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Dark Waters
Topic Started: Thursday Aug 15 2013, 03:28 PM (178 Views)
TheProtobabe
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Kina:
(OOC: Okay, my OOC part will be rather long, XD, but bear with me. The title is actually the pairing name for Selena and Dark Link, but it functions well for the time frame and situation.

As I mentioned on skype, the timeline is now mid-Adult OOT. Perhaps six years in, prior to Link's reawakening. Although Ganondorf has secured the country as whole, as well as outlying territories, there are still pockets of resistance scattered across the countryside. Because of this, there are more than just occupied towns; there are actually war camps and all that jazz.

Aaron is also the first Shade, his creation entirely by accident, but he remains the most powerful of his kind. And unlike others, he remains alive by wresting the magical energy out of them. This usually kills all but the strongest of mages, as it fragments their essence [the source of life, whereas magic is naturally intertwined with it].

There is also an artifact that he created, so as to make Shades more willing to do what they were created for. The henko is a clear, quartz like gem; but it hyper-influences all of the intended traits of a Shade and blankets the more up front features of their personality. You might say that it encourages bloodlust and dominance, although original traits can still show through ... they're just provoked that much easier, as well as giving into carnal temptation. In Aaron's words, it "fulfills the purpose most Shades were created for". He tends to see most of the newer ones of his kind as beneath him, since he was the original.

Anywho~. RP time. ^^)


Her dark cobalt gaze wandered the riverside as she walked, exhaustion plaguing the young woman's petite frame as the day wore on. Blood slicked her hand and stained her rich blue tunic, as well as the braided yellow cloth that pulled it in at the waist and shoulder-sleeves. Her pale, hiplength electrum tresses stood out quite clearly as dusk was beginning to set in, though, as did her own unrest.

Her breath was starting to come shallow as she neared the river, evidenced why by the jagged wound that opened across her side. The blade had obviously been serrated, while the arm that tried to pressure the torn wound was doing little but put off the inevitable. Her entire side was wet with blood, the metallic substance reaching to stain even down the outside of the young woman's leg.

Yet, despite the exhaustion that was settling into her entire body, she didn't stop. Someone obviously wished her dead, yet the placement of why was eluding her.

The young woman's halted wandering abruptly stopped, though, if only because of the distinct feeling that suddenly grazed her. And as each moment passed, they became noticeably separate. As her gaze wandered back to the woods she had emerged from, gauging them. Several long moments ticked by, before some appeared in the thick branches. Four. Just as she had ... sensed?

But the sight of weaponry caused the young woman to tense, her petite proportions noticeably dwarfed by the apparent leader as he approached. Over a head and a half taller. She took a step back, shifting her weight. Hesitant. "... Who are you?"

An almost bawdy laugh came from the man wielding a broadsword, the wide blade clearly strapped across his back. "I could ask the same of you, really. It is quite rude to ask names without giving your own first, after all," the man continued, shrugging one shoulder. "Would you care to remedy that?"

"I ... can't."

"Oh? Care to tell us why?"

"... I ... can't remember," the young woman said softly, stepping back. Noticing them spreading out around her. Not even having to glance at them, somehow. Watching the apparent leader advance, quickly righting her faltering balance. Tightening her hold on the half-mutilated wound, jaw clenching.

"... Is that so?" the man queried, brow coolly arching. "Why not tell us what you can remember? Or do we just need to refresh your memory a little?"

The young woman's wariness was plainly visible, even if not outright showing fear. Her features schooled against the obvious pain in her side, reasonably holding back any other emotions as well. "... I do not think it would be worth the effort," she said softly, almost through clenched teeth.

But it was plainly obvious that she had lost a fair amount of blood by this point, her pale skin starting to grow slightly sallow. The swordsman stopped directly in front of her, an obvious head and a half taller than her lithe frame. His hand suddenly tilting her chin up when she stood her ground, earning a glower from the surprisingly dark eyed girl. Her eyes a clear offset to her otherwise pale appearance. "It is also difficult not to notice that you lack the sigil."


(OOC: My post is long, yeah, but they don't have to be any more than just a couple paragraphs, XD. This is just to get us started. The sigil, by the way, is a dragon-headed phoenix. Copper for your standard member, silver for war lords, and gold for Dark Link and Aaron. The Shades involved also have the henko, mentioned above, clutched in the sigil's talons.)



Zorayda:
The shadow of a man flitted from tree to tree as he navigated the forest in hunt of prey. Dark let his raven locks fall in front of crimson eyes as he closed them, instead relying on an inner sense that was something akin to a sense of smell.

The henko at his chest flared and the shadow man felt a flare of bloodlust rise in his mind, clouding other thoughts. With a growl, he stamped down the thirst for bloodshed to keep himself sharp and focused upon the task. Whatever or whoever held the power he sense was seriously injured and bleeding. That meant an easy target--easy prey, Dark's mind hissed almost involuntarily.

Quick and silent as a cat, he continued to follow the trail. He noted the presence of comrades and smirked. Seems his underlings were better at patrolling than he first thought. Still, whatever it was had a fair amount of power; a power that needed to be controlled by Ganondorf's forces.

Dark mentally snarled at his master's name. His own existence was to be the opposing force of something else, someone who was his 'original'. There was to be a Hero of some sort, and Ganon had created Dark in order to counter him. Disliking this train of thought, Dark frowned and instead refocused on his target. Coming closer gave him a clearer scent, and now he could tell that it was a female human with some kind of arcane.

At long last, Dark came to a clearing, where a river ran close by. The target was probably near...

Running tirelessly for a little while, he finally saw her. A girl, young by the looks of it, bleeding and weakening by the second. Dark again ignored his need to kill and instead kept some distance from her behind his underlings. They had not heard him yet, but the girl had most definitely seen him. He shot her a smirk and clapped a hand on the shoulder of the foremost minion, grinning. Dark spoke, his voice a clear tenor, though undertones of malice could be heard as well.

"Good work, you've found a little girl. And no sigil, either... oh, dear. It looks like we need to take her in."

Kina:
The young woman jerked away from the apparent leader of the group as another essence neared, her dark cobalt glare practically daring him to try to touch her again. She didn't have the faintest idea what she was planning to do should he, but the thought was holding strong.

Her dark eyed gaze moved towards the approaching essence as it suddenly emerged, only to sharply move back as two of the four started to make a pincer motion; as if to corral her. It may have been odd that she could sense their placements without even a sideways glance, but it was useful. The dark haired man was oddly pale, but his wine-colored eyes were piercing. She held his gaze for a moment, guessing from his stance and the gold dragon-headed phoenix about his neck - rather than copper like the rest - that he was somehow ranked. Meaning that she needed to focus on him.

Sigil? The necklace? Or was it something else? "If I may beg your pardon ... what are you talking about?" the young woman queried coolly, managing to force herself to maintain level balance. Lest she show weakness.

Zorayda:
Dark's eyes snapped to the girl's and he gave her a casual, lopsided grin--as if he had all the time in the world to catch her.

"Ah, so you do talk. Well, you see, girl, this sigil--" he poked his own "--is what is required for anyone out here to remain in a state of living. Our master requires something out of everyone, especially those... more able than others. Those like yourself, little mage. Or did you think you could hide it from all of us?"

During this speech, Dark had been sauntering closer and closer to Selena, his movements smooth like a cat and his body language suggesting peace. But at the last question, he put a hand upon the hilt of his sword, preparing to use force if he needed to.

"Now, come along quietly, and you'll be just fine."

Kina:
His casual tone and body language belied the predatory stare he was directing at her, and as if by some unspoken cue, his four subordinates began to move once more. However, her brow arched at his jibing words. Mage? Well, that was at least something.

She held her ground, surprisingly, as the taller warrior sidled closer, giving him a hard stare. She was less than inclined to go anywhere. Especially when she didn't know where she was already. When his hand moved to his sword, however, that was all the threat it took.

The spray of the river suddenly became a series of needling darts as one of the original men wandered behind her. Surprise and anger flashed across her mind as blood wet the warrior's throat, while her breath caught in her own. She felt everything?

But the petite mage was given no time to ponder, even wounded as she already was. They lunged.

And the mage moved as water - fluidly evading everything the Hylians threw at her.

Zorayda:

The injured servant's snarl turned into a vague gurgle as blood infiltrated his trachea, making him cough and sputter. Dark did not give the order to let up, though, so the shadow kept standing, losing blood just as the mage girl was.

Dark smirked as the mage evaded and dodged, obviously losing strength as she lost blood. It would only be a short time before she was in their grasp. However, he didn't want her to die before she had been used by their king. That would be most inconvenient. Dark was unafraid of her attacks, having a keen sense of magic and excellent reflexes. He continued to advance upon her, sword out but at his side.

He waited to pounce until he could see her distraction--when her eyes flicked somewhere other than where he stood. Dark surged forward and threw his shoulder into her middle in an attempt to knock her down. Doing so would render her vulnerable and off-guard... an opportune time to knock her unconscious.

Kina:
When evasion tactics were promptly nulled - running out of room to use them, as now they shifted in time with herself - she went on the offensive. A lash of cobalt snapped into the nearest when she threw out her arm, making a lunging motion at the same time. All it seemed to miss was the cracking of a whip, for her target staggered as if he had been hit with one.

The second time, he went for a swim.

She bit back a hiss of pain as the black-clad warrior suddenly barreled headlong into her, connecting dead on with the growing stain on her side. And true to his expectations, the blood loss had made her unsteady on her feet. The pale mage landed roughly on the ground, yet wasn't defeated yet. Her jaw clenched as a booted foot stamped down on her arm as she tried to rise, all but grinding it into the ground. Her breath came short, shallow. But holding onto consciousness was becoming a losing battle, even as she managed to twist the pinned arm to grip her foe's boot. Color proceeded to drain from the man's face.

A kick to the head proceeded to steal the Shade's own intentions from him, swearing audible as blackness began to creep into her vision. Seeing the wine-eyed man approach just as the string connecting her to the waking world snapped.

Zorayda:

Dark had to physically hold back a soldier of his as the girl finally drifted into unconsciousness. Her strength and fierceness from before had instantly melted away so she looked like a little yellow bird, helpless and crumpled before them. A glance behind Dark said that this was an illusion, however; two of his underlings were dead, one unconscious, and the other spitting blood.

Feisty little mage, isn't she? Dark thought with amusement. He decided he rather liked her for her spunk. He scooped her off of the ground and carried her bridal-style, careful not to harm her any further. With one hand, he used his shadow magic to scan her injuries. Nothing too deep, but the bleeding needed to be stopped... he used a mild fire spell to cauterize the wound that bled the most. It would likely scar, but with no proper healers around it was the best he could do.

"You," he addressed the soldier still standing. "Carry the other one. I'll vanish the bodies." With a wave of his hand, Dark caused the dead soldiers to dematerialize, leaving no trace of them behind. Nodding to the soldier when he'd picked up his fallen comrade, Dark shifted the girl in preparation for a run.

"Let's go."



Kina:
When the remaining duo arrived at the war camp, stationed in the midst of thick oaks on all sides that bled through thinner trees and into the field behind them, the remaining functional soldier gave a half-bow and departed with his cargo to the tent for the wounded. However, it seemed that the leading Shade had priorities - such as containing her power.

One of the recruits went scurrying off at the command for lodestone, but then just about ran into another approaching Shade. Rather like the Dark Link, he was also extraordinarily pale for having such dark hair, and had eyes of rubies to match. However, his gaze was appraising as it settled on the approaching warrior. Also the only other man in the camp who wore a golden sigil.

The age-old Shade's lips quirked into a smile as he stopped in front of the far younger duplicate, tilting his head slightly. "Well, well ... imagine that. Seems you found my little slip of a mage," Aaron commented coolly, arching a brow at Dark. The implied order already in his voice.

(OOC: XD, I'd imagine that it's now "finder's keepers" for Dark Link, so feel free to have him jump down Aaron's throat if you want. They are of the same rank, after all.)
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Moonlight-Zelda
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Zorayda:
Dark's nose wrinkled as he sensed one of the only Shades above him--Aaron. He held the girl instinctively closer to his chest, as if to protect her from the one being he believed was more evil than he himself was.

"Your mage, hm? I think she'd argue with you on that," Dark shot back, his voice keeping a small amount of calmness. "She took out three of my men--two are dead. This little girl is very strong." He took a moment to observe her visage, which was currently covered in blood. She looked oddly small when she wasn't fighting, however, and for some reason that bothered Dark more than it should have.

"I'll just get her cleaned up, then," the Shade concluded, rebellion implied in answer to Aaron's implied command. Dark smirked and gave the other man a sidelong glance before starting his walk to the medical wing of their stronghold.

Kina:
The superior Shade merely made a scoffing sound in his throat, eyes narrowing as he watched the lesser's retreating back. The claim had already been made. He would just have to deal with it. For that mage would give him years, if not decades.

* * * * *

Pain was the first thing she was aware of.

And she lashed out in attack, rolling off of whatever she'd been placed on as cobalt aura tore through whatever was in her way - like bladed ice. A cry of pain was audible as her eyes finally snapped open, the deep cobalt in heavy contrast with the paleness of the rest of her. But their reaction was immediate: Surrounding her.

Her dark eyed gaze slid from one person to the next, evaluating their size - not just the essence. The essences that mingled together, making her head pound. There were so many people. Not just in the tent. She slowly inhaled, watching them.

And then they attacked.

Her palm slammed into the nearest's shoulder as he tried to push her up against a cot, only for his jaw to clench in a barely constrained cry of pain. Suddenly unable to move his shoulder - the blood frozen. Like liquid, she slipped around the stunned warrior, only to throw a cold sphere of aura at the next. Trying to create an opening.

Zorayda:
Dark Link took a few deep, calming breaths to get himself under control. The henko did not help matters, only fueling his rage and irritation at the newly awakened mage.

He marched into the heart of the fray, seeing the aftermath of her water-magic. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he was extremely impressed, but in this instant he was very, very angry. His wine-red eyes flashed a brighter crimson and he clenched his teeth, the henko pulsing.

"Blast it all, woman! Did you have to go and create so much carnage?!" Dark growled, rushing up and attempting to grab her arm. All he needed to do was to get the collar-necklace on her to dampen her very powerful magical abilities, and she'd be much easier to handle.

"I'm not going to kill you," the Shade ground out. "What I am going to do is to make you a little more manageable. Now hold still!" He rushed forward, quick as lightning.

Kina:
As earlier, there was no doubting the power in his essence as the furious Shade pushed his way through. But the utterly bewildered mage was taking no chances - she could find out what they had wanted with her after she escaped.

Unfortunately for her, though, she was hardly at full strength. Which would make this little tussle quite interesting. Her jaw clenched as he lunged, abruptly retreating as his grip nearly closed around her arm. But rather than releasing a singular attack, it turned into a full blown circular strike - a lash of cobalt hitting everyone and everything in her way as she spun, aiming to clear a path one way or another.

And her sheer stubbornness seemed to be paying off, to some degree. Attempts to restrain her resulted in only yet more limbs contracted in the pain of frozen blood. They were growing wary of getting within arm's reach of her now.

Although to the Shade, she was wielding it more as a bludgeon than with expertise and finesse, human and Hylian recruits alike saw her as a firebrand already. But her inefficiency was going to catch up to her. The mage's breathing was growing labored as she stared down the remaining warriors, well aware of his acute anger. As well as the interest of the one who chose to enter behind him.

Her breath caught. The same one she'd awakened to originally.

And the smile that slowly curved his lips made it clear that he knew what had crossed her mind. "Seems that the little lunamoth's fluttering is a bit more than you can handle," the ruby eyed man observed, amusement clinging to his tone as his gaze wandered from her to the curve of black stone in Dark Link's hand. As he spoke, he was wrapping a silver chain around his own hand, a clear crystal rather like what their sigils clutched in the talons briefly visible.

"Now ... shall we try this again?"

And he lunged. She started back at his up-front approach, only to lash out. The sphere of aura barely grazed him as he suddenly sidestepped, before Dark seemed to spring back into action - as if insulted that the man had stepped in.

And evading them both - now that their subordinates had settled for creating an arena in the tent with their bodies, even as they tried to get their frozen parts to cease paining them - proved to be a consuming task for a tiring mage. This time, the game didn't last long. After three attempts, the arrival suddenly caught her arm and twisted.

Pain shot up her back as his fingers danced across pressure points, only for the chain-wrapped hand to force her head back at the jugulars when she staggered. Her knees buckled when he kicked the backs of them, roughly falling onto the floor as fire seemed to burn through her throat where the henko touched. The amnesiac mage's eyes were wide with pain, the henko touching her bare skin making an already obvious burn.

Zorayda:

Dark’s henko pulsed with energy as the little mage dodged and counter attacked, hitting him with a broad lash of her magic. It did little to hinder him; rather, it just made him angrier. Shades were a mite tougher than the soldiers she defeated so easily, so her attacks were little more than tantrums as this point.

With a snarl, Dark retreated back to watch how she attacked, trying to get a bead on her style. For thirty seconds he watched as she did something to the soldiers… every time she touched them or threw magic at them, their limbs would stiffen and the underlings would scream in pain. None of them would get near her.

Dark noticed that the mage did not wield her magic with any familiar skill; rather, she was flailing her sheer power around blindly, as if she’d no idea how to use it and it was wearing her down faster than it should have. It confused him greatly, but the anger overrode that curiosity into attacking her once more.

One of his soldiers gave her pause, for some odd reason, but rather than question it, Dark came closer and tried to herd the girl into position for capture. Then the man rushed in, startling Dark. He hadn’t expected for an underling to willingly go after a powerful mage who had taken out so many men. Surprise turned to frustration; Dark was the one who was supposed to catch her, not some soldier that worked under him… even if he was one of the high-ranked ones.

The man made quick work of the tiring mage, irritating Dark inwardly. He hated that he’d lost control of the girl, only to have someone other than himself catch her again. He watched as the soldier subdued the mage, causing her intentional pain.

His henko flared with delight, giving his heart a false sense of satisfaction at seeing her in pain, but the part of him that was under his own possession flinched, remembering how small and fragile she’d looked when unconscious. Dark bent down to her level and gave the soldier a look, meaning ‘keep her still’. He shifted his deep red gaze to her.

“I am afraid your little game is over,” he admonished, his voice calm despite his irritation. “You have proven yourself to be very powerful… but I notice that you seem to lack control. I wonder why that is…” he brushed a lock of her white-blonde hair back, almost tenderly, mocking the intimacy of two lovers.

He reached forward with the collar and put it around her damaged throat, watching as it clung with magic and start blocking her power. He quirked a brow when he noticed that it was straining to do so, meaning he’d have to find something else to help contain her energy.

“This should keep you out of trouble for a while,” he commented. His eyes flicked up to meet the other man’s. “Let her go. She won’t hurt you now.”

Kina:
Her breath caught in her aching throat as the pale Shade forced her head back, painfully aware of how the chain shifted against the growing burn across her neck. His anger clashed with his ally's utter amusement, and the gold sigil that she had seen both of them wearing stated her suspicions - both of them were well ranked. Her energies had been misspent in trying to take out the more ... human of her opponents.

She coughed as the henko was finally removed from her throat, flesh noticeably raw where it had touched; only for the Shade's fingers to thread through her pale blonde hair, brushing it off her face and away from her neck. She stiffened. "Nothing about this is a game ..." the restrained mage hissed, dread beginning to form a pit in her stomach. Why were they so intent on keeping her?

But as soon as the cool stone circled her throat, it was as if the entire sixth sense had been ripped out - she felt nothing. No emotions. Not even the essences, the sense that had helped her so greatly during the fight. Now, she was as one blind. Just like the rest of them.

"Keh .... It is a bit sad, really, that you allowed the little lunamoth to wreck such havoc in such a short amount of time," the Shade returned in answer to the order, shoving the amnesiac to the floor in the same motion of releasing her. She didn't land gracefully, despite already having been forced into a kneeling position. "Perhaps you ought to rethink your attempt of overriding my claim, child," the age-old Shade suggested coolly, arching a brow at Dark Link.


Zorayda:

Dark watched the fire leave the girl's eyes as he circled her neck with the choker. He wondered if it was the same as caging a tiger... she'd inevitably find a way to escape and seek revenge on her captors. The Shade repressed a snarl at the thought. His dark eyes flicked to meet Aaron's at his words.

"'Lunamoth', eh? She's more like a little hellcat," Dark remarked, lifting a lip in a half-smirk and glancing down at her.

"I am no child, and you know it, Aaron," the younger Shade growled darkly at Aaron's remark. "And seeing as you hold no real power over me, I fail to see how your claim holds any water," Dark pointed out in a lofty tone, soft in comparison to his first quip. He stood from his crouched position in front of the blonde girl, dusting his tunic.

"But if you are going to pout about it, do what you will with her," Dark sniped, a smirk playing across his lips.

He turned away casually, feigning disinterest... but he knew that he'd be checking up on her and the Shade. Just in case.[/size]

Kina:
While the lodestone-inhibited mage struggled to breath around the tightness of the collar, she still listened as her fingers curled into fists against the ground. The Shade's flippant answer only served to boil her blood, even if she had already lost a fair bit. She had barely pushed herself up when the original Shade's grip fastened around her wrist, proceeding to jerk her fully to her feet. And because of the amnesiac's distinctly petite proportions, that posed not a single problem for him. She scowled as a smile curved the pale Shade's lips.

He, however, was hardly swayed. "I will admit, I am impressed that you actually know when to stand down," he said coolly, satisfaction apparent in his tone. He gave the mage a sidelong glance as he felt the muscles tense, clearly still energetic enough to be willful even with the lodestone inhibiting her magic. Of course, it was very likely she wasn't familiar with it in the first place. Not judging from what he now held.

The Shade turned after a moment, brushing past Dark Link and keeping the restrained mage near himself. While it was clear that he was headed towards his own pavilion, his gait carried none of the expected predatory tones - even if his smirk was indeed, one of a well fed predator's.

Zorayda:
Dark stood with his arms crossed, back turned, smirking as Aaron manhandled the little mage. She seemed to be sending daggers at both himself and Aaron with her glare, but Dark simply tilted his head at her and gave her a saucy wink, allowing a few of his teeth to show in a lopsided smile. It really was fun to annoy others at times.

But the sarcastic look was wiped off of his face when Aaron decided to jab at Dark before leaving with his prize. Dark bristled, making him look like an angry crow as the other man brushed past. Narrowing his eyes, Dark followed the other Shade with stiffened shoulders. Their pavilions were near each other, so when they came close to Aaron's destination, Dark left without saying a word to him. He did, however, cast a glance at the mage, wondering what her fate was to be.

Kina:
The mage's glare was enough to kill. It was unfortunate that it didn't. Though she was aware of the other Shade following them briefly, he entered the pavilion prior to the one that Aaron did. He gave a clipped order to the handful of servants that lingered in his tent, before they quickly left to find something else to do.

After they left, the flap falling in place, he then released her - roughly. The amnesiac stumbled with his slinging motion, throwing out a hand to catch herself against one of the wooden posts. Her dark eyed gaze fixed on him with enough venom to fell an ox. "You seem quite persistent."

"And you are stating the obvious, m'dear," he countered boredly, arching a brow at her. He crossed his arms after a moment, leaning against the post nearest the exit. "I do, however, have a proposition. You have something I want, and I can offer what you desire," the age-old Shade continued after a moment, the words coming out in a lazy drawl. He had the distinct advantage, and she knew it. A smile quirked his lips.

"For some reason, I highly doubt that you'll just let me waltz out of here," the bloodied mage returned coolly, straightening. Her full height was less than impressive, however, just further marking their differences. Her physical side was nothing to him. But the threat she posed as a mage was quite something - the strongest yet that he had felt. But judging from the 'stolen' memories, there was something connected. A bit more examination would show just what.

He chuckled in answer to her words, though, before shaking his head. "That presumption is correct. However ... I imagine that you would like something more attainable. Information. And that, I am willing to barter."

Her eyes narrowed. "You know quite well that I have nothing to give in return."

His smirk returned. She was acutely aware of her position now, it seemed, yet still too proud to accept it. And apparently, that pride extended to other things as well. Aaron shifted his weight after a moment, before abruptly pushing away from the post. His arm shot out, shoving her up against the main tent post.

Her petite frame went rigid - only stopped from grabbing the blade at his waist by a firm hand. "Actually, little lunamoth, you do ..." Aaron said softly, holding her gaze. "You are a mage, and an odd one at that. What I am willing to offer is your memories."

The trailing of his words gave the desired effect. Curiosity. But reined by caution. "... And what does my being a mage have to do with what you want?"

"Your power, naturally ... Just a bit, for each exchange. It is just as well, considering the lodestone will cause hazardous build-ups. That alone could be quite ... dangerous, I believe," Aaron pointed out casually, not in the least concerned of refusal. She was in no position to do so - willing or not. Without giving the lodestone inhibited mage a chance to dwell, he made his move.

A hiss of pain escaped her lips when he dipped into what little was left of her surface energies, abruptly ripping them away. The result was instantaneous. The pale mage sagged against the post as her legs buckled, barely hanging onto consciousness. A futile effort.

He allowed her to drop, before tracing his fingertips down the side of her face while selecting memories that could be usefully applied if he brought them up. Ending up with an entire collection of songs that was useless to him to hold, the age-old Shade forced them to fade and return. The little songbird, it seemed, would be a commodity. "The more you resist, Selena, the rougher this will be ... I suggest you keep that in mind," Aaron said softly, before snapping her connection to the waking world with a well placed strike.



Perhaps an hour later, the still unconscious mage was deposited in Dark's pavilion. She would sleep like the dead for several more, Aaron expected, but allowing the lesser Shade to stew over what he 'might have' done to his prize was amusing in itself.

Zorayda:

Dark stalked back to his large tent, shoulders still tensed with irritation. He snapped at a few inferiors and gave them petty things to do, just so they would leave him alone.

The Shade flopped onto his cot, fuming at the ceiling of the pavilion. Dark had been created after Aaron, but did that give the older Shade the right to treat him like a teenage child? Dark crossed his arms and pouted, unaware of the irony of such a gesture.

The sun had nearly sunk below the horizon and he was in the same position, almost calmed, when a few noises alerted his attention. One of the soldiers under Dark poked his head tentatively into the pavilion.

"Um... sir?"

Dark didn't even turn around to face the man. "What is it?" he snapped. The soldier cringed before continuing.

"Lord Aaron wishes to leave the mage girl with you... to look after."

Dark turned around, interested. "Bring her here, then."

A few of Aaron's inferiors dragged her roughly into Dark's pavilion. He automatically gave them dark looks for this, though he couldn't fathom why he'd actually be angry about it. One glance at her made the feeling deepen, however.

She was unconscious. Her skin looked to be bloodied and bruised, and the injuries they'd found her with were long dried up.

"Goddesses, what did he do to you?" Dark muttered, scowling. He took her from the soldiers and deposited her on his cot, peering closely at her face. He glanced at his soldiers.

"Fetch me my medical supplies. And a ration, as well," he ordered. They scrambled to obey.

Minutes later, Dark was tending to the girl's wounds as best he could, cleaning them and pinning her hair away from the gash on her head.

"Ganon wants these mages alive, Aaron," Dark muttered to himself, angry at the state of the girl. Within half an hour, she was cleaned up and lying on Dark's cot with him keeping watch, looking like a curious crow.

Kina:
It was well into the afternoon before she started to wake.

The inhibited mage bit back a hiss of pain as she jerked awake, both her head and side throbbing. Her hand almost immediately went to the scabbing gash along the side of her temple, before noticing the additional marks - some from her earlier attempt to earn freedom, some she didn't know how she got.

Her brow arched after a moment, before noticing the second Shade. She promptly stiffened, preemptively expecting another fight.

Zorayda:

Dark was aware of the moment the girl became conscious, though she hadn't opened her eyes. Her breathing became shallower and she stirred, likely fidgeting more because of the pain of her injuries. She was still sleeping until her body made her jerk awake, wary. Dark held his breath subconsciously, waiting for her to see him.

Her eyes fell upon him, showing something like fear and an instinct to protect herself. Dark held up his hands in a universal sign of peace.

"You are finally awake. You sleep like a log, you know," he pointed out, giving her a small, crooked smile. "Are you feeling better, at least? I do not know what Aaron did to you, but it knocked you sideways for a while, there." He got up and turned on a lamp to illuminate the darkness, piercing through the night.

"I'm Dark," he offered. "What's your name, girl?"

Kina:
The battered mage's gaze didn't move from the Shade even as he held up his hands, just watching him. Although he volunteered to light the lamp that sat just out of reach, granting undeterred sight, her wariness remained. It seemed they all wanted something.

His question about her well being was a little surprising, though, after his earlier reaction. A trick? "... Well enough," she returned carefully, trying to hide signs of pain from her wounds. Weakness wasn't an option. Not since she didn't even know what was going on. Or even why they were so insistent on keeping her.

She paused at his question. What Aaron had called her ... was it her name? "Selena ... I think," the pale mage amended after a moment, the uncertainty of something so basic making it clear that something was off.

Zorayda:

Dark nodded at Selena's answer, though he knew that she was far from being healthy. She was alive, though, and that would have to suffice for now. He could help get her back up to health if she'd let him.

"Selena, hm?" he intoned absently, his eyes studying her. "You're... awfully small for a mage," he commented bluntly, though his voice was soft. It was true; the blonde was tiny compared to his own lean, tall frame, though it spoke nothing of her true power. "Do you remember anything about yourself? Anything at all?" he asked, frowning at her with questioning crimson eyes.
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Kina:
Her gaze seemed to fall flat when he proceeded to study her, straightening a bit more on the cot. The lamplight made his eyes look like half-smoldered coals, though it seemed resilience was a strong suit for her. Aware, she seemed to be hiding it rather well. Wary, but didn't look so outwardly weak now.

The mage paused at his question, though, before simply shaking her head. "Nothing in particular."

Zorayda:
"I see..." Dark answered, though her admission worried him. She didn't seem nearly as concerned about her amnesia as she should have been... but perhaps Selena was only pretending to be tough so as not to seem too weak. She wasn't as talkative as the other women he'd ever met... the mage was unique, that was for sure.

He got up from his cot, feeling the urge to talk with her in a less watched setting. That collar of hers would keep her from trying anything too drastic...

Hm. I wonder if...

"Come with me," he said, smirking and holding his hand out to help her up. "We're going to the river. I'm tired of being in this dark tent." His expression held no evil intent; rather, Dark looked more energized by this idea, like a young boy given a slingshot.

Kina:
The mage's brow arched, her gaze seeming to fall flat as he studied her. However, his suggestion brought both opportunity and risk. While she might be able to confiscate his weaponry, at least one article, it was highly likely that he had ulterior motives. Just as Aaron seemed to have had.

She stood after a moment, though, and without his help. Of course, not without feeling the aftereffects of said Shade's delving. Vivid spots jumped into her vision, the mage abruptly faltering. But she still refused to partake his assistance - jaw clenching as she straightened, the wave of dizziness having hit her like an ox.

Zorayda:

Dark retracted his hand after Selena refused it, getting to her feet on her own and wobbling a bit. The Shade almost steadied her on instinct, but something told him that she would retaliate if he touched her unexpectedly. She was like a skittish cat that would scratch and hiss if he made the wrong move... the analogy made him chuckle a bit under his breath and shake his head.

He held his pale hand out in a gesture, indicating that she walk ahead of him. That would prevent the mage from doing anything too untoward without him taking notice right away.

They walked a bit in silence, save for Dark giving her the occasional direction to get back to the river. The pair came upon a set of large boulders overlooking the water and a bit of forest, secluded and quiet.

"This is where I travel to when I cannot seem to stand Aaron's antics any longer," Dark joked. He had noticed Selena's gaze checking his person several times along the way, so with a wry smirk, he added, "And by the way, the sort of weapons I am carrying at the moment are not seen by mortal's eyes, so you can stop wondering where I've hidden them."

He chuckled and looked away from her to stare into the dark, forbidding forest; but to him, it was a sanctuary. He let out a breath and lay back, folding his arms behind his head and listening to the water and the breeze rustle through the forest. He knew the girl would probably attempt escape, but his sense were much sharper than a human's and he would be able to catch her before she'd even thought too long about it.

"I didn't capture you because I wanted to, you know," Dark said after a short silence. "Ganon's orders... he's the king around here." he peeked a crimson eye open to look at her. "In case you... can't remember."

Kina:
After emerging from the camp - with the both of them on the receiving end of some rather suspicious glances - the pair of them proceeded with their nearly silent trip out. It had taken her several steps to regain her balance, though, and Selena was well aware of the Shade's probing gaze in the meantime.

But having already grown to like the seemingly sixth sense, and being without it - along with him being behind her - did not make for too fair of a combination. The petite proportioned mage had to settle with taking a glance back every so often, even if just out of the corner of her eye.

She snorted under her breath, though, when he proceeded to make a snide comment about his weaponry. Perhaps a common precaution, but one that was disappointing at best. But her eyes narrowed slightly at his jab, as if to suggest she were feigning it.

Selena leaned against a tree, though, crossing her arms over her chest. Watching him as one would a hawk. "... Why, then, are his orders such?"

Zorayda:

Dark shrugged as best he could while in a lying position, his eyes still closed as he listened to his natural surroundings and allowed himself to recuperate from life as a servant of Ganondorf.

"I do not truly know, nor do I care... though I do know that he wants powerful mages in particular. So either he is looking for a particular strong mage, or he has found a way to capture the power of each of them to keep for himself. Or, maybe he just doesn't want a rebellion. I would most likely rebel if I could. But... he is far too powerful. So for those who wish to survive (like myself), they should simply work for him."

He sat up a bit to look at her.

"Admittedly, you are one of the more powerful mages I have encountered personally. But do not let it go to your head," he warned. "There is no way anyone could defeat the king. We shouldn't even try..." he muttered darkly, voice trailing off as he glared at the water. It showed no reflection... a trait of a Shade. Since he already was the reflection of another, he had no reflection or shadow himself. Dark was forever a copy of his other, a man he had never met, but already hated.

"Aaron is the one who knows more of Ganon's plans, and he certainly enjoys gloating about it," Dark admitted grudgingly. "I have considerably less knowledge, seeing as I have not lived as many years as he."

Kina:
Selena listened to his rambling with little comment at first, instead, weighing her words. Why someone would waste such resources looking for a single person didn't seem to be very feasible, regardless of how important that one person might be. If he was already a king, he had no issues with a lack of power. So, that was something that got ticked off.

She shook her head after a moment, though, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "The death of someone who tries, is better than the death of one who didn't ... It may breathe a little courage into others, after all," the mage noted, her voice quiet. Watching him as he pulled himself into a sitting position, even still.

"... I suppose Aaron has lived for some time, then?"

Oddly, though, the Shade showed no signs of age.

Zorayda:
Dark frowned at Selena's comment about fighting Ganondorf anyway, even if he would die... it made him feel insignificant in that moment, but he brushed the thought away.

"Hmph. Then I must be a lesser man," he smirked. His hand automatically went to his henko, as if to reassure himself that it was still there.

"Aaron, ah yes. He has lived several hundred human lives, that much I know. He likes to remind me how much older he is than I, as well..." Dark growled in annoyance. "Though I am older than I look, just as Aaron, I have lived for a shorter time than he."

He rested his back on a crag of the boulder they sat upon and gave her a questioning, sidelong glance, eyes half-closed with the crimson iris glittering from behind his lashes. "Where did you get that quote, anyway? Did you remember it from somewhere, or did you just come up with it?" he asked curiously.

Kina:
Her cobalt gaze followed his hand as it went to the sigil at his throat, watching the Shade grip it. Almost as if he were frustrated. His smirk seemed dry, though, along with his comment.

She arched a brow at his explanation, though, considering it. "It would seem that your kind ages well," Selena finally commented, though not asking exactly how old he was. He was obviously old enough to be competent in his orders. Too competent, perhaps.

Selena gave a one-shouldered shrug in response to his question. "It seems to be fair enough ... I don't directly recall if it was first spoken by someone else, though."
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Dark ran a hand through his somewhat long, dark hair, frowning in thought. Everything this woman was saying was making him think, and he wasn't so sure he liked it. Though he'd dismissed her comment about raising morale among others by showing rebellion, he had been told over and over by Ganondorf and his cronies that it was useless, futile even, to fight back... Ganondorf was all-powerful and would crush them in seconds. He nearly snorted aloud at the thought of leading such an assault against the ridiculously powerful warlock. It would take an army to kill him... and even then, Ganondorf still had a very good chance of surviving. Dark often thought the man was invincible...

He hadn't noticed, but his hand was tightening around the stone at his throat until the edges nearly cut into his hand. At the girl's voice, he snapped out of his thoughts.

"Hm, yeah. Shade don't age. We're made to be a mimic of another, at their age at that point in time. We aren't born; we're made, and we don't age. I don't personally know who I was modeled after," a smirk grew on his face, ruby eyes sparking with humor. "But he must be damn good-looking." He shrugged noncommittally when Selena couldn't remember where she remembered the quote from, figuring it was just her mind randomly accessing memories from within its depths. "Fair enough. You'll remember more in time." His gaze swept over her once more, remembering her wounds from when Aaron had possessed custody of the mage.

"Feeling any better?" he asked dryly, trying not to let too much concern creep into his voice.




A small, frail woman hung by her wrists upon a stone wall, manacles biting into her pale flesh. Consciousness came to her and she stirred, wide, pale eyes blinking in confusion. She couldn't remember where she was for a brief moment, but then memory flooded her mind and she quailed under the barrage of awful memories. Panicked, the small woman reached for her magic, only to gasp sharply when the collar at her neck hindered it from coming to her fingertips. Her frame sagged even further in despair, body quivering with pain. Her muscles all felt stretched and painful from being put in captivity by the man who had no mercy... she furrowed a brow, thinking. When was the last time he came down to drain her magic? It had been quite some time, she was sure... he was always starved for her power, and yet frustrated when she didn't wield enough to satisfy him. Pair it with the fact that it was Light magic, and the Shade was always unimpressed with the power she yielded to him.

Ijus blinked, her dark hair falling limply into her eyes. Had Aaron forgotten that she was here?
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Although her gaze remained focused on him, it was not just the Shade in particular. It was the area around them, their surroundings. The amnesiac mage had the gears in her mind turning, dissecting each possible escape route. And each one would depend on his reaction time. But the Shade's ego was almost laughable. Almost. Selena just frowned at his words, and more so at his expectation that she would just remember it that easily. Somehow, that seemed like a forlorn hope at best.

Yet, Selena raised a brow when he asked of her health. "... Well enough," she finally said, subconsciously folding her arms over her stomach with the question. The collar was a nuisance. Even the mass of foot-soldiers fell quickly. It would've left an avenue of escape, if not for it. But advertising the condition of her injuries - ones that still screamed bloody murder after the duration of their walk - wouldn't be wise. "... I am surprised that it would concern you, since you were the one who brought me here." Both turning the question onto him, and asking a valid one. He was the one who had wanted her captured, for whatever unfathomable reason it was. Why? And if that was the case, why would her health matter to him?




Ijus, of course, couldn't have been that lucky. However much sustenance the little lunamoth provided, regular withdrawals were still useful to his health. The mage had been on the verge of slipping back into the gentle depths of unconsciousness when Aaron simply appeared, two half-curled fingers sliding under the young woman's chin and lifting it, so she would look him in the eye. He gave a soft "tsk-tsk" in response to her condition. "A week it's been, and this is all you have to offer?" the Shade asked, raising a single brow at the girl. "You must be growing weak."

Yet, a small smile remained about his pale lips. "Perhaps I should give you a companion? The little lunamoth, I believe, would be a fair option. What do you suppose?" Aaron asked, tilting his head ever so slightly. He half wondered if it would even get a rise out of the drained mage. Much more, and it would be another carcass. But with the addition of Selena to the war camp, the rest of his supply would certainly last longer.
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Dark quirked a brow over at Selena incredulously as she replied with bitterness in her tone, wondering why he would be concerned for her well-being. He opened his mouth to snap at her, to tell her that he wasn't necessarily a bad man--but he really couldn't say that and be truthful, now, could he? If he was being completely truthful with himself, he had cared about her from the start--moreso than others Aaron had decided to torture and drain of magic. Something about her fiery spirit, those intelligent eyes, her resilience, and even now, her naivete when it came to winning over Ganondorf... it all struck a chord with Dark. Not to mention he found her long, bright hair and luminous eyes absolutely stunning...

The young Shade bit back the retort and pursed his lips irritably instead, letting out a clipped sigh. After a few moments he leveled a veiled scarlet gaze with her bright, dubious one, and gave her an honest answer.

"To be honest, I have no reason to be concerned over you. Despite that, I am, so you will simply have to deal with it."




Ijus's eyes were devoid of any fear or weakness as Aaron forced her to look at him, like a concubine to be inspected by a king for his pleasures. Indeed, the Shade made her shiver with hatred, and despite her weakened condition she forced her chin down and out of his touch. She was very aware that her fate was to die here, to be drained of her magic until Aaron no longer could feed off her energy. The dark-haired woman felt almost as if she'd never have enough magic to cast another spell in her life...

Her interest perked slightly when Aaron made mention of another mage--a woman, by the way he spoke about her. Bile made her mouth taste bitter; did he always choose women because of his sick pleasure of feeling that much more powerful as a male? Ijus tugged at the manacles, but her body could not comply with her wishes to break free. The chains clinked like twisted versions of wind chimes, and Ijus's mind swam with the exerted energy. Part of her mind was grateful for the distraction another mage would cause, letting her live longer, but another part felt revolted at the thought that she could be grateful for another to fall to her fate.

"Do what you want with me, Aaron," she rasped, chest heaving. "Someday, the goddesses will make you feel the consequences for all you've done." She coughed and fell still after that, not able to even move, but she fought to stay awake. Ijus would do her best not to give up and faint in the face of such a monster.
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