[center][h3][color=CCCCFF]Joakim Fortinbras – Frenzy Camp[/color][/h3]
[@raijinslayer][@liferusher][/center]

Quieter than the grave, the Frenzy Plant soldiers listened to Argus' woeful story.  At the mention of a book, Joakim's posture stiffened, and a knowing look came into his eyes.  The demon's final discourse caused a hardening to spread over the Arctic Wizard's features, however.  By the time Argus finished, Joakim appeared greatly miffed.  

[color=CCCCFF]”You have made a very convincing argument to kill you.  You wallow in self pity, blame the magic, all sorts of things.  I am very tempted to agree with you, but my conscience tells me, 'no.'  So shut up about 'so tell me' and 'worthless' and 'saving trouble'.  Are you trying to convince us to kill you?  Do you not want to be saved?  I am trying to help, and you spit in my face, saying 'there is no way to fix me'.”[/color]  

Crossing his arms, he looked down his long nose at Argus.  A few moments passed before he spoke.  [color=CCCCFF]”Good for you that I do not have to listen to you.  Listen.  'Frenzy Plant' is a strange name, for a soldier guild, yes?  People think plants, they think grass.  Tiny and underfoot, pathetic.  Or weeds.  Or trees to be chopped down, rigid and inflexible.  It is none of these things.  Frenzy Plant is about growth.  'We never stop growing stronger'.  We do it, not for a government or for some silly idea, but for ourselves.  We improve ourselves.  So: do you want to die?  It is either death, or stop giving up and start improving.  Shut up and listen.”[/color]

He leaned forward confidentially, and Ange scooted closer to hear.  [color=CCCCFF]”Have you ever heard of...Zeref?  An immortal who first lived about five hundred years ago.  He achieved ultimate power, but decided he did not want to live forever after all.  Since nothing could kill him, he made creatures that could.  These things he called demons.  So that they could destroy him, he made them evil and monstrous, and sealed them in books.  Ever notice this about powerful beings?  Always hidden in objects.  Sky Spirits: keys.  Mystic Beasts: cards.  Demons: books.  That book you told about, it could be that a demon book of Zeref stuck in you.  If that is true, it can be un-struck.  I will talk to my superiors.  In the mean time, unless you want to die, keep your nose out of trouble.  Ask Hyun for Mundane Sparks if your magic bugs you.”[/color]  Joakim, frigid man of letters, rose to his feet.

[center][color=F0DC82][h3]Leixia Wuiwomi – In the Little Wood[/h3][/color]
[@oblivion666][/center]

Though Riona's charging left her open, Leixia opted for the boring but effective route and did not so much change position as she steadily nocked an arrow, aimed, drew, fired, and repeated.  Like a well-oiled machine she loosed four arrows in this fashion, and had nocked a fifth when Riona suddenly burst forward, further damaging the clearing's battered earth with the sheer force with which she launched herself.  Her eyebrows shot up as Riona smithed her fire into a weapon; Leixia had fully expected her opponent to launch dodge-able fireballs from a distance rather than heedlessly rushing forward.  Unfortunately for the archer, she neither anticipated nor could come up with a proper defense against this move in time, and as such could only turn slightly so that her back would take the brunt of the blunt force rather than her arms or face.

Riona's blazing hammer connected, and immediately Leixia's spine informed her that her arms might have been better to block with after all.  The staggering blow nocked her several feet away, flat on her face and at a total disadvantage.  She groaned, but despite her wildly protesting back powered to her feet before jumping away into a dodge roll to put distance between herself and Riona once again.  A cluster of arrows appeared in her hand, and with increased speed she shot it right at her opponent.  If Riona ran blindly into melee range again, however, she'd find Leixia ready to dip, duck, and deliver a point-blank pointy surprise.

[center][color=d8bfd8][h3]Nero the Genie – Arena Stands[/h3][/color]
[@rivaan][@lunarlors34][@shikaru][/center]

Arthur's reply struck a nerve with Nero, but as always the dark mage displayed only the choicest emotions and the sunniest expressions.  An opportunist never let slip the opportunity to get a foot in the door, even as a dubious customer dug himself in against him.  [color=d8bfd8]”Your distrust stings me.  Core issues need core treatment, no?”[/color]  Hearing James, the Genie turned his attention toward him only to be met with that perennial piece of utter hilarity so common to youths who imagined themselves to be clever.  [color=d8bfd8]”Neheheheh, I wish I had a quarter for every time someone said that.  I wouldn't have to sleep in ditches.”[/color]  Luckily for Nero, the pretty goth seemingly noticed him for the first time.  Her manner, speech, and fashion all oozed with a pleasant, high-class vibe, and he judged her to be about his own age.  To honor her formalities, Nero offered Jessica a bow of his own, holding one gloved hand across his chest and the other extended sideways, palm up.  He discretely noticed her guild mark, a pink stylized heart tantalizingly close to her bust.  Instantly he racked his brain to match the sigil with a guild.  [i]Iron Enigma?  No, that's a crescent moon.  Not the helmet of Goldenlaws, the sword of Rider's Blade, or the burning skull of Pirate Lord.  Must be some guild I've never heard of.  Exciting![/i]

[color=d8bfd8]”Nero.”[/color]  Before he could attempt to entice Jessica into a wish, however, the little girl for whom he'd turned the stadium pink jumped in again.  The devilish look on her face clued him in on the fact that she was up to no good, and the dark mage took a deep breath to prepare for another stupid wish.  Anya's wish turned out about as he expected, though even worse: she was serious.  Nero tapped a finger to his chin as if deep in thought.  [color=d8bfd8]”Long as I live, huh?  That's a disappointment in the makin'.  If I were to stay with you forever, I couldn't fulfill my mission of makin' people everywhere happy.  There's a way to grant your wish, though.  I'm the boss -emperor, if you will- of a little, three-man, independent, nomad guild called Miracle Eye.  If you joined our little group, you could stay with me as long as I live....wishes upon wishes!  Just be aware, I can't create things out of nothing.  I can only change what is already there.  Think about it.”[/color]

With that sorted for the moment, he returned to Jessica, his grin radiant and kindly.  [color=d8bfd8]”Young miss, do you perhaps have any desires as of yet unfulfilled?  Things you want to have or change, or things you want to get rid of?  Just say the word, and I, Nero the Genie, can probably grant you whatever you wish, no strings attached.”[/color]  His fingers slipped into his pouch and withdrew a small rock.  Holding it up for all to see, he rapidly reconstituted the rock into chocolate, plastic, licorice, and wood, before using his Law of Raiment to cause a tiny hat to appear on top.