[b]Sayanastia![/b]

She has been here before.

Dancing with Civelia - though then, she was puppeteered by evil magic. Having her body fall to the ground right as Heron entered. Another attempted murder, another battle, another clash of light and darkness where once again she failed to leverage heartbreak into victory. Civelia would be okay. She always was. She shouldn't even bother to catch her, just let her skull bounce off the floor, turn, and eviscerate those two incautious paladins before they realized the situation. Kill Rurik next, then retreat in the confusion...

Had she done this? Erased her own memories, feigned innocence and contrition, just to engineer this murder and usurpation? Was this meant to pin the blame on Heron, let it feel like the Hero of Ages had given in to corruption? She should adjust her methods if so. It was a good opportunity. All she'd have to do is continue the rampage, a hero who had finally snapped and chosen to burn down the world just to see what happened. It was a good plan. She was impressed. She could even feel the acid burning in her throat, ready to spit at Heron when she returned - [i]"This is not a deception; this is a prophecy. Sooner or later you shall tire of your ceaseless labour and become what I am now."[/i]

"As though I am not tired of my labours," sighed Sayanastia, laying Civelia gently down upon the floor.

And that was sufficient concession to sentiment. As she stood she drew Civelia's ceremonial blade, the ascent of violet-black and abyss-emerald silks whirling around her as she carved into the armour of both of the nearby Paladins. She finished the wheel, descending into a long sideways crouch, the full length of her pale leg and jagged heel on display, throwing the sword across the room to take Rurik in the shoulder and pin him against the wall. She wiped her face, smearing blood and lipstick across her mouth, and took a sip of the wine that Civelia had so appreciated from a tall glass. She licked her fanged teeth, a monster in a dress.

Then she smashed the wineglass and held out the sharp edge as a blade, ascending step by step towards the hall the Golden Faun was set to enter through, as Paladins poured out to surround her on all sides.

[Fight! 4!]