[i][h3]The Hermit’s Abode, Kyora[/h3][/i]
[i]"Honestly,[/i] who does that guy think he is, anyway?" Remy kicked back in her chair, leaning dangerously on the hind legs with her boots propped onto the table they sat at. 

The lobby had grown a bit louder just outside, but she didn't care. The tavern was quieter, and she didn't think she could get the kid out. Talking her ear off was always a good solution to filling the silence. It was starting to feel a lot less like wardening, and more like [i]glorified babysitting.[/i] "You shouldn't worry so much about what people think of you. I stopped giving a shit about that a long time ago, and look where that got me!"

Sat beside her, Kaishu shoved cutlets of marinated beef into her mouth, guzzling down water to wash it down before starting on some beans. "Can you quit talking to me? You're annoying."

"Annoying?! [i]I'm[/i] not the moody teenager."

"Urya. [i]Bai chi."[/i]

"What the fuck did you just say to me?!" 

[i]"Nao can!"[/i]

Clicking her tongue, Remy kicked back again, pulling out her flask and taking a long guzzle. She didn't know, really, what Kaishu was saying. For a diplomat, and the scion of an earldom, well... she wasn't the most culturally-wise. Better to say she just didn't give a crap about learning. It was hard to keep her seated in a classroom most of the time. She was better at practical learning. A lot better. 

For now, though, she left the girl in silence, staring at her every now and again as she rocked back and forth on the legs of her chair. For a kid, that girl could really eat. It almost made Remy envious. Almost. 

... Maybe a little more than almost.
But that was beside the point. Rocking, and rocking, she finally rocked back far enough to spot a certain head of blue hair. Lifting her arms, she gave them a wave. 

"Oi! [i]Cyyyyyyyyyyril![/i] You're not gonna come say hello to me?!" 

Kaishu looked at her forehead, in silence. Maybe in a silent wish for this all to end. She continued eating regardless, though.

That blue head of hair was startled out of whatever reverie it was in, and the person who it belonged to quickly made his excuses before making his way along the room. For a place that had been dead deserted just a little while ago, the Hermit's Abode was filled up completely thanks to the King and his companions.

Soon, he was there, bowing ever slightly before sitting down next to Remy. He smiled some, giving a bow of his head, then saying, [b]"Forgive me, Remy, for not saying hello sooner. The Wanderer told me you were here, but I haven't been able to come seek you out. It's good to see you again."[/b]

Rocking back dangerously, in a way that seemed like she was going to fall back completely, she only safely rocked forth. Her feet hit the ground hard, and she patted her hands on the table, smiling a little less tantalizingly, and maybe a little more sincerely. "Well, yeah, of course. You're obviously [i]starved..."[/i]

Pitter patter went her hands, before her smile faltered a little and she leaned in, clamping him in a hug. "Sorry I wasn't here sooner."

For a moment he was still, and then very gently his arms came up, hugging her back, even as he nodded. [b]"Yeah. It's not your fault, don't worry about it. It... happened quickly."[/b]

"I get it." She pulled back, smiling again, though her eyes were a little more vulnerable than that. "We had a sermon for her in the main Cathedral when we had my dad's."

[b]"I'm sorry for your loss."[/b] He bowed his head once again.

Waving a hand, Remy snorted. "It's fine. Just wish he didn't go out in such a shitty way... the spring games were his favorite." 

Pausing, she glanced at Kaishu, then back at Cyril. "This is, uh..." She gestured awkwardly. "The suspect everyone wanted tossed to the guillotines."

Slowly, Cyril looked over to her. For a moment he was quiet, and then he smiled gently. [b]"Cyril Serio. It's a pleasure to meet you."[/b]

Bristling a little, Kaishu looked up at Cyril. She seemed perplexed by his smile, shrinking back a little. She simply nodded. "...  Yarinaosu Kaishu." 

"She's a bit of a brat. Princess of Kisoku. Mom hitched us together with a warden rune, so I'm kind of stuck dragging her along."

[b]"I see. I suppose that was just to appease the masses, wasn't it?"[/b]

"Sort of. I can never tell what my mom is thinking, but..." Remy shifted, leaning an arm on the table. "I don't know. This entire thing is a little bit of a ... complicated situation. I was coming back to Barcea to give you the news, but I guess you're already on some death-defying crusade already, huh?"

[b]"With a one who defied death on the other side."[/b] Cyril said glumly, shaking his head afterwards. [b]"It's bad, Remy. When this guy, Yaguar, who was supposed to be killed can come back and just kill and Remake whoever he wants without getting caught, it means things are really bad."[/b]

Remy crossed her arms now, looking thoughtful. It was one of the only times Kaishu had ever seen her, aside from once in Bellamy, and another on the road. Looking between them, Kaishu took another guzzle of water. 

"The solution from here is simple." She said, fixing her headband back into her hair. "We squash him. End of story."

[b]"Saying it is the easy part."[/b]

"Fights against things like Shisor Yaguar aren't easy. I'm not that naïve." Lifting her eyes, Kaishu stared at Cyril. "But so long as we draw in air, saying it has the impact of doing it. It's going to be a shitty fight, no matter how much that Wanderer trains. But we have to do it, and we will end it."

He blinked slightly, looking towards her. His eyebrow raised slightly, before he smirked some, looking to Remy. [b]"I like her."[/b]

Patting her hands on the table, Remy grinned crookedly. "She's a [i]total[/i] brat. I kind of hate-love it. Right now, I think a little brattiness works. You think that's good? You should see her [i]fight.[/i] She almost kicked my [i]ass[/i] at the tournament." 

Sinking in her chair a little, Kaishu blinked, looking between the two. Her cheeks seemed to flush up, but... she ducked her head, starting to stuff her face again.

Cyril's eyes widened just a little. [b]”Really? You're not losing your touch on me, are you?"[/b]

"No! Definitely [i]not.[/i] She's just a natural." Remy crossed her arms again. "Kind of like you! But, like... with more than a sword. She whipped out axes, spears, a bow..." 

Leaning, Remy lifted an arm, cupping her mouth in faux secrecy. "I think she's an automaton."

"So [i]not."[/i]

Cyril couldn't hold back the chuckle, shaking his head slightly and straightening up some. [b]"Well, whatever the case, I certainly feel a little more at ease having you with us."[/b]

Lifting a brow, Kaishu blinked a couple of times. "I'll try my best to help you while I can. If this busybody lets me [i]work ..." [/i]

"Hey." Remy lifted her hands. "I'm just doin' what my mom told me to. Make sure you don't do anything insane, keep you from running. Just don't try running again." 

"Hmph..." Glancing at Cyril again, Kaishu straightened. "You have the Gift, right?"

He nodded ever slightly, his eyebrows coming together some. [b]"Yes. How do you know?"[/b]

Looking between them, Remy looked at Cyril. "The Gift. The fuck's that?"

Looking aside, Kaishu rubbed at her cheek. "... Just heard it through the grapevine."

Cyril's eyes narrowed just a little, before he shrugged slightly and patted the sheathed blade at his side.

[b]"The Gift was made by the Divines long ago, and has been passed through the Serio family for ages. For me, it took the shape of a blade when... I needed to finish off Gartian."[/b]

"Eugh. So hocus pocus religious garbage." 

"You seem pretty intolerant. You, like... just saw a Divine the other day."

"Uh-huh. That was just some busty bitch with weird powers. I don't believe in that hierarchy of being shit. Just rules."

[i]"Bai chi."[/i]

He laughed just a little, shaking his head. [b]"Don't worry, your Highness. I'm used to Remy by now, and her... unique beliefs."[/b]

"Oh, don't act like I'm the [i]only[/i] person from a place that doesn't share that shit! Kisoku and Bu'zai still worship the damn [i]moon[/i] - wait, you can understand her?!"

Holding up her hand, Kaishu waved it. "Only Kaishu."

He chuckled a little, holding up his own hands, with two fingers close together. [b]"Only a little, but decently enough."[/b]

"About time someone did. I don't like speaking so much like this."

"Ugh... You two are insufferable..." Shaking her head, Remy sighed, then leaned in. "Say, has Cecilia started bugging you about getting [i]hitched[/i] yet?"

Cyril sighed, shaking his head. [b]"No. Been too busy to worry about that."[/b]

"Patrons - lucky. My mom wouldn't shut up about it before the tournament. Neither would [i]Ron."[/i]

Kaishu smirked cattishly, crossing her arms. "You adults have it hard, I can tell. Real teeth-grinding."

[b]"I never wish such worries to fall upon you."[/b] Cyril said, before standing. [b]"I need to spread word around about the plan. If you'll both excuse me."[/b]

"I'm coming, too!" Remy hopped up. "I need to spend some quality time with my favowite Kiiiing." She pinched his cheek, snickering.

Standing, Kaishu stacked her dishes neatly. "Am I free to go?"

"For now! But I'll know if you leave. Go make friends."

"...." Giving Remy a look, Kaishu shook her head and headed off, shouldering past the Commander.

[b]"You really should be nicer to her,"[/b] was all the King said.

"What?" Remy huffed. "I was [i]being[/i] nice!"

[b]”Oh, Remy…”[/b]

[i]"What?![/i] When wasn't I being nice to her?! I complimented her and shit, didn't I?!"

[b]"Try thinking more from her perspective next time."[/b]

"The more you don't explain what you're going on about, the more I regret even considering it." Remy scowled, but shook her head with a sigh. "Look, the kid's fucked up. I sympathize with that. That's something, isn't it? I feel [i]sympathy."[/i]

Gently, he patted her shoulder. [b]"It's a start. Come on, I've got work to do."[/b]

"Uh-[i]huuuuh."[/i] Shaking her head, she grumbled, following in his tracks without another word about it.

[hr]
[i][h3]The Crucible, The Trial, The Clearing[/h3][/i]
Almost as if he had set an alarm, the Wanderer awoke precisely an hour before the sun would rise. In complete silence he dressed and prepared himself, placing both the broken blade and the new blade at his side, while carefully putting his pack of equipment on his back; the tools, though vicious, might end up being needed for what the Master had planned for him.

With his preparations made, he made his way down into the common room of the inn, which was completely empty save for the Master. The Divine was clearly waiting for him, sitting against the counter of the bar with bottle in hand, and his gaze directed out to the dark street beyond the window. He did not turn his head to look to the Wanderer as he began to speak:

[b]"You remember the way back to the Clearing, yes? Earn your way there once again."[/b]

The Wanderer swallowed. He had expected as much, remembering how his first trek up the mountain had nearly killed him; he had been a child then, not nearly as experienced, and yet he couldn't help but feel that the second time was going to be harder than the first. The climb itself, though quite long, wasn't the issue; it was what lay in the way of the climb, things that slumbered that did not like to be disturbed, both living and not.

[b]"You have until the end of the day. Any longer and I'll kill you myself on the trail. Do you understand, boy?"[/b]

He bowed his head. [b]"Yes, Master."[/b]

The morning moon, like a teasing whisper from a lover, was a bitter thing to look out to. The Princess wasn't so bold to suggest she was the most unfortunate souls, nor was she ever so ignorant, but today's shining hunk of rubble seemed the worst to see. If there was one thing to feel good about, it was that Remigia Bellamy had finally left her alone. One night of solitude was all Kaishu could ever ask for, and she was almost so pleased she thought about passing thanks to the King of Barcea himself.

However, she did no such thing. Her course of the night, instead, lead her to a familiar scene. 

For the most part, at least, Kaishu's night went the same as it ever did - alone, awake, gazing up at that chunk of space dust called the moon. When she got bored of that, she took a walk through familiar streets as it broke 1 a.m.. By 2 a.m., she was bored of that, too. 

By 3 a.m. the Silver Prodigy returned to the Hermit's Abode and helped herself to the kitchen, preparing herself a meal fit for kings that she ate on her own, belly filled and head numb. It was a better night, she admitted by 4:30 a.m., and by this point she had made her place in the common room, bundled into the dark, presence scarce, head at ease. No doubts, only thoughts - planning. Every now and again, she thought of escape and sanctuary in some distant costal land. She thought of sawing her arm off.
By 5 a.m., she was done thinking about that. Instead, Kaishu focused on eavesdropping. A rat in the dark and a fly on the wall, she peeked an eye open only when mention of the so-called Clearing came into clarity. Leaned on the wall, her eyes flitted over the frame of the Wanderer, a man so strangely small-seeming she was sure he'd be blown over by any sudden gust of wind. Pushing off the wall where she leaned, the shadows all pulled away from her cloak and she lowered her arms in favor of keeping them tucked below. 

It would have been no real surprise to the Master to know she had been there, and so, without a word, she looked at the massive man with hooded, lilac eyes that shone every thought in her head. It was barely an ask for permission - more an assurance to him that she'd be following hot in their path. 

The Princess didn't know why she felt so compelled. Maybe it was phantasms of memories not hers, or maybe it was a silent cheer for this man called 'Wanderer'. [i]That would be silly,[/i] she mused. She had no intention of helping him, and if he died, well...

How messy.

The Master knew she was there, and it made him roll his eyes, causing Joachim to just glance over his shoulder. The Wanderer did not say anything, but the Divine did, after a scoff:

[b]"Great, another idiot. Now there's two of them."[/b] He brought up his empty hand, a single finger extended upwards, glare intense as he said, [b]"Fine, but if you help him it'll be the same as him not making it in time, except I'll be killing you both."[/b] He looked back to the Wanderer, not waiting for an example, and said, [b]"Get going, so we can get this waste of time over as soon as possible."[/b]

Just like that, he was gone, only traces of black left behind that faded like smoke, leaving the two of them alone. Slowly, the Wanderer turned. He gave Kaishu a little smile, but with the slump of his shoulders it clearly seemed forced.

[b]"He would recommend you not following. This will be difficult enough as it is."[/b]

Listening without qualm to the Master's conditions, Kaishu simply bowed her head in a nod before lifting it back up. [i]No intention of helping him anyhow.[/i] She knew very well how much this trial meant in the grand scheme of things. This was the Wanderer's journey - not hers. 

As he disappeared, she looked to the other apprentice with a level gaze. Not a usual scowl, but something gentler. "Worry about yourself. I already know what lies ahead, and I can handle it on my own. You have a time limit. I do not."

The smile on his face seemed to become even more pained, as he shook his head slightly. [b]"You are not wrong..."[/b]

With that he began to step past her, heading towards a door, out into the street. To the east, the sun was just beginning to peek over the hills, casting light over the walls of the city. Turning towards the north, he began to follow the streets along, making his way towards the wall in that direction.

Kaishu's only response came in the form of a short click of her tongue against the ridges lining the roof of her mouth. Turning heel, she followed in Joachim's footsteps, gloved hand resting on the hilt of her blade, fingers running along the curved adornments of the pommel. 

The night was dragging on, it felt like. The sun cascading through the streets only made that seem more and more real. The silhouettes of homes and the cobblestone shadowed among them became all too familiar all at once. It was a warm nostalgia and a gut-twisting one that she didn't particularly like. 

"You hide yourself behind that weak-ass smile too often." Kaishu finally commented, falling into step with him at some point, keeping her statement short, and to the point.

[b]"He does not know what you're talking about."[/b]

"You don't want to do this. I think you know that."

[b]"And yet he has no choice."[/b]

As they got closer to the wall he scrambled up the side of one building to the roof, following them along; rather than waiting for the gate to open, he simply jumped up onto the wall, pulled himself up, and then dropped down the other side.

He hit the ground with a roll and only a slight grunt, following the road north. Quickly it gave way to simple trails, and then to even less as he made his way into the foothills.

Still, the Princess followed on, although she simply went straight towards the gate. Even so, with a small shift in space and Abyss around her, she appeared on the other side with him even before he dropped back down, figure blurred at the edges and burning like soft embers before settling. 

"You always have a choice. It was your choice to leave in the first place, too." Kaishu shook her head, eyes flicking around. "I understand it, though."
He had no response for her. Not to that.

So the two proceeded on in silence, following the trails until they were little more than animal foraging tracks. Joachim continued pressing on as if he knew exactly where he was going, and at the pace they were going the grass fell away to simple stone and snow. They were beyond the range of distance that any citizen of Kyora went, and for good reason; the skeleton of the ruins within and above the mountains was enough to dissuade even the most hardened hunter.

Though the citizens Kyora didn't know it, for millennia the Master had made the area his home, at best briefly leaving but always returning. In the time the Jasian Empire began to stretch across the entire world, the average citizen knew this fact, and worship for the Master reached its peak in both tribute and danger. Though the Jasian Empire fell, split to pieces among the children of the Emperor, the Crucible remained.

Set between twin peaks, the Crucible loomed, spread around both of the mountains. He knew that beyond it laid the Clearing, but it was a sight that precious few ever saw, even in the days that the crucible saw dozens of challengers at a time. Within there were traps, obstacles, and once had even been creatures and Devout prepared to stop progress at all costs, but as the years had gone by time had decayed what was within.

The Trial and its power remained, however.

The doors to the Crucible had collapsed in and back, and they had to climb over the fragments to get inside. Within, they saw the ruins barely hanging together by threads of steel and rock, sprung traps left empty of all except the bones. They proceeded cautiously, Joachim leading the way, but he was not concerned about anything lying in wait for them.

The higher it went, the hotter it became, until it felt as if the very blood within their veins was ready to boil. Within an hour they had made their way to the top of the Crucible, having climbed up the hollow tower where a massive platform would have rose on its own long ago; now, it just fell into a bottomless hole. Above, the room of the Trial at the top was massive, a tremendous space with two solid doors of black stone set into the far wall, and in the middle of the room a raise platform, where a large bowl was carved into the floor.

The Wanderer proceeded forwards, towards that raised portion of the floor. As he did so, he looked back, his smile weak. [b]"Now, he recommends you stay back."[/b]

The Wanderer gained no response, however. As his eyes settled back on the Prodigy he was met with a glassy, wondrous gaze that stared ruts into the ruinous ground and sights of the Crucible. With how intent she was, there wasn’t any doubt that Kaishu had been like this for a very long time, maybe even the entire walk. 
 
She seemed mystified. Her memories pulled back to a flourishing and new structure. No erosion, no fragments of something that once was proud. The Princess seemed close to tears, but she was smiling even as they bubbled in her eyelids. Each second passing lost in this faint reverie, Kaishu felt herself being pushed back farther, and farther - but the Wanderer’s voice brought her snapping back. 
 
Smile fading, the younger girl wiped her eyes as though nothing had happened, settling her gaze on Joachim. She blinked a few times, focusing, before responding. “I thought I made it clear that I’m coming to the Clearing with you.”

[b]"He is not stopping you. But for this part, he asks you to stand back. Demands it."[/b]

"Only for now, then."

He looked back forward, and continued to walk. Though bits of stone fragments covered the ground, fallen from cracks in the ceiling high up above, for the most part the floor remained clear, and so the narrow and small trenches that ran through the floor in geometric designs, twisting back and forth sharply, were for the most part clear. These trenches eventually reached one of four larger circles in the floor, slight dips at each of the compass points.

He stepped up onto the raised platform, stopping when the bowl was at his feet. He stood there for a moment, quiet... and then a shudder passed through him.

The Crucible, designed to burn away the weak, and leave only the strong. Sacrifice was inherent. Sacrifice was required.

His hand went down as he knelt, drawing the broken blade. He brought it over, looking down to it, and carefully removed a piece of the blade that was about to fall from the end anyway. Carefully he leaned forwards, tilting his head to the side and exposing his neck. The blade went up, and carefully he pressed the base of it against his own throat-

He turned his head ever slightly, slicing into his flesh deeply.

The blood flowed down the blade swiftly, pouring into the bowl. He held it there, even as a tremble passed through him, but as soon as he could he pulled it away, pressing his palm deeply against the wound. The blood, meanwhile, continued to rise, as if more and more was filling the bowl. In a matter of seconds, it began to boil.

Just as quickly as the blood rose, it dropped downwards, down into the hole in the bottom. From beneath the platform it began to spread outwards, flowing in the ruts even as it hissed in its boil, spreading outwards and outwards, farther than it ever should have gone. All the way to each of the four circles it went, creating bubbling pools.

Once more it began to rise, but in slowly congealing chunks. Higher and higher it rose, taking shape in each of the four circles, and before long four bloody Joachims stood at distance from the one in the center, who was shakily getting to his feet.

Without interfering, Kaishu watched the spectacle, hand rested calmly on Danzetsu's hilt. Once more she was met with familiarity, flicking her eyes this way and that as the bloody figures came into place. A phantom burn lit up in the right side of her neck, but it wasn't much more than a tickle. 

Like he requested, the Princess kept back. No aid, nothing - that was what she agreed, and intended upon. 

Taking a few steps back, she simply made herself scarce, watching in anticipation.

For a while, the five Joachims stood in the positions, all dripping blood to some degree while remaining as still as stone. When some invisible sign passed and the stillness was broken, they all moved as one: the blood four towards the center, and the bloody Wanderer down. As his blade came up, theirs came down, and he was nearly crushed to the ground beneath the strength of four blades that came crashing down onto his raised to block.

Almost flat against the ground, he suddenly lunged around, body twisting and legs striking out at two. With the same movement he spun out from beneath the remaining blades, straightening up and holding his up as he backed towards those that he had kicked away. The two in front of him followed his steps, slashing back and forth, chips of hardened blood flying as each blow was blocked by Joachim.

The two that had been kicked suddenly rose, unnaturally, more flooding upwards instead of straightening, and once more Joachim was surrounded. Like a tornado he spun and lunged back and forth, striking out and blocking as they continued to fall upon him-

A slash here, a cut there, every so often blood would draw blood as strikes slipped past his guard. Despite the pain he remained standing, soon once more knocking two back and away, before taking the third to the ground. The fourth raised its blade high to behead him, but as it swung downwards he rolled away, and it struck its comrade, red splattering upwards and around.

[i]Amazing.[/i]

Kaishu watched from the shadows, bundled up and arms crossed as she watched the sanguine battle before her. The red stood out to her more so than any color she'd ever seen. Mesmerizing, she thought, and she was enamored by the Wanderer as he battled for his life. 

[i]Bathed in red.[/i] She thought it suited him. Her fingers twitched on her arms, and Kaishu's eyes flitted ever back and forth as he moved, a bloody red streak in this murky black and white world's canvas. The Princess was transfixed now, hooded eyes owlish and dazed as she watched in anticipation to his ever fumble and misstep. One wrong move meant life and death, a line he danced on with rusted abandon. Someone so suited to steel and bloody rain should never have let himself oxidize so harshly. 

[i]What a stupid old man.[/i]

... And yet, she felt herself rooting for him, even if only a little.

Unconcerned with the missed stroke, the one turned towards him, and both lunged at each other. For a moment their feet remained planted as strikes were met time and time again, before the blood suddenly began to give ground, back over the companion that was struggling to reform on the floor.

Harshly, the Wanderer stabbed his blade downwards as he passed over, into the "skull" of the blood, making it go rigid. As it suddenly lost shape and spilled across the floor, Joachim kicked the back of his blade, sending it up from the ground straight into a swing that arced high upwards, and kept the blood form in front of him back.

The other two swooped upon him, and he yelled as, suddenly, a blade made of his own blood punctured through his shoulder from behind, and another cut into his side. He dropped his arms back, looping them first in between and then around the main arms of his doppelgangers.

His own blade was dropped briefly as, instead, he gripped, twisted, and turned their own weapons on them in the same movement. The blade of the one on his left found the throat of its wielder, while the other was suddenly pierced through the eye and out the back of its head.

The blood figures on either side lost their form, tumbling down and washing over him instead, even as the last one stepped towards him. It lunged forwards with its blade, and carved into his side, a sudden, vicious tremor passing through him before he suddenly stepped past, sweeping low. He found his blade, and with it turned around to face his last opponent.

In that moment, they perfectly mirrored each other. With the same practiced movement they sheathed their blades, holding them out to the side. Both stepped forwards using the right foot, and with the motion drew their blades to swing.

Joachim, as he stepped past towards the door, was slashed across the chest. The copy, on its way back towards the center of the room, split in two before splattering forwards across the ground. The doors rumbled, and suddenly harsh white light filled the room at the split-

Joachim collapsed to his knees as, very slowly, the doors swung outwards while snow blew in like a blizzard, blood that had been boiling immediately freezing over.

The victory, messy and distraught as it might have been, brought a sudden cry out from the dark, where Kaishu melded out with her fist in the air and the other clenched in front of her. She had lost track of herself part of the way through, a blunder she'd scold herself for later. Maybe she didn't even realize her own jovial cries at all, even despite the Wanderer's condition. 

[i]He did it.[/i] Kaishu thought that was all that mattered. Rough, unclean, but he did it. A step in the right direction is a step they need to get through the wall that was Shisor Yaguar. 

Cheeks flushed red, she thrust her arms down beside her and composed herself, cloak fluttering as she blinked beside him, floating softly back to her feet and crouching beside him. 

"Not the most refined, I'd say." The Princess commented, arm resting on her knee. "Now get up. No time for rest."

For a moment, he didn't respond. He only breathed in deep, heavy breaths that sent icy mist billowing from him. His wounds had already frozen shut, as had the blood that covered him, and he leaned against his blade, it keeping him up.

Without a word, he slowly rose and staggered forwards, out into the ice and snow whipped past, almost as if it were trying to push them back.

Alongside him, Kaishu stood and followed in his path. Her eyes flitted towards him and the path multiple times as the wind bit at her cheeks. She was well-protected from the weather, and it didn't bother her in the least. Her cloak billowed and her scarf tails whipped behind her. 

[i]Stupid old man.[/i] He wouldn't make it very far if he used his body like that again. Beside her, the prodigy's fingers twitched - no sudden thoughts, no impulsive actions. 

Nothing. No help, she reminded herself, and stilled her hands from reaching onto her blade.

There was no path, only piling and packed snow alike that had to be pushed through, sent tumbling to either side. More than once he nearly slipped and fell, almost disappearing beneath the snow before floundering back to his feet. Each step was a challenge in its own right, each breath forced down.

At the height of the rise beyond the Crucible, the mountain suddenly flattened out almost like a dish. Pillars of twisted rock rose all around, the area walled off by the very mountain itself, and beyond the flat land there was one final rise up to the peak of the mountain.

To the left there was a great cavern in the rock, and though ice filled the cracks all around the opening was clear. As the Wanderer trundled forwards, struggling through the snow, something within the cavern moved. Something very big, and very dark.

Kaishu pushed on beside him still, the wind howling in her ears and her feet kicking through snow and ice without trouble or complaint. Every time Joachim fumbled, her hand was there to grab onto his tattered clothing and hold him steady while he struggled to his feet. [i]As good of an aid as she could give him. [/i]

Though their surroundings were loud, Kaishu's eyes were keen even through the snow, piercing lilac flames melting through the white haze around them. Her hand went out a bit quicker now, clapping onto the Wanderer's shoulder on instinct. "Careful."

[b]"He knows."[/b] He shrugged her hand away, and pressed forwards.

Slowly, the dragon emerged from the cavern. Its scales were the night sky, both black and twinkling. Its head, triangular and acute, held three eyes of deep purple. Its claws, long and twisted, were as black as its scales, and its tail swished back and forth not unlike a cat. Massive, it would have been able to fill the throne room back at the Capitol easily.

Its feline nature became more pronounced as it bounded forwards and around, loping along like a great panther to place itself in front of Joachim's path. Despite its size, the ground barely trembled with its steps, but when the beast reared up and spread its wings to darken the sky, a rumble filled the mountain even though it made no sound.

Slowly, Joachim looked up to the dragon's eyes, and smiled. [b]"Greetings, Venorax."[/b]

Its head then went forwards, its maw opening, and cold black flame flooded over him.

Having never seen a dragon before, however, Kaishu's hand went quickly to her blade, body bristling. [i]Familiar,[/i] but not enough to quell the alarm she felt seeing it. Instinctively, she ducked away from the flame, feeling no heat passing from the licks that passed. Lowering her arm from her face, she simply watched, owlish and alert, brows furrowed tightly as she gripped onto the warm hilt of Danzetsu's blade. 

[i]"... Urya..."[/i] 

Still, she didn't intervene, but didn't lose her guarded stance much at all.

The Wanderer was gone, disappeared beneath a mass of writhing black flame. When the dragon snapped its jaws shut, the flood of fire stopped instantly, but what had already been expelled clung to the snow stubbornly. There was no crackling to go along with it, no sound at all, silent as the dragon itself was.

Slowly, Joachim straightened. Though he had been consumed by the black flame, and it clung to his body, there seemed to be no damage. However, he was different; the blood vessels beneath his skin stood out, some even bulging, and they pulsed black. Black seeped into the ice that froze the wounds shut, and of his flash what wasn't black was an unhealthy pale, like a fresh corpse.

[b]"Last time, you merely greeted him... He knew it would not be so easy this time."[/b]

Once more, he began to stagger forwards, dragging one foot behind him as he moved, and Venorax stepped to the side and turned, taking slow steps along with him.

Behind the two, Kaishu straightened, watching the two lumber forward. For a few moments, she stood perfectly still, fingers twitching and shaking again - but she clenched her hands, steadied herself, and continued on. Her head felt swarmed, flooded with ... nothing. [i]Murkiness. [/i]

The feeling was nauseating, like stepping through a dream. The wind howled after her as she watched the Wanderer's back, steering clear of the swinging dragon tail before her. For just a moment, she thought she heard the whisper to her, head whipping back around. She expected to see something else than a blank and vacuous way behind them - but there was nothing. 

Turning back forth, she traipsed after the two, coughing into her fist haggardly before settling once more for the trek ahead.

Up the trio went, up the final rise. Finally they reached the peak of the mountain, where the ground curved down and in like a bowl even as the rock stretched upwards into crags around. As soon as they reached the top, the nearly blizzard conditions cleared; though still cold, ice and snow no longer blew against them, and the wind no longer opposed their every step.

Here in the Clearing white flowers bloomed, petals seemingly made of ice shimmering in waves. In the center stood the Master, his arms crossed, and though he stood on a lower level than Joachim he did not need to look up to his apprentice. His eyes were narrowed ever slightly, and calmly he said, [b]"So, it seems you can still reach the top."[/b]

The Wanderer nodded, and then his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fell to the ground.

Listening to the thud of the Wanderer beside her, Kaishu kept her eyes trailing around the sunken area, tracing its every feature. She flicked her gaze down, then back away with a shake of her head. [i]"Urya.[/i] Just barely." Very gently, and gingerly, her hand drifted up to Venorax's hide, rubbing into a soft spot in the dragon's scales fondly.

[b]"The fool's blood has gone weak. That of the Void has become diluted. He'll need more, simple as that."[/b]

With that, the Master began to step forwards, even as Venorax tilted his head to the side and brought it around to nudge the Princess gently.

"Are you sure it won't kill him? Stupid old man is more frail than I anticipated..." 

While her gaze was on the Master, when the dragon bumped his head into Kaishu her attention was rapidly drawn back. Lifting her hands, she pressed her hands to its soft jowels and rubbed him there, bumping her nose into his snout. She felt a little better like this, she thought. Though, she missed her own kitty back at home, too...

[b]"He received my blood first before he even turned ten. He will be able to handle it, and when he wakes up you will return back to Kyora."[/b]

[i]"Ehhhh?"[/i] Craning her neck back a little, she scowled over at the Master. "Why?"

The glare was immediate, as he came to a stop in front of them, towering over them all save for the dragon and yet still somehow making it seem small in comparison-

[b]"You are not ready for the lessons that are to come. I will not tolerate your presence here."[/b]

Grimacing, Kaishu pressed her cheek into the dragon just a bit more, casting her gaze away from the Master. "Whatever..." 

Venorax got some more pets after she uttered that, as she locked her focus on the dragon more than what the Master said.

And the Master ignored her in return, reaching down to turn Joachim over onto his back, before pulling back his own sleeve and pulling up his own blade, drawing it just enough to slice into his elbow.

He held his hand down, and the blood forwards, dropping from fingertip to the Wanderer's mouth.

Joachim began to scream.