger to silence Falas. "[color=fff79a]I am aware of what I am doing. While I do not understand Logos completely, I have learned that he does not have malevolent intentions. Should the Realta harm any Angels, you have my word that I will be the first to banish them from the Valley of Peace.[/color]" 

Falas was still concerned, but decided to trust Niciel on the matter. 

Just as things finally began to settle down, however, a sudden force was brought to attention. A loud but distant scream was heard, one so malevolent that even Niciel's eyes widened in surprise. A number of screams soon followed, making Falas shiver. "[color=ec008c]What was that?[/color]" she asked.

"[color=fff79a]I'm not sure,[/color]" Niciel answered. "[color=fff79a]I'll go see what has happened after I make some preparations.[/color]" On that note, Niciel disappeared in a flash of light.

[hider=This took too long to make]
-Loth and Falas have a serious chat about Falas' lance, and things take a weird turn once Loth notices Falas' shield. Loth unconsciously uses Khookies to soul bind it to himself, as well as level himself up a lot.
-Before this could really be questioned, Sabathiel, an Archangel, reports to Falas about the Realta arriving in the Valley of Peace.
-Upon arrival to the scene, Raphael, another Archangel, reports the peaceful status of the situation.
-Niciel appears in person to speak with Falas as well.
-Amartia's cry of war is heard by Niciel and Falas, and Niciel begins to make preparations.
[/hider]

[hider=Power usage and gains]
-Loth soul binds the shield to him - 8 Khookies
-Loth levels up to 6 - 28 Khookies

-Loth gains 7 Khookies
-Falas gains 7 Khookies
[/hider]