[center][h1][b]Xenelith[/b][/h1][/center]
[b]Time:[/b] Morning
[b]Location:[/b] Roshimi City
[b]Interaction with:[/b] Terneus Andros[sub][@Dezuel][/sub]
[hr]
[center][h3]Last week[/h3][/center]
For three days the River Kingdom had been in a tense state. Rumors spread quickly about the burning houses. Some said the Millinas were plotting a coup together with the Sycamores. Others said they were taken without reason so Aklenroth could eliminate those with power in the region. Xenelith let the rumors brew for two days before he made his move. Rather unannounced he barged into the River Kingdom’s political center while it was in full swing. All the benches were filled when the doors threw open and Dark Elves moved inside. The clamor did not die down. Not even when Xenelith walked up to the stage. He allowed it to go on for a few more seconds before he spoke. [b]“Why am I here!?”[/b] He said, raising his voice for a moment. The clamor died down. [b]“why am I here?”[/b] he repeated, this time softer. [b]“Have we not giving you all we could give? Peace? Self-governance? Freedom to do as you please? Much have we given! We who owe you nothing.”[/b] He glared at some, but not all fairies before him. [b]“By now you will know what I speak of. Traitors to the king. To the peace, we’ve so long sought to maintain. The vilest, most selfish breed of criminals.”[/b] His eyes turned from the fairies to his fellow Dark Elves.[b] “They walk here now. Among us. Plotting to kill us, take our power and send us back to whence we came!”[/b] The room exploded. Dark Elves rose up from their seats. Shouting their opinions, swearing their allegiances once more and vowing to kill every last rebel they find. Xenelith let them rage for a minute. Such was the power of their emotions that shadows grew larger and darker. [b]“Never I tell you! Never will I let that happen!”[/b] Xenelith continued. Embolden by the crowd. [b]“We have suffered for this world! We have fought for it! We will fight for it again and again! For as long as is needed!”[/b] The Dark Elves rose from their seats in applause.

Xenelith basked in it. He let it go on for a minute. Some fairies joined in. Though not all. Finally, he raised his hand to calm everyone down. [b]“Do not despair my friends. For fight I have done indeed. Yet it is not my hand alone that wields the blade. There is still loyalty in this world. There are still those who understand the truth: the rebels cannot win. These brave men and women allow us to be one step ahead of these traitors at all times.”[/b] He raised his hand towards the furthest Dark Elf on the other side of the chamber. Who opened the door he was guarding. Two more guards dragged in an elderly female fairy. Her wings were clearly torn and her face beaten. [b]“Behold! The fruit of their labor. The vilest of criminals.”[/b] The fairies would recognize the woman instantly. She was a well-known figure in the healing center. Wise and kind, even the animals came to her if they were wounded. More importantly, she was a mentor to many accomplished healers. [b]“For years she spread her poison amongst your children.”[/b] Xenelith declared as he looked down upon the fairies. Then he turned to his fellow dark elves again. [b]“Look upon her now my friends.”[/b] He took her by the hair and raised her bruised and swollen face towards the rows of dark elves. Instantly the chamber grew a little darker and shadows a little longer. [b]“This is the face that wants to kill you. That wants to take away your life. That wants to banish you to Dakka again.”[/b] He threw her face against the hard, stone floor. [b]“Will you let that happen!?”[/b] He yelled out. 

“No! No! No!” As the Dark Elves yelled their unified response, the room grew darker still. Any light was being pushed back.

[b]“No!”[/b] Xenelith joined in. [b]“We will not!”[/b] He pulled his own blade. [b]“For a century we talked. We listened. I say enough is enough! We will not sit idly by as cowards’ blades inch closer to our lives! The time for diplomacy is over! Now is a time for action! For deeds! No more mercy!”[/b]

The crowd joined him, chanting: “No more mercy.” As he raised his blade and let it fall down onto the crippled woman beneath him. Her death caused an uproar in the benches. With the tip of his blade still bloody he marched out of the room. The peace they had given was over. Civil unrest would soon fully grip the River Fairy Kingdom. Fueled by the names of those branded rebels. Though curiously the Sycamore family was never charged. That night Xenelith and his prisoners took an Amoras from the River Kingdom and headed for Roshimi.
[hr]
Xenelith was wide awake long before the sun rose. He was meditating and preparing for the day ahead. It was a method he had developed over the last few decades. Dark Magic was fueled by your own emotions. Agony, hatred, sadness. It all culminated into more power. So every dawn he confronted himself with his own worst memories. Now he had one more. The killing of his wolf. It was a weapon now. A way to make his power just a little stronger still. Yet he could feel the sickness rising in his body. His mortal form couldn’t cope with such pain every day. His hair had already begun to wither. He opened his eyes and looked at his hand. The weakness of his own flesh began to disgust him. The sweet siren song of Lichdom called him once more. Perhaps someday Aklenroth would deem him worthy.

A guard opened the door to his chambers as the sun came over the horizon. “Sir. Sycamore is ready at the gates.” Xenelith gave him a nod of acknowledgment. Moments later the commander approached Dionaea’s father. The man looked tired and hungry. His skin looked untouched but pale, thought that was because his own daughters were allowed to heal him before he left. Lotus should have had hollow eyes. Eyes of a broken man. Yet he didn’t. Xenelith recognized the spark. [b]“Remember, bring her to me. Your family already suffered enough because of Risa’s fantasies. Your children shouldn’t keep paying the consequences. Bring her to me and your family will be saved.”[/b] The gate opened up behind Lotus. The Dark Elves had been stationed in a villa complex in the middle of Roshimi. It was a beautiful place and allowed quick access to the main roads. Lotus just released the grip and moved into the streets of Roshimi.

An hour later Xenelith himself marched into the city as it began to awaken properly. The Light Elf governor was an interesting figure. Old enough to perhaps have known the banishment first hand. Yet ironically he became a servant of Aklenroth. All Dark Elves despised all Light Elves, but few were more hated than Terneus. Gossips of his antics spread far and wide. He was, after all, the perfect Light Elf. Haughty, arrogant, privileged. How hard could it be that his entire kind was like him? It also made him a prime suspect whenever and wherever some rebels appeared. Though he had never been caught. Well, that was until he decided to come to Roshimi.

Xenelith and his troops turned the corner just in time to hear Terneus’ last words of his rant.

[b][color=6ecff6]"I, whose only crime in this world is to have been born beautiful..."[/color][/b]

The whole band stopped in their tracks. Momentarily stunned as if the cheer arrogance had formed a club and hit them. The gossips were wild about him but to see such extravagant ego in the flesh, it was literally stunning. 

“Beautiful? I’ve seen owlbears on Dakka more beautiful than him.” Leandron whispered, perhaps a little louder than what was courteous. Everyone had to suppress their laughter.

[b]“Terneus Andros.”[/b] Xenelith called out to announce his own presence. He deliberately left out the title. [b]“Commander Fledrin.”[/b] He continued, giving the Light Elven commander a curt bow. [b]“What a surprise to find such an honorable servant of Aklenroth here, in times like these. Are you here to offer me your aid in search of the rebels?”[/b]