Calatrava

|| The School of Death ||

@azoicsiren@Double Capybara@AwesomeZero5

"Wolves and lions lack conscience and awareness," Enzo replied to Deborah with a huff. "While they are merely acting on instinct, demons fully know that, when bisected, neither human halves grow back. They know that they are killing us, and unless you deliberately threaten a wolf, you won't really be mauled. Demons on the other hand..." Her naivety really irked Enzo, and if she was comparing wolves to demons, then, it was hard for him to take her seriously.

With Rei, however, he felt a cold pang to throb his heart.

"I don't take pride or pleasure in ending the life of another," Enzo replied, taking a few steps towards Rei. "When I kill demons, I don't think of how glorious the fight was or how awesome I performed. I don't fight for glory or to prove," He shot a glare at the unfriendly, silver stallion. "That I'm better than others." Enzo grimaced before finally standing in front of Rei, onyx eyes scrutinizing her. "None of those interest me. I fight for those who cannot, for those who are not as fortunate as us, and for those who are threatened to be swallowed by the things darker than them."

While he never really knew how skilled Rei was, as a fellow legacy, he had an inkling of just how proficient she might be at the art of reaping. Aside from her peak health, she also possessed the capacity to kill without hesitation. Her eyes were like daggers, and Enzo knew that while they were both legacies, she could easily defeat him without even trying. She had the skill to back up her confidence and she did not hesitate to stain her hands.

However, she lacked empathy and kindness. Something that reapers needed but aren't taught.

"I fight for a peaceful future. One where children can live and play without fear of being torn apart." He mumbled before he backed off with a few steps. "I don't think I'll live longer, but you guys will. You might fall in love or pop out some kids, and I want to devote my efforts into creating that world for your future families. I won't have my own, but I'll damn make sure you guys can." He shook his head, resigning to the fact that these people will never understand where he's coming from. Always at the cusp of the death with every decision being a vital crucible between ruination and redemption-- he never really expected any of them to know the value and weight of life. They were all of the same age, but his years were numbered. He was forced to grow up earlier, to leave a legacy of putting others first until his beaten body could stand no longer. "That's why I don't enjoy 'my carnage of slaughtered demons'. It reminds me that peace is still so far away."

Still, he had to lighten up and shove away the melancholy when one of the newer arrivals greeted them in the kitchen. He could almost swear the guy looked like a lanky dog with its bangs too long for its face. He barely could make out the guy's eyes, and even with that, the boy's weird speaking patterns unnerved Enzo to some extent.

Strangely enough, he could feel some sort of connection with the newcomer. Whether it was because they both looked like literally one cough away from tumbling into their respective graves, Enzo could see himself in the kid. Skinny and with a posture that screamed 'put me out of my misery', the only thing they differed in was the guy's lack of an unhealthy pallor.

"Hey, there," Enzo coughed before smiling at him. "Nice to see you up. There are pancakes and eggs if you're hungry." He approached the lad before extending his hand in greeting. "Name's Enzo. I don't think I've met you before? I didn't see you during the introductions."

|| The School of Death ||

Still open as far as I know :) Although, @Hitman is the boss

|| The School of Death ||

"Know," Enzo grimaced, looking at his classmates who were already willing to go. "That I am there to protect them. I cannot stop all of you from going, but I can protect those who cannot fight. You've never dipped your hands in blood, have you, Luke?" The sickly legacy coughed into his palm before balling his fists. "You think demons are just jokes? A bedtime story parents tell their kids?"

Horrid memories of the demonic wars he had fought in throbbed within the recesses of Enzo's mind, and he couldn't stop his teeth from gritting. All reapers sank their hands in the shadows to make sure that the upper world need not dirty themselves. They wallowed in nightmares to ensure that the innocents slumbered in peace. They died in darkness so that the many may thrive in the light. The art of reaping was no joke, and to treat the demons who claimed countless lives as a light fantasy was an insult to those who laid desecrated upon the soil across the world.

This guy... he was blessed with health and strength... and yet he squandered it on naivete and carelessness.

Enzo definitely loathed this guy.

"You think demons are cool?" Enzo smiled at him, malice dripping from the curves of his lips. "You might wanna ask the children who were drowned by kappas, swallowed whole by bakunawas if they thought it was cool." However, Enzo decided not to pursue it too much. If others enjoy the thrill of getting themselves killed, he couldn't stop them. But, it would be a greater dishonor not to protect them. "You may say I'm being dramatic, but you've never fought a demon. Never seen someone torn apart by their hands. But, I did."

Blood spurted as one of his elderly kinsmen, Serafico, fell to the ground with a demon's claws embedded in his chest. It was the second day of the War in Arayat when the Arachne Clan felt the fatigue and pressure from fighting over a hundred demons. Pushed back to their last bastion, the remaining defenders put up a final stand with their summons shackled to their side. Enzo had swallowed his fear then as he summoned once more his triumvirate of spirits. His eyes glazed over the mangled bodies of his fallen clan members, and the fear that gripped his heart was replaced with fury.

"I know I cannot stop you, and that, you cannot take responsibility for the lives of our classmates," Enzo declared. "But, I will. So, lead, and I'll pick up after your mess."

|| The School of Death ||

Interaction/s: @Reshy134 @Arreyis @azoicsiren @Krytavius

"Yoga, huh?" Enzo remarked, observing the muscle linings on the woman's body ripple as a consequence of the deep stretches she performed. He had often heard of yoga's aptitude for relaxation. Normal people would see two different poses being done, but for him, he just witnessed two ways on how to send him straight to the hospital. He wasn't confident of his body's ability, and while he had trained before, he still couldn't risk it. "Could teach me that one day. I heard it can make miracles. Perhaps, it will work on me." A rich laugh of amusement spilled from Enzo's lips as he carried on with his pancakes.

He tried not to show it, but with the compliments coming from both Ryanne and Mei, even a spider would find himself tangled in glee.

"Heh," Enzo let a shy smile curve his lips, cheeks dusting slightly pink. Enzo knew it was pathetic to feel so proud of just being able to make pancakes for others, but in his life, he had never been capable enough of such simple things. It was always him being treated like glass, shielded away from the world's shadows. The young Enzo definitely understood the need for such boundaries and limitations, but decades of being held behind the barbed wires of life to just look at his surroundings change without the influence of his hand was a fate that Enzo refused to doom himself to. He was as much as a reaper as anyone and for so long, he only wanted to be acknowledged. And, if acknowledgment comes from him cooking above-average pancakes, then, he'd take it.

Starved for recognition and affection... Oh, how pathetic and poor he was, and yet, here he stood. Among one of the best and the brightest.

"Thanks, Lepidos and Ryanne," Enzo grinned at her, a glint of genuine happiness dancing behind his irises. "Cooking did allow me to relax back home. Made me feel in control of myself. Grounded."

The smile on Enzo's face would have continued on until the rest of the day if wasn't for Levi's information on their plans for the morning. The pools, where the kappas lived, were already declared to be out of bounds. There was a strict rule for students to avoid these demons of the deep, and there was a good reason for these rules. While Enzo was certainly confident in being able to fend off a kappa, he couldn't say the same for the greenhorns or for those without combat experience. Rules were meant to be followed because they guarded the lives of all who lived by it.

"W-well," Enzo nervously looked at Levi. "Isn't that forbidden? It was explicitly stated not to look for them." His voice struck an octave deeper. "Kappas are no jokes, Levi. They've killed multiple children... people... Especially, in Japan," He turned to Mei at this as if asking for her confirmation. "I hate to be that guy, Levi, but rules are rules. They're there for a reason. And, the reason is for none of us to return home in body bags before we're actually meant to die."

An Interest from Calatrava

TAKEN

An Interest from Calatrava

TAKEN

Blinded by A Crown

The king is dead. Trampled under a storm of hooves.
The crown-prince is dead. Choked on his own blood as he drowned in wine and whores.
The second prince is dead. Poisoned to a catatonic state before finally succumbing to death.

The third and last prince remained. A blind, young man who inherited the throne at eighteen after the tragic obliteration of his entire direct family tree.

King Vaekai is the last of the House Ayegrim, and more than just the crown, he also bore the burden of sifting through the mistakes his father and brothers left to the Kingdom of Mistvales. With enemies and debts on all sides, they had to hire a bodyguard for the newly crowned king, but with their coffers low on resources, the king opted to hire the cheapest personal guard they could find.

This is where your character comes in: a female mercenary struggling to make a name for herself in the mercenary world was offered the chance to protect a blind king.

In a world enmeshed in the webs of politics, warfare, and shadows, Vaekai and his new mercenary have to work together to survive. No one can be trusted, for while the king died in battle, the two princes were slain in their hearths. There may be more enemies within the walls than out.

---

Hey! If you survived that plot reading, then, congrats! So, I have a few requests for my future partners:

1. I'd definitely request someone who can match my writing :D I typically write around 3 or more paragraphs, but it depends on my mood, really.

2. While I never nitpick grammar, a comprehensible grasp of the language is much appreciated.

3. I am quite a slow-paced writer, but I do have days where I can burst through multiple replies. However, my average is around one every two days. I hope this is not an issue.

4. The plot above is definitely HIGH FANTASY. Magic does exist, but somehow minimal. Although, your character can have magical abilities, and I won't mind :)

5. While I already have a rough idea of where the story goes, a partner who can drive the plot is a big cookie point :D It takes two to tango, after all! The more twists, the better!

6. Slow burns are better, in my opinion. Romance is a good occurrence, but it doesn't have to be the main focus.

7. I'll only accept one person for this plot :D I'll update once it has been taken!

|| The School of Death ||

Interactions: @azoicsiren, @Reshy134
Mentions: Everyone in the kitchen

Flipping the pancakes unto a nearby large, serving plate with trained skill, Enzo's eyes darted to look at the Serpentine legacy who seemed to also be on the unfriendly side of things. The ice and cool of her voice felt like subtle daggers, laced as concern and care. A true heir of House Serpentine, she was. Her eyes shone like the pearls of Tubbataha, but the radiance seemed to hide an unmistakable shadow. Entrancing yet it betrayed a certain hint of danger, that if someone was not careful, they might be enmeshed in a serpent's coil. The members of Serpentine were somewhat negative in the eyes of the other Great Houses, but he had learned to respect them. In a war against the demons, honorable warfare would not bring back the fallen who could have been saved if a dishonorable blade or poison had just found its way in the back of the Demon Warlords. They had no issues in dipping their hands in blood and dirt if it meant wresting humanity from the jaws of death.

That alone made them an ally in Enzo's eyes.

But, her eyes spoke another language, and it wasn't one that Enzo was willing to learn.

"Ah, well, you're not the first one to notice," Enzo grinned at her before shaping some eyes and mouth on the heart-cake. "But, yeah, I've been running away from my coffin all my life now, and it's only a matter of time before, well..." He paused in thought before chuckling at the idea of his own demise. "The landlord comes a-knockin' for my rent. I have a sickness that is more stubborn than a Filipino looking for a bargain." He placed two smiley heart-cakes on a small plate and placed a fork on the side. "In the meantime, I'll do what I can to help. Learning the art of reaping, helping the innocent, or," He sucked in a breath as he flipped another set of pancakes. "Just cooking for people I barely know."

He set aside the new batch of heart-cakes, serving it on the table before heading back to the stove where he addressed Rei again.

"Sorry, the force of habit," Enzo laughed softly as he added in the mix. "I address each member of the Great Houses by their House because it was what my parents taught me as respectful. I should address them as such until they give me permission to call them by their names." He explained to her. "It's like... one of those pretentious college professors who rage when you forget to call them 'Doctor'. You know how some families are. I'm just trying to avoid that crap, but if you like, I can always call you by whatever name you prefer."

As he finished the last batch of heart-cakes, he grinned at his works. A sense of pride filled his chest, causing his eyes to twinkle with delight. He could at least do this much for others, even if he was near useless on the field.

"Here," He offered the small plate of heart-cakes to Rei with a proud grin. "You've been working hard," The boy pointed to a small bruise on her arm. "You're quite cool, y'know? I hope you find a home here; a home doesn't have to be a place, it can be people, like friends."

He felt worried for her for a split second, knowing that there might be some heirs from Truehorn. Their families have not been on the best of terms lately. However, that was not his business to probe into.

"Here ya go, Lepidos," Enzo shoved the other batch on another plate before offering it to Mei. "I'll take one. Damn, you've got a good hand at making scrambled eggs," He looked over at the way she whisked the yolks and seasonings. "Have you considered adding chives? I heard it lifts the flavor."

Finishing the last batch before setting aside some for himself, Enzo turned off his side of the stove before weakly shuffling to the counter. He fished through a small drawer by the counter, luckily finding a packet of jasmine tea which he placed into a cup of water he just boiled. A cough or two later, Enzo started eating.

"So, anyone got plans today?" Enzo quipped, addressing everyone in the room. "Exploring this island ain't so bad before classes beat our faces in."

|| The School of Death ||

Major Interaction/s: @Arreyis, @Krytavius, @Hammerman, & @azoicsiren
General Interaction/s: @anyone who likes some goddamn fluffy heart pancakes

Having his own en suite bathroom was definitely a relief for Enzo, and for good reasons.

As he stepped out of the shower and into his bedroom, the sight of his spacious living space greeted him. Opposite him hung the banner and coat of arms of House Arachne which adorned the space above his desk. The floor itself was even well-carpeted, serving as a home for the king-size bed with its velvet satin sheets and even his quaint wardrobe from back home. There was also a wide-screen television with some gaming consoles, a powerful computer set, and even a small armory.

Shuffling towards his wardrobe, Enzo shrugged off the towel on him, and the sight of his beaten body reflecting from the large mirror beside his cabinet stopped him in his tracks.

A grim reminder, a reflection... He stopped in front of the mirror, eyes taking in the scars littering his ribbed chest. His lips quivered at the sight of the veins visible beneath the pallor of his arms. Even the ugly, raised bumps of flesh coiling around his waist up to the space of his clavicle flashed memories of that battle at Arayat. The howls, the screams, and the blood. It reminded him of how fragile mortality was, and it reminded him of how much little time he had left compared to his peers.

Jaw clenching in renewed resolve, Enzo grabbed a shirt and a pair of shorts in preparation for sleep; however, instead of immediately tossing himself on the bed, the boy relented to sit on his desk first. With movements born from years of repetition, he grabbed the tattered, leather-bound notebook before opening it to a blank page. As he uncapped a pen, the legacy began humming an ancient melody passed down from one member of a Great House to another-- a song that immortalized the thirteen apostles' victory over a major battle against the creatures of the dark.

Enzo began to write on it, imprinting in ink the memories of the day. He wrote of Alex, describing him as a literal child in the world of demons. He could only pray that he doesn't give up too easily. Of Levi, Enzo smirked as he recounted the guy's deliberate attempts to piss him off, and it was somewhat refreshing, really. As a Legacy, people have always tried to tread on thin ice with him, but Levi didn't really give two flying fucks about his legacy and family. He only saw Enzo as any student, and perhaps, that was the kind of friend Enzo needed in this school. No masks, no lies. He also wrote of the fellow legacies he met, and he remarked on how on-point the first impressions he had on them during that time when he had to study the members of the other Legacy families. The Lionheart was proud, the Lepidos was gentle and soft, the Ivory was strong in both looks and actions-- as it seemed, all the legacies had the potential to live up to their family's expectations.

He couldn't really say the same for him. 'The web of life,' Enzo thought of his family's words, causing him to scoff. How was he supposed to achieve those expectations?

Finally, he sealed in ink the memory of that unpleasant guy. The loathsome individual who seemed to be making an effort to get everyone to dislike him.

Deep down, Enzo felt guilty at lashing out at him. It was human nature to always project your hatred on something else to ease your own burden, and maybe-- just maybe-- he hated the guy because it reminded him of who he once was before that war at Arayat. Cold, distant, and treated the skin of others as lesser than his own. In the same way that his pride and hostility was a cry for help due to his problems with his failing health and high expectations to live up to a family legacy, that silver stag's cold demeanor might have also been a cry to get him out of a pit of suffering.

In the same way that Teresa was the catalyst that catapulted Enzo out of his despair, maybe he or the other students could be the same for the silver stag.

A small smile formed on his face before he put down his pen and turned the pages of the notebook. His eyes glazed over the tattered pages of the notebook, taking in the written memories of his days.

A reminder for Enzo. That once his arms flail and his knees shake, once his very body fails him... he could still look back on these pages and remember that he had, at the very least, lived.

---

Time Skip

The clang of steel against steel sounded in a quiet place within the forest as Enzo dueled with the Panday Spirit. It was part of his daily routine to train against his own spirits in order to further improve his skills. With the Panday launching heavy blows at the swordsman, Enzo tried to dodge around, but he could only try to parry the blade before his cough started again. Brought down to his knees whilst the armored titan looked down at him, Enzo sputtered until his voice went hoarse.

"You shouldn't push yourself so much. You only slept for a few hours, and now, you've been training for almost three." The Panday spoke to him, its voice breathy.

"If I can't even fight on equal grounds with my fellow Legacies, what's the point?" Enzo reasoned as he tugged on his grey hoodie before dusting off his grey joggers. He plunged his kris into the earth before standing up. "Have you seen them? Trained and proficient. If I cannot fight on their level, at least, I want to narrow the gap."

"Hard to narrow it down six feet beneath the soil." the spirit replied. "Like a canoe, young master. It doesn't matter who gets their first or last-- they're all taking the same journey. You're not missing the boat; you're still on time."

"Hard to also maintain my family's name when I let others do the paddling for me." Enzo sighed before waving off the spirit who vanished in a hazy smoke.

Now, feeling famished, Enzo sheathed his blade before heading back to their building where he spotted a few of his classmates already awake and about. He spotted Luke, the messy blonde-haired boy was munching on the horrors of just a slice of bread whilst Levi leaned against the kitchen counter, nomming on what seemed to be a sandwich. He also arrived in time to see Ryanne and another student whose long hair glinted like moonlight. Enzo could swear that he had seen this person before, whether in pictures or in person. And, it was only when Enzo had passed by her to respond to Ryanne did he finally recognize her.

"The bread's with Lionheart, Ryanne," Enzo replied with a cheery tone, although, he found it absurd to 'point' something to a visually-impaired individual. Then again, he found no reason to underestimate her. He even admired her, actually. Two kindred souls, bound in their disabilities. "Oi, Levi, you didn't eat all the 'nanas, did you?" He called out to the other male by the counter.

Turning to the white-haired girl who busied herself with getting a glass of water, Enzo smiled at her. "Lady Rei of House Serpentine," Enzo chuckled at the thought that he might actually see all of the Legacies. "Great to finally meet you, I'm Enzo. We'll be working together soon, I guess."

With the greetings out of the way, Enzo headed for the sink where he washed his hands before going for the cupboards. He pulled out some foreign brand of pancake mix. It wasn't the same as back home, but it would do. Turning on the stove, gathering the ingredients, and preparing the pan, Enzo began making a batch of pancakes for himself before remembering that he did have classmates. Taking a whiff from the mix hardening into a fluffy heart-shaped pancake (courtesy of the varying molding trays he found at the back of the cupboard), Enzo turned to the kitchen.

"Anyone up for pancakes? I can make a batch of them," Enzo inquired before turning back to the pan. "Levi, get me some maple syrup from the top cupboard, will you? I would get it myself, but it seemed god forgot to make me taller."

|| The School of Death ||

Water demons in Japanese mythology. They live in ponds and try to drown people (mostly children) who wander too near. They say the way to defeat a Kappa is to bow when meeting one, because it tends to copy the gesture. A Kappa's head is bowl-shaped and is filled with water where it derives most of its power. When it bows, the water spills and the kappa loses its power.

Or, something along those lines, I think.

|| The School of Death ||

Interaction/s: @Krytavius//@ReusableSword//@Dark Light
Mention/s: @Poppirious

"I hope you like Snow White," Enzo whispered to Levi as his black eyes glared at him, fully knowing well the trickster's intention. "You might choke on that apple, and instead of having seven dwarves, you might be buried seven feet beneath the ground." The legacy gritted through his teeth as he focused on the introduction, only to notice Levi eyeing Murakami's painting which adorned the wall opposite them. The lad's split-second appreciation at the painting caused a grin to curve Enzo's lips. He placed a reassuring hand on the taller boy's shoulder as he chuckled at his expense. "I guess you do have some redeeming qualities after all. You might just be buried with flowers instead."

Thus, the introductions continued on with the rest of the team. The more notable ones being that of a surprise introduction from Torok and Alex.

Enzo had to admit that Torok's optimism and sincere care for a group he barely knew was refreshing. This guy, built with muscles on his muscles was the epitome of health. A sudden pang of jealousy stabbed at Enzo's heart, causing a twitch and a grimace to grace his pale face. His jaw tightened at the memories where he used to pray to whatever gods had deigned to cast upon him a look of mercy to cure his affliction. Through those years, he gained nothing from the gods but frustration and fatigue. He had learned to live with his curse, doomed to always be capable, but never enough. Never enough.

"We're all afraid of death, brother Torok of House Ivory." Enzo smiled at his peer before coughing into his hand. "But, I've learned to stare down at the abyss until it turns its gaze away." The legacy of Arachne sighed before pushing down the green-eyed monster down. He had no right to direct these negative feelings towards a genuine lad like Torok, after all. This guy worked his butt off to get to his physique now. "So, if you could teach me to get some abs, that would be great." He laughed softly. "Without killing me, of course. I found that curl-ups was to possible fractures as Levi is to probable ass-kicking if he continues to chew that apple like a goat." He shot a sly grin at the raider before turning back to Torok. "It's nice to meet you, finally. I've worked with your House before. Noble reapers. I'm sure they're proud of you."

When Alex spoke up to introduce himself, though, Enzo confirmed that he was as innocent and clean as a newborn baby's butt. Sooner or later, he would get stained with more than just shit. Still, Alex had some serious skills in tracking and hunting. Important capabilities in a world filled with demons. He would make a great ally in the future.

Then, a rather unfriendly voice pierced the room as a silver-haired student announced himself. Right off the bat, the feeling of insufferable superiority and cutting-edge edginess gripped Enzo's spirit. His body language and the way he eyed everyone else was borderline cruel, and as much as he attributed his personality to a sob story in his childhood, he couldn't really take it further with him insulting almost everyone he just met. Especially with him mouthing off to Ryanne.

Here Enzo was trying to connect and establish relationships with as many people as possible before Death finally found him while this bastard was just throwing away the gift of a longer life by being a dick to others. It would be more bearable if he was insulting random people, but the mere fact that they were the ones who would wipe his nose if he ever got injured or in trouble was sickening. He was making the wrong enemies.

"Aw, wee lad," Enzo tilted his head in mock concern as he finished his little threats. He coughed along as he made his way towards the silver stag who was more or less stood at the same height as Enzo. "You do have a point. But, don't worry, we won't be like you, so, we'll survive. You, on the other hand, might need some help," Enzo stopped as he coughed before continuing. "Everyone could teach you a few things here, gago. Alex with tracking, Lionheart with marksmanship, or even me," Enzo shrugged his shoulders. "Getting your head out of your ass. Pretty simple even for a toddler, but I know you can catch-up, right?."

A kind smile and a gentle nod after, Enzo turned around to walk towards his original spot as he adjusted his sash. He never really liked lashing out at anyone, but to forsake the importance of bonds in the name of foolish pride was stupidity in a league of its own.

"If this was your way of getting respected and admired, then, it was as effective as Juliet's poison," Enzo glanced one last time at him. "In that, it will lead to you dying or getting others killed."

With a final bout of coughs, Enzo decided that it was time to retire, at least. His body screamed for him to rest.

"While you youngsters are having fun, this oldie will just toss himself to bed. As soon as I find my room." With that, Enzo hauled his satchel before making slow, dragging tippy-taps towards the rooms. If anything, he might be staying in the same room as his siblings when they were staying here at the Lotus.

Lotus. Such an apt flower. It grew out of the filth and muck, and at this moment, there was so much to mud to sift through. He could only pray that they all succeed and bloom at the end.

Silently, he hoped that at least with this prayer, the gods would finally answer.