The guy was ranting now. Exa couldn't help but smirk behind her mask. It was nice to be entertained once in a while during her line of work. A crazy speech was a lot more fun than the usual whimpering and screaming that accompanied those who managed to live a little longer than most. When he said she was going to die, she almost burst out laughing. She was making the enemy squirm like never before. Truly, the man had lost it. Amongst his incoherent rambling, he mentioned Sabolin and Darath. How very generic. Darath seemed to be on everyone's mind those days.

As entertaining as it all was, she was having a hard time scrounging any kind of sympathy for him. If anything, the speech was just confirming how bad of a person he was. Or at least, she judged him as so. She could never be sure... but her judgement worked well enough, she reckoned. How else could she get her father to come back to her? She had to keep on killing, didn't she? So no matter what this guy's goals were, she didn't care because she had to keep killing. This guy was going to be just another victim. Yet... how many years had it been? And how far was she getting? There were still so many people and even new ones coming in. But what other way was there...?

Exa didn't get too carried away with her train of thought. The target was sprinting towards her, looking quite frantic. She manipulated part of the brickwork beneath him, a concrete branch lurching up in front of his shin in order to trip him. Then she intended to finish him...

Exa's mind started wandering again. This guy lasted longer than most and it made it all the more prominent how long her big goal was taking. She couldn't go on like this... her father would die of old age before she made any real progress. Wasn't there a quicker way...? Perhaps she could think something through once she wrapped things up here.

I truly was going insane. There was no other word for it. How pathetic I am. I was bleeding, I was going to be killed by an assassin that I know nothing about, and I never accomplished anything in my life. Would I have accomplished anything in my life even if I did survive though? I had already accepted that I was going to die. There was little I could do to combat this person. Maybe dying would actually be a good thing for me. I should actually be grateful to this person... I'm so pathetic. I rushed towards the shadows... what point was there to this? My opponent probably wasn't even being serious. In my rush, I had tripped over something... presumably something that my assassin had summoned, as it certainly felt like a weapon. I could feel even more blood spilling from me... how much had I bled these past few days? The blood was on my shins... I needed to treat it quickly if I wanted to live. If I wanted to live... I was on the floor, helpless, bleeding, and in the mercy of an assassin. Did I want to live?

"Honestly Kenneth... get up and fight!" A voice told me. I did slowly get up from the cold, hard ground. I was in a familiar room. Said room was a training room of some kind, with many broken wooden dummies in it. Standing opposite me was a familiar face. That was... Marielle? She was a mercenary that took care of me for some kind along with her older brother Lazlo. She was rather bloodthirsty, especially for a 20 year old, in contrast to her rather stoic 26 year old brother. At this time, I was 13 years old myself. I had two daggers in hand... the same ones I had always used. Marielle had brown hair and red eyes, and was training with me. She usually used a steel sword, but after some persuasion from her brother, decided to use a wooden sword on me. I couldn't get a single hit in though, and I learned that day that even a wooden sword could be expertly used.
"Honestly... how do you expect to survive in battle with an attitude like that!? If an enemy knocks you down, get up! If you're bleeding, with several bones broken, get up! Unless you're dead, get up! Personally, the sight of my own blood always inspires me... Lazlo says that's worrying, but he's always been too calm for his own good." She said to me.

Right... how could I have been so idiotic? I was in a lot of pain, perhaps I would not be blamed if I fell over and died now. Still, I got up... was this an adrenaline rush? The sight of my own blood did not scare me, it reminded me that I was in a battle and I was still alive. If I died, then all that blood would have been spilled for nothing. I didn't care what this person tried using against me, I would still get up.

Was my life meaningless? Perhaps, but at the very least I was going to kill this person who took away lives that did have meaning... heh, for once I sound like some kind of hero from a folktale. The irony... perhaps this person did have a reason to kill me, but I had deduced by now that this person just killed for the sake of killing. There was no one in Fellum who wanted me dead. I quickly cleaned my blood with my black bandana... Lazlo gave me this scarf. He always said that I was too reckless... perhaps I was.

"Hahahahaha... no matter what you do, I will stand up again and again. I should honestly thank you... you've made me remember something very important. The sight of my own blood... it's invigorating in a way... Marielle was right. You can try to kill me if you want. It's a victory for me no matter the outcome. You are trying to kill someone who wants to die, and is willing to drag one more person to the land of the dead... hmhmhm... hahahaha." I said, now smiling for the first time in three years. I did not charge at my opponent this time, instead I waited for them to attack. Even if I was thrown around like a rag doll, beaten to a bloody pulp, and suffered wounds that would kill most people... I was going to stand up again and again until it was impossible for me to do so.

Mika jumped, avoiding the blasts of flame. He aimed his gun, and set it to the moderate KILL setting. "Ok, now you're making me play rough. This'll hurt, sir."

He ran towards the creature, and performed a running dive, landing under the creature's chest. He fired directly at the dragon's glowing centre, the glowing orange beam letting out a high-pitched whine as it escaped the metal chambers of the gun. Mika kept holding the gun in position, burning the dragon's centre. He stopped firing, looking at the underside of the trapped dragon. "Please, I don't want to fight you! We only want information, that's all!"

I took a deep breath, and gathered my thoughts. Today was going to be a very important day for me. I was going to join the Darath army after all, and I would bring honor back to the Lockswell name by becoming a war hero, just like my ancestor Kane. I had spent almost every waking moment of my life preparing for this day. My grandfather Arn had trained me to become a paladin and I had actual battle experience. Prior to this day, I made sure to get a feel for actual battle by working for the city of Heuwell where I was born. After all, even the best trained soldier would be rather useless in a fight if they do not have any experience in actual battle. In my case, it was mostly bandit troubles, but I had gotten a firm grasp for actual life-or-death combat. Indeed, I had taken some lives... I wonder why bandits couldn't just surrender. I wouldn't have had to kill so many otherwise. Still, I suppose that to destroy the evil in the world, you have to get rid of it, so this was just.

Presently, I was of course traveling to Sabolin, the capital of Darath. More specifically, I was wearing my armor, carrying my rapier and shield, had a bag full of supplies with me, and riding a carriage to Sabolin. The merchant who owned the carriage had gladly let me on board after I paid with some Sone. I took the chance to examine my rapier... it was a rather standard rapier, but it had seen me through many battles, and was my preferred weapon of choice. Still, the shield I carried held a lot more meaning to me. I examined it closely. This shield had seen me through many battles, but that wasn't why it held a great deal of importance to me. This shield was engraved with the Lockswell family crest. The Lockswell family crest was that of a phoenix surrounded with an azure aura. There was a story behind it, but there was little reason to recall it right now.

I took another deep breath. I needed to remain calm... after all, his highness Thereme wouldn't recruit me if I was a stuttering mess. I fished something out of my bag... a carefully folded up letter. To be more specific, this was a letter that my grandfather wrote for his highness Thereme, to prove who I was. I was, of course, not the first Lockswell to try to restore honor to my family name. My grandfather himself had tried to, but caught a sickness that often left him sick and in the worst case, bedridden. Despite that, he was a rather resilient old man, and taught me everything I know despite his sickness. He had lived to be 71 so far... I am only 22. Almost everyone is surprised that my grandfather has had a sickness for over half his life, and still lives on. I needed to show that determination as well. My parents were both killed in battle... I would make sure that their sacrifice was not in vain.

"We're here Ms. Lockswell." I heard the merchant tell me. How odd... that felt rather fast. I suppose that I got lost in my thoughts... not exactly proper behavior for this occasion, but I suppose it was excusable this time. I nodded my head and left the carriage, making sure I took everything I owned with me. I turned to look at Sabolin... and was amazed. The whole city was in ruins... this did not amaze me. News traveled fast, and I already knew about this. No, what amazed me was that Sabolin was being quickly repaired. Buildings looked as though in a week or two, they would be standing as they once did with no problems at all. Darath was truly a mighty nation. There were also soldiers everywhere... perfect. I walked up to what appeared to be a group leader among the soldiers. He had greying hair, and I could tell he had been through a lot in his life.

"Ah... pardon me sir. My name is Alexis Lockswell... I've come to join the Darath army. I have a letter for his highness Thereme." I told the aged soldier, making sure to bow. I somehow doubted that it would be that easy to convince the soldier to deliver a message to Thereme. Surprisingly, as soon as he heard the name "Lockswell" a look of surprise struck him, and he beckoned me to follow him. I knew where we were headed. It was rather easy to see the castle anywhere in Sabolin. Still, as we were about to enter the castle, he stopped me, and gestured for me to give him the letter. I handed it over to him.

"Alright, stay put. You know, a lot of people come to join Darath, and usually I wouldn't talk to Thereme like this... but for obvious reasons, I'm making an exception this time. I doubt you'll ever be as great as Kane, but you never know..." The aged soldier said, and I bowed to him in respect again as he left. As luck would have it, this person knew about my family. I made sure that I was prepared to meet his highness Thereme. If I was going to serve Darath with my life, I needed to set a good first impression. I would be representing the Lockswell family as a whole... the thought was somewhat intimidating, but I could handle it. I would make sure to show honor, respect, loyalty, and many more qualities befitting of a Lockswell.

The sounds of a quill scribbling on paper were all that prevented the room from being dead silent. Some candles flickered around the room, casting a dim glow across the giant stacks of paper lining the desk. Natural light avoided the room as though forbidden, blocked out by the shutters on the windows. In the center of this clutter sat the king of Darath, scribbling furiously on a piece of parchment he had in front of him. A letter, to be precise.

He was in the midst of a particularly rousing moment of pen on paper when a soldier threw open the door. "Sir! Captain Thwyt wishes to speak with you!"

Thereme hit the man with such a glare that the guard had half a mind to simply close the door and pretend he had never opened it. However, what was done was done, and closing the door now meant death. At least this way, there was a possibility he might live.

Thereme's expression softened slightly. Very slightly- his gaze was no longer murderous, but still annoyed. "You do realize that my current activities are extremely urgent, yes? If this letter does not reach its destination within days, serious consequences will ensue. Now may I inquire as to what is so important?"

The guard swallowed. "He says he's got a letter from a Lockswell," not knowing exactly what that meant but it had sounded important.

Thereme stared. No traces of anger were left, only slight surprise. He stood from his chair. "See the captain in immediately."

Moments later, the elderly man stood before Thereme, waiting for the king's response to the letter. Thereme's eyes flew over the page. Once he finished, he folded the letter and put it in his pocket. "Tell her to wait in the main hall until she is sent for. This ought to be very interesting..."

Captain Thwyt nodded, saluted, and left the room as fast as possible without running outright.
~~~~~

He sat on the throne, leaning on the arm and staring at a mural on the wall of the throne room. It depicted a war that took place centuries ago, in which Darath had invaded Yalara. Yalara had driven Darath out, and the war had since been long forgotten, but the mural served to remind people of Darath's glory in the early parts of that war. Darathian soldiers held up their family seals in a heroic charge against the retreating Yalaran soldiers. It was a breathtakingly beautiful mural, and it served to remind Thereme of his pressing matters.

The doors opened, a soldier walked in and announced the presence of the Lockswell girl, and all sorts of other trivialities Thereme nearly slept through. Moments later she was kneeling before the throne.

"You may stand," Thereme commented once the doors shut and it was just him, the girl, and the two guards near the door.

As she stood, Thereme began to speak. "I must say, I was actually rather surprised to receive a letter from a Lockswell. I haven't heard that name in ages. Your family was traditionally well respected, or so I hear. Despite all that happened in the interim, however, I have heard nothing but great things about your family's legendary achievements. I understand you wish to join Darath's army. Why is that? I haven't heard anything about your family in ages, so I don't understand why you would suddenly rush to enlist."

Exa stared at the man before her. He had a crazy expression on his face. How could anyone smile in this situation? Could someone really go that insane? The psyche was a strange thing. He claimed to want to die. So then, why didn't he just kill himself? How long did he have those feelings? Since before he came to Fellum? He wouldn't go moving to Fellum if he wanted to die, would he? Moreover, there probably hadn't been enough time to drive the average person to suicidal thoughts in the hours he had been in Jeru before meeting Exa. She figured that he wanted to be put out of his misery simply because of the battle. The way he put it, to say he seemed mentally unsound was an understatement.

He wasn't attacking, as if waiting for her to make a move. Yet he also implied that he would like to kill her in the process. Did he honestly think that he could survive her onslaught and launch a counterattack? She had been lazy in this battle so far. If she were to exert more effort, he wouldn't be smiling long. However, Exa had been given time to think by the lack of offense on her opponent's part and as a result, did something she had never done before under the guise of her 'Cleanse' persona.

"I don't want to".

Cleanse was more than a person, it was a force. A silent killer of the night. A curse on Fellum of frightening power. If ever such a force had actually let its soft voice be heard, what would happen? It would be demoted from a force to a person. That couldn't happen as long as it continued to haunt Fellum. Exa was done with killing people there though. It wasn't working. She needed a better plan and she had thought of one.

"I don't want to kill you. Not now" Exa continued "I would like to go to Sabolin. There's something I should do there. Work under me and in return, I'll spare you. I might be able to do a few things for you, too".

Her plan couldn't be fulfilled alone. She needed help and this guy could be just the right help. He seemed less pathetic than most, enduring her attacks and not even being reduced to a blubbering wreck in the process. Exa thought it would be nice if he was clever, too, so that she wouldn't have to kill him.

''Nice to meet you too, sir.'' Desmyrr said while giving the Commander a firm hand shake though also looking a bit surprised at the Commander after he had asked the question. He sure was eager to know about some of the secrets Desmyrr knew. Sure, why wouldn't he be? But Desmyrr thought it would be a bad idea to state all he knew about Alia right here and now. It seemed to be about the only thing about him the Commander was interested in. What if the Commander kicked him out of the castle after Desmyrr told him about all he knew? Though this was only Desmyrr's interpretation. Telling the Commander just a bit of what he knew couldn't hurt.

''As a former captain of Alia, I happen to know quite a bit about the airships that are frequently used by the Alian military. Like for example the weapons which types are outfitted with, their abilities and weaknesses. You see, the airships have...''

Desmyrr suddenly paused for a moment and then continued to speak again. ''Heh... Looks like I'm getting a little carried away.'' He said while chuckling to himself. Desmyrr thought it would be a better idea to first ensure a position in the army before telling anything else. That, or at least get some things cleared up first.

''If you don't mind then I'd love to go into more detail later about this but I first would like to ask some questions myself, please. First off, when I arrived in Sabolin, I found out Sabolin was attacked by a certain enemy just recently. I'd like to get a more clear picture on what happened here as I am completely in the dark about this. Second, I came here to Darath because I wanted to serve in the army. Is it perhaps possible for me to enlist as soon as possible?''