A Relaxing Vacation [Zack, Lanying, Loru]

[Prythian]

"Darkness, then." The Champion said, closing his eyes once more. Again, when he spoke, it was layered and throbbing, making the heart pump to the tangible beat of his voice.

"The shadows, enfolding and enclosing, surrounding all. The hidden side of things, able to alter something's appearance in the dark shade. Rage, burning, yet within lies the center, the eye of the storm. It is the lovely night sky. It is the veil, protecting your sight from things to harsh to survive. It is the cool stillness that grasps those who are both arriving and leaving life."

He opened his eyes again, and drew a circle around the star. "Open your heart to those words and understand." This time, it rang out like what it was... the ending of a ritual of passing on knowledge. "These are the two great forces known as light and darkness."

[Nothingness]

Understanding

Another door opened in both his heart and mind, and a strange sort of understanding came over him. He couldn't describe it in words, but he could feel it inside of himself. He opened his eyes, and it felt like he saw the world somewhat differently. It was as if he had been wearing tinted shades. Or how sometimes when you really look around, it seems like the world is much more colorful than you remembered. That's what it felt like to Raen.

"I understand." He didn't even focus, and the darkness simply came over, coating himself in a fog. Then it stopped. It felt so strange, yet it also felt completely natural to him. "I don't feel any different, and yet, everything around me seems different. I'unno." Dropping the melodrama, he went down a somewhat more lighthearted route. Maybe it was because he was feeling more comfortable around this guy, but he certainly didn't feel threatened. "Well, this was certainly something."

[Prythian]

"Indeed." The Champion stood up, getting out of his cross-legged position, and brushed sand off of the gray robe. "And now I must give you some advice you would do well to follow. There is a war coming up, you see. One between Light and Darkness. You are allied with the Darkness." He paused significantly. "Your 'friends' are allied with those that will be your enemy should you participate in the war... and it is not a war you will be able to escape."

"For your own sake, to avoid heartbreak, it would be best if you left them now."

[Aerith]

Warning Bells

Maybe it had been the ice rose, but the red-headed woman had not tried to stop Lanying from leaving the alley and even the street entirely. Zack was also somewhere behind her, presumably not getting attacked. She would have heard yelling if that had been the case.

The walk to the beach had taken longer than expected. Then again, there was no way for her to know exactly how far she had been pulled around in that sack. The whole experience had been disorienting, to say the least. But she was quickly distracted by further depressing thoughts about bags and no oxygen when she saw the silhouettes of not one--as she had expected--but two people on the shore.

Moving closer, she could easily pick out one of the people as Raen. The darkness rolling off him should have been the greater concern for her, but when she registered the other person on the beach, her first instinct was to go for one of her weapons. Either one would have been good to feel in her hands.

"I advise that you do not attempt to fight him; if you cannot even defeat me, then you stand no chance against this man."

Just remembering Zexion's words in her head grated on her. But she could not deny that he was right. The rational thing to do would be not to commit suicide. She glanced at Raen. He appeared unharmed, but what did that mean? And then she heard the end of what this man was saying to Raen.

"Leave them"? He means me and Zack. But... why?

"Raen?" Her voice was tentative, and she drew closer to the pair, but she was unwilling to get closer than necessary to the silver-robed man. "What are you doing?" She had eyes only for him, and she made no effort to hide the accusation in them. "You won't listen to him. Will you?"

[Zack]

Luckily enough for them, that girl had not followed them. Zack and Lanying had caught a lucky break it seemed finally. He wanted to ask where exactly they were headed, but he figured they would get there soon enough. It took awhile, but soon they were back at the beach. When they got there, there were already two people on the shore. One was obviously Raen, though the other was unfamiliar.

The other though, gave Zack a bad vibe. He wondered what the two were even talking about, but like Lanying he heard the last part of what was said. The man was telling Raen to leave them behind? He would've stayed and listened to what Raen would have said, but Lanying was already approaching, questioning him already if he would.

"Of course he won't," he said as he followed behind her. He was probably a bit less cautious than Lanying was, but he was ready all the same. He believed in Raen, there was no way he would leave now after all they had been through.

[Nothingness]

Deja Vu, Much?

Well, so much for liking this guy. Raen knew that the Champion meant well, but he was really getting sick of people trying to drive them apart. Zexion, the witch, that weird androgynous pink-haired dude, and now this guy. Couldn't they just leave them alone for a little while? Lanying's voice cut through the air like a icy gale. "Dammit, you were supposed to come sooner; great timing, once again." Planting a hand on his hip while placing the palm of the other on his forehead, he gave a short chuckle before shaking his head. Looking up at the Champion he said with a repetitious air, "Not likely. I'm sticking with them for as long as I can. Sorry, Professor. Thanks for the wisdom, but no thanks for the advice."

Turning his back on the Champion, he walked over to Lanying and Zack. Raen smiled, saying rather casually in response to Zack's claim, "I'd never leave you guys. Sorry, Zack, but I don't think Lanying could handle you on her own." Dropping his voice to a whisper, he said to the up-and-coming hero, "I don't think you could handle her, either." Walking a little further away, he turned towards them and looked them over. "I must've missed the party; you guys look like hell. C'mon, let's head in for whatever is left of the night."

[Prythian]

"I do not wish to fight you." The Champion said, pursing his lips in annoyance. "I acted only in good faith this night. If you are willing to undergo heartbreak for this friendship, so be it." He turned away, walking a few steps, and stopped. "Should none of you work against me, you will be safe until the war has begun. Once the war begins, even your friends will not be safe from me, for we will be on opposite sides. As you too will be, if you truly do believe that darkness is where your allegiance lies."

He shook his head, and the golden sword appeared in his hands once more. "Work against me, though, and that safety will be revoked. All except for you, as I cannot afford to kill one of such strong darkness. But when her potential reveals itself, you will find things are not so clear cut as you would think. The war is inevitable. And you two are not on the same side. Just remember... in one talk, I have saved you from both others who would seek to control you... and saved you from the danger of your uncontrolled darkness."

[Aerith]

Raising More Questions

She refrained from audibly sighing in relief when Raen walked over to them and affirmed that he wasn't leaving. But the look in her eyes softened considerably. The rest of what Raen said barely registered in her ears. Her gaze was drawn back to the silver-robed man as he began to speak. Why did she feel an inexplicable urge to attack him? Common sense told her it was a foolish idea, and she clung to the reminder in Zexion's words. But the longer she looked at the man, the more her fingers itched for her weapons. It was just her deep-seated need to make sure Raen was okay.

Wasn't it?

He was talking about a war now. A war between the light and the darkness? He failed to mention when this war was supposed to occur, though remaining safe from him until then was something she filed away. She did not know what his plans entailed, though, so she was not sure that she would not interfere with them. Especially if they involved harming her home.

"Potential"? Me?

Seeing as she was the only female present, it was unmistakable that he was referring to her. She hadn't the slight clue what he meant by that, though. "Potential for what?" It was only half-demanding, since she knew enough not to provoke a fight here and now.

The knowledge that the man had helped Raen was also filed away. The implications of that would have to mulled over later. At least Raen wasn't going to leave them. That was most important.

[Oathkeeper Emi]

Buttons is wondering if he could hire Raen to do an ice sculpture for his next birthday party.
--

Meanwhile, Loru had effectively been distracted by Raen's ice sculpture. She stood there dumbly, staring with all the starry-eyed distraction of a small child at a petting zoo.

"So pretty,[/color]" she murmured. "So shiny. But you know, roses are supposed to be red. I would know,[/color]" she added, to no one in particular. Her hands curled up into fists at her side, hidden by her sleeves. Long fingernails dug into tender palms and drew blood. She shuffled over, raised her hands and proceeded to smear blood all over the ice. Diluted, it dripped down and her hands went numb from the cold so she couldn't even feel any pain- not that she could feel pain before. Just the sensation of touch. A very disorienting feeling, but not out of place for her. It just was.

She was further distracted by the beautiful (to her) site of a blood-smeared ice rose sculpture, and she almost forgot about her two captives... which seemed to not be captive anymore. In fact, they were nowhere to be seen. She blinked, turning in a slow circle and when she realized her new bestest buddy and that boy who didn't know how to play hide and seek were MIA, she freaked out.

"Ahh.... AHHH. AHHHHHH!" she shrieked, throwing her head back.

[Zack]

Zack gave a big cheery grin to Raen. "You're probably right," he said chuckling. He knew there had been nothing to worry about. Lanying was all worried for nothing. However, that man was still going on about light and dark, talking about a war between the two, and that they were on different sides. He wasn't exactly sure what he meant but, that didn't matter. What mattered right now was that they got back to the inn and got some rest.

He gave a big yawn. "C'mon let's head back, I'm exhausted," he told Raen and Lanying. It was about time for this night to end, he definitely needed some sleep after all this.

[Nothingness]

No Point Spoiling the Surprise

Raen walked over and placed a hand on Lanying's shoulder. His voice had the tone of a protective friend, but that wasn't so much accidental as he really was trying to protect her. "Come on, let's just head in for the night. No reason to worry yourself right now." He knew that whatever the Champion had to say wouldn't help her at all. The darkness had already tainted him--he was damaged goods--whereas Lanying still had that purity to her. The Champion would only ruin that purity.

Slowly moving her away and over to where Zack was, the trio headed back to their rooms. In Raen's mind, he knew that whatever that man had to say, the three of them would find out soon enough. But until then, it was best that they remain blissful in their ignorance. That would only last so long, after all...

[Prythian]

"...fools." Though they couldn't see it, a large grin was on the Champion's face. "Idealistic fools. The war may tear them to tiny pieces... what an absolute waste." He shook his head, the grin vanishing from his face. "And yet... They may be exactly what I need, in the end. They probably will not work with me after my actions."

"...But then, I never expected anyone to." With that final sentence to himself, he vanished.