0ber0n the Neko

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]To [B]Oberon[/B]: Well, the whole reason I ended up listening to [B]dredg [/B]was because I was looking for a band that was similar to [B]Coheed[/B], and if you listen to[B] El Cielo [/B]and then listen to [B]The Second Stage Turbine Blade [/B]by Coheed, there's a ton of similarities in my opinion. While I do agree that [B]TMV [/B]and dredg don't necessarily sound alike, they still have enough similarities for comparison, I think. Both are a great, unique experience, though.[/color][/quote] Yeah, but people have said the same thing about Coheed and Tool for, like, ages. I have listened to both "el cielo" and "The Second Stage Turbine", and while there is a degree of similarity, it's mostly because Coheed tries to sound like every "underground" (I say this knowing full well that neither dredg nor Tool are underground) prog rock band. [quote name='2007DigitalBoy']To [B]Jake[/B]: I've not lisened to much [B]Blind Guardian[/B], mostly because I have a hard time listening to folk metal bands that aren't [B]Ensiferum [/B]because I always feel like [i]'I could be listening to Ensiferum right now...'[/i][/QUOTE] Oh, god... Jake is going to have a trollgasm. To put whatever he is about to say lightly... Blind Guardian isn't a folk band. Technically, neither is Ensiferum, but Viking Metal is, I suppose, a breed of folk.

[quote name='Mr. Maul'][SIZE=1]Thanks for the agreement, but PLEASE, do NOT [B]quadruple[/B] post. Thank you. [/SIZE][/QUOTE] I just... had so much to say!!! :animeknow EDIT: I fixed it.

[quote name='2007DigitalBoy'][COLOR="DarkOrange"]This is why you're on my buddy list [B]Jake[/B]! You're always bringin the good stuff! Anyway, lately my obsession has mostly been [B]dredg[/B]. They are a prog-rock/experimental band with a sound that varies over albums. Their first album, [B]Leitmotif[/B], is the one I have and from what I've heard of all three, it is by far their best. The sound is remniscent of [B]The Mars Volta [/B]on their album [B]Frances the Mute [/B]with a whole lot of music and not too many lyrics, though their music doesn't bog down to as little as the Mars Volta's tends to, and the CD is much shorter. Their other albums are very remniscent of [B]Coheed and Cambria's [/B]style, which is stil great, but not quite as much. Also, my cousin just introduced me to [B]Pelican [/B]through their album [B]City of Echoes[/B] which I must say is absolutely fabulous. It's like post-rock with a kind of pregressive edge in that it is very technical and operates in odd time signatures at times. He gave me a copy of City of Echoes and [B]Australasia[/B], both of which i'm excited about.[/COLOR][/QUOTE] I agree, dredg is a wonderful progressive rock band. They've got a unique sound that I hardly think resembles that of The Mars Volta. Volta, especially in their later, more wanky years, has a very, very latin sound. dredg's music has a more down-tone and interesting, yet intense and explosive sound. While TMV comes at you, full-force, all the time, dredg is more subtle. They sound NOTHING like Coheed and Cambria. I have no idea how you came up with that. Pelican is a nigh-godly musical experience. Although their City of Echoes album was a little disappointing given their other material, it was a refreshing new direction. If they refined that sound a little more, it would probably sound even better than their older material. If you have Autralasia already, get The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw. Beautiful, epic, and progressive. I'd have to pull the Lurker of Chalice card out about now. It's Wrest's (of Leviathan fame) other solo project, except instead of taking an aggressive, black, and fast sound, Lurker of Chalice is dark, ambient, and sweeping. Check it out. Also, Ulver. No explaination necessary. Every album I've heard by them is outstanding, though Blood Inside is my favorite. [quote name='Jakehammaren']Good for you, sir. It's cool to see someone wanting to actually look past their esablished taste and find some great new music. I'm going to bring up another all-time favorite band of mine here: Blind Guardian. These guys have some incredibly complex sound structures, and some of the most ridiculouly awesome vocal harmonies/layering of all time. Definately, definately worth checking out.[/QUOTE] /power metal Power Metal is so not pretentious. XP Blind Guardian is hit-or miss with me. Their "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" album was great, along with "A Night At The Opera", and "Somewhere Far Beyond". As for the rest... a few classic singles, but nothing notable. [size=1][COLOR="DarkOrchid"]I merged your posts. Please don't double post. -Clurr[/COLOR][/size]

[quote name='Bombu'][color=darkred]Yeah, that guy is pretty insane. I think that the Cannibal Corpse and DevilDriver vocalists are pretty good too, from what I've heard that is, since I don't really listen to them. But everything in music is an art, I reckon, whether you play the triangle, or scream instead of sing. It still requires skill (unless you're in Slipknot and your required skill is to run and jump around the stage).[/color][/QUOTE] Jakehammaren, remember when DevilDriver's vocalist threw a temper tantrum onstage? You know, when he's arguing with the stage hand who politely asked him not to stomp on the venue's microphone? DD:"WHOSE MIC IS THIS!?" "That's... That's my mic." DD:*stomp stomp stomp* "WHOSE MIC IS THIS!?" "That's MY mic. Don't-" DD:*grrstompstomp* "THIS IS MY MIC!" "No, that ISN'T your mic. That's our mic, and it's very expensive-" DD:"TELL ME THIS IS MY MIC!" And like two drunk guys in the back were like "yeah!" and the rest of the crowd basically hid in embarassment. Also, he's a terrible, terrible vocalist. Godawful, in fact. [quote name='Mr. Maul'][SIZE=1]Oh my... How can you dislike synthesizers? You want something epic, you're going to have to have synths. That's just how it works. Check out [B][I][URL="http://sif.omegazorgon.com/maria/music/singles,%20mixes,%20rars/02%20-%20Lex.mp3"]LEX[/URL][/I][/B] by [B]Ratatat[/B]. That is epic use of both guitars and synths. To add to my list of artists who are not in my favor, I would have to put [B]Savage Garden[/B] towards the top. I just cannot describe how much I dislike this group. I can't. [/SIZE][/QUOTE] I have to second that. Ratatat is a surprisingly well-orchestrated group, and they are very, very explorative musicians. Also, the entirety of the Grunge movement needs to be added to the list. In reference to Jakehammaren's comment, post-grunge is like basically saying that "We're the **** that sounded really terrible and died ten years ago, but with distortion and even more annoyingly nasal vocals." So, it fits Breaking Benjamin quite well. [quote name='Jakehammaren']I was just reminded violently of another band I can't stand: I hate Meshuggah. Sure the vocals are terrible, but there are worse things about them. They have the Dragonforce syndrome: once you've heard 30 seconds of one of their songs, you've heard everything the band has ever recorded. All I ever hear from their fanboys is "YA BUT DID U HEER TEH TIME SINGATARZ??! TEY ARE LIEK CRAZY TIME SIGNATARZ AND THAT MAEKS THEM AWESUM!!!1!!11!!one1!!!1" And then when I say "Nope, they're still terrible", they always tell me that I've obviously only listened to one song and written them off. No, I've tried. I really have. I've suffered through three entire albums in hopes that I'd understand why some people are so excited about these wankers, and guess what? I got three albums of the same exact song. Sure, they can play songs in time signatures like 143/75 and 27/Blue, but that doesn't mean they write good music. Awful, boring band that I'm sure I will be accused of not appreciating complex music for not enjoying their pretentious monotony.[/QUOTE] /Jake Dude, tolerance. You get pissy when people only listen to thirty seconds of your songs, so don't go blowing up in the face of some decent musicians because you didn't like one of their albums. You've heard "Catch 33" and "Nothing". "Catch 33"'s songs all sound the same because the [i]entire album is one song[/i]. "Nothing" all sounds the same because, well, many of the tracks [i]do[/i] sound the same. A lot of that is due to the fact that later on in their career, Meshuggah opted for a more unified sound. Listen to their album "Destroy Erase Improve". It's a little earlier on in their career, and there's a lot more track variation. I just hate it when people flame because they (yes) don't understand the music. There's a lot of really strange and interesting bands that not everyone will like, for example, the entire Drone lineup. However, that doesn't mean they're "terrible", it just means you don't like them. Objectivity should not only be limited to bands you like, Jake. [quote name='Jakehammaren']Wow, I've missed so many chances to be pretentious and correct people during this thread, I think I could cry. Dangit! Oh well. I'll just have to come in at this: Synth Rock is not a genre. At all. Ever.[/QUOTE] Correction: Synth Rock is not a genre [i]yet[/i]. Eventually, people will start listening to Ratatat, and when that happens, cue ****** knockoff bands!

Nickelback mockery .> is this why i hate nickelback?

Worst Artists of our time: Musicians whose perogative is one of enhancing an image, or creating wealth (or the appearance thereof). There is a large list of pop-rock bands that fall into this category. Also, bands that make no efforts to make their music indivual and interesting are terrible. Innovation is key in artistry, and so far there are few bands with the balls to experiment with their sound, to risk putting out a terrible album for the sake of furthering the greater cause of music. I think it's truly unfair to the real artists out there to refer to those who do not innovate as "artists" or "musicians". It's insulting to those who have to actually try to make an album great. Sure, not everyone can make a great album, but why are those people involved in music in the first place? It seems silly that of the recent explosion of music into the mainstream (due to the expansion of a mass media capable of reproducing audio at a minimal cost) there are so few out there who actually "create" music, and so many that merely "play" it. I guess that's my take on it. Also, Nickelback is ****ing awful.

"Sorry, madame, but a gentleman never reveals the nature of his weapon," Vincent said with a wink. Little by little, the demon army was reduced to nothingness, and the sounds inside and out became quiet. Vincent looked around, nodding in satisfaction, and walked over to Kali. "You are quite a skilled fighter, Miss Kali," he said, bowing politely. "It is a pleasure to meet a fellow vampire, even more, one as lovely as yourself." Ragnor and Stone smiled as Sasuna and Chris emerged, bloodstained from inside. "Well, it's safe. I don't detect any evil about." Ragnor said, sitting down.

Vincent looked at Kali, and smiled. "Shall we?" he said, bowing slightly. She looked at him quizically, but nodded. "Yeah, they'll need our help." The dark shapes froze, hissing and screaming at the group. Vincent leapt, drawing a knife that he plunged into the skull of an unfortunate demon on the roof. As he drew it from the suddenly lifeless body, he swung it again, decapitating another. He heard a squeal behind him. Without turning, he pulled out a gun, which he pointed at the Demon about to pounce him. He fired three shots in its head and it dissipated, screaming in pain as it did so. Vincent dropped down from the roof and onto the shoulders of a large demon that stood before Sasuna. He stuck a knife in its neck, its face twisted in pain and confusion. It fell to the floor heavily, allowing entrance to the now infested home of Sasuna. "Go in. I'll keep the outside clear," Vincent said, grabbing a knife from his jacket and throwing it deftly into a demon's skull. Chris and Sasuna gave him a quick nod, running into the house. From outside, he heard the sounds of blood and gore resounding through the halls. Kali ran to him and turned, facing out with her black sword drawn. "Aren't you going to help them?" Vincent asked, not turning to face her. She turned, grinning menacingly at him. "They'll be fine. I want to see what you're made of, Grey." Vincent laughed heartily. "Your demon blood may just aid you in this battle, Kali. That is, unless you still hold sympathy for the foul creatures..." As if to make a point, Kali eviscerated a demon with a mere thought. "I was only joking..." Vincent said playfully.

You asked for it, Jake. That, and Dream Theater is pretty good, but I don't like them that much. Meshuggah may be a little heavy for you j-pop lovers out there, but give them a good listen. It's good quality headbangity fun.

OOC: Sorry, I tried to post yesterday, but I had work.. >: IC: Suddenly, blunt force trauma met with the back of Sasuna's head. She fell to the groun, bleeding and groaning. The one who delivered the blow stood stoic before the gaping crowd. "Another Agent of Darkness!" cried Kali. Vincent turned his head. "I'm no such thing. Take her, she's bleeding." Chris stepped warily forward, leaning down to grasp the body of his fallen colleague. "Who are you? How do we know we can trust you?" "Who am I? I'm someone who doesn't like to watch mindless slaughter. As for your other question, you can't. Get over it." Vincent replied. He turned to Shirube. "As for you, young miss, I hate to be rude, but you need to leave." Before she could speak, The Prince of Hell cut her off. "Leave us, Shirube. This is my business." She tried to protest, but instead walked through her conjured portal, looking back as she did so. The Dark Prince laughed heartily, his voice echoing eerily. "You pathetic worms are nothing before my power! Do you not tremble before my awesome might?" Vincent stood firm, though it was hard. The Prince of Hell was frighteningly powerful, perfectly capable of destroying all of them as they stood. Vincent stared him in what appeared to be his eyes, though it was difficult to discern anything beneath his dark helm. "I will spare your lives, as I'm sure we will meet again," the Prince said, bowing mockingly as he disappeared. There was a moment of silence, broken by Sasuna's waking. "God, my head... Who did that?" All eyes were on Vincent now. "'Twas I, madame. I didn't want to see any innocent blood spilt for naught." He looked up at the flaming Inn. "I suppose my appointment will have to wait. Perhaps permanently." Kali glared at him. "You're a Grey," she said flatly. "Aye, that I am," replied Vincent. "And you're a Black. A Black with... something else." He sniffed the air. "I never knew a vampire to love a demon." "It wasn't [i]love[/i]," said Kali. Vincent nodded absently. "Oh, by chance, do any of you know the sender of this letter?" He waved a scrap of parchment for them to see. Kali walked up and snatched it. She read the first few lines, and then stopped. "He's one of us... I suppose," she muttered, trying to avoid Vincent's smile. "Oh?" he said, his eyes opening somewhat wide. "Well, then. I suppose it is time we become acquanted, young miss vampire. My name is Vincent Kogkragt." Kali turned to face him finally. "They call me Kali." "Kali... what a lovely name, miss," said Vincent, snatching up her hand, and kissing it.

Actually, I'm with deadseraphim. That was about five times as badass as mine.

Hide? I want to BE a zombie. To quote Bloodbath: "But there's a way out of the misery, you can join the massacre, once you're in, you're never out, a soldier of the dead forevermore." I'd be the zombie with a flamethrower.

Yes, Jake. This [i]is[/i] just to piss you off. Anyone who listens to Kayo Dot, reply and give some love!

Isis kicks ***. I saw them live when they opened for Tool in SLC. By the way, that was the most amazing concert of my life. So does Agalloch. I only have The Mantle because Jake is too lazy to burn me any of the new good doom metal he's gotten *shakes fist at him*. Good call on buying The Mantle, digitalboy. I think Isis came out with a new album lately, too. Someone verify that for me.

Eh... They're not that bad. I personally had no taste for either the Mesmerize or Hypnotize albums, but they were pretty good 90's hard rock (Because, as Jakehammaren will inevitably point out to you, they're not metal. However, what he won't tell you is that not being metal is not a bad thing). I hope they step up their stuff and try to break some new ground, because their new stuff has been somewhat uninspiring. Perhaps this hiatus will help them get reoriented.

Lol, you know you only like it because he's unsigned and obscure. And it's a pretentious solo project. Another good self-produced band is Orcus. You can buy their album "Birth" on iTunes. Damn good black/epic/death metal.

Jake Hammer, you're spelling ridiculous wrong. I feel that ideas need to be expressed in a constructive, hate-free way. Nazism in metal just proves how unfortunate it is when one group decides to superimpose their political agenda on a group of people. It causes pain and anguish to many, and I do not appreciate being stereotyped against. I have said my piece.

Name: Vincent Kokraght Age: 1,317 Years Race: Grey Vampire (The Grey Vampires are the "redeemed" Vampires, and the patrons of worldly pleasures. They can survive in sunlight easily, and no longer need to feed on the blood of the living to survive. However, blood is a rare delicacy for many, and is savored for its curative, lifegiving properties. They are not quite immortal, but extremely difficult to kill. Considered by many to be Incubi and Succubi of a slightly less devilish nature, they are shunned, but at the same time, feared and respected creatures. One of their most closely guarded secrets is how they attained their ability to survive in the daylight. One theory is because they have the mortal flaw of being able to experience heartache, a trait that Black Vampires [your run-of-the-mill Dracula type Vampires] do not seem to possess.) Appearance: He dresses in a dark black trenchcoat, top hat, and a suit modified to allow full range of motion whilst engaged in battle. He covers his mouth with a dark bandana that hides his frightening canines whilst in the nighttime, as his teeth recede in the daylight. He has a cane, but it is only for show. His hair is long and grey, coming down to his navel when loosed. He has light blue piercing eyes, with large, delicate hands. Personality: Vincent is extremely polite, a gentleman of the greatest and most rare caliber. However, he is also somewhat dark and brooding, as well as cynical because of his longevity. He has been known to love mortals, only to be crushed either by their passing, or by their denial of his advances. Thus, he feels he must keep his heart's bidding concealed, lest he let it be crushed once more. Weapons: He wields a variety of thrown projectiles, including but not limited to kunai, knives, shuriken, darts, and explosives. He weilds two large daggers for melee combat, and he is a skilled practitioner of both light and dark magic. Bio: Having been born in the earliest "Years of Darkness", he is one of the oldest surviving Grey Vampires, yet still remains in the form of a young man. He has become a skilled warrior and bounty hunter, and has always found his man. As a result, he has great renown throughout the land, not only for his efficacy, but for his inability to maintain a partner. He knows, but has no respect for the Prince of Hell, and would rather kill him than follow him.

OOC: Alright, one of the people who signed up originally but didn't post needs an "in". That's what this post is, basically. IC: Kain looked sternly at the ground, saddened by Gensis' story. Then he heard coughing from a bed farther down the way. He stood as the others related their stories to each other, and walked to the bed from whence the coughing came. He drew back the curtains slightly, and a young woman, about his age, lay in the bed, coughing delicately. She looked at him curiously as he closed the drapes once more. "Wait... It's kinda lonely back here. I haven't been visited by anyone. What's your name?" the girl called out to him weakly. "Kain," he replied, still outside the curtain. "You look pretty beat up. What happened?" "When the... Heartless came, I tried to fight them off, but my friends got scared and ran, so I got beaten," the girl replied somewhat remorsefully. "Where are your friends now?" Kain asked, a measure of worry in his voice. "They probably think I'm dead right now. Probably why they never came to visit," she mused, stifling a cough. Kain drew the curtains back again, and looked at her squarely in the eyes. "You're Jasmine Walker. You're in my black magic class." She looked at him levelly, and then nodded slightly. "That's me. " Kain nodded. "You're a damn good mage. It's a shame to see you like this." Jasmine sighed, coughing delicately again. "I... only have a little while before I'm healed. I think I can walk." Kain looked into her pained eyes. "Come with me, then. I'll introduce you to my other friends. I assure you we won't run out on you." Jasmine hesitated slightly, but then smiled. "Thanks. I appreciate it."

I suppose pairing up as sparring partners might help. However, pairing up with NPCs kind of sucks the fun out of it, don;t you think? Perhaps we should bug the other people who signed up / recruit some other people to join the thread. I'll send a message to everyone who signed up but didn't post.

Kain's eyes darkened as he watched Galian leave the room, Ryumo in tow. He said nothing, but felt a great emptiness, a void of space that he couldn't understand or place. The door shut behind them, and the feeling faded several moments later. "Weird guy, eh?" Spec ventured, his voice laced delicately with pain. He gave a reassuring smile, and turned to Gabriela, who looked hesitantly at the door. They sat silently for a moment until Kain spoke. "My name is Kain. I come from a small village in the forests of Everwake. I figured I'd introduce myself, seeing as I can't seem to rid myself of you miscreants." There were nervous smiles all around, and even Kain seemed to smile in his private way. Gabriela turned to face him. "The forests of Everwake, you said? Aren't there elves in that forest?" Kain nodded. "Yes. We saw them frequently, and traded with them often. I often played with the elf children, and learned from the wise elf Chief, Shel-baloth." "That's amazing!" Gabriela said. "To commune with such a barbaric race..." Kain' eyes turned cold. "The elves are by no means 'barbaric'. Their knowledge of the spirits and their connection to the magical current makes them every bit as wise as humans. If not, more. What you hear is a myth, created by the minds of weaker men." Gensis turned to look at Kain. "So... Are the stories about you true?" Kain looked at him, slightly askance. "Stories...?" he asked. "Yeah, some of the students I've talked to have said some things about you. Some think you're a demon, and that you commune with the Heartless using dark magic," Spec said, his smile fading slightly. Kain looked at him levelly. "You have seen me kill many Heartless. How is it you come to doubt me?" Spec's eyes went wide, and he chuckled nervously. "I was just wondering!" Kain's icy look melted into a laugh that took the entire room by surprise. "You guys aren't so bad. I could learn to like you, maybe." He looked around the room. "Anyone else up for an introduction?"

But it seems like there's not a war, just people going to chinese food joints, fighting some heartless, and then disbanding again. We really need to emphasize the character development and connections to keep this post going strong. Also, people aren't giving others a chance to respond. I try to leave open posts that can switch or continue scenes, but every time I do so, the person who responds ends the scene and goes somewhere else where they have to fight alone or be alone, etc. I agree, we need to portray the developing friendships, but how can we do that if everyone is trying to stay as far away from each other as possible? In short, let's keep the group together, and if there is a war, let's talk about it a little. From what I see here, the fight is between the Heartless and the Nobodies. Instead of "taking different sides" and "the aching bonds of friendship over the lines of war", which are better suited for a story written by one person, we should probably have something less fractitious. Let's keep the group together, and describe the battles better. It makes them more fun and a lot more interesting to read and write. This is just my opinion as a seasoned RPer, and it's as much opinion as experience. I hope we can come up with something. By the way, a good place to meet, and this goes for all characters, is Spec's room in the infirmary (we're going to check up on him). Be ready to describe some backstory, and develop characters a bit, as this will be our "fireside" scene.

Kain watched disinterestedly as Ryumo combined the Nobodies and the Heartless. "Even though they come together, they are still an empty being. A being more powerful, but also more dark and hollow as the ones who combined to create them," he said as he approached Galian. Galian shot him a dark look. "Ryumo completed those two beings to create one! Can't you see, Kain?" "Tell me, do you feel its heart?" Kain said, glaring at Galian. Galian closed his eyes for a moment. He strained slightly, but sighed. "No, I can't." "The tainted heart of a Heartless, combined with the empty body of a Nobody. That is the basic principle behind the action," Kain said. He nodded slightly. "I'm going to visit Spec and see how he's doing. You should do the same." He turned to leave, Galian hesitant to follow. "A dark heart and an empty body..." Galian mused as he strode to Kain's side.

OOC: Well, I suppose it's good that I didn't make him have any telepathic conversations yet! That last bit of my last post was supposed to be a character opening, but since nobody has picked up on it yet, I suppose I'll just make an NPC. IC: "Malina..." the young woman said, delicately. "And we don't take kindly to strangers around here, so take you and your mutt and get out of here!" Roj's face went from a weary grin to a scowl of incredible intensity. "Fine," he said, turning around. He walked a few steps, and then turned on his heel, and walked sternly towrds the girl again. He was inches away from her face. "I've heard plots to destroy this town. Pirate plots." "I'm sure," Malina said sarcastically. "Even if you had, we have a strong enough militia to take on a force of over 100 men." "Ah, good. Well, then it doesn't worry you that every pirate ship holds at least 100 men?" Roj said, playfully. He began to pace around her. "You know, I've heard that this town has many treasures. Much loot to be had, for sure. That kind of reputation would bring pirates from miles around." Malina's voice was level, but somewhat unsure, "There are no pirates..." "Fine. Goodbye, Miss Malina," Roj said, walking slowly out of town. Malina was not sure how to react, but felt a worrisome need to alert the authorities. ------ Roj strode gently down the path to the beach just outside town, and stared at the sunset. "Fenris, scout the area for me, will you?" Roj said, looking the black hound in its red eyes. It panted in agreement, and bounded off into the sand, looking for life. Roj closed his eyes gently, feeling the warm sea breeze caress his face. He took a deep breath of the salty air, and sighed. "What a boring place. I'm sure the pirates might improve it a little." That was when he heard mad baying from Fenris, his signal that life had, indeed, been found. "What? the pirates aren't supposed to come until tommorrow..." he said as he stood up and chased the sound of Fenris' barking. He looked up and saw a raven fly overhead. It seemed to eye him with scrutiny as it passed over his head and back to a figure up on the cliffs, who then began to descend the slope. Roj smiled lightly, and went to welcome her.

Kain left the infirmary as soon as Spec was recieved by the medical staff. It made little sense for him to be around Gabriela, a girl he barely even knew. She looked lonely by herself, but Kain figured Spec's incapacitation would be short-lived, and he would soon be taking her out and about as usual. He reached the stairs to the outside and sighed heavily, looking for something interesting to do. "Might as well hit the Training Area... I'm sure there's something worth watching there," he said to himself. He turned to walk when he felt a dark presence nearby. "What? Darkness... I don't sense any Heartless, which means-" The sense grew stronger, directing him to the Training Area. "Damn. Something's wrong here. If I go there, I'm sure to be blamed, but..." He hesitated. He looked around for people, but there were none. He took a deep breath, and then disappeared into a cloud of aether. ----- He phased back in just in time to see a young student clutching himself tightly on the ground, his body eminating a dangerous energy. "The Darkness..." Kain mused absently. He jumped down into the arena, and drew his Keyblade. "Dark being, leave that young boy's body at once!" The boy stopped short, the dark tint leaving his body. Gensis approached him from the other side of the arena. "What was that all about?"