Walking With A Ghost

The young elf summoner walked through the forest slowly, taking in every sound that met his ears. The sound of leaves crunching beneath his feet along with the river passing him by relaxed the elf, and as the cool wind brushed his hair away, he began to forget all the harsh and evil things in this world. He had almost forgotten the beauty of nature, and this was a perfect time to remember how wondrous this world was. The colors of the leaves were like a painting; mixtures of yellow, red, and orange blurred together in the forest as streams of light passed through the branches.

Taen stopped walking for a moment, and glanced to the side to see his reflection staring back at him in the water. He stepped closer to the river and lifted his leg above a log that had fallen. Kneeling down, he dipped his hand into the water and let it pass through his fingers.

He cupped the water in his hands and splashed his face with it. He wiped the water off with his shirt and, after feeling refreshed, walked on.

The elf stretched back his shoulders and inhaled all the air he could before breathing out again. This place felt so alive. Moreso than any of the cities he had been to, with all their mechanical lights and steel houses. It had been a while since he had been this at ease, and the Dragons were enjoying the forest as much as he was.

Unfortunately, they were not here for sight-seeing. They were looking for a temple hidden in these forests; a sacred place that had been desecrated by monsters and demons. If no one acted now, these forests could die, and maybe even the lands coexisting next to it. Thankfully, the monsters had only recently taken residence, so there was enough time to take care of these evil spirits before they could do any permanent damage.

As the elf pulled back the branch of a tree, he made out the faint outline of the stone structure. He walked on, eyes fixed on the temple. His footsteps became harsher as he made his way across a stone bridge that crossed over the river. He let his hand trail across the rail that went parallel with the bridge, and turned appropriately when he began to go up the steps.

The temple sat on top of a huge waterfall. Its walls were enormous; stone engravings told the tale of the people who had originally built it. A large obelisk with a crystal orb at the center stood magnificently in the center of the outer room. Faded markings surrounded the obelisk, and a reddish trail led to a large stone door. Taen strolled casually towards the door, looking up as the ceiling reached at least ten feet above his head. He pressed all his wait against the door, but it wouldn’t budge. He tried to force it open with his earth magic, but to no avail. Frustrated, he stepped back, trying to figure what the symbols on there meant.

There was little time to think, however. The summoner tightened his muscles as he heard a faint growl around the corner. A panther sized creature padded along the floor, sniffing out its prey. He peered around the edge.

There was nothing there. He glanced behind him and saw nothing but an empty space as well. He felt his pulse rise and began to wonder if he was imagining things. But no… He felt its footsteps vibrating across the floor. He knew it was around here somewhere. He pulled out his blades and just in time as well. The creature jumped out at the elf, who jumped slightly in surprise. He did not give it the pleasure of sinking its teeth into his skin. Raising the flat of the blades against the demon, he threw it to the side, watching it roll across the stone floor.

It snarled harshly, and darted to the left. Then to the right. Taen mirrored its movements, and upon seeing it jump at him, he sidestepped to the right and struck upwards, ending its life.

And as one fell, even more came…

"It has been a long time," the voice in the wind whispered as a green haired child looked at the sky. "Do you know why I've called you here?" the voice asked the boy as he stared at the temple with a blank look on his face.

"No," the shaken boy responded, looking at the markings closely.

"Because this is the catalyst. In your lifetime, much blood will be spilt. And yet, when it all comes down to it, from this temple shall be an even greater power. The power which will put an end to these indecent times. All you have to do is await that day to arrive. When it occurs, you shall understand my message."

The green haired boy took a step forwards and reached out. "Who are you, and what do you mean?!" he called to the sky, reaching his hand towards the heavens as if trying to grasp something. "WHAT?!"

o=)--------- Present Day ----------(=o

It had been a long time, but that green haired boy had become a true warrior. His eyes opened slowly, half of his face covered in the shadows of the room as he looked down from the tree he stood upon at the man beneath him. "How long has it been since I've had that dream?" Zorlo asked himself as he took a step from the branch and started to float down slowly, almost as if he were creating stairs out nothing. "Well, it must mean that something is about to happen."

The Technological Quincy and the Ice Elemental stood to each side of the passing Aura Master, who turned back to face them. "I'll be out for a bit. Please, do take care of whatever must be dealt with, will you?" the fencer asked as he placed his feet onto the ground and started walking onwards.

"It has to do with destiny, doesn't it?" Zachary asked. The ice mage had been feeling something rather strange. A power in the works he couldn't fully grasp until he looked at Zorlo in that moment. Something so powerful, and yet so empty as well. Something that was everything and yet nothing. The power to change the world, or to destroy it.

"There is no destiny, Zachary. Only the present," Monroe interrupted as he crossed his arms and looked at Zorlo. "But if Z says he's going somewhere, no stopping him, I suppose. Don't worry; we won't let things get too bad here."

"The last time you told me that, I returned to the Dome in chaos and my room being burned down."

"It was one time... twice," Zachary commented as he looked at Zorlo. The three stood silently for a moment before breaking out into hysterical laughter.

"A good laugh is a relaxing thing," the green haired man spoke. "I'll return shortly. Fear not." Before the Aura Master a door sprang forth and opened up. "There may be a destiny. There may not be one. Whoever knows should keep that to themselves. After all, the day we let destiny guide everything is the day we risk losing everything."

o=)---------- At the Temple Grounds ----------(=o

It felt like a lifetime ago. It felt like a lifetime since he had stood in the distance of that temple. It felt like a lifetime since he felt the breeze of this forest. It felt like a lifetime since the spirits of the forest danced about so gleefully and yet with so much sorrow. Something was clearly wrong, and Zorlo was here to investigate as to what was wrong.

Strong footsteps graced the ground as the sound of movement filled the air. The green haired man smiled. He could recognize that sound anywhere. Creatures were on the hunt, which meant there had to be a prey. "For every two steps we take forwards, one of them is always taken back," the fencer stated as he smiled. His normal, casual, unshaken kind of smile.

In the blink of an eye, the fencer was in a running pace; approaching a cluster of auras that had built up over the few seconds he had stood still. In the center of what could only be described as a pit of panther sized creatures a young elf stood. A young elf Zorlo knew. "Now, if only I could remember his name," the fencer told himself with a small chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head. "Anyway!" the fencer said as he leapt downwards towards the creatures and struck.

His first slash was so quick that the human eye would have had a hard time detecting the movement that it involved, and yet, they knew it had happened. The slash had occurred, and a beast hit the ground and slid across the ground, dead. The green haired man stepped back and appeared back to back with the summoner and smiled. "Good day. Looks like you could use some help. So, I figured I'd lend my services," the Aura Master stated as he looked over his shoulder with a smile.

"Hrm... You seem familiar." the elf said as he walked towards this newcomer. The green hair seemed odd, as well as his green jacket and head band. "Don't think I've ever met someone so earthy. What was your name again?"

"Zorlo," the Aura Master bowed, "Fencer of Tasogare."

The name swirled in his mind. The Dragons seemed to recognize it, but of course, they gsave him no details, choosing to let him figure it out on his own. Taen was a little annoyed at this, but he figured it was for the best. Taen walked to the door again, Zorlo following behind.

"So, Zorlo..." It felt odd addressing him like a friend, but he was not a stranger either, so it did not matter. "Know any ways of opening this door?"

The fencer chuckled slightly, and placed his hand on the door. From his palm, a small bit of energy shot out, colliding with the door, and bouncing back, at him. Zorlo seemed to be looking at something intently, and Taen wondered what it it was. He finally saw it as many little white crystals glimmered d like diamonds inside the ancient stones.

Z stepped back, folding his arms. "Looks like some magic charm has been cast on this door, judging from the mythril crystals placed in it. Go on, hit it with your sword."

Shooting a confused look at the green man, Taen blinked. Was this some sort of joke he was going to pull on him? The elf figured it wasn't (what would be the point?), and just did it anyway. Taking his blades out, he raised them in the air as if for an execution, and swung them against the stone. At the last second, right before the blade clashed into the door, a white light surrounded the swords would have hit, and pushed back against them, knocked Taen back. The summoner caught himself with his feet, and finally figured out what the door was doing.

"The crystals in this door are like a mirror." the summoner sheathed his blades and crossed his arms like Zorlo did, "They take whatever energy is used against it, magical, physical, or otherwise, and push it back against you."

Zorlo uncrossed his arms. "Yes, but matter does that anyway, does it not?"

The elf uncrossed his arms as well, tapping his fingers against his leg. "Yes... but matter pushes back with equal force. These crystals seem to push back with an even stronger energy."

The Aura Master clapped. "Very good..."

Awkwardly, Taen smiled back, not knowing this was going to turn into a teaching moment. "So, Zorlo, your name rings a bell, but I cannot exactly recall when, if ever, we met. So I was thinking maybe I could remember better if we crossed our blades." he turned to face the fencer. "What say you?"

The Aura Master smiled at the man and walked past him, staring at the door again. "Mayhap. Although I remember where I have met you, Taen. After all, I'm shocked anyone could forget event. I mean, pirates, a dragon, and a man mistaken as a pirate hunter. After all, what more does adventure need?" the fencer asked as he looked at the Elf, who still pointed his blades at the green haired man.

It was there. Clear as day, it was there. That hint and sparkle in the eye. An emotion that the green haired man could have noticed from miles away. The look of desire. The look of hope. The look of strength.

The Aura Master smiled as he looked back as the dragon summoner made his move and rushed forwards and slashed one of his swords at the fencer. Zorlo smiled as he raised his foot and blocked the sword with his boot. The green haired man smiled as he spun his foot around and planted it.

Quickly, spinning around and looking at the Elf, the green haired man bowed. "If there is no other path, then please, brandish your blades." The fencer quickly bent back as another slash brushed just over his chest. The fencer turned quickly and thrust a foot at the sword Elf, who quickly stepped back to avoid the attack.

"Perhaps something a bit more elaborate?" the green haired man asked as he rushed forwards and plowed his hands into the ground and began to spin. As the fencer spun himself around on his hands, his body began to whirl like a top. Even so, the dragon summoner managed to respond effectively to the offensive with a quick flurry of slashes to block the aura hardened boots that were moving towards him.

"And the kicker," the fencer joked as he pushed himself up off the ground by his arms and back flipped a few times to a stop before leaping into the air and raising his leg as high as he could manage. "Try this!" the Aura Master said as his leg began to glow with aura around it as he flung the foot down. He hoped Taen could defend this attack; otherwise it wouldn't have been a good idea to use it. Mayhap.

Upon seeing Zorlo jump in the air and raise his foot in the air, Taen brought his blades upwards in an x-formation. The aura-covered boots smashed against the blades, slamming the elf to the ground. He winced for a second, but did not hesitate to strike back. He kicked at the fencer and rolled backwards. He spun around, his blades coated in fire. From far away it looked as if he were dancing. Zorlo ducked underneath the swords and kneed Taen in the gut. Taen caught himself from falling over, then summoned a wave of pure shadow energy and flung it around to all sides. He sheathed his swords, and moved his arms around, forming a sphere around the Aura Master. He closed them in, crushing the fencer with great force. The summoner let a small grin emerge across his lips.

He gasped when the black sphere broke apart, and as a figure holding out his sword jumped through. Taen brought up a shield of light energy and threw it at Zorlo, whom just cut it apart like paper.

"You'll need to do better than that!"

In a bout of mock anger, Taen cried out as he jumped at the Aura Master. Blades clashed together, but with each strike the elf attempted against the fencer, Zorlo caught with the point of his rapier. 'He's anticipating your movements.' Kida whispered. 'Try the same thing against him. Make him open up a weak spot, then strike.' The elf slashed forward, and as he expected, Zorlo stepped to the side. With his other arm, the elf brought his elbow around to the side, smacking Zorlo in the face.

"How'd ya like that?" Taen boasted.

"Not bad." Zorlo said, stepping forward. Out of his jacket poked a second rapier. Taen eyed it carefully. The energies coming from it felt very similar to the one Zorlo had out, but also held a distinct difference.

The summoner could tell the fencer was holding back. He felt almost offended; as if he could not keep up with this warrior. He brushed it off lightly, and wondered about the extent of the Aura Master's powers. His mind wandered back to the day he met him, memories coming back. At first, he assumed Zorlo was an elementalist like himself. His strength was great, and Taen could tell that his strength had grown since that battle at that sleepy, seaside town. Zorlo had changed a lot between then and Chinatown, but not much between then and now. Taen could definitely tell the great increase in power after that explosion. That was definitely not something an elementalist could do...

"What was that magic you were using? It didn't feel like anything I recognized."

"Magic? No sir, I fear you are mistaken. I use an art more arcane than that of anything such as magic or the like. I use a much more ancient power. One derived from existence itself, in essence. I use the power of Auras. The power that comes from deep within the soul all things. My personal powers come from my own Aura made physical. However, one such as you and your kind held within your blades could not fully understand this."

"Surely you jest! Dragons age like time itself."

"Surely you are mad. Even dragons can become deceased over time. There are no gods here. No honor remains. The arrow has left the bow of the goddess."

The Elf quirked an eyebrow for a moment as he held his swords still prepared to fight, but didn't take action yet. "My powers exist at the formation of all. That where all that exists began and most of it ends. The continued movement of the cycle of existence keeps the powers of Aura alive in all things, but I am the last person who can control this power. Or... I was."

The fencer stabbed his sword tip first into the ground and smiled at Taen. "Surely you can guess that I've bottled up much power inside of myself. Do you wish to see it? Do you wish to behold my power at a higher rank." The Elf nodded and shifted himself back again, readying to counterattack when the offensive came.

"Behold!" the fencer said as his jacket began to flap in the air as aura began to pour from the fencer's body and the embedded blade of his sword. The Aura Master smiled as hurricane force winds exploded from his body, nearly pushing the dragon summoner off his feet before he reset himself. Suddenly, another powerful burst erupted, this one blowing Taen off his feet and onto his back. Oddly enough, after the second burst, the winds disappeared and the fencer stood quietly, entrenched in the crater he had created by simply releasing a percent of his power.

"That was about 40% of my power. That alone was enough to blow you off your feet. Do you wish to continue fighting now?" the fencer asked as he removed his sword from the ground and spun it around. The blade sheathed slowly and he looked at the young warrior. "If you feel the need to continue, I'll only use my next blow to defeat you. That's your best hope is to stop me from that attack... but can you?" the green haired man asked as he continued to smile as if nothing were wrong.