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[hider=Violet Eyes]

The party had long since subsided, and with a hearty meal in their stomachs even the most wary of the party had decided it was a good time to get some rest. In fact it seemed as though the whole group was asleep at this point, whether it was in their own little corner or by the table some of them had been eating at a few hours prior. For Thomas, the latter applied. Except he wasn't asleep. He was resting in wait until he was absolutely sure that the rest of the group wouldn't be able to notice him sneaking around. For the boy had his own intentions to carry out, and he wanted to make sure that he didn't get any unwanted attention. 

Gently, he got himself up on his feet, unable to resist a brief stretch of the arms before lightly stepping towards the exit of the fort. His plan was nearly foiled almost immediately however, when he almost tiptoed directly into the sleeping Riku. He was surprised, not least because he hadn't realised how close she'd been the whole time. But nonetheless, after a few long seconds of bated breath and so much muscle tension it would make a statue look like an athlete, Thomas was reassured that the girl hadn't stirred and continued on, this time making completely sure he wasn't going to knock into Katie or whoever else happened to be sleeping in his vicinity. 

Once Thomas would pass by all the sleeping adventurers and come closer to the exit from the fort building, he would be able to see through the entrance as well as through the cracks in the walls a lonely figure sitting outside. The Abyss knew no day and night cycle, so it was the same eerie gloom of the Abyss to linger over the barren lands with the dim light barely making it through into the depths. It appeared motionless completely to Thomas’s eyes, almost completely impossible for any change to occur in here. What would make this impression to have even more sinister sensation is for that lonely figure being Runa - the demon was sitting almost in the very same position she was found by Thomas earlier in the day, before they ventured on killing the monster. Sitting and gazing into the horizon, again her notebook in her hands as she was to scribble in there, adding some details to her sketch - unseen to Thomas's eye.

Riku hummed in her sleep, a troubled one with an onset of bad dreams and dark feelings. She'd squirm around in her sleepsack, hearing something rustle about her. Thomas had already moved past her when she awoke with a cracked eye. Sleep wouldn't be worth it this evening considering the quality so far. Still in a groggy haze, the princess would sit up on her bottom and stretch out her arms. Some water might help her and moving about to lull her restless body back into sleep. 

In the darkness now two people stirred about, and they'd soon collide as Riku bumped into Thomas right at the exit of the fort. She stumbled backward with a gasp, shocked out of her sleepy stupor.

[color=ed145b]"Oh, sorry!"[/color]

They seemed to meet this way consistently. 

Thomas had to make a conscious effort not to make any sudden movement or sound as Riku surprised him for the second time in the past couple of minutes, this time while she was conscious. Even after she spoke, he simply stared at her with wide violet eyes for a few seconds, as though he was completely unsure of what to do or say. And, having just noticed Runa as well, he began to feel like his plan of sneaking off completely unnoticed was beginning to fall apart. 

[color=violet]"N-no worries. I didn't realise anyone else was awake..."[/color] He spoke in a far less animated tone than the girl in front of him did, trying to keep his voice down so as not to disturb anyone else. The last thing he needed was Kanbaru or Katie on his case. 

The boy took another couple of seconds to think before speaking again. [color=violet]"Hey, could you maybe not tell anyone you saw me up and about? I've just... gotta go do something and I didn't want to disturb you guys or anything. I was hoping I'd slip out without anyone seeing."[/color] As if prompted by his own words, he looked out through the cracks in the wall again to check if Runa was still in that same position as before. 

Runa was not. In fact, in the moment of slight collision between Thomas and Riku, when they two got distracted with each other, the demon moved, and now she was standing in the door frame, calmly looking over both of them. With a smile she usually has, she made a light motion with her hand, gesturing to follow her and outside of the fort building - to whom that gesture was directed though - was it Thomas, Riku, or both of them - was not very clear. 

[color=ed145b]"Not tell anyone? Why? Are you leaving?"[/color]

Riku probably would've left alone but Thomas's insistence on keeping things secret aroused her curousity immediately. 

[color=ed145b]"Are you going to go do something dangerous? Cuz I just did a couple hours ago. I fought a monster all by myself."[/color] There was a boastfulness in her tone that she did not entirely intend. She'd pull away a moment to clear her throat. She felt she was being watched by someone, but had always felt that way in the Abyss. It was never safe anywhere entirely.

Then she caught sight of Runa, a bit surprised she hadn't noticed her earlier. "Hey! Haven't we met before?" Her voice rose up and she quickly covered her own mouth to not be too loud. 

[color=ed145b]"Are you two working together? Is that it? I saw you two talking..."[/color]

Riku's question could probably be answered by Thomas' own expression, which was, as was becoming a theme so far, surprise. He didn't bother to question it though. After all, he'd seen Runa flickering around plenty of times by now. Having her go from one space to another quickly, without either him or Riku noticing, didn't seem like too far of a stretch.

[color=violet]"Uh... well, I'm not sure really..."[/color] Thomas replied vaguely, speaking as though his mind was in a completely different place before. Without another word being spoken though, he followed Runa outside, seemingly not bothered about Riku's knowledge of what he was doing anymore. He could probably trust her anyway, after all. As long as he came back. 

The Abyss looked all the same as before - the wasted landscape of different appearance from what it was when the travellers arrived to the fort before. Nothing changed - nor the land itself, nor the light casted on it - it was all the same shade of foggy light barely piercing through the mass of twisted waters surrounding the place and barely touching the ground with the light bleak and lifeless. Same was the land through which they stepped, slowly and steadily - Runa leading the party of two further on. Passing past the fort’s entrance, they first were to walk through the ruins of the desolated buildings, growing from the ground like broken twisted flowers of wood. Runa knew what was on Thomas’s mind, she also suspected what was on Riku’s mind, but as per usual she needed these people to word out what they are to do. 
Such was demon’s nature

[color=FireBrick]“And so you rise from the slumber of yours, Thomas. Dedicated by the motion in your thoughts to follow through.. but where to? What for?”[/color], Runa asked as she looked over her shoulder to meet with Thomas eye to eye, [color=FireBrick]“What are you searching for here?”[/color], she asked as she stepped further, carefully and slowly leading the pair through the alleys formed out of the broken buildings, giving an impression like if it was a real city for the moment. 

[color=FireBrick]“And you? Riku. There is more in your heart here than just monster searching. There is little doubt you would follow Thomas here so I did not ask you anything, but why would you be so persistent?” [/color]

Riku kept herself steady on the rugged terrain of the Abyss. She had to be careful where she placed her boots and kept her eyes to the ground for much of the time. Ocassionally looking up to keep an eye on Runa and Thomas and keep close together. The blasted apart landscape was exciting, thrilling and a bit terrifying. Runa's question aroused Riku from her focus, making her pause and think a moment. She hadn't thought much about it.

[color=ed145b]"Oh, I don't know. I want to get to know you guys better. I wanna prove my worth around here. Plus, something about Thomas seemed interesting! I swear I've seen those eyes before...but...I just can't quite put my finger on it."[/color]

She'd give the boy a hard stare, observing his details before putting it aside. No way he was associated with that family, they had just been legends and myths. The similar appearance was uncanny, however.

[color=violet]"Hm?"[/color] Thomas turned to glance at Riku, having sworn he saw the girl study his features, though it seemed like if she was she'd lost interest by now. It would make sense though, given what she'd said just seconds prior, something that piqued Thomas' own interest. If he was thinking along the right lines, then perhaps this was another piece in the theoretical jigsaw puzzle he was piecing together in his mind. An idea built only what he'd noticed from subtle notions or actions, or things that had been said. But after the pizza party, and after this especially, he was more convinced than ever.

The boy wasn't sure whether to answer or ask a question first, but given that things were still brewing in his mind about the girl, he quickly decided it would be better to answer Runa's question before anything else. After all, there was no use avoiding it. And either way, he figured the guide already knew what his answer would be.

[color=violet]"I'm searching for someone, to confront them."[/color] Thomas answered, looking ahead to Runa, and even past her. [color=violet]"I hadn't planned to but... I guess something you said earlier gave me that extra push I needed."[/color]

[color=FireBrick]“Prove your worth, hm?”[/color], Runa asked Riku with a sudden stop as the demon then turned around and looked directly into the princess's eyes, [color=FireBrick]“But to who? Yourself? Or others? Seeking confirmation in your strength would keep you astray from the power you really strive for…”[/color], Runa said to the princess and then thought to herself “and possess”, but she did not say anything in that regard and only gave a short nod to her before addressing Thomas next. 

[color=FireBrick]“Speak her name, Thomas. All present here know full too well who you want to challenge as there were little people - and even less of an enemy - you have encountered since your arrival here. Speak her name because in wording it out you would find the needed determination. Confess your thoughts to words”[/color], Runa said as she looked in Thomas’s eyes as well; demon’s eyes again starting to shift in the shade of their color as she observed the pair before her, before noticing something she did not before. 

[color=FireBrick]“Hm.. Interesting. Since you spoke so Riku, it is a glint not in the eye but of your both traces into the past that you somewhat share. Peculiar.”[/color]

[color=ed145b]"Oh! You got a death wish! You just wanna fight whoever? Like that Ami girl?"[/color]

Riku asked to Thomas, putting her secondary thoughts aside to focus on the matters at hand. "I guess I can't make fun of ya too much. I'm hoping for the same thing! I wanna mess up Ami, and get her back for our last duel."

[color=ed145b]"So who's butt are you hoping to kick? I hope it's not mine. Is it Ami too? Someone else?"[/color]

She'd spare a glance to Runa, wondering what the cryptic demon was getting up to. Did she know something they didn't? Well of course she did, she was Runa. That didn't mean Riku would just happily stay ignorant though!

[color=ed145b]"What do you know that you are telling us, huh? You look like a devil with those horns y'know, and I don't trust devils!"[/color]

[color=violet]"Ami? Uh- no, not her."[/color] Thomas scratched the back of his head, looking over to Riku and then back to Runa as the tension turned up a notch. As the tension increased though, so did Thomas' anticipation and curiosity as to what would come or be said next. The fact that Runa seemed to know more about them than she initially let on almost made the boy forget all about voicing his purpose for why he was there in the first place. But finally, he said it.

[color=violet]"I wanna..."[/color] He paused for a moment, exhaling. It felt a litle weird and awkward to just announce it like this. [color=violet]"I want to confront Nephy."[/color] Thomas paused again, letting it sink in now that he'd said it. Words always seemed to have an amplified effect on someone when they were spoken, not just thought. 

[color=violet]"Now... what is it that you know about us that you're not saying? How are our pasts shared?"[/color] He continued, backing up Riku's own, if not slightly more upfront, question. The more the demon seemed to speak, the clearer the picture in his head began, though that still made it no easier to fathom. 

[color=FireBrick]“And I am not asking for trust. Trust is earned, not given.”[/color], Runa spoke calmly and with no change in her voice and glance of her eyes as she as looked at Riku with a soft smirk shaped on the lips and a light chuckle to emerge as well. She took a short pause seeing that Thomas is gathering his strengths to speak up at long last, his body language revealing to Runa some of the tension possessing him as he was to finally speak of his plan.

[color=FireBrick]“Thought so. Intriguing. I wonder where it will lead you. Nephetos won’t think twice before slashing your body apart and consuming your soul, and frankly it would serve her a quick snack similar to a slice of pizza you travellers experienced.”[/color], Runa said looking into Thomas’s eyes, in an attempt to read his emotions and what really drove him to such a decision: [color=FireBrick]“Though you might as well acknowledge that “push”. Things lingering within you are asking to come out”[/color], Runa said and then stepped beside slightly, watching over the pair before her, to once again look over who they were and where the said trace of past were leading to. 

[color=FireBrick]“Peculiar that the girl who reads the past did not tell you that. Unlike other… friends of yours, who have a distinct shade of past individual towards each of them, yours… come from the same space momentum. You are of same birthplace, if you may.”[/color], Runa spoke to Riku and Thomas, words somewhat more direct than before.

[color=ed145b]"You want to fight that crazy wolf that attacked all of us!? What!?"[/color]

Riku had to stop and take a breath from the shock. Was Thomas serious!? That wolf had even given Kanbaru trouble and taken on much of the group all by herself. She was deadly and immensely powerful, and had thrown Riku across the lagoon like a rock.

[color=ed145b]"Thomas, listen to Runa. Nephy will kill you, and eat your soul. Maybe not in that order. She's way too dangerous, you can't just go throw yourself away like that! How would you even find where she was anyways!?"[/color]

Runa's comment about the same birthplace finally comes up to the surface. 

[color=ed145b]"Are you saying we're both from Fable? Huh. Well now I even have more of an interest to make sure you don't get sliced apart by a wolf! Thomas don't be stupid!"[/color]

Thomas was half ignoring what Riku was saying to him. Not out of defiance or irritation, but the boy was simply just stunned by what Runa had said, and what was then confirmed by Riku as she spoke the name of the land he'd come from. Violet eyes hung wide open, slightly agape and quivering lips showing the face of a boy whose mind had just been well and truly blown.

[color=violet]"S-so we're..."[/color] He looked between Runa and Riku, gesturing to himself and the latter. [color=violet]"We're both from... I had no idea."[/color] Actually, the boy had had some idea, but the weight of the realisation beared down upon him upon him in such a way that it didn't even matter at this point. His eyes finally settled on Riku, unsure what to do. There was such a rush of varied emotions within him that he felt like hugging Riku or asking her a million questions, or just crying. Given his last memories of Fable any of those options, and the others that went through his mind like shooting stars in the night sky, would've been appropriate. Instead, after a few seconds, his face softened into a wide, genuine smile. His eyes even seemed to well up just a little bit.

[color=violet]"It's nice to know I'm not alone. You have... no idea..."[/color] There was still pain in his eyes though, and as his smile faded it was with those eyes that he looked over to Runa again. [color=violet]"But I'm going to find Nephy. Maybe..."[/color] He knew how foolish this would sound even before he said it, but at this point it was an excuse more than anything. [color=violet]"Maybe there's some way I can reason with her. Without things having to get violent. Or too violent, at least."[/color]

[color=FireBrick]“She will if he would allow her too.”[/color], Runa said simply once again, simply stating the things already quite obvious and just reflecting them for Thomas to hear and ponder on. “Even though the desire pushing him through and onward towards where the mad wolf is resting is of no difference from your desire to find peace in defeating mentioned Ami, Riku. It is a sign of a warrior who yearns for the blood of their enemy to wash the taste of defeat still lingering and staining your dignity.”, Runa watched directly into Riku’s eyes as she spoke, a soft smile on her lips contrasting too much and too hard with the words she was to say. 

[color=FireBrick]“The difference is haste. After all, Thomas, your dignity is useless if your head is detached from your body.. unless of course you find the existence of a head tucked away in a vase to remain alive for as long as it produces enough of pain to sip on to be comfortable for you”[/color], Runa said with a smirk - not clear if it was a joke or not, either way it surely was not to be taken lightly. 

[color=FireBrick]“Remember what I said about her madness, Thomas? Her madness is a worldview so strong that it warps the world around her. Unless you are capable of sharing that view with her, your attempts to word with her are to reduce you to yet another pebble on her way. And be honest with yourself, your desire to find her has nothing to do with reasoning. The only reasoning here is the strive for power that guides you”[/color]

Runa said and then looked at Riku once again: [color=FireBrick]“If the name of the real you two come from is Fable - then yes, this is what I mean. And this is what I say.”[/color]

While Thomas was having a wave of feelings wash over him over the news, the princess failed to appreciate the weight of what she had just said to the boy. To her, she hadn't been gone from Fable for very long and had her many reasons to want to stay away and avoid her home. Though, the emotion that Thomas displayed did get Riku's attention.

Runa's words too would cut through her argument. She'd pull away and throw her arms against her chest as she wished to stubbornly insist that they were two different things. Her chase of Ami was different to her! Words failed her, and she could think of no arguments for herself.

[color=ed145b]"Okay. Thomas. I'll help you. We've got similar journeys and even the same home. I can't let you go get yourself killed. Which is why, I should tell you with all due respect and kindness that trying to talk to Nephy is really, really stupid."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"But. If you insist. I'll come help you. You shouldn't have to do this alone. Right Runa? You're helping too. It's official now. I decided for you."[/color]

She'd give a tiny smile to the demon, finding a way to get her back for poking at the princess's words earlier.

As he'd expected, Thomas' hastily thought deathwish of an excuse was met with heavily valid criticism from the other two, who seemed to be having a little spat of their own. But, before he managed to think of something else to say, Riku surprised him with an offer to help the boy out. He hadn't expected it given what Nephy had done to her earlier, as well as the way she'd reacted just now to his intentions for sneaking out in the first place.

[color=violet]"Well... only if you're sure. But thanks, Riku. For having my back, and not letting any of the others know about this. I owe you one."[/color] He offered the girl another smile before turning with a slight look of uncertainty to Runa. Whether she'd help them or not was one thing, but getting to Nephy in the first place was a completely different matter. The Abyss was huge, and the samurai could've been anywhere at this point. Luckily, the one person that could lead them to her was standing just a few feet ahead of them, giving the two that same smirk she usually did.

[color=violet]"Do you know where she is?"[/color]

[color=FireBrick]“It is stupid, most of all for the reason you are still hesitant about your true motives for that, Thomas. Don’t hesitate to confess them to yourself and follow them as it is your desire for this fight”[/color], Runa said with a shrug; Riku deciding for the demon was only met with an all familiar smirk as Runa looked at the girl with a light bow - more of a cheeky one than anything else: [color=FireBrick]“It is only of my duty as a guide for you adventurers to help you out in finding your way through this land wretched and wasted. Even though I of course can not guarantee your ability to survive through this endeavour, I assure you to help.”[/color], Runa said and then once again motioned her hand in a gesture to make Riku and Thomas follow her, once again leading them through the ruins of the city.

[color=FireBrick]“You don’t need to look for long. The Abyss is a land vast and huge, though the Mad Wolf is always on the hunt, she is always in the motion. Her senses are of another world, outer world. If you may”[/color], Runa said, finding it peculiar and amusing to know the same trace of the past leading these two to the same place Nephy was from too. She did not say anything in that regard though. She knew how dangerous the words could be.

[color=FireBrick]“She would find us sooner or later herself, but there are some hunting grounds she favors the most. Surprisingly the lagoon you all appeared at is one of these places, but we should venture to the other place. It would be easier to wait for her there”[/color]

[color=ed145b]"The other place? Where is that at?"[/color]

Riku popped up next to Runa, eyeing her intently. Her gray eyes shifted over to Thomas, wondering what he thought on the matter. This was becoming real, a true fact that they were going to go after that wolf. It filled Riku's heart with a upward excitement, the dread and fear pushed out for now.

[color=ed145b]"I wanna kick her butt too, for calling me scum. No one does that, especially when she'll figure out who I am. Then she'll be really sorry. Let's find her first, before she tracks us down. If we have the element of surprise, all the better."[/color]

[color=ed145b]"This is going to be fun. We're going to be a real good team! I have a good feeling!"[/color] Riku let her excitement spill over, wide awake and full of energy regardless of the lack of sleep. 

Who she is? Thomas took notice of those, to the other two at least, seemingly mundane words. But given the state of mind Thomas was in right now, nothing that either of them said slipped past him without thought. Was she someone of importance then?

[color=violet]"Mm, yeah."[/color] Thomas nodded back to Riku. Though he wasn't exactly one to emote it as obviously as Riku did, at least not at the moment, the boy did feel genuine excitement build up like butterflies in his tummy. He was nervous, sure, but it was definitely comforting to have someone else coming along with him now, aside from Runa. And as for the question he had for Riku, he figured he'd save that for later. After all, one question would only lead to another, and he didn't want his curiosity to bring their endeavours to a grinding halt just because of his own curiosity. After all, this whole thing had been started by him. 

[color=violet]"Will we be able to get the jump on her even if we manage to get to this other place first? We didn't even notice her last time until she came to confront us."[/color]

Runa led on the party of two through the alleyways of the ruins, turn after turn, slipping under blockades, through thinner and more narrow passages, making sudden turns and climbing through the rubble. It could felt like a labyrinth of neverending structure, with no logic behind it either, a randomly formed shape of nature. Runa flickered every once in a while like she usually did, making sure that neither Riku nor Thomas are lost in the way. Both would feel that the labyrinth is way too bigger than it looked from the outer perspective, it was fusing with itself, looking like it looped onto itself and was just an anomaly on its own, a part of reality laws broken here and making no sense. 

[color=FireBrick]“Don’t mind the dizziness. It is natural here. It will soon pass”[/color], Runa told both as she ventured on, [color=FireBrick]“The ruins are not natural, when the world above has broken apart it also brought some of its magic back into here, colliding with the world of the Abyss it led to the most… unexpected results. Do not have fear, I know the way. We are almost there.”[/color]

***

[color=FireBrick]“You should prepare for some guests to arrive”[/color]
Runa’s voice and shape in one of these flickers would also appear elsewhere - unknown to Riku and Thomas. In the grand lake, covered over by a thick rocky formation of a cave, within which grew trees - actual wooden trees to emerge from the rocks and vine around the walls of the cave to cast a green shelter of the leaves over the water of the lake crystal clear. A little heaven amidst the desolated lands of hell. 

***

The wolf samurai lay in a deep meditation, eyes closed and kneeling on her bare legs in the small shrine she had built hereslf in the murky grotto. It was a poor substitute for the well designed temples from her old home, but it was as good as she could make it. A carved wooden arch hung before her, with a broken bell salvaged from the ruined city. Nephetos sat underneath it, only able to hear the noise of the bell every few minutes. A ceremony designed to open one's body up to the spiritual world beyond them. Runa's voice slipped in during this time, fitting as a voice from the beyond.

Nephy's cold eyes awoke, opening fully and alert as the warning was received. The wolf craned her head upwards to the arch above her, letting out a deep exhale. Her worn and transformed body felt the weight of her journey deep in its being.

[color=92278f]"A perfect time for an offering." [/color]

There she would wait, for Runa to deliver those two souls to her. Then it would be time to feast.

***

The paradoxical immensity of the abyssal labyrinth Runa guided Thomas and Riku through was noted by the boy, but especially with Runa's explanation he figured he needn't question it. Nonetheless, it was still as interesting to look around as it was occasionally mind-bending, completely individual to any place he had been to before in every way possible. 

As Runa flickered on in front of them, though not so much that the two ever fully lost sight of her, Thomas moved over to Riku, walking alongside her. Maybe it would be a good idea to have some plan of what to do once they actually got to Nephy. After all, Runa hadn't said anything about where exactly they were going yet, and that wasn't even considering the rampant, murderous wolf that they would confront once there. And if they were getting close now, they wouldn't have much time to strategise as it was, anyway.

[color=violet]"So... do we have a plan?"[/color] The boy turned his eyes to Riku as he spoke, a mild amount of concern in his expression. After all, this was going to be his first proper battle without half of the team at his side. [color=violet]"I'm not really sure if she has any weaknesses we can exploit, but at least if we know what we're doing we might have some kind of advantage over her."[/color]

Soon enough all of the three could finally see the gap of landscape to be seen through the broken structure forming the walls of the labyrinth around them. It was the very same landscape still - the very same they got used to for the hours of spending their time at the fort and around it; even though this time once Runa led them out of the close and tight space of the alleys and corridors onto the wasted grounds and everyone was to look around, they could see that indeed the fort they were at was a long way away from them, too uncannily far away - closer to the edge of the horizon. 

[color=FireBrick]“Here we are.”[/color], Runa said and made a soft gesture of her hand to show around the landscape - it is here the travellers would see an opening in the ground - leading down under the empty lands as the gaping maw was inviting them to follow down into the rocky cave. 

[color=FireBrick]“The plan? You tell me, Thomas. You are eager to fight Nephetos after all, as well the girl here so eager to help. What are you going to do? What are you two going to do?”[/color], Runa asked with a smile.

***

A voice over Nephetos’s ear was soft and floating through the time like it was out of outer place indeed. It was somewhat, given the demon spoke through time and space, her voice breaking the laws of reality. 

[color=FireBrick]“The boy. And the girl. Both possess powers more than they are aware of as of now. Sharpen them enough for them to become aware of what they are. It would make a more fruitful reaping”[/color]


[color=ed145b]"Hmm. She's likely to be alone. We can confront her together, and use numbers. But...didn't you want to try talking to her first or something?"[/color]

Riku turned to look at Thomas, after all this had been his mission.

[color=ed145b]"We got numbers and surprise on our side at least. But yeah, I don't see any way this won't be a tough fight."[/color]

The princess took her scythe from her belt, unleashing the weapon with a large spear stretching up into the air with a sharp blade at the end. The princess took it in both hands, ready for a fight with her crossbow and bombs at her belt. 

[color=ed145b]"I'm sure whatever you come up with is fine. I'm prepared for anything. So is Runa. I think. I don't even know if we've been introduced properly but hey there will be a great time to do so later!"[/color]

That was right, they hadn't even really introduced themselves to each other, not yet at least. But as Riku went on to say, there would be time for that later... hopefully.

[color=violet]"Yeah..."[/color] Thomas nodded in agreement, before giving Riku's scythe a glance up and down. He'd seen it in action before, but up close to it like this he could see just how hefty it was, and equally how dangerous it probably was as well. [color=violet]"And the thing I said earlier about talking to her, well... it was really just an excuse. I didn't think you'd wanna help me, so it was just something I said because I... I guess I was desperate."[/color] The boy seemed to say those last few words as though he was genuinely confused that he'd felt that way. Did this whole thing mean that much to him? Whether it was or not though, they'd gone too far now to just give up and go back.

[color=violet]"Yeah, let's just do this."[/color] He said, to himself just as much as the other two he was with as they descended further into the cave. A small violet glow lit up in his palm, giving way to the manifestation of his own weapon. This time, Thomas opted to start with the glaive form, feeling slightly relieved once it appeared that he was able to will it between forms already, instead of it just being a game of chance. His grip tightened on the handle.

[color=violet]"Just try not to let her separate us too much."[/color] 

[color=FireBrick]“She will be alone. For the moment at least”[/color], Runa said with a clear indication that it could change in an instant - given Nephy’s abilities to control over her dead comrades. Standing before the opened maw of the cave Runa once again observed over the both, without even saying the word it was clear that if she looked over if the pair is ready to venture further.

[color=FireBrick]“Not too late to turn back. But if you are both ready.”[/color], Runa said again with a shrug and summoned a spear to appear in her hand - in the same flickering motion and presence as it always was shaped in her hand, [color=FireBrick]“We haven’t, but I think we shared enough time during the party for us to know each other somewhat better. Some say you get to know each other during a feast and during a battle.”[/color]

Runa said with a smile and then looked at Thomas: [color=FireBrick]“Channel your desperation elsewhere. Your heart wants out.”[/color], she said and then turned around, stepping into the cave and starting to climb down. The rocky ground underneath their feet would soon turn into actual stair steps, folded like this by someone’s hand. It was indeed a home to some - some very specific white wolf who was now waiting for the guests, no doubt.

Nephy waited at her shrine, hearing the group approach far before they came into view. She remained seated on her legs and her back turned from the onlookers. On her lap before her was her precious blade, and the source of her undeath, Nekuromata. Pale hands would trace over the weapon, stroking it tenderly and careful not to scratch with the long talons of her fingers. 

[color=92278f]"How interesting it is you come to me. Here I thought our hunt would go on further, but it will end here."[/color]

Nephy's voice was relaxed and calm, the samurai in her natural element. She would stand in a well practiced motion onto her feet, facing to the side and not giving her opponents the dignity of eye contact. 

[color=ed145b]"You should've known we'd come after you!"[/color] Riku interjected, stepping forward and taking a battle stance. Her hands tingling with adredaline, hairs standing up on the back of her neck. 

Nephy gave no response to the princess, instead her gaze focused on Thomas. She took an interest in his eyes, wondering how they'd look plucked from his skull and held in the palm of her hand.

Thomas was a little confused at those final words that Runa offered him, but before he had time to dwell on them or ask her what exactly she meant, she was already walking down into the rocky depths of the cave before, neatly made steps eventually showing up as further indication that this place was different than just anywhere else in the Abyss. Before he could get too comfortable with the surroundings though, they reached the bottom.

Nerves struck him in a way he hadn't expected them to once he laid eyes on Nephy, who was, at least to him, unexpectedly calm. It was a completely opposite display as to what he'd seen earlier. He could feel his hands grow cold and shake, his heart beating faster within his chest, sounding almost like another pair of footsteps rushing down the stairs behind the group that had just arrived. With each movement the samurai made as she assumed her stance on her feet felt like another nail in a coffin of the boy's own making. He turned to Riku, and though it was clear she felt the same way, he relaxed ever so slightly at her presence in the room with him, not to mention Runa standing alongside them with her spear in hand. There was something comforting about it.

That comfort definitely dissipated slightly though, as he found the samurai's eyes staring into his once he turned back to her, giving him a look almost as sharp as the blade she held in her hands. This time though, unlike the last time he'd gone up against her, he didn't let the pressure of the situation get to him. He wasn't going to play into her stance with a mad rush.

An eye contact Nephetos would receive though - via a flickering motion of the demon getting down the stairs and for a moment staring into the eyes of Nephetos via a ghostly presence unseen by everyone but to whom this look was addressed. A glance with a short nod and a smile on lips - an invitation to stage the play they had been running for some time. A noble guide leading the heroes to fight an evil wolf. 

After that glance Runa stayed behind the pair now facing the samurai, the spear in her hand as she looked over the lake and the carefully assembled shrine Nephetos made here to create some comforting resemblance to her past. It was somewhat fitting for this place to hold the sense of dread to rise from Nephetos standing up with the sword in her hand.

[color=FireBrick]“No coming back now Thomas. Riku.”[/color], Runa said, looking at the girl then who of course yelled up to Nephetos stirring up the heat to rise between two sides. A lake between them consumed all the light casted inside of the cave, making the waters look almost shining from that. 

[color=FireBrick]“Go on. Claim what you are here for”[/color], Runa said.

Runa's words, as was becoming a recurring theme now, prompted something within Thomas. Not a total abandonment of caution, but a definite push in a less passive direction than he had first intended to take. And at the same time, as he was reminded why exactly he was here, he could already feel anger beginning to boil up again within him, pushing his nerves aside to control his adrenaline. Taking the initiative, he stepped forward. But not into a sprint, not even a run. He just walked, but each step had weight to it, a purposeful direction.

[color=violet]"Just don't expect things to go the way you might think..."[/color] Thomas replied to Nephy, the boy readying his glaive while returning that stare that the wolf had initially pierced him with.

If Nephy felt anything from Thomas's heated words and aggressive body language, she did not show it. Instead the wolf would come down barefoot from those wooden stairs, now on the same ground level with Thomas and his friends. The peaceful grotto provided a calm visual landscape for the tense drama ongoing inside of it. A fitting contrast.

[color=92278f]"No. I am sure they will go exactly as I think. With you all dead before me, and your souls mine to take. Your sacrifice is at a perfect timing."[/color]

After pausing to speak, the wolf walked forward in a confident move towards Thomas directly. She had this boy figured as a coward, someone easy to destroy. Nekuromata now in both of her hands, a small glint of the blackened blade exposed from the sheath.

[color=92278f]"Come prove me wrong, if you can."[/color]

Leaping herself forward so violently the ground she left was cracked by the force, she'd charge right towards Thomas. Her speed was like a cheetah zoning in on its prey, instead of claws it would be the katana in her hands that would slash downward at the boy. The force carried herself and Thomas away from Runa and Riku, moving past them by several feet.

[color=92278f]"I'll kill you first!"[/color]  Nephy snarled. Her eyes lit up and fangs beared as she struck attack after attack onto the glaive wielder.

***

As Nephy charged ahead with Thomas, Riku was spurrned to act. She'd rush after them, trying to close the distance as she lagged behind. 

[color=ed145b]"Dammit! That's exactly what we didn't want to happen!"[/color] She exclaimed, reaching for her crossbow.

As soon as Riku would attempt to reach and further raise her crowssbow in order to take the aim, a hand would stop her. A motion not aggressive, yet very quick and with no hesitation - a motion more of a warning: Runa’s fingers clutching at Riku’s wrist and holding her from using the said crossbow any further.

[color=FireBrick]“Taking a shot on the warrior as fast as Nephetos would require a skill outstanding - as well as keeping your friend from the line of fire. Are you sure of that shot yourself?”[/color], Runa asked calmly, as if not fazed by the sudden rush of attack Nephetos aimed on Thomas, cutting him away from the other two. 

Runa shook her head and pulled Riku’s hand back, before releasing it, making the girl step aside from Thomas fighting the wolf and gather some distance as well.

[color=FireBrick]“Your weapon relies on swings wide, in the distance Nephetos picked with Thomas right now you are risking hurting him with your attempt to interfere. Put your trust in him, He can handle the moment of this battle. Let him have it and wait for a better opening. He will give you one”[/color]

Thomas barely had time to brace himself before Nephy's sudden burst of speed and the impact that would follow as all that momentum went into her initial swing. Still though, having gone up against her before, Thomas was ready for a quick and heavy strike from the wolf, and so the impact was met with one of the blades from the boy's glaive. However, blocking didn't necessarily mean parrying, and the boy didn't have the strength he needed to defend himself and give him the opening he needed, despite his best efforts. And so, as a result, the momentum carried on, forcing Thomas back, though he managed to remain on his feet.

But there was no time to relax, not even a little. A beastly threat was the last thing he heard before an onslaught of clanging blades filled his ears, Nephy dishing out a mad flurry of blows to get past his defence. There was no way he could retaliate. She was just too fast, too dexterous. With every strike he could feel himself losing balance against her, and it was getting more and more difficult to keep up with those strikes in the first place. It was at this point though that the boy suddenly had an epiphany, probably one that many fighters like him had in moments like this. One that was so obvious that he'd have kicked himself if he'd had the time to: It wasn't like the blades he possessed were the only weapons he had. 

With that in mind, before the samurai could put him any more off balance, he slammed his foot hard into her chest with a forceful kick. If it gave Thomas enough distance, it would at least give him time to recover and get back up to speed with her.

Strike after strike like lightning slamming into the earth, Nephy's katana would attack. Thomas's glaive buckled and nearly fell under that assault as the wolf tested and played with her prey. Sparks from their exchange would fly up into the air, lighting up the once quiet and darkened grotto with the passion of battle. Thomas would land his kick forward, right into Nephy's chest. The wolf simply took the blow, unphased and unmoved and let out a cruel laugh.

[color=92278f]"How very funny. You'll have to do better than that."[/color]

With her left hand she'd yank Thomas upward by his outstretched leg, making him fall to the ground. She'd kick him twice with her leg, sending him rolling away from the force of the blows. She'd walk behind, keeping an eye on him.

[color=92278f]"Did you come here to play hero? Did you think you'd get all the glory and none of the pain? Foolishness. You are nothing but a fly in the maw of a trap, set to eat you alive!"[/color]

Nephy would launch a massive downward strike with her blade, intending to finish Thomas off right then and there.

***

[color=ed145b]"Thomas!"[/color] Riku sprinted forward, though was stopped by Runa's words. Nevertheless she'd launch a bolt from her crossbow, which was promptly deflected by Nephy without even needing to look at the projectile.

[color=ed145b]"We can't just sit here! We have to do something!"[/color] The princess cried, though she found herself without any options.

With his counter becoming his downfall, both figuratively and literally, Thomas got a taste of his own medicine with two kick to his side that sent him rolling, grazing his cheeks on the uneven rocky ground. His mind raced at a million miles an hour, words that were being said or shouted blurring past like stones being tossed past his ears, all except for a cry of his name from Riku, who was presumably still some distance away. But he needed his undivided attention if he was going to survive. 

Waiting for the moment she started bringing down her blade the boy rolled again once more to the side, barely dodging the clean slice that would've otherwise ended him, but only took a few hairs off his head instead. Using that momentum Thomas hopped up, already building another kind of momentum with his glaive, spinning those twin blades gradually faster and faster with a single hand while closing the very short distance between him and Nephy. This time, he would take the offensive.

Though it certainly wasn't a practiced technique that he was used to yet there was no doubt of its potential deadliness, the blades getting more difficult to distinguish as the rate of the spin of the glaive picked up in tempo. It was difficult to control, but at a close range to Nephy the boy didn't have much to worry about in terms of aiming or pinpointing the attack, the two blades like a windmill of death that spun out strikes in the direction of her chest and sword arm.

Nekuromata was sheathed with a click, the wolf meeting Thomas's offense with her guard. Every single attack was reflected off with powerful shoves of Nephy's arms. Thomas's glaive was fast but the wolf saw his movements before he landed. She would hop backward nimbly from his assault, suddenly unsheathing her katana to unleash a large swooping strike that threatened to swipe Thomas's chest clear from his legs if he overextended himself.

[color=92278f]"Pitiful. I'm surprised you even know how to use that thing. Is this all you have, boy?"[/color]

Nephy's sword began to glow a deep dark black and purple. When unleashed again, wide streaks of damaging strokes would crash onto Thomas like waves. Her powers allowing her sword strikes to travvel across the air as fast as arrows. Nephy would sling strike again after again at Thomas, before suddenly leaping high up into the air to cleave at the boy's head while he was busy dealing with the previous strikes. 

[color=92278f]"Come join the undead, Violet eyes!"[/color]

Luckily for Thomas, the spinning blades of the glaive made as good a defence as they did an offence, catching Nephy's first big strike and batting away the ones that came subsequently from that glowing blade. However, though not as much as the first frenzy of blows Nephy had thrown at him, the force of the blows sent Thomas back a few paces, giving Nephy the momentum to come in with one giant aerial sweep to his head with her sword only just as he finished defending himself from her previous strikes. There was no time to dodge, and given the strength behind the slash that was coming for him the boy knew that, given his own strength, his blades wouldn't individually be able to withstand the force the samurai was coming at him with.

But in his desperation, as he reflexively raised his weapon nonetheless to defend himself, his glaive began to glow. As if responding to that very desperation. Before he could even realise it the twin blades had morphed into one again, back into the sword form he'd first used against this very foe in their last battle. With the more concentrated strength of that sword Thomas met Nephy's slash with his own, one hand on the hilt and one hand on the flat of the blade once their strikes met, pushing forward with all his might to halt the wolf's momentum completely and get her back down onto the ground.

[color=violet]"Not a chance..."[/color] Thomas almost growled out his reply through gritted teeth, those violet eyes staring with dangerous conviction up at Nephy, completely unflinching in his gaze.

Nephy was relentless. Each strike would be followed up by another and even more furious. Sparks are flying from the sword clashes as Thomas was battered and beaten down but stubbornly holding out on his own. His glaive saving his life with its abilities to transform at will. 

[color=92278f]"You are interesting, little whelp. How something as tiny and insignificant as you has such a backbone. It makes me want to cut you down to size all the more."[/color]

Thomas succeeded in halting the wolf's momentum. She'd jump backwards in a blur of movement that appeared more like she teleported between her previous and present spot. Again her form would begin to glow that dark purple as a low hum of infernal power could be heard in the air. She is stalking her prey again, walking around carefully with unblinking eyes and a lick at her lips.

Riku is racing behind her, scythe held high and determined to join this fight by any means. Runa was left behind as the princess charged ahead, but still then she was too slow for Nephy's next move.

Like the clap of thunder Nephy burst forward with a thunderous shockwave of power. Like lightning she'd move even faster and be upon Thomas immediately. She hadn't attacked from the front as she usually had, instead opting to strike from the side and just out of view. A streak of purple and red slashed outward as Nephy landed a hard cut to Thomas's ribs, sending him flying backward.  The wolf landed gracefully where Thomas once stood, streaking his blood across the floor with a flick of her sword.

[color=92278f]"I will not play games with you anymore, boy. You don't have power. I do. It is this simple."[/color]

No matter what Thomas could pull out of the bag though, Nephy was just too strong for him at this point. And while Thomas was left panting in one spot after defying a grizzly end from her blade once again she was calmly waiting for the best moment to strike, pacing around the boy in the most unnerving manner. Always one step ahead, always forcing him to react. 

Despite his own words earlier about sticking together, in the heat of battle Thomas had almost completely forgotten Riku and Runa's presence in the grotto with him and his opponent. Until, that is, he noticed a familiar weapon with its user charging forward to assist him. And for a moment he was hopeful. If the two of them had each other's backs from now, then they could stand a chance-

That hope was cut dead short, both figuratively and literally, by that glowing blade as it tore right through his side. He'd barely even registered Nephy's sudden dash to him it had been so fast, only a glimpse of the pale wolf in his peripheral vision before he was sent flying by the shockwave of the strike into a hard stone wall. Immediately the blood began to pour, seeping through yet another tear in his jacket and onto the ground. The pain came imminently after, a sort of delayed reaction that built into an overwhelming burning from his wound that emanated throughout the rest of his body. He felt nauseus and weak, his weapon slipping out of his grasp and onto the ground while Nephy dismissed him with a flick of her blade to rid it of the blood she'd spilt.

And yet, there was something he felt even stronger. Even through all the pain and dizziness, what kept him absolutely lucid was an evergrowing anger building up within him. That boiling pot of emotion he'd accessed with Runa just hours before felt now like an ocean of fire, one that he desired, with every fibre of his being, for Nephy to drown in. Even the thought of it was making Thomas grind his teeth in rage. And it was this that forced him back onto his feet, when many may have taken the safer choice to remain down. But the boy wasn't down with the wolf quite yet.

He clutched his bleeding side, his head drooping down towards the ground as he dragged his feet step by step, breathing heavily before forcing out a few pained words.

[color=violet]"I'm not done... with you... We have a score... to settle. You hear me? You mutt..."[/color]

The fight continued on, there was little break in it, there was little mercy to be given from either side. With Riku beside Runa was tracing around both fighters, keeping herself from entering the fight as of now - she only kept observing, looking. Like a judge, watching over the fight to be sure that all the rules are kept as they are. Only her judgment was of no simple fight of honor between two enemies. She was making sure that the fight was going into the direction she was interested in. The direction that would give all of them a relief off of their burdens. 

Riku charging in to rush for help to Thomas was not in time to prevent - even to react possible - for the slashing move Nephy was preparing for Thomas. Before the Princess could rush in towards her wounded friend and get into the fight herself, Runa dashed towards her and grabbed her onto the shoulder once again, pulling her away from moving onward.

[color=FireBrick]“No.”[/color], Runa said simply and shook her head, while watching the wounded Thomas get up, holding onto his bleeding side, while still being determined to continue this battle. Runa watched closely and carefully - and in that gaze Riku standing beside the demon could see how Runa’s eyes were to slightly shift in the color - it was a difference of a mere shade, a hint of light perhaps to fall differently - or it was indicating some other things, or some thoughts roaming demon’s mind. 

[color=FireBrick]“He is on the edge of becoming more than he ever was prior to this moment. Do not take it away from him.”[/color], Runa said, watching Thomas with unblinking eyes. 

[color=ed145b]"He's on the edge of dying! How could you think anything else!?"[/color] Riku cried, eyes alight with fear and anxiety. She didn't want to watch that boy die in front of her, even if they hadn't known each other long. She had just found out he was from Fable too, they had so much to learn! It wouldn't be right to let this monster kill him!

Yet Runa persisted and spoke with a infectious calm. She knew something Riku didn't, and she could detect that. Regardless Riku would ready her crossbow and aim a bolt at Nephy's back, prepared to fire if need be. [color=ed145b]"I'll take that wolf away from him the second she tries something..."[/color]

***

[color=92278f]"A score? A grudge? I don't even know who you are, weakling."[/color]

Nephy would kick Thomas right in his injured side, aggrevating the wound even further. Her toes would be bathed in his blood before she slammed the boy forward and sent him rolling down a small hill, landing in a heap below.

[color=92278f]"My grudge is with the gods and shoguns of this world. A grudge born from the death of everything I knew. My entire clan and family destroyed in a single night. You know nothing of scores to settle. You are just a little pitiful degenerate who thought you could come into this Tower and play hero."[/color]

Nekuromata is unsheathed with a crack of her sheath, the sword shining in the darkened environment with dark power. 

[color=92278f]"I will give you new purpose as a life for my ancestors. A life for my mother. There, you will have your new and true meaning as a soul to serve me!"[/color]

With that, she would lunge forward to strike the killing blow.

Strained grunts and groans escaped young Thomas with each extra hit Nephy delivered to him, and before he knew it the boy found himself on the ground once again. He bared his teeth in a grimace as he got up once again, his rage building like fuel being added to an inferno of anger with every word she spoke. His body shook with his audible and heavy breath, but he didn't once look up to the samurai that mocked him, head still bowed towards the ground. In fact, he didn't speak a word in response until she was ready to finish him off for good, charging to him with her blade ready as ever to strike him down.

[color=violet]"If you don't know who I am... then don't pretend like you know a thing about me!"[/color] Thomas cried out, his head snapping up to immediately meet his opponent's gaze. There was something different about the boy, something had changed. There was suddenly a heaviness to the air around him, an aura that matched the absolute conviction and hatred in the look he gave Nephy. Probably not too dissimilar to the very aura that Thomas had picked up from Nephy the first time he'd laid eyes on her. The absolute and unobstructed intent to kill. Perhaps the most noticeable change, however, was the golden hue of his irises from which that fierce look originated.

Within a split second before Nekuromata could slice right through him, Thomas' hand shot up and grabbed it by the blade in a seemingly effortless display of reflex and accuracy. His hand, however, was not the same. Shielded by what looked to be a wreath of darkness it held the blade with an unyielding iron grip. Like a blur followed his other hand, balled up into a fist and enveloped with the same darkness, ploughing with a strength the boy had never known before right into Nephy's stomach. 

[color=violet]"My name... is Thomas Violet!"[/color]

Nekuromata is stopped by Thomas's hand in an impressive show of power. The Thomas Nephy had been battering and kicking had vanished, replaced with this new opponent that looked boldly in the eyes with those glowing golden irises. For once, Nephy appeared confused and unsure of what was happening. Her confident killer instinct faltered as Thomas proudly announced his name. Then the punch came, right to her stomach. She is sent flying upward into the sky from the sheer force of the blow, clutching her stomach as her perspective struggled to mantain focus.

She fell into a heap a few feet away from Thomas, sending up dust as she smacked into the ground. She'd cough and sputter, springing to her feet immediately and clutching her injured stomach. 

[color=ed145b]"Hell yeah Thomas! Woo! That was awesome!"[/color] Riku cheered from behind. Nephy shook her head and recollected herself, standing tall once again.

[color=92278f]"What power is that? Who gave you that? I will take it for myself if you do not tell me..."[/color] The wolf hissed, reconsidering the threat Thomas posed now. She had underestimated him.

[color=92278f]"You got one lucky hit..."[/color]

There was an overwhelming satisfaction that Thomas felt as Nephy was sent flying, similarly to how he had before, before hitting the ground with a tremendous thud. But that satisfaction was quickly replaced by desire again, even greater this time, once the feeling of the impact from the punch dissipated from his fist. Combined with this new power, it was beginning to overwhelm him, his anger. His wrath. 

Riku's and Nephy's voices were faded, almost as though he was listening to them underwater, only just about able to discern words that were spoken to him. In a way, he didn't feel himself. Almost like he was acting on instinct, but with someone's hand guiding his. As soon as Nephy was up though, all those thoughts were put aside. For now.

[color=violet]"I'm not done."[/color] He spoke quickly and in a montone voice, practically a murmur, before he was off in a flurry of shadow.

At a speed comparable to the pace at which Nephy had come at him before, the boy shifted around behind the samurai and leapt up into the air, sweeping his leg at her neck in a kick with such force that it sent a torrent of air whooshing back towards the two spectators. At all times those glowing eyes kept trained on their target, their golden colour almost like a representation of the burning hate that was driving him.

A loud crack of steel could be heard as Nephy's sheath was raised to guard against that incoming kick and received that blow. The heavy impact knocked the wolf to the side as she struggled to deflect the blow, stumbling after the guard. Immediately Nephy retaliated with a quick whip of her katana thrown from it's sheath to slash out at the boy before he could move to attack or defend. 

[color=92278f]"Powerful but inexperienced!"[/color] Nephy snarled, refusing to let a novice beat her.

The impact against that metal sheath, that otherwise may have shattered the bones in Thomas' leg, seemed to affect him in little to no way at all. And, though in the air still when Nephy retaliated with a swift slash from Nekuromata, he was no slower to retaliate. In an instant his glaive manifested in his hand to ward off the slash with an immediate quick spin, casually negating its impact and allowing him time to land safely on the ground.

No sooner than he had landed, he charged at Nephy head on with another insane burst of speed. If the samurai didn't notice in the split second it took Thomas to reach her, she'd definitely notice the shroud of shadow that had imbued itself along the glaive when its blades were swung relentlessly at her, in a series of whirling assaults similar to the one the boy had tried before. This time it was completely different though, with a level of ferocity and strength that could rival Nephy's herself, and with a spin so fast and dexterous that Nephy would be able to see Thomas' face clearly past those rotating blades, his golden eyes unflinching in their intensity. 

There was indeed a difference in Thomas' demeanor all of a sudden, a fact that translated into his blows and strikes. Wherever he swung, the shadows that danced along his weapon whipped out like an angry ash that left burning hot trails in its wake. The walls of their environment shuddered as they were lacerated from the aftermath blows and the more Thomas pressed, the denser the pressure became around every combatant. The ground began to shake with an irrent end and need for destruction as power dense and electric sparked in the air. It was enough to make hair stand on end and the deep presence of something else from Thomas pushed down on Riku and Runa. 

More and more of the landscape started to be affected. More sheers of stone and rock were sliced off like carved meat and the great ceilings of the Abyss shook and let loose falling debris that shattered on impact to the floor. The whole environment seemed to rumble and growl with the reveberation of Thomas' slashes.

Runa watched the transformation to come from Thomas with her face mostly still and expressionless, but the amusement was all shaped in her eyes, as she watched closely on Thomas and how the power which was laying dormant within him all that time was finally provoked, touched by his will and heart, and was finally exposed and brought into this world. 

[color=FireBrick]“Here it is. Here is his moment at last”[/color], the demon said to Riku as she was to witness the sudden comeback of Thomas as he laid a strike back at Nephy. [color=FireBrick]“Was worth waiting for, was it not?”[/color]. 

It seems like the demon was not fazed by the ominous hint of Thomas’s power to appear through his actions, and the presence to shape around him - more than anything Runa is quite happy about such an outcome. Was it her plan all along or not was of course up to speculation, nevertheless Thomas now looked enough to give a good fight. 
And to be able to survive for what is to come soon.

[color=FireBrick]“Oh..?”[/color], Runa hummed, asking herself as the presence in Thomas grew stronger - strong enough to reflect its unseen shape on the world around it and reveal in the pressuring motion against the demon and the princess standing beside her. Runa still remained calm on her face; her glace aimed on the boy in front of her, anticipating on what was to come out of this.

Of course, just because some people sought chaos and to wreck the place for everyone else, didn't mean others would stand and abide to having a roof collapse on them. A jet black blur whizzed by Riku and Runa so fast that only the demon would catch its shape and form. Probably. It darted forward like a comet, leapt from space to space, before landing and with it, an invisible blow to Thomas' glaive that held such force it forced him back in a heavy buffet of wind, cancelling his strikes. In truth, the clash of metal on metal wasn't invisible, but rather so fast from the speed of which Katie swung her blade. Now she stood between the two with some distance to each other, back to Nephy and Pendragon pointed at Thomas and, subsequently, the duo watching behind him. The world continud to fall apart around them. 

[color=indianred]"What the [i]hell[/i] do you think you're doing,"[/color] she hissed with barely constrained irritation. 

Golden eyes widened as Thomas' frenzied assault on Nephy was suddenly halted, forcing the boy back slightly with the pressure of the blow which countered his. When he'd gathered his bearings, he did not see who he'd expected to see in front of him as the interrupter of this escalating battle. In fact, upon realising it was Katie, his enraged expression softened quite significantly as the girl addressed him sternly. But, as though pulling him back on his previous track, his sight became somewhat clouded, flickering shadows at the sides of his vision. The Eyes were gradually taking their hold on him, more and more.

[color=violet]"Get out of my way Katie, I'm finishing what I've started!"[/color] There was bloodlust behind that warning, the brightening glow of Thomas' eyes reflected off of Pendragon as it was pointed towards him.

[color=violet]"I'm gonna kill her!"[/color] Thomas cried out, his voice sounding distorted with heavy conviction. He was losing control now, if he'd even had it to begin with. Darkness consumed his image more and more while the chaos that raged around the group continued to amplify. This wasn't Thomas, not the same Thomas at least. The usually timid and mild-mannered boy was replaced by a manifestation of his own hatred and deepest insecurities rising to the surface, his golden irises like an emblem of those blazing emotions.

Not waiting for any response from Katie, Thomas burst forward in a streak of darkness once again to get past her. There was a faint glow of violet as glaive morphed to sword, the boy's blade almost completely coated in fiery shadow poised to skewer right through Nephy.

Thomas was fast but Katie was faster and just as she did before, she was there to block Thomas' strike before it reached the wolf. Darkness and sparks flew as metal kissed metal, Katie firmly holding Thomas back in deadlock with their blades while looking over him. [color=indianred]"You're wrecking the whole place,"[/color] she said flatly with narrowed eyes. As if punctuating her statement another shard of rock fell from the roof to shatter just feet away from the boy's head. [color=indianred]"Keep it up and you'll kill all of us, so back down." [/color]

Katie’s entrance forced both Nephy and Thomas back. Her feet holding fast to the ground as she skidded backward, kicking up dust. 

[color=92278f]“Oh raven. I was wondering when you’d interfere…” [/color]

Still Nekuromata remained unsheathed and eyes focused on Thomas who also didn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. His shouting out to Nephy and claiming he’d kill her almost made her laugh.

Thomas was powering up, becoming a dark spear of shadow and rage with that golden flame illuminating all of his movements. The wolf raised her sword and curled it close to her chest. Her hand would run down the surface quickly, cutting into her skin which leaked black blood over the steel. Nekuromata hummed and charged up its own twisted power. The many enchantments and curses woven deeply into it radiating heavy power that could be felt across the entire arena. Air shimmered and flared up from the energy pulsing up.

[color=92278f]“Come to me boy. I will show you pain.”[/color]

Her blade had grown much larger, almost four times as large. A living plume of energies with the swirling of many pained spirits within. A living soul catcher almost, turned into a gigantic two  handed sword that would be ready to swat Thomas away and cleave him in half when he made his bold charge.

Instead, Katie put a stop to all the wolf's fun.

[color=92278f]“I don’t remember asking for your interference...don’t you have somewhere to go brood?”[/color] Nephy hissed, locked in her position and ready to release all her power.  "Back off or I will cut you apart as well!"

Katie was soon joined by  Riku rushing to her side. Her scythe with Penndragon to deflect Thomas’s attack. Finally the princess saw her chance to intervene and she wasn’t going to give it away. She'd aim her scythe at Nephy first, but stay turned to her side to speak towards Thomas.

[color=ed145b]“Thomas! You need to stop! This isn’t like you! You’re turning into something else!”[/color] The princess shouted. She didn’t need to know all the details to understand this wasn’t like the boy she had been adventuring with.

[color=FireBrick]“Greetings, Katie”[/color], Runa said to the flash rushing past her at speed which made the girl’s appearance look like a shapeless rush of color towards Thomas fighting Nephy. It looked like the demon was not really surprised by the appearance of the brooding dragon who instantly put herself between two fighters, aiming to stop this fight once and for all. Considering all the collapsing structure in the cave it was indeed a good time to stop now, even Runa agreed to it. 

[color=FireBrick]“Ah, you might be right”[/color], she said and followed the rushing Riku who dashed towards Thomas who was stuck consumed by the power which awoke within him and started to twist him in various directions, taking control over what he was. Runa stepped closer to the princess trying to reach out for the shaking presence of the boy and leaned over to her ear, in order to whisper to her: 

[color=FireBrick]“Look at him. Power takes him away from himself. Remind him of what he is. You two share a home, you two share the past. You can bring him back, Riku. Do it.”[/color], Runa gave a command direct and quite simple - it was easy to say of course, but she was only to give a whispering advice coming off of the direction of one’s shoulder. 

Instead the demon stepped away from Riku and Thomas, circled around them to step up to Katie and from that point forward towards Nephy, calmly standing before her and looking at the rageous wolf with the usual soft smile painted with Runa’s lips on her face. 

[color=FireBrick]“The fight is over. You two fought enough and the radiation of your fight is enough to attract the spirits who are unwelcomed here.”[/color], Runa said, she said but she said more than that - abusing the time which bent in her grasp like a grass she spoke to Nephy out of time somewhen: [color=FireBrick]“You sharpened that boy up. It is enough”[/color]

[color=indianred]"You're really not helping,"[/color] Katie told the demon flatly. With Riku by her side, it was prevelant to address Runa, of whom Katie had a sneaking suspicion was the one who encouraged this type of lunacy. She'd told them both a simple rule to follow in the Abyss and now both princess and Violet had gone and done the exact opposite; lunacy indeed. But she would deal with them and their death wishes later, disengaging from Thomas and letting Riku come forward to calm him down, though she hesitated in wondering if the princess could handle the golden malice still leaking out the boy-no. There was no time for consideration when the place was [i]still[/i] falling over their heads. As usual, all lectures would be saved for later.

[color=indianred]"Sorry, am I interupting something? Didn't I tell you to get lost,"[/color] said Katie, turning towards Nephy now. The wolf's death threats were brushed aside when the matter of all their lives was in question, though Katie's shoulders were hackled and raised unnaturally for once. [color=indianred]"Beat it before you make this a bigger mess. If you keep fighting him now, this place is detonating and you can feel that, can't you? Run off and lick your wounds before we're all buried six feet under."[/color] Katie stared down Nephy, hand already on Pendragon's handle. If a fight had to break out she'd make no hesitation to fling the wolf into the next cavern but time was running out. Until Thomas reeled in his power, there was little excuse for them all to have death wishes. 

Thomas' anger flared up as once again Katie stopped him midway through an attack, the boy looking to her with such dangerous irritation that it looked like he was almost about to take her on as well. Though what finally made him stop to think, and break through the dark shroud controlling his actions, was the appearance of Riku to support the other girl.

He gasped, almost as if he'd resurfaced from underwater, stumbling back and dropping his sword, only for it to immediately dematerialise into nothing while he tried his best to process the words coming his way. For within him, at that precise moment, a whole other battle was taking place. One that would ultimately determine if he made it out of the grotto alive. Flares of darkness spouted up around him, circling him as though to ward others off, isolating the boy while he desperately tried to get a hold of himself. Behind that wall of spiralling shadow, which seemed to get thicker and thicker as time passed, Thomas' eyes flickered between violet and gold, the boy very tempted to tear them out of their sockets just to rid him of the awful pain that consumed his entire body, with seemingly no end to it.

When seemingly all hope was lost however, the chaos Thomas caused about ready to completely bring down the entire area, it stopped altogether. The rumbling and quaking, the electricity that sparked within the air, even the weight that the air itself had taken on dispersed. All that remained was the spiralling shadow around the boy himself that lingered on. An agonised cry of pain from within it rang out throughout the shrine, and with it the darkness finally cleared, almost as though it had never been there in the first place. It may have seemed like completely random timing to the others there, but to the barely conscious Thomas he knew what had catalysed his triumph. The vision of a woman. One he did not recognise, but one he knew he'd seen somewhere before.

Now visible to the others, they would see the now violet-eyed boy stooping low. He was pale from blood loss, the effects from that gash at his side finally beginning to get to him now that he was himself again. A step towards Katie and Riku, or perhaps it was to Nephy, was all he could managed before he fell to his knees, head bowed towards the ground.

[color=violet]"Sorry..."[/color] Was all he managed, lips barely cracking open for a weak, almost pathetic, apology.

Nephy would glance at the calm Runa and the agitated Katie. They weren’t budging and they’d pressure the wolf. A great deal of frustration bottled up in her and she had to resist the strong urge to cut everyone down and have her way over everyone else. Instead, her power began to dissipate. Had she grown too soft?

[color=92278f]“Don’t use me as a sport again, Runa. You test our friendship.”[/color] The wolf snapped, but the weapon of hers began to decrease in power slowly but surely. Nekuromata is slid up to rest at the tip of the blade before sliding in with a satisfying click. The wolf called the duel off and would give her back to the others.

[color=92278f]“I won’t be running off. I’m in perfect fighting condition. Better than you are.”[/color] Nephy hissed towards Katie. The rage of battle was slow to leave her, and she had to take a moment to breathe and bring down her senses. 

Meanwhile Riku was having a harder time with Thomas. The boy was in an intense state of power he could barely control himself. Apprehensively the princess approached him and waved her arms, trying to appear as friendly as possible.

[color=ed145b]“Thomas. Please! You musn’t push yourself so far! You could die right here! Please!”[/color]

Her words seemed to get through to him, or perhaps it was something else. Thomas came back down to earth and the chaotic movements in the air began to quell. The boy revealed how serious his wound had been, collapsing shortly after with a short sorry. Riku gasped and would race to him immediately, propping Thomas up in her arms and using what small restorative magic knowledge she knew to begin healing what she could. 

[color=ed145b]“Thomas! Guys! He’s hurt really badly!”[/color]

Nephy hid a small satisfied smile. 

All the power which grew within Thomas like a wild fire at long last has left him - fire faded and gone from his eyes and his behavior as the boy suddenly lost all his strengths and powers at the instant, collapsing under the weight of the fight he was just in and the wounds he received through it. Runa herself gave the weakened Thomas a quick glance, observing over his condition and looking back at Nephy with all the same smile. She felt that irritation and adrenaline pumping in wolf’s blood and making her want more of it, more blood to come out of her enemy. 

[color=FireBrick]“No, no need for you to run”[/color], Runa replied with a smile and added for only Nephy’s being to hear: [color=FireBrick]“We are only stepping closer to our freedom. Closer than ever. We need blossomed souls for that”[/color]. With that said Runa stepped back towards collapsed Thomas and Riku sitting before him and using what healing magic she had to treat his wound. 

[color=FireBrick]“Allow me”[/color], Runa said and sat beside Thomas, her hand resting over Riku’s and in so over Thomas’s wound and with a little hint of presence and energy alien to Riku and Thomas’s perception the bleeded had stopped. Something happened which was not of healing magic, but the blood stopped from floating out of the wounded adventurer. 

[color=FireBrick]“It will do for now. The fight is over. Let us return”[/color], Runa said and stepped up, clearly there was nothing else for her to say - there was indeed little to be said at all now.

[color=indianred]"Funny. You said the same thing last time too,"[/color] Katie said cryptically to Nephy's backside. She was already locking Pendragon back into place on her back now that the threat was gone, both the boy and the wolf. The results were near-instant, the world no longer shaking by a thread as soon as Thomas collapsed to his knees, blood trickling freely soon stopped by whatever Runa did. [color=indianred]"Get him out of here,"[/color] Katie said tersely, more bristled and irritated than usual. They could have read it as an extra dosage of moodiness given the princess and Thomas foolishly went to challenge Nephetos on their own. But Katie made no attempt to clarify on that, already briskly moving past all three of them to leave the grotto that was Nephy's hunting grounds.

No sooner was she confident they were a good distance away, making sure the three actually tagged along to follow her, did her steps decrease and she slow her pace. That same aura of apprehension was on her and she whirled around wildly to stare right at Runa this time. [color=indianred]"What kind of game are you playing. First you lead them into a suicidal fight and then you act like it's no bother."[/color] She wondered if Riku and Thomas had even realized it but she somehow doubted it. 

[color=FireBrick]“A game? This is no game. Thomas wanted to find himself and he did so in battle, and you did see that golden shine in the violet eyes. I only provide what is asked for. Now we need to return and treat his wounds. He has much to learn in his future”[/color], the demon said with a voice calm and once again led the adventurers back to the fort, her plans and motivations still to remain only in her mind alone. 
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