[center][h1]Nero Capital City[/h1][/center]
Debris fell from high above. Near to the halfway point that led to the great ceiling above. Pieces of stone fell on homes and caused immediate injury or worse to the residents below. This being its lower district the poorest members of this city were harmed. Their simple market streets buried in clouds from the hurtling boulders wake of destruction. It was a sight to behold from the upper districts. A dark beast rising from the grave and trampling on their city like it was its play thing. The windows shattered. People screamed in terror as they tried to flee. The gates were soon filled with people trying to escape and the upper districts found their ranks swelling with the low class.
[hr]
[quote]"SAY SOMETHING!" Lila shouted, looking to Anui.

"Please... Say something..." 

"You... promised... me..."[/quote]

Anui could hardly stand to look at Lila. Yet his gaze was cold and emotionless. Years of training to suppress his emotions has led to this facade of uncaring. Though it not being his intent to watch the tears fall from Lila without a word spoken. Only the elders had power here. He was merely here to observe, since he was directly involved. Even this though was likely planned by his mother. He began to wonder. To display his silence to her. To display his obedience to the courts and how little power his love for the young Nayu girl was in their presence. [i]Yes indeed love is fragile.[/i] She thought. Crossing her legs to her tears and folding her arms she could only shake her head at the utterly raw display of affection. For most Nayu within Nero such public displays were met with music and poetry. Not vulgar and ugly as they believed it were. 

But Anui did not think so. He grimaced a little. His hand gripping his chest. A discomfort he was not used to. Could hardly bare. A wound he felt that cut deep. His mother's hand gripping his to comfort him. But he lashed out in a gentleman's manner. Grasping her hand with his free one and slowly removing it as if a unwanted advance had been made. Unable to fully contain these new emotions he lowered his mothers hand away from his with a grip that was a tad too firm. This made her eyes go remain frozen in mental shock. 

"Silence girl!" An elder shouted. "If you won't defend yourself then this will be short. Guards take he-!" 
As they spoke the ground beneath them all began shaking. Even more so the castle was rattling. All could feel the presence of a tremendous force vibrating their city to life. Dust and small portions form the ceiling began to fall. Those within the room looked around in panic. But Anui swiftly stood to his full height and leaped from his position above Lila and landed before her. His coat, decorated with several dozen sets of black feathers, danced in the air as he swooped down. Embracing Lila and enveloping her in his wing like coat. 
"I'm sorry.. But we must go." He looked up briefly to see the guards helping the royals escape. But his mother was soon before the two of them. "She is to be placed in a cell!" Anui bore  his fangs to this. Venom drops as crimson as blood were on their tips. [color=#744E74]"I wish to have a council with the King!"[/color]

The earthquake continued. Yet Anui and his mother's convictions remained strong. 
It was only the guards who remained that directed them to safety and took their minds off of their bitter conflict. Anui quickly summoned a portal of darkness beneath him and Lila. He was falling with her in the void. Finally appearing at the Castle's peaks. Outside of it but near an open balcony. High above they were to observe the destruction occurring below. Anui was in shock and awe of it. But he immediately gritted his teeth after. [color=#744E74]"I have to help defend my kingdom.."[/color] He said. Stepping down onto the balcony. They were in a armory room. But a private one so it seemed. A bed and mirror inside for sleeping and grooming. It had Anui's smell all around it. He took off his coat and grabbed a suite of light armor, placing the gauntlets on first. 

[color=#744E74]"No. I will be fighting to. To defend OUR kingdom Lila." [/color]He spoke softy. Applying the proper knots to the threads that held the armor firmly in place. 
[hr]

A new conflict had arisen from the depths. Just as the King of Nero was stepping into his chambers, having just arrived from Vrondi he was seldom prepared for an attack. He was soon briefed on what was happening exactly. 
[b]"When delving into a tomb found below the city a Dragon was awakened."[/b] He was simply told. He scoffed. [color=#9B2370]"That's IT? I suppose it HAS been a while since I've last slain a dragon. Something that brutish king of Fotia would be salivating for by now. I will show him [i]how it's done...[/i]"[/color] Stepping from his throne and down the fresh red carpet was the King. Soon followed by shadow elites of various origin and of independent caliber, save for when called by the King. Armored from head to toe and wielding his scythe the King stepped into the gaping maw of the gateway of darkness. 

Emerging from the embracing tunnel of shadow mist and having it vanish behind him after doing so made the King look like another soldier filing into the ranks of Nero's defenders. He stood before the wreckage and rubble. Beneath the terrible roar of the hungry dragon. In the middle of a line of Nero's guards and soldiers. The Elites at his back and his scythe held in one hand. He held a gentle smile on his lips. His aura combined with his army of at least fifty visible soldiers. More filed into the surrounding area. Evacuating injured and forming a line around the battle field. A gaping hole in the ground disallowing most to go directly beneath the flying behemoth. Yet chains were thrown form the shadows. Over a hundred of them flew to the Dragon, attempting to wrap around its body and pull it down with the other world awaiting on the other side. The chains emerging from the infinite depths of the void each chain thrower conjured, to bind the beast with strength beyond their own. 

 [color=#9B2370]"Wall it in."[/color]
At his command magical barriers of sound and darkness were formed in a box like formation around the damaged lower district. Visible to the naked eye and created from over a hundred soldiers. The remaining ones would run up the chains. Elites leading this charge. Gracefully stepping up the chains like tight ropes with weapons amplified with shadow and poison. As they made their way high above arrows shot from all angles came flying at the Dragon from below. Massive arrows meant to slay their most common foe, Basilisks, now used for general Dragon slaying. Launched from giant crossbows with multiples on each and their tips shining purple from the deep magical poison enchanted onto its surface. Sleeth stood above all of this with his Elites yet to budge. His smile and demeanor remained undaunted. It was clear to him now. He had been wanting something to do beyond politics ever since leaving for Vrondi and this, though distasteful, was a matter far more exhilarating.

 [color=#9B2370]"If you serve Nuxta I'll have you tell him how wise it was for him to save the best for last..."[/color]

[@Guy0fV4lor][@13org]