As Athentix plunged from the rooftop, I instinctively raised my Sahajin into a cross to deflect the blow.

The energy from the attack sent us both sliding back a couple of feet, and just as quickly as the attack was initiated we sprung away from each other.

~ (Azazel) Hmm... I know you probably don't want to kill him, but I see no other option~

"This doesn't concern you friend. Turn back before this gets out of hand."

"You know I can't do that, Mordeuis. You know what the clan's standpoint is on deserters."

As we spoke, it was obvious that we were both sizing up each other's condition. We were equals in all but equipment, Athentix trading armor for more weaponry, and I the opposite.

"So that what you think this is? You're sorely mistaken. Leave now, and when I'm finished with my task I will explain what is really going on."

"If thats the case, why didn't you bring a guild entourage?! No, there is no need to discuss. This affair ends here!"

Athentix again ran toward me on the offensive. As he approached, he launched a barrage of throwing knives, most of which I deflected with my Sahajin or simply dodged. However, one caught me just above the knee, slicing through my armor and inflicting a minor wound.

"Son of a bitch. That damn thing was sharp!"

Once he reached me, I brought up my left arm to block the oncoming attack. His blow came down hard, the impact causing the teeth-like blades in my bracer to shoot into his forearm.

I saw the opening and reacted quickly. Following up with a slice from the blade in my right hand, but the wound I had inflicted didn't hinder him - as I had expected - and he blocked with a inverted blade.

Breaking again from the combat, he called out to me -

"I would expect no less from you, old friend."

"If I recall correctly, you were just saying there is no need for idle chatter."

"Very well then. Let us continue."

We proceeded to trade blows, each of us suffering minor cuts and scrapes, for another fifteen or so minutes before there was another break in the battle.

"It seems there is no upper hand in this battle. It has been at least seven years since I've had to take this old thing out of its sheath, but who better to face when I do?"

After stowing away my Sahajin I reached for the hilt rising up from my shoulder, releasing the clasp that held the sword in place. I drew it slowly, for dramatic effect.

"What the hell... What the hell is that!?"

"This is the blade of humanity's bane. The Bemiteron. It is the strongest weapon in my arsenal, and like the others, is what keeps Azazel and I separated."

The blade, three feet in length, was my masterpiece. From the guard to one third up the blade, a serrated edge, and the other two-thirds a blade sharp enough to slice through any armor. A dark gray in color, if you looked close enough you could see clouds of chaotic energy swirling within it - Azazel himself, who was bound only by the iridescent red runes that were engraved upon it, and all my other weapons.

"Fancy weaponry doesn't phase me. You should know that by now. Appearance means nothing without the skill required to wield it."

"And you should know by now, I have all the skill necessary."

Once again, we engaged each other. I could tell that the blade was causing trouble for him, but he still fought excellently.

We continued on, until the sun began to break the darkness.

"Urgh... I don't have time for this. If you want me, you'll have to chase me."

"Oh, and don't think this means I'm retreating. I don't have much time left before everything I've done so far becomes pointless."

I hopped onto the nearby crates up to the roof of the tavern. If I were lucky, these rooftops would lead me all the way to the eastern edge of town.

I began bouncing from rooftop to rooftop, Athentix not far behind me. It wasn't clear to me at the moment, but there had to be a way to convince Athentix of my intentions.

"Coward, you make excuses for running now too?" Enfuriated beyond anything I've previously known, I quickly recover what daggers of mine I can and sheath my falcata. Ascending to the rooftops, I am in chase just moments behind him yet he still has gained a commanding lead.

"For you, running is only forstalling the inevitable Mordeuis - halt and face your crimes like a man!"

"Soon enough I'll be able to explain my reasons for what I do now Athentix, but there is no time for me to waste this moment. Follow if you wish - keep up if you can..."

~ 'Keep up' ??? I've always been faster than you, and with that behemouth sword slowing you, this time shall be no different. ~ Dispite my thoughts, I don't seem to be able to gain on him noticably as the rooftops fly by under our feet.

As the eastern walls come into view over the rooftops, I realise that if he calls that infernal horse I'll be stuck for days tracking him yet again. Pulling my small crossbow from my belt, I load it on the run...

'THWANK' Damn, missed.

"You would shoot ME in the back !!!" Discarding the crossbow to the alleys below, I quickly draw the whip before he's even had time to fully turn. Looking to catch him by surprise, my weapon lashes out and catches his right foot sending him rolling feet over the roof.

Dropping the whip, I have my falcata once again in hand as I lung for him. My old friend is as fast as ever though, and a well placed foot to my midrift sends me flying over his head. Ever the acrobat, I am able to land on my feet, and rush him once again but he has also regained his footing as well.

"You don't know what you are doing old friend. There is NO time for your petty feelings of betrayal here..."

"'Petty' ?!? How dare you say such things after taking the lives of some of our brothers !!!"

"Hear me out Athentix, because although I do NOT have the time for this you give me no choice."

"Why should I even allow you a last breath after your betrayals?"

"Because what I know is bigger than you, me, or our guild even. What I am after involves the fate of our whole world..."

There was a break in the fighting for a moment. Sunlight was beginning to creep over the city gates, and the wind whispered through the streets of the desert town, whipping sand against our chapped skin.

"I have had this feeling before. A sort of stirring, not of myself, but of the world around me. The balance has been tipped. And though I may lean more to one side than the other myself these days, I am attuned to the balance because of Azazel."

"His existence within me lends me certain... abilities - all of which are more than uncommon. Yes, I can summon strength and speed unnatural to our kind, but there are other things as well."

"What the hell are you rambling on about?"

"Through meditation, I can perceive the alignment to chaos or order of individuals. And with even more focus, I can gather intent and the overall balance of our world."

"It sounds to me like your demon is nothing more than too much hashish."

~ (Azazel) Rrr... Oh please don't keep me bound from this. I would show this man my world.~

~ Enough. We have far more grave things to deal with than your ego. ~

"Believe me or not, it does not matter. There is more than enough evidence. Take Bemiteron for example. Do you honestly think a human could craft something without influence? Doubtful."

"As I was saying, the balance between order and chaos has been tipped. More so than ever before. War, famine, drought, plague. All of these things cause a stirring in the balance, but never of a magnitude like this."

"A few months ago, during my meditation, I felt the first signs of the disturbance. Continued meditation led me to a vision; a vision of the location I am now bound for."

"Where, exactly, is that?"

"A few hundred kilometers from here there is a mountain. But as is usual with the business we are in, looks are deceiving. Beneath the mountain there is a temple; A desolate place forgotten with time. It was once the home to a brethren of dark monks, and a source of great chaotic energy."

"And why would all of this concern you? You openly admit to being more evil than good. What could possibly be so intensely to one side to drive you, of all people, to do the things you have done? And for no profit at that."

"You're right. I am evil, but this is different. Were it merely a war, or the slaughtering of innocent people, I would take whatever contract I saw fit. But there is something unappealing about being eradicated, or worse."

"What do you mean?"

"The vision was not entirely clear to me, but whatever lies within that temple is attempting to open a rift between this world and the next. And it's intentions certainly are not to release cherubim to sprinkle us with joy and peace."

"If it is so powerful, why did you not take a guild entourage? Or you're group?"

"I could not. I am the only one who can dispatch it. The entity has the power to twist the mind, and cripple a man from the inside out. I am protected only because of Azazel. Even during the vision, the being attempted to break me. If it were not for Azazel's barriers, even a man such as myself would have crumbled."

"Even the holy are not safe. The friar of the monastery I visited has intense wounds on his face. A few of many, it is safe to assume. It was quite obvious what he had attempted."

"I see... Well, under these circumstances, I understand your actions. By why did you not alert the guild to what you were doing?"

"Apparently I haven't been clear enough. This creature, or these creatures, have the ability to reach out to man, if necessary, through subtle hints and whispers to lure them in and crush them. Telling anyone within the guild would put them in grave danger, and almost definitely hinder my journey. And now that you know, you are no longer safe."

"Indeed... How can I help?"

"Argh! You don't understand, I have to do this alone!"

"Well thats too bad, because I'm helping you whether you want me to or not. Besides, without me, you'd most definitely be attacked by any of our guild-mates in the field you would happen to encounter, as they have not received any word yet of my progress."

"Ugh... Must you always be such a bother? Fine then. But if you insist on coming with me you must wear this medallion."

From around my neck I withdrew a small, rectangular column. Bearing identity to my weapons, it possessed the same swirling gray cloud and red runes of its counterparts.

"Whats this thing? More of your arcane bindings?"

"Indeed. It protects me from exterior spiritual energies and influences. Think of it as a shield for my mind."

"Wait, if thats the case, won't you need it?"

"I'll be fine without it. Azazel will just have to put in more effort than usual."

~ (Azazel) You should just let him die. It's enough bother protecting you, much less two people. ~

"I suppose we should be on our way then."

"We have a long trek before we reach the mountain. I do hope that horse of yours can keep up with Antimony. She is the fastest in the clan, after all."

Our mounts were waiting for us, so we were well on our way by the time the town even started waking up. I found myself in good spirits despite the continued unease and mistrust that I still held towards my old companion, and the miles began to flow by under us at a decent pace. We decided to make a short stop to streatch our limbs and grab a bite, but what little conversation there was between the two of us was brief and without any real focus or content.

~ I am going to have to learn more about this 'Azazel' entity he harbors - if that really is the case. I remember his mention of it in years past, but what little he told me this morning was volumes on what I'd gleaned from him before now... ~

The rest we'd taken at lunch didn't last us very long, and as the afternoon hours started to drag by I found the deserts endless horizon also start to drag at my spirits. The view of sharp jagged rocks intersperced with dunes of the deapest reds became so disheartening that I chose to no longer follow safely behind, and instead moved up to continue allong side my traveling companion that we might find conversation a useful distraction.

"Three months Mord - you could have at least sent me some word."

"Maybe you wern't listening this morning, but for me to have done so would have risked your life. I may be cold, but even the worst of us have friends - you are maybe my only one...

...or at least you were once."

"You must have known though that eventually I would have to come for you?"

"I took great pains to keep my whereabouts well hidden. Then the guilds eyes back in Cai'ton had to find me, and left me no choice. I assume thats how you were finaly able to locate me?"

"Well, thats where I started from, and then just followed the blood trail from there."

"Of course. I figured that would be the case and saw no reason to try and hide from you any more. I'm glad it was just you who came old friend..."

"Hmmpf. No matter how this turns out - there will be... MUST be repurcussions for you 'old friend'."

"I'm sure there will be." With that I watch my one time friends back as he decides to pull ahead once again.

~ Well, so much for that. Back to the drudgery or these endless rocks and dunes. At least the sun is on its way down, and we'll be making camp soon. ~

"I caught it; you're cooking it."

Athentix, sitting calmly by the fire, jumped back as the coyote's carcass hit the ground in front of him.

"How the hell did you catch that thing out here in the desert? I thought you didn't carry a bow."

"I don't."

I could tell by the look on Athentix's face he was a little surprised at the catch. I was never quite as naturally fast as he was. Rather, I traded speed for power, and within our circle I was nearly unmatched in bladesmanship.

"We can only rest for a few hours. As we draw closer I can feel the stirring without having to focus. The time is almost near."

As Athentix began to prepare the coyote to be cooked, he looked up at me, as if he wanted to say something.

"What is it?"


"Hmm? What do you mean?"


"Anyone could tell. You're dying to ask me something. What is it?"


"This Azazel character... Tell me more about him..."


"Its a touchy subject. I'd really rather not."


"Come now. This desert, our journey, its boring the shit out of me. Give me something to take my mind off of it for a while. You owe me that much at least."


"Ugh.... If you insist. I suppose it started with my birth...."

"I was born in a small city, certainly nothing special about it. It was in the middle of the last economic depression, so life was hard for everyone. My family wasn't rich, but we got by, everything we needed, and every now and then somethings we wanted.
Anyways, as a young child, I was plagued with uncontrollable fits of rage. My mother and father both thought I was just a very sad and angry child, what with the lack of companionship caused by the status of the world.
They decided it best to send me to a local doctor to try to help me restrain the fits. Suprisingly, the treatments worked; until I got older...

When I was ten years old, my mother was preparing lunch when she heard crying coming from my younger sister's room. She ran in, and saw me standing over my sister's crib with one of my father's hunting knifes.
It took all her strength to drag me from the room, and ultimately she had to incapacitate me. I awoke an hour or so later, strapped to my bed, with a priest standing over me chanting prayers and flicking strange liquids into my face.
In a confused and scared voice, I told my mother and father that I had no recollection of what had occurred. They told me that everything would be okay, that the priest was their to help me.
All three exited my room, and began talking just beyond my door. I couldn't catch much of what they were saying, but I did overhear my mother saying that during the event my eyes were cast a deep red, and that when she attempted to restrain me I began speaking in a strange language that the priest identified as Alorian; the language of demons.
A few minutes later, they entered my room once again and began to unstrap me. I called out to my mother as the priest carried me out of the room, begging her to tell me what was going on. All she said to me was that everything would be alright. She kept repeating those words over and over...

Several days later, I arrived in a monastery high atop a mountain. At the time I thought nothing of it, but looking back, I see how very cliché that was. Alas, the priest guided me up into the monastery and sat me down while he spoke to one of the monks. Moments later, the priest left, and the monk came over to me. He said to me:

'Everything will be alright now. We're going to help you get better.'


Those words... They reminded me of my mother. The only people I knew, the only people I loved, had been taken from me. I was worried I would never see them again.

Months passed, and the monastery became my home. The monks taught me the proper way to meditate, and helped to discipline my body through rigorous exercise and training. We would spend days without food or water, focusing on nothing but meditation. The monks hadn't told me much of what I had done that brought me here, but I was starting to grasp it, slowly.
Months turned to years, and my meditation had still yielded nothing; until one day in the middle of the frigid winter. I rose from my meditation rug, running to find my master.

'Master! Master! I saw something! I saw a man!'

'Calm yourself my boy. Tell me, what did you see?'


'I saw a man, clad in the purest white robes. He wore a hood, and despite his clothing, I could feel the aura of chaos around him. And when he let down his hood, I saw his face. It was stricken, his skin completely black, his mouth and eyes sown shut.'

'Did he say anything to you?'


'Yes, he did. I couldn't understand him, though.'

'Tell me boy, what did he say?'


'Enosh dra melorian ket enosh yasasune. I think thats what he said... His voice was deep and distorted; it filled me with fear.'

'Hmmm...'

'Do you know what it means, master?'

'I'm afraid not, my boy. But perhaps, with time, we will all understand'


Over the next few weeks, I saw the man several more times during my meditations. Every time he repeated the same words. I studied the words intensely, but my attempts were all-for-naught.

I continued my training, and continued my life the way I had since I arrived at the monastery. Until one day, when I was dueling with my bo-staff against my master.
The match had been going as every single one before it. We traded blows, each taking our fair share of hits. My master got the upper hand and one point, and hooked my leg with his staff, pulling it from under me. I stood up, with a sick smile on my face, and the same red eyes I'd had when I tried to kill my younger sister.
I couldn't control myself. I ran through the halls of the monastery, beating everyone I encountered until they ceased to move. And when I had finished my rampage, I collapsed on the stairs of the monastery.

I awoke several hours later, covered in blood. Having a good idea of what I had just done, I ran into the main gallery of the monastery, passing the limp, lifeless bodies of my teachers. I entered the gallery and sat down at my meditation rug.
I began to meditate, concentrating harder than I ever had before. I was desperate to reach the man locked inside my mind.

'Where are you!?! You did this! Where are you!?!'

'Your mind is not yours alone.'

I was struck with shock. Before now, I could never understand the man's words. But now, it was all clear to me. And the words he had spoken over and over, 'Your mind is not yours alone', made sense to me.

'I demand that you leave my mind! You made me kill my masters!'

'You are in no position to make demands of me, child. This body is as much mine as it is yours.'


We debated inside my mind for what seemed like days. In the end, I finally struck a deal with the demon. In exchange for leaving my mind, I was to construct weapons and equipment to which the demon would be bound. He would never leave my mind completely, but he would no longer be able to control my body at a whim.

I spent months searching for the materials to construct the gear, and even more time actually making them. The demon gave me very specific instructions as to how to craft the equipment.
At last, I had completed the items, and the final step was to rub my own blood across the surface. As I drug my fingers across the weapons, the blood dissipated and arcane ruins formed in its place. At this point, I could feel the demon leaving my body.

He left me with his name, and this decree -

- You must continue to kill, lest the ruins fade away and I return to your mind completely -

And from that point on is, as we say, history. I met you, helped you form the guild, and here we are."

'What happened to your family?"


"I never saw them again. I'm afraid that if I seek them out, it may prove traumatic. Its better that I just assume they're dead."


"Thats a very depressing story, Mord."


"I care not. Memories are just that, memories. The past is over and done with. I live for the present."

At this point, the coyote cooking over the fire was finally ready to eat. We ate our meals in silence, and attempted to get some rest. For me though, I knew there would be no more sleep until I had finished this journey.

::kick::

Catching Mordeuis' boot as it swung toward me also catches him a bit off gaurd and he stumbles back.

"The next time you try that I may decide to keep the foot."

"You are welcome to try me again any time you feel the need. Until then though - lets move while we still have the night."

Mounting up in short order we are quickly on our way. We had covered a good distance the day before, and from what little we knew of our destination there was some hope we would find ourselves within sight of it by mid day.

Due to our stinted attempts at conversation the day before and Mords tale still fresh in my mind we rode on in silence. However, I chose to ride allong side my old friend granting him some trust after his hesitant decision to share his tale with me.

--------------------------------------------------

Shortly after dawn as we eat on horseback I notice three sets of tracks that cross in front us us going in generaly the same dirrection. There are two that most deffinately belong to camels of some size, but the third is unfamiliar.

"I know what it is, and it may be best if we try to avoide this fight. They are probably some sort of outer perimiter, and we don't want them warning those ahead of us. We must be even closer than I'd realized..." Trailing his last off in thought I note him starring intently in the dirrection the tracks seem to be running.

"I'll trust you in this Erudis. Lead on."

Walking ahead of our horses about a half hour later as we traverse a depression in the rock of the desert we catch wind of a stench unlike anything belonging to our world.

"AS I feared - the blasted garmr these gaurds seem to run with must have picked up our scent - they are what made those other tracks we found earlier. It would probably be best if we find a good spot to fight - either way that is now our only choice."

As the depression opens up into a hollow that would probably fill with water durring this lands breif rainy season, we hear just minutes from us off to our left the sounds of a fast approaching group. As we arm to fight, our persuers crest the slight ridgeline above us and the huge nightmare-black hound among them catches the shaft of an arrow I fired in its maw with a snap.

Looking at Athentix out of the corner of my eye, It was obvious we were both thinking the same thing...

"This should be interesting...

The arrow lodged in the Garmr's muzzle seemed to be angering the hound more than hurting it. Just as the guards began to unleash the beast, I sprinted towards the ridge, preparing to take it head on.

Leaping across another depression seperating the ridge and myself, I met the animal mid-air, planting my foot in its underside at the bottom of its ribcage, and sending it flying over my head. Finishing my flip and landing back on the precipice upon which I had started, I looked towards the guards, which had already began to engage Athentix.

"Two on one... Athentix, you know thats not a fair fight! Give them a chance."

Guard - "You won't be talking so big when you're bleeding out on the ground!"

Before the guard had a chance to finish his swing, I appeared there, crouched next to Athentix, intercepting the sword the guard was attempting to lodge into my friend's side.

"It is you, sir, who'll be bleeding out."

"As you pointed out yourself - this fight is already unfair. Go take care of that filthy mutt..." ~ ...whatever the hell you call that thing. ~

Avoiding another swing from the same gaurd, I roll under the camel he is still mounted on thinking it provides some advantage. Comming up in between the two of them I draw my falcata once again, and follow the swing through cutting just below the calf of the second gaurds right leg.

Looking back over his shoulder, Mord tosses the quip: "I've heard more masculine screams comming from harem virgins, boy." With that I catch him engage the beast from the corner of my eye.

The beast came out of no where, leaping at me from my rear and lodging his fangs into my right side.

"Damn!"

As I called out, blood ran down my leg and onto the ground beneath the Garmr.

"You will suffer for that, mutt!"

Turning myself, I grabbed onto the beast's muzzle with my gauntlets and pried his fangs from my side. With a quick rotation, I swung the beast around by his jaw and launched him into a nearby rock.

"Hah! This is a fight, Mord, not a discus toss!"

"Hilarious. Just mind your own fight and leave me be."

The beast began to rise to his feet once again, seemingly unaffected by the impact. Jumping toward me again - this time from the front - I connected my fist into its eye.

"This damn thing can take a beating."

Stepping back and shaking off the punch, the monster prepared to attack again. Dodging my first swing, it latched onto my left forearm, releasing the claws into the roof of its mouth.

"I'm done with this..."

Reaching back, I drew my Sahajin and sliced the dog's collar, squirting blood onto my breast-plate. The Garmr's jaw let loose of my arm, and the beast fell to the floor; lifeless.

"Finally... Need any help?"

As the screaming gaurd rolls toward me from his mount in a desperate attempt at grabbing the remains of his leg my second falcata swings gracefuly upwards almost removing his head. The move cost me though, and the first gaurds sword cuts deap into my left shoulder.

~ Damn, I liked this armor too. Now I'll have to wait with it in this condition until we return home... ~

Rolling again for possition I catch site of my friends nearby battle, and enjoy the comic value of the dog getting tossed. ""Hah! This is a fight, Mord, not a discus toss!"

"Hilarious. Just mind your own fight and leave me be."

Realising the value of those words just in time, I roll yet again as the gaurds sword swings just above my head. Comming up to the rear of the one remaining gaurds camel, I leap onto its back and bring both my blades together point first just under the gaurds arms.

"Finally... Need any help?"

Pulling my falcata free so the final gaurds body can tumble to the ground, I give my companion a wry look and dismount the camel.

"We better move. I don't think we have time to waste now that we've been spotted - even if this lot was unable to raise the alarm. Tend your wounds on the way Mord, and lets go."