RPG Citius Altius Fortius [M-VSL]

[Ellerby]

[INDENT][color=#555555][SIZE=1][b]Day 2 - 11:20am, Cafe[/b]

Stephen, not even opening the letter, slipped it into his pocket. Aaron gave him a blank look.

"Wha- you're not gonna read it?" asked Aaron, a little surprised. Stephen grinned and leaned back in his chair, taking a sip from his soda.

"You have much to learn young padawan," he said. Aaron rolled his eyes. "No, really. When it comes to stuff like this, if you act immediately, you look or sound desperate. Which is never a good thing."

Aaron half-nodded, not really caring. He picked up his drink and chugged a mouthful. Stephen blabbered on.

"Besides... all these girls. With the perfect hair and the fine skin. They're glorious and all.. but nothing special. It's as if they don't have personalities. Nothing that makes them unique, you know?" Stephen finished, his voice kind of drifting away.

Aaron nodded, realizing Stephen's own troubles. The two boys looked down and gobbled up their food, quickly. Stephen glanced at his friend and grinned.

"Hey," he whispered. "Let's say we get away from these girls and do something where we can't be constantly interupted by stalkers. Hah." Aaron smiled and the two guys got up, heading to another area.

"So..." Stephen said, as they walked along. "Tell me more about this girl."

"Look! Why do you need to know so much about her? Yeesh."

"I dunno... I'm just curious." Stephen said quietly. The two young men walked along the halls, going towards the dorm rooms. Stephen nodded at his room.

"Hey, I just need to get some stuff before we go."[/SIZE][/COLOR][/INDENT]

[Lazarus]

[b]Day 2, sometime after the assembly meeting.[/b]

Lazarus was walking along the hallway, an ornate black metal staff clutched in his right hand. He had eschewed the school uniform after the assembly, opting for a loose pair of pants and an overlarge shirt, over which he wore voluminous black robes.

A smile of genuine mirth crossed his features. "I suppose I must look quite like the archetypical evil wizard today." Lazarus considered the staff he was using to support his weight. It had been Mox's. Lazarus thought it ironically fitting. He knew the staff was ensorcelled. He also had no desire to find out how it was so enchanted. It was simply a support while his side healed.

Thanks to the prompt and able attentions of nurse Mallon, the wound Lazarus had sustained avoided infection. However, it did require stitches, and was quite tender. Normally, support magic would have been used to close the wound and regenerate the lost tissue, but there was much reluctance to rely upon magic to treat a wound inflicted by a creature of Aggamemmnon's caliber.

For once, Lazarus did not have pressing meetings with the bastardly instructor looming over him. With classes canceled, he was at a loss for things to do. He'd slept until the announcement for the assembly had woken him, had eaten a large breakfast with gusto, and had promptly found himself bored out of his skull.

Without realizing it, Lazarus had arrived at the courtyard and gardens. He moved to a stone bench sitting near to a fountain, and sat upon it, staring upward into the sky even as he turned his attentions inward to think about the last few days.

[TheResplendent]

[center][color=darkred]11:20 AM: Party of two, but is three a crowd? On the way to the assembly.
- - - - - - - -[/color][/center]

[color=navy][size=1]Kyosuke and Sakura walked out of the infirmary together waving to the others. Kyo looked over at Sakura, she still looked a little pissed off and she was clearly being silent toward him despite having told him to go with her. He knew that she had a reason to be upset, he wasn't about to deny it. He remembered that he had decided to apologize to her when he had the chance, he intended on doing so. Kyosuke walked a bit ahead of Sakura so he could stop infront of her, but before he could Sakura broke the silence.

[b]"Hows your shoulder?"[/b] she said softly, without turning her glance. Kyosuke slowed down a bit to keep with Sakura's pace, he was taken by surprise since he figured she was upset.

[b]"It's...it's better. Nurse Mallon said it would take 2 weeks to fully heal. Hopefully that will be enough time before the trials."[/b]

Sakura nodded and let out an "uh huh". Kyosuke looked over at her again...he couldn't stand seeing Sakura sad, she had such a vibrant smile...one that had always been able to cheer him up. Kyosuke tried again to get an apology out, but Sakura seemed to be able to pinpoint when he was.

[b]"We better hurry, the infirmary is quite far from the auditorium...it's probably half full by now"[/b] she said in the same tone, again not changing her glance. Kyo narrowed his eyes and decided if he didn't act he wasn't going to get the chance to later. He reached over and grabbed Sakura's arm, stopping her.

[b]"Sakura, stop..."[/b]

[b]"Kyosuke! It's ok...just forget it..."[/b] Sakura said, cutting him off.

[b]"No! I have to say this."[/b] Kyosuke said, suddenly pulling Sakura into him wrapping his arms around her in a hug. Sakura was taken by surprise, as she was pressed up against Kyosuke's larger frame.

[b]"I know how I can get, and so do you...but that isn't an excuse. I'm sorry, i shouldn't have shoved you away like I did. Your one of the few people here that actually understand me...which is why I know eventually you would have forgiven me after some time...but i needed you to know that i was sorry"[/b]

Kyosuke voice had the most sincere tone to it, Sakura recognized it...she had heard it before and was relieved because it meant that he meant it. She was a bit suprised because Kyosuke had never come straight out and apologized like that before. But she was also happy. It was the equivalent to people saying "I love you" in a long relationship...each of them knows that they are loved, but saying it straight out is the ultimate elation. Sakura felt that concerning her and Kyosuke's friendship, neither one of them wanted to lose the other, especially for stupid reasons.

Sakura closed her eyes and rested her head against his chest for a few moments. [b]"I would have forgiven you either way your right...but i guess you just earned yourself a free way out of a good beating...that's all"[/b] Sakura said, beaming a smile at Kyosuke. Kyosuke returned it, feeling relieved that he didn't have to see her upset anymore.

[b]"Now, i think we should get to the assembly...the Headmaster said it was very important, it would look pretty bad if two of the academy's top students were late"[/b] Sakura said, slowly parting himself from Kyosuke.

[b]"You go on ahead...i'll be right there. I want to go make sure Ayame heard the announcement,"[/b] Kyosuke said.

[b]"Oh...Ayame...well, hurry up ok?"[/b] Sakura said, placing her hand up to her chin. Kyosuke nodded and assured Sakura that he would make it. Kyosuke ran down the hall toward the dorms, Sakura watched him and let her eyes wander around a bit before continuing on.


[center][color=darkred]11:30
- - - - - - - -[/color][/center]

Kyosuke made the last left turn and found himself infront of Ayame's dorm room. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Kyo waited a bit, then knocked on it again...but no answer again.

[b][i]'Is she in there? Maybe she already went...'[/b][/i] he thought to himself. Kyosuke went to turn the knob expecting it to be locked...but figured it wouldn't hurt to try. The knob turned and to Kyosuke's suprise it eased right open.

[b][i]'Huh!?'[/b][/i] he thought to himself.

The door swung open and Kyosuke took a look around. He didn't see anything except a few articles of clothing layed out across the floor. He walked in slightly, reluctant at first not liking the idea of barging in without permission. He looked over at one of the beds and noticed Ayame's school uniform layed out. Kyosuke then realized that she was probably showering and decided to quickly sneak out before she noticed. Before he could take a step though, the bathroom door opened and Ayame walked out with nothing but a towel wrapped around her. Kyo stopped short in his tracks, as Ayame looked up and noticed him there.

[b]"Um! I uh...i was...I wanted to...come, i mean...come make sure you knew about the assembly!"[/b] Kyosuke tripped a bit over his words, not really being able to keep his eyes from wandering but closed them before she noticed too much.

Ayame grew red and pink in so many shades it looked like a color by number book. She froze up in place and didn't really know what to do. Kyosuke spun around as quick as he could to keep him from looking. A long silence filled the room since Kyosuke's opening line, Ayame stood there frozen thinking to herself [b][i]'Oh my god, Oh my god, did he see me? Of course he saw me! Oh boy...how embarrasing....but...did he like what he saw? Ack! Why am i thinking about that!? I can't believe this...what do i say, what do i say?'[/b][/i]

[b]"I uh...i came to make sure you knew able the announcement. Headmaster Enteri has called a mandatory meeting in the auditorium."[/b] Kyosuke managed to say. He opened his eyes and noticed a calendar straight ahead of him on the wall. At this point he was looking for anything to distract his attention. He noticed something written about a birthday 2 months off, it was too small to read the name though.

[b]"Oh...wow, i wouldn't have even known if you didn't come. Um...i'll get dressed!"[/b] Ayame said, realizing how important it was to be at that meeting. She slowly dropped her towel, figuring Kyosuke probably wasn't going to be turning around anytime soon. She eased into her scool uniform still a few shades of red from being naked only feet away from Kyosuke, even if he did have his back turned. Kyosuke meanwhile tried to get a better look at the calendar.

[b]"Oh...um, whos birthday is marked down over there"[/b] Kyosuke said, pointing to the calendar.

[b]"Oh! It's mine...I turn 18 in two months."[/b] Ayame said a little relieved that something that was easy to talk about was brought up.

[b]"Really!? It looks like i'll have to get two gifts pretty soon. Sakura's birthday is next week."[/b] Kyosuke said, as the tension started to ease off. Upon a closer look, Kyosuke noticed Ayame's signiture smiley face above the writing and figured he probably could have found out himself that it was her birthday marked on the calendar.

Ayame walked up to Kyosuke a bit, now fully dressed but stopped short. [b]"We can go now...it wouldn't be good if we were late."[/b] Ayame said, leaning over a bit toward him.

Kyosuke turned around and saw her standing there dressed in her uniform, her hair still wet from the shower. Kyosuke looked at his watch and noticed that almost 25 minutes had passed since the announcement.

[b]"We better hurry...come on."[/b] Kyosuke said. The two students rushed out the door and headed for the auditorium.

[/color][/size]

[size=1]ooc: Was gonna wait and make a post taking place after the announcement, but figured i could throw this in there too. Didn't really have a lot of time to explain kyo and sakura's friendship in detail so i thought it would be better to showcase it through what happened.

ooc2: Thought i'd get those pretty close up birthdays mentioned :P, even if we don't RP during that time period.[/size]

[Doublehex]

[b][center][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showpost.php?p=741603&postcount=11][-Alex-][/url][/center][/b]

[center]Day 18 - Alex is summoned
---[/center]

The two weeks went by in a flash in Alex?s mind. For the couple of days after the announcement, the student body put two and two together and Alex instantly became both a celebrity and a first rate murderer all at the same time. For actually winning a fight against an instructor, he became more popular the biggest rock stars. However, since he killed the said instructor (although no one really cared for Mox), he was labeled as ?crazy lunatic subject number one? and to even glance at him was social suicide.

Things had not changed one bit.

In the time he had meet his group of friends he was invited to two birthday celebrations ? for Sakura and Rinoa?s love puppy Havok ? but he had to turn down both. He claimed it was not exactly safe for him to walk the halls after four, to which he did have a point. Even during school hours, Alex was glared at by his fellow students with looks that could kill. Alex could only imagine what would happen if a group of students confronted him when there were no instructors around.

The real truth of the matter was that Alex just did not want to go period. There was too much on his mind, mainly the upcoming Trials. He had to be ready for it. He had to succeed, he would tell himself constantly as he practiced his technique. He had to rise from this small pit of self-hate that he found himself in.

One day, something unexpected happened. It was lunch time, and as usual, the line was so long that you would think that you were attending a videogame convention. Alex, with a tray full of food in hand, was about to pay when he felt someone pull on him. He dropped his food to the ground, and Alex could not help but be disappointed.

?What the hell-!? Alex yelled. He stopped short when he saw he was separated from his meal not by a student, but a seeker. This could only mean trouble.

?Come. The headmaster is expecting you.?

Alex nodded nervously.

[center]***[/center]

When Alex entered his headmaster?s quarters, he found the man staring out towards the sky. Without turning to face him, he requested Alex to sit down. Alex nodded nervously, and did as he was told.

?Good afternoon. I understand you were in the middle of lunch, so I had some sent up.? He nodded to an attendant, and a tray full of the food Alex was going to eat was given to him. Enteri nodded, and Alex began to meet, if not somewhat slow and careful as to not make a mess. ?I thought I could speak with you on what happened with Mox.?
Alex swallowed down all that was in his mouth at the time. ?Sir, I told you everything.?

?Yes you did. I am not questioning your honest nature, Alex. I am merely going to explain what happened.?

Alex didn?t understand any of it. ?There was a time when Mox was going to kill you.?

?Yeah?when he shot me with those shadow missiles??

?No, you are mistaken. Before that, when you fell to your knees.?

?Okay?? Alex did not understand the point.

?What did you remember of that time frame in the fight??

?I just remembered falling?and then I was behind him. He was grabbing his gut, like something smashed into it. Next thing I knew, I had thrown him up into the air. I jumped, grabbed him, and threw him down.?

?Elemental Evolution.?

?What??

Enteri coughed some weariness out of his throat. ?Elemental Evolution. It is when an elemental magi specialist merges with his elemental of choice. It is a somewhat rare occurrence, when something called System ID occurs in the magi user?s psychosis. When the id, the primal desires of a person, dominates the mind, System ID starts a chain reaction which results in the elemental evolution.?

?I don?t understand Headmaster. I thought every elemental mage went through the evolution.?

?Yes, that is true. But, it is usually sometime between their thirtieth and fiftieth year as a mage. You happened ahead of schedule.?

?What does that mean, headmaster??

?It means, you are fortunate that it happened when it did, or else you may very well have died.? Enteri coughed. ?You are dismissed when you have finished your lunch. I am looking forward to your exam scores, Mister Glesen.?

And with that, Alex continued with his lunch.

[Kitty]

[size=1][indent][center]One Month prior to Finals - 9:31 AM, Ayame's Dorm Room[/center]

Ayame woke up with a start, glaring at her alarm clock. The alarm had been turned off, and now she was late. Before she could move an inch, as she was about to pick up and fling the tiny thing against the wall, Daiya floated up in front of her.

[i]"Don't you go punishing it, Ayame. You slammed it hard enough earlier."[/i]

[b]"Huh?"[/b] she blinked for a moment, and recalled that she had, indeed, already abused her alarm clock this morning. But that didn't change the fact that she was late. [b]"Aaaaaah!"[/b]

Her whine awoke her roommate who, as it turned out, was Ayumi. Ayame, who had missed the entire incident between her and Rinoa, and for some reason has yet to hear about it, thought the girl's drastic change in temperment was attributed to her constant giggling and being nice to her when the two were both in the room.

[b]"What are you doing?"[/b] she yawned. [b]"There are no classes today... It's a [i]Sunday[/i]."[/b]

[b]"I'm going to meet a group of my friends today. Besides, it's my birthday!"[/b] she giggled, practically jumping out of her pajamas. Ayumi laughed, wished her a happy birthday, and rolled back over to try and get more sleep in. Ayame was careful to get dressed and brush her hair and everything as quietly as she could. Ayumi was forgiving at first, but she knew two strikes was all it took to get her angry like she used to be, and an angry Ayumi frightened her a bit.

Ten minutes passed before she finally made it out of her room, quietly shutting the door behind her. Bursting out into a skip-run kind of thing, she held on to her bag's strap to make sure she didn't drop it or leave behind as she headed towards the cafe to get some quick breakfast.

When she turned the corner, she saw a large group of people in front of the cafe which was very unusual for this time on a Sunday. It took a moment to register before she tried desperately to slow down but instead ran into and fell down with one of them.

[b]"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"[/b] she chanted, rubbing her head.

[b]"Ayame? What are you doing [i]here[/i]? You were supposed to go the library first."[/b]

[b]"Yeah, but I woke up late, so... Wait a second. Sakura?!"[/b] Ayame blurted out. Looking up, she recognized the others standing around. Carrot, Lazarus and a few others were missing, but most of the group was there. Between the day of the announcement and today, Aaron had introduced everyone to Stephen, a very handsome boy that Ayame had developed a school girl crush on. Stephen moved to help her up, but Kyosuke 'accidentally' brushed past him and held out his hands, helping both girls up.

[b]"Guess I should go get Rinoa,"[/b] Sakura sighed.

[b]"Wait, what's going on?"[/b] Ayame asked, still completely unaware of what was going on. Daiya popped out of her bag, willing to explain, but seeing the looks from everyone else, immediately shut up. [b]"I don't get it!"[/b] Ayame whined, upset that she didn't understand when everyone else was in on it.

---

It was eventually revealed that they had all planned a small party for her, and out in the courtyard, she recieved a few gifts and chatted up a storm. Havok was, as always, practically stalking Rinoa as he followed her around the entire time she wasn't concentrating on him. When Alex had to leave, she had to practically tackle him to get a hug, which was a very amusing scene for everyone else. Ayame would talk to anyone and everyone that passed by, even if they were just stopping by to wish her a happy birthday.

When it was all over, only Sakura, Kyosuke and Stephen had stayed in the courtyard with Ayame the longest. When she yawned, they figured it was over. Stephen offered to help her carry a few of her larger gifts up to the room. Sakura had to practically drag Kyosuke away, as he wanted to help too, even though both Ayame and Stephen assured him they could manage fine without him.

[b]"See you tomorrow, Kyosuke!"[/b] Ayame waved. Though the two had gotten close, she still didn't feel like she was important enough to him to call him by his less formal nickname.

[b]"Okay, Ayame. Lets go,"[/b] Stephen encouraged. When the two arrived at her room, Ayumi was sitting outside smoking a cigarrette.

[b]"Why aren't you inside?"[/b] Ayame wondered.

[b]"Take a look yourself,"[/b] she chuckled. Eyeing her curiously, Ayame opened the door anyway and was instantly flooded with gifts. Stephen was taken aback, almost dropping the gifts he was carrying on his own foot. Carefully setting them aside, he helped her out of the mass of presents.

[b]"Wow.. I had no idea you were this popular,"[/b] he laughed. Ayame smiled, her face a bit pink.

[b]"I just talk to a lot of people, and I guess I let it slip it was my birthday,"[/b] she shrugged. Though it was true she didn't ask for people to give her gifts, 'letting it slip' was a bit of an understatement. For the past month and a half, it was all she talked about. People she had never seen before, from the new six year olds to fellow seniors, she made sure knew her birthday was coming up. Most of the students who gave her gifts would probably say they were offerings to make her stop talking.

[b]"But the problems now are... Where are we going to put them, and how am I supposed to get enough cards to write thank you cards back to them all?"[/b]

Stephen and Ayumi cracked up, and Ayame looked back at them in surprise. Her cheeks were pink, embarrassed that she might have said something stupid.

[b]"Who writes thank you cards?"[/b] they both spat out between laughs, almost crying they were laughing so hard. Ayame wondered why it was so funny, but shrugged and started wading through the gifts to find an empty closet to shove them into for now.[/indent]

---
OOC: Nobody writes thank you cards except old people. D: Sorry, random post. Just wanted to post once more in the prologue. xD Hope you don't mind, White.[/size]

[Sandy]

[COLOR=DarkRed][I]Three weeks before the Finals - 2:30 PM[/I]
[B]
"Focus, Miss Burnheart, [I]focus[/I]!"[/B] shouted Instructor Heishiro Aki, a handsome man blessed with both brains and brawn. The instructor waved his hand, manipulating several practice dummies floating around the training yard with the power of telepathy.

Carrot was aiming towards the dummies with her mace that had a quite powerful [I]magi[/I] of fire attached to it's tip. One by one the targets fell to the ground in a pile of ash.

Carrot wiped sweat from her forehead as she approached Instructor Aki to hear how she did.

[B]"Excellent for a healer such as you, Miss Burnheart"[/B], Aki commented, and Carrot wasn't sure if it was a compliment or an insult. Instructor Aki was a jack-of-all-trades, but healing was his weakest talent. Maybe he's just bitter, Carrot thought.

[B]"Am I released now? I need to write one last essay for Instructor Shandala's class"[/B], Carrot asked.

[B]"Alright then, but remember: healers are useful but only if they are alive, so you've got to learn how to defend yourself against even the hardest of enemies. Your allies won't be there for you at all times."[/B] The instructor gave her a serious glance.
[B]
"You speak as if I'm going to a battle front"[/B], Carrot wondered. [B]"Instructor, is there a war on the horizon, one that might get us Risk Breakers involved?"[/B]

[B]"Only time will tell, Miss Burnheart, but restlessness is abound in the world. You'd do well to cherish your peaceful years here in the Academy, because [I]when[/I] you graduate, you won't see much of those anymore. Now, get moving. That essay won't write itself."[/B]

Carrot bowed herself out of the training yard, and made her way to the dormitory to change her gear. As she was walking, she couldn't help but to be a little intimidated by what was going to wait for her after the Finals.

[B]"[I]If[/I] I pass them"[/B], she added to herself out loud.[/COLOR]

[TheResplendent]

[color=darkred][center]9:05 AM - Three weeks before the Trials: Recollection. [/color]

- - - - - - - - [/center]

[color=navy][size=1]Weeks have passed so quickly, since the day of the announcement each of the 12 Risk Breaker students have been training feverishly. Once the "Mox Incident" went public, the four students involved gained a bit more attention than desired, but each one was treated differently. Alex received the bulk of the attention because of his past records. Despite several attempts on both Lazarus's and Kyosuke's part to try and alleviate all of the blame on Alex, nothing proved convincing. Lazarus accused of being overly emotional and having a falsely acquired guilty conscience because he was one of Mox's best students. Kyosuke was relieved of any suspicions and he received endless apologies and sympathies on the academy's part for the injures he sustained. Kyosuke expected that...most people would see it as a blessing to be able to instantly get out of any serious trouble because of who you were, and who your father was. Kyosuke on the other hand hated that he was unable to take responsibility for his part in everything. Ayame was also mostly pardoned, there was a collective effort on the other 3 student's part to convince the higher ups that Ayame didn't do anything, which was pretty much the truth of it. She was safe from alienation as well, while Alex served as the Headmaster's scapegoat.

Kyosuke felt guilty everytime he thought about it, though the support from his friends as well as Alex saying that he didn't blame Kyosuke for anything made it easier for him...it didn't completely eradicate how he felt. A few weeks after that, when his shoulder fully healed Kyosuke was able to become focused once again on preparing for the trials and the exam. The only time before then he was able to fully enjoy his days was during Sakura's birthday. He dedicated all of his time to making it special for her. The group threw her a party and everyone got some kind of gift for her...

[b][center][color=sandybrown]***FLASHBACK***[/center][/b][/color]

Kyosuke and Ayame were leading a blindfolded Sakura toward one of the gardens. It was an unusually nice night out, with a clear moon and a nice warm atmosphere helped slightly by a few breezes.

[b]"Hey guys...are we almost there? I keep thinking i'm gonna trip over something."[/b] Sakura said, trying to keep up with her two escorters.

[b]"Don't worry, we're almost there."[/b] Kyosuke assured as they turned her into a doorway. Inside the garden waiting for the guest of honor was Havok, Rinoa, Lazarus, Aaron, and Stephen. Carrot was more adamant about studying her support magic as opposed to celebrating Sakura's birthday, but in an attempt to show that she wasn't being completely rude about it, she sent Sakura a card. Alex had refused to show up, leaving his reasons vague...but Kyosuke understood well enough.

[b]"SUPRISE!!!"[/b] everyone yelled, as Ayame pulled Sakura's blindfold off. Sakura knew what was coming, but still felt warm inside as she looked around at her friends there for her. It was a much better feeling then the academy party she had where everyone who just liked her because she was popular or attractive were there. Sakura smiled and gave Kyosuke a big hug before running up to everyone else and giving them hugs.

[b]"We all got you something you'll probably like, Kyo knows ya pretty well so he passed judgement on all of our choices"[/b] Rinoa said with a slight laugh.

[b]"Yep...but Kyosuke has something special he wants to show you...don't you Kyo?"[/b] Havok said, looking over at Kyosuke with a grin.

Sakura turned to Kyosuke who at this point was trying to shut Havok up with his hands, despite it being too late already. Kyosuke saw Sakura looking at him and he put a big grin on and retracted his hands to the back of his head not-so-casually.

[b]"Um...heh, well...i guess i do."[/b] Kyosuke said, walking over to a large open area against the wall. [b]"Heh, actually...i have to credit Havok for the idea."[/b]

Rinoa leaned over toward Havok and whispered in his ear, [b]"Did you tell him what i think you told him?"[/b]

[b]"Hehe, hey it can just as easily be done with Ice then it can with Fire...just watch!"[/b] Havok told Rinoa.

Kyosuke spread his arms out and began to focus on converting all the particles around the area. He began to cover select areas with frost and slowly freezing them into certain shapes and forms. By the time he was finished, Sakura was looking up at 2 giant angels holding a banner between them with the words "Happy Birthday Sakura!" etched in them, along with a statue of Sakura herself underneathe the banner. Her jaw dropped at how perfect and beautiful it was, she ran to Kyosuke and jumped at him and gave him a giant hug.

[b]"Oh my god...it's beautiful..."[/b] was all she managed to say, but was thinking so much more.

Everyone smiled and clapped, Kyosuke and Havok gave each other a mental high five. The two male students had grown a bit closer to one another over the time after the announcement. They trained together often when it came to weapon training, and Havok found Kyosuke to be very handy with advice. On a few occaisions even Kyosuke learned a thing or two from Havok, such as the idea for elemental molding. Sakura and Rinoa would talk and laugh about how sweet it was.

Sakura eventually opened all of her gifts, which included many kinds of books and a new hilt for her Gunblade which allowed for a tighter grip and easier movement. After the day was over though, everyone knew that the next day they had to study their assess off for all kinda of tests as well as the trials.

[center][color=sandybrown][b]***END FLASHBACK***[/b][/color][/center]

[/color][/size]

[size=1]ooc: i had intended to make it longer but i need to get on the road in a few minutes. Will post another when i get back.
ooc2: Abel hope you don't mind us being buds :P.[/size]

[Riku]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma][CENTER]Two and a half- weeks before Finals - 6:45 PM[/CENTER]

It was a long day today for Rinoa, as for all her teachers were practically pushing the students to be prepared for the Finals that were coming in a few days. She didn't exactly like the uncalm feeling of everyone forcing themselves to study harder, but she also knew she was doing the same thing. [B]"Well,"[/B] she sighed to herself as she headed towards the Library to study some more, [B]"the only thing I can do to help this situation is to study hard and pass."[/B] She continued towards the Library, hoping to get some studying done before it was curfue for all students to head for their dorm rooms.

After leaving the Library from her studies, she thought for awhile and headed towards the big Chapel, which was on the left wing of the huge school building. Rinoa liked being there because there weren't many students that knew about this place... and she liked to be by herself, collecting all her thoughts and memories. She then finally confronted the huge doors and slightly opened them, revealing a huge space full of chairs, an altar and adorned with beautiful stained glass windows.

Realizing that there were a few other students to themselves, she took a seat in the middle of the room and looked up at one of her favorite stained glass window... it was an angel flying anf blowing a trumpet. She didn't realize why it was her favorite, but just looking at it made her feel better already. After staring at it for awhile, she pushed up her right shirt sleeve up her arm, revealing a silver bracelet with a small cross hanging. [B]"Mom... dad,"[/B] she whispered, [B]"everything's... okay now."[/B]

When a few hours past, Rinoa got up from her seat and headed out the Chapel doors. As she soflty closed it and continued walking down the hall, she noticed Havok and Kyosuke walking towards her, smiling and waving. [B] "Hi Kyosuke! Havok!"[/B] she replied, running towards them. [B]"What's up?"[/B]

[B]"Well, we were looking for you everywhere,"[/B] Kyosuke replied, [B]"everyone's getting together to have a study session for the exam."[/B]

She smiled brightly and nodded, [B]"Alright, I'm coming."[/B]

As they were walking, Havok finally lifted his head and spoke. [B]"Rinoa... what were you doing in the old Chapel building?" [/B] he asked, [B]"hardly anyone goes there."[/B]

[B]"Well,"[/B] she vaugely responded, thinking for a second then continuing, [B]"I was... settling things with my mother and father."[/B] When she said that, she didn't turn around to look at him.

Havok realized that this was a very personal to her... and that he shouldn't ask anything more.[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Doublehex]

[b][center][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showpost.php?p=741603&postcount=11][-Alex-][/url][/center][/b]

[center]Day 74 ? Confrontation
---[/center]

It was late afternoon, and Alex was finally able to have some leisure time to himself. Finally, after three months of hard work and constant studying he was nearing the end of his days as a student, and would be given a chance to become a Risk Breaker. Someone will actually give him a chance to be recognized. For his whole life, Alex had prepared for that moment. But now, was a time to rest. In a little over a week the Trial, the perquisite to the Exam, will begin. If he worked too hard, he would probably drive himself insane.

Alex rested himself against a stone bench, reading ?The Ego and the Id?. It was a fascinating essay, focusing on the aspects that made up the psyche of the human mind. The psychologist suggested that a sort of war is constantly going on in a person psyche, where the ego, the id, and the superego each strive in supremacy. In a healthy mind, the ego is always the superior, and mediates between the primitive desires of the id and the social demands of the superego. When an ego fails in this, a person goes insane?or at least that is what the author suggested.

Alex was so caught up in the reading that he never heard the footsteps of a certain Blaize Harbringer walk up to him. Silent as a mouse (which was an amazingly rare feet for him, being a loudmouth and all), he sat next to Alex. Too absorbed in by his reading, he never detected Blaize?s movement until he mockingly poked Alex. Caught totally by surprise, Alex practically leaped off of his seat. ?Who the hell! ? Oh, it?s you? he groaned. Blaize was infamous in Alex?s list of people for being a rival at best, and at worst, one he hated with all his guts.

?Why hello there Mister big-shot?, Blaize grinned mockingly. ?What cha up to??

?Things?, Alex vaguely answered.

?What type of things??

?None of your business, so buzz off!?

Blaize chuckled. ?Oh, I?m so scared.? He licked his lips. ?You think so high and mighty, now don?t ya? Killing an instructor and all.?

?Actually, it made me feel like shit??

?Why don?t you go bother someone else?? Alex half demanded.

?Because you?re more fun.? Alex just rolled his eyes in a pitiful sign of rebellion.

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue]OOC: Okay Sin, you're on. Now, lets create a rivalry between these two guys, k?[/COLOR]

[ArgentEagle]

Two weeks before final test. 11:50ish PM
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

James opened his dorm window and sat himself onto the window ledge. He oftener like to do this when is roommate was out doing something. It was a secret pastime of his to gaze at the stars and try to find all the constellations he could. But like a lot of teenagers he often wondered what would happen if he just slipped of the ledge. Now he didn?t often have thoughts like this, it was only when he tried time after time to only gain the same results of failure.

He knew his personality was the type not to care, but when he put his own effort, of his own free will! And he still failed; he often got to thinking about how he was. He didn?t have any friends; even that loner kid Alex had more friends than him. He looked at the broken clay figure in his hands. Every time he was going to ask Kyosuke for help, he always had the girl around him. James wasn?t scared or anything by girls, it was just that they always seemed to be enjoying each other?s company. He didn?t want to mess that up by imposing himself.

So he kept on failing, pretty soon it became a test. A test to prove that he could be good at something. He looked toward the broken figure that was once a bird. He began to change the dried clay back into putty like substance, something any earth elementalist could do easily. He often passed time by making clay figurines. This time, for the first time he was going to try a human body. He wasn?t sure, but all this time he had been doing only birds. He smiled as he let his fingers mold the body. This was something that James often lost himself in; often because of this he was late to class. After he was done he took a look at what he created and only on a few other times he didn?t fell like he should try harder. Once again he did tire to summon a spirit into the body of the freshly made golem.

This time, the body didn?t break, or show any cracks. Surprised James looked at the clay figures face as two eyes slowly blinked open, and stared right back at him. A smile broke out upon James? face. When something wet fell unto of the golem, startled he looked around frantically till he looked up at the huge face that was above him. Water was dripping from the big man?s eye; in a brief moment of understanding he patted hid creators hand, showing a brief glimpse of some human emotion. Blinking away at the tears in his eyes James headed over to his roommate?s bed. Pulling out a small shoe box filled with little toy that the other boy?s family had sent over the years he pulled out a small outfit and dressed the naked golem. Remember something form his instructor about how golems learned. He would need to teach the little creature how mimicked every action that James made, for at least one day. Then the golem would pick up things at an almost supernatural rate.

With a smile James picked up the little golem and placed him upon his shoulder. Seating him back onto the window ledge he began pointing out all the constellations he knew. And his once empty felling was slowly disappearing with every mimicked move the golem made, along with his clumsy speech. A smile broke out onto his face every time the golem got something right, and looked proud of himself, and a tear threatened to fall every time the golem was wrong and showed dissatisfaction at himself. Just like James, with a moment of understand James realized he would have to take it upon himself to teach the golem something nobody had taught him. That he wouldn?t always get everything right, and he would have understand that.

And on that night, [URL=11.photobucket.com/albums/a161/SleepyNin/Engi%20Character%20Pics/1138142612627.jpg]Bob [/URL] the golem was born. The duo spent the rest of the night looking at the stars and the moon, even when his dorm mate came back; they still sat at that window.

OoC: Yeah, I know. He's not supposed to be a moody person. But I figure I should throw this in to add a bit more to him. By the way Bob is a link to what the golem looks like. He has his own personality. A lot softer than James, Bob tends to look out for the two of them. He has alot of manners, and doesn't like when people are put down. Is often seen riding on James' shoulder.

[Darth Vectis]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=1]Blaize continued to grin in his mischevious and mockingly way as he let the ideas, of how to bother Alex, rush through his mind. He played through his mind who his reactions would be and how much fun it would be to see it happen. He started to poke Alex a few more times, he could see how it took quite an effort for Alex to resist from taking Blaize's hand off right there and then. He spoke this time as he poked him once more.
[B]
"Come on, you know you feel like the big guy on campus for killing the Black magic instructor."[/B] Alex kept his eyes on his paper, trying to not look at Blaize as he spoke.
[B]
"Like I said, I feel terrible about it. There is nothing to make me feel like 'the big guy on campus'."[/B] Blaize raised an eyebrow at him, his grin seemed like it was permanetly drawn on to his face. Blaize leaned back on the wall, this time hoping to hit him where it hurt.
[B]
"Everyones going to look at you different now. Even your friends, your the killer of the school. The Black magic users will probably hate you the most, unless they hated him too. But otherwise, you'll be looked at as if you were a stranger. No one really sure what you will do next."

"Shut up Blaize, you know nothing about my friends. I may have done something like that, but they will continue to believe and trust in me."[/B] Alexs voice was rather hard now, sounding like he was keeping his anger under control. Blaize could sense there was something happening, he knew he just had to push a few more buttons and this might be the highlight of his night. Blaize cracked his knuckles and then placed his right hand over the handle of his shotgun, ready for an eruption form Alex if it came.
[B]
"Don't try to hide it. We all know how you feel when poeple hate you, or should I say, I know how you feel when people hate you. You can't stand it, its slowly tears away at you and I will watch every grueling moment and all you can do is go on with your daily life and looked at my face while I grin and smile at your misery!"[/B] Alex couldn't take it anymore, the constant poking, proding, harrasment, and annoyance was driving his last nerve. The worst part was, Blaize was right, and wasn't looking like he cared about what he said.

Alex dropped his paper and stood up, Blaize followed his movements. Standing up straight, his hand still on his shotgun and his face still edged with that permanet grin that seemed to drives Alex's anger further. Alex drew his longsword lighting fast, a little faster the Blaize expected but he reacted just in time. Pulling his shotgun out just in time and pointing it at Alex, the sword came from under Blaize. So the pump of the shotgun rested on the blade as the tip pointed at Blaize's throat. Blaize continued to smile.
[B]
"Looks like we are at a stale mate."[/B] Alex's face remained stone hard.
[B]
"Check again, your guns not pumped. I could easily slide my blade into your throat and finish you off and never have to deal with your black tongue ever again."[/B] Blaize pushed his shotgun forward, the groves in the pump locked onto the blade, he heard it load the shell then pulled it back.
[B]
"Now were even, Alex Glesen. Now, it is your move. You can stab that in my throat, which will force me to pull the trigger. I will bleed slowly while your brain matter is expeled from your craniel cavity and splattered in a rather distasteful yet artful manor. Your choice."[/B] Blaize held his finger on the trigger, ready for the worst if it came down to it.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Doublehex]

[b][center][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showpost.php?p=741603&postcount=11][-Alex-][/url][/center][/b]

?Now, we are even.?

The phrase went through his head like a runaway train. Indeed, Blaize had a point. After all, both of their weapons were pointing straight at each other. Both were ready to pounce, to finish the task. After all the years of rivalry, Alex could finish it in one, swift stroke.

But then, an idea crossed his mind.

Alex withdrew his blade. ?Nah, I?d better not. It would be more fun this way?if you owe me one.? Alex smirked, and with that walked off, grabbing his book lightly as he left the park.

?You-you son of a bitch!? Blaize swore at Alex, shaking his fist angrily like a lunatic.

[TheResplendent]

[center][color=darkred]11:00 AM - Two weeks before the trials: Today's forcast...freezing winds.

- - - - - - - - [/color][/center]

[COLOR=Navy][size=1]Kyosuke and Sakura stood back to back in one of the academy's major training chambers. It's where the risk breaker students were allowed to do their preparations 2 months before the trials. Both Kyosuke and Sakura spent a lot of time in them...Kyosuke more so because of his insistence on training alone. They always agreed to have training sessions with each other, especially after the day they learned to do...what they were about to do again...today.

[b]"Are you ready?"[/b] Kyosuke asked Sakura, as the students looked around them at nearly over 50 attack drones set to the highest level. It was inconceivable to have so many set to so high, 4 attack drones at a time set to level 7 (out of 10) was the reccomended for each student for a normal training exercise. Anything higher would best be done in lower number. It was the first time the two students were attempting this...but they had succeeded at it countless times in the past, it was time to master it.

[b]"Yes...i'm ready"[/b] Sakura said, as both students raised their right hands forward. Despite the protective fields around the training area to assure the saftey of the students, enough shallow injuries in bulk would prove fatal. On the highest level, the drones resistance and defense were also at max. The two tops of the senior class had one chance to get this right, or else they would have to fight off 50 attack drones on level 10, by some other means.

[b]"You're sure you'll be able to get 5?"[/b] Sakura asked, wanting to make sure of their plan first.

[b]"I can garauntee you 5"[/b] Kyosuke assured her.

The drones closed in for a cohesive attack, Sakura took center stage first and began the process.

[b]"It's going to get quite breezy in here...hehehe"[/b] Sakura said as she pressed her left hand to the ground. A stong wind immedietley started to fill the area as the twirled her right finger. Sakura closed her eyes and concentrated hard, after all they were fighting with their lives on the line. The signs of tornados in several areas began to show. She manifested mini tornados and begin to combine them into one. The drones were drawn in by the intense wind, most of them fighting to fly their way out of the eye, but the tornado was too strong. All 50 eventually ended up in the eye of the tornado as Kyosuke walked as close as he could without being drawn in himself. Kyosuke raised his right arm up and pushed his glasses up with his left.

[b]"These freezing winds...will be your demise"[/b] Kyosuke said as he manifested up to 5 ice mirrors that encircled the tornado. He extended them as far as they could go extend and soon they formed a helix shape around the massive whirlwind. Kyosuke focused the particles between the mirrors and the whirlwind and began to decrease the temperature. Within seconds he had the wind inside of the tornado frozen completely, creating a giant ice cone with the drones trapped inside.

[b]"Yes! We did it!"[/b] Sakura said, looking up at the collosal "Entrap-and-Destroy" ploy her and Kyosuke had pulled off.

[b]"It's not over yet..."[/b] Kyosuke said, beggining to charge up the mirrors. Kyosuke narrowed his eyes and put a subtle grin on his face.

[b]"Barrage of icy death!"[/b] Kyosuke yelled as a barrage of icicles shot forth from the mirrors impaling the frozen tornado in nearly 500 different areas. The ice cone shattered in a matter of 3 seconds, the debris from the drones emblazoning the floor.

Kyosuke and Sakura looked at each other with a satisfied look on their faces. Mixing their wind and ice elementals so well, it was a reward by itself to see it as succesful as it could be.

[b]"The only shame about this all is our chances of being placed on the same team for the exam will probably be small. But it works on our elemental control just as well. Our particle control is excellent."[/b] Kyosuke explained.

[b]"Either way, it's safe to say we're both pretty much ready."[/b] Sakura said, rubbing her arms a bit from the cold atmosphere in the training room.

[b]"Not entirely yet...atleast not for me. We should get some lunch now...but afterwards i need to..."[/b]

[b]"I know, I know...your private training sessions. I won't keep you. Though i wish i could see what it is you've been working on these past months."[/b] Sakura said, cutting off Kyosuke.

[b]"I'm sure...you'll see when the time comes."[/b] Kyosuke said, as the two students went to leave for the cafeteria. As they walked, Kyosuke took his chain in his hand again and looked at it. He found out the pattern to find out the inscriptions...he had an idea when Ayame first deciphered the one for Water. It was pretty much confirmed when he asked Havok to look at it. Sure enough Havok recognized one of them as the ancient symbol for Fire. Kyosuke knew the others must be the remaining elements, but he still didn't know which ones were which. He was even more curious as to what might happen if he found out about all of them...was it supposed to mean anything? What were his father's intentions in giving him the cross? He had hoped that he would find the answer soon.

[/size][/COLOR]

[size=1]ooc: I am hoping to have at least one more post before the trials involving some more character interaction, as well as a glimpse at Kyo's private training sessions.[/size]

[Sakura]

[B]OOC:[/B] My post at last. ><;; Note, Sideria communicates telepathically.

[COLOR=Navy][CENTER][B]11:20am - Two Weeks Before Trials[/B][/CENTER]

[SIZE=1]Sakura sat with Kyosuke in the cafeteria, looking at her tray of food in front of her. Her vision slid out of focus as she thought about what they had just accomplished in the training room, it felt great to be able to do a combined attack, and wondered if it was possible to do it with other elements as easily.

[B]"Sakura?"[/B]

She sat up, blinking. [B]"Sorry, what?"[/B]

[B]"Are you ok? You kind of spaced out."[/B] Kyo asked.

[B]"I'm fine, just thinking."[/B] she smiled, picking up the sandwich in front of her and taking a bite.

Kyosuke nodded in understanding, Sakura did that quite a lot, as did he at times. They conversed easily over their meal, satisfying the appetite they had worked up while training. Kyo had finished his before Sakura and sat there, fiddling with his cross.

[B]"For all the years I've known you, you've never played with your cross this much."[/B] she commented.

[B]"Well, there's been some new developments."[/B]

[B]"Can I see it? You've never allowed me, but then...I've never asked either."[/B]

Kyo nodded, and handed over the chain to her. Sakura ran her fingers over the engravings, feeling the weight of the heirloom. She started to turn it, looking at each symbol. Before stopping to stare at one. She looked up at him, he had an expectant look on his face, as if he knew she'd uncover something.

[B]"Kyo, there's a symbol for Air, I saw it in my textbook a long time ago, but I know this is it. But, you don't look surprised."[/B] Sakura propped up her elbows on the table and folded her hands together, resting her chin on them, the cross dangling in her grip. She knew him well, and could read him better than most people.

[B]"I'm not."[/B] he sighed. [B]"Ayame told me one of them was Water, and Havoc found the symbol for Fire. I suspected that you'd find the Air one."[/B] he explained.

[B]"Ah, one for each element."[/B] she nodded in understanding, handing the cross back to its owner.

[B]"Yeah. Well, I'll catch up with you later, ok? Have to do my private sessions."[/B]

Sakura nodded and watched him leave. She sighed, for the past month or so, her feelings for Kyo had started to change strangely, but Sakura, being rational always brushed them aside. She knew because she always felt jealous when Ayame was brought up by Kyosuke.

She got up, emptying her tray and leaving the cafeteria, walking around quite aimlessly, there weren't specified classes today, and she was just enjoying it, having already spent a couple of hours training with Kyosuke. Before she knew it, she ended up outside the building where Summoning classes were held because it was large enough for all types of summons, and had spells in the foundations and walls to stop magic from leaking out or in.

Sakura pulled open the door and stepped inside, her footsteps echoing in the empty room. She stood against the wall near the entrance and started the summoning, concentrating her thoughts on an image of her dragon companion. She fed out her magi slowly, looking to the large empty space in front of her, she started to see an outline of something. Sakura took a deep breath, thrusting her magi forward into the outline to bring it fully into the dimension. Finally [URL=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/41/Bahamut_FFX.jpg]Sideria[/URL] stood there proudly, his navy blue skin shimmering in the light as he roared, shaking out his leathery wings.

Sakura smiled and walked forward as the dragon turned his head to look at her, walking toward her. She smiled and stretched out a hand, resting it on his head.

[B]"How've you been, Sideria?"[/B] she whispered.

[B][I]"I'm fine, but you seem to have something on your mind."[/I][/B] he commented wisely.

[B]"It's nothing."[/B] she breathed, just loud enough for him to pick up.

Sideria just nodded, Sakura sighed and wrapped her arms around the dragon's neck as best as she could. He nudged her gently, looking upward. She nodded and went over to the wall and pulling a lever which opened the roof of the building, it was built in such a way because of the larger, airborne summons. Sakura nodded to Sideria and he flapped his large wings, lifting him up and out. She watched him before flicking the lever again, exiting through the door. Sideria was already waiting for her on the ground. She climbed onto his back comfortably and the two took off into the sky, above the clouds. Sakura smiled and lay backwards, resting her back against his, enjoying the leisurely flight that they rarely had time for.

[I][B]"Is your worry about the coming exams and trial?"[/B][/I]

[B]"Sort of....but that's not the real source of my worries."[/B]

[B][I]"Are you sure you're all right? You're usually a lot more collected."[/I][/B]

[B]"I know...that's why this particular worry, worries me even more. It's changing me."[/B]

[I][B]"Try not to think about it."[/B][/I]

Sakura nodded, sitting upright again, her hair flowing out behind her as the wind rushed past. Sideria was someone she always felt confident talking to, because he never judged, and he never told anyone else anything. The dragon dove back under the clouds, and circled the school slowly before touching down outside the summoning building. Sakura yawned as she dismounted.

[B]"Thanks Sideria. I missed our flights."[/B]

[B]"Don't worry about this problem of yours. Wait it out, trust your own judgement, it's usually always right."[/B]

She nodded and watched as Sideria faded out, knowing that Sakura was about to dismiss him anyway.

She turned and walked away, deep in thought. How did she really feel about Kyo? Are they still just good friends, or is something more developing? She took a glance at her watch, the digits reading [B]12pm[/B].[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Doublehex]

[center][i]At the end of the day, as night fell, a being lay dead. Abraxas Mox, too caught up in his web of darkness and evil intent to escape, was consumed by a demon prince. And because of his foolishness, four would be risk breakers almost faced Lady Death?s judgment.

She decreed that they would live.

And so, the twelve resumed their lives. Disagreements became rivalries, interest became love, and loneliness became depression. None of the Twelve?s lives will be the same.

The day has come, at long last. The Trial?and the Exam. It is time to prove their worth.

Risk Breakers, tell us your tale![/i]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v143/Doublehex/RP/CiAlFo/CiAlFo_one.jpg[/IMG][/center]

[b][center][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showpost.php?p=741603&postcount=11][-Alex-][/url][/center][/b]

[center]Three hours to the Trial
---[/center]

Alex was dead. His spirits had sunk. His body has become a motionless entity. His breathing degraded into a state of unnatural movements. He would not even allow his eyes to blink. He simply was. He simply stood there, in his dorm room, staring at his Longsword has if it was the answer to life itself.

?So now, I am just a weapon. A tool of the Academy?to kill.? He breathed in. ?So be it.?

With that, Alex sheathed his sword and made his way to the Room?some of his friends were waiting for him. They wanted to watch him fight the Lion Spirit. Alex didn?t want them, but he knew he couldn?t force them to leave. They would probably kill Alex if he suggested the option.

He didn?t want them to see him become a tool.

[quote][b]OOC[/b] OK guys, heres the deal. The Trials have begun! In it, each student will be given a personal test that will put their physical and mental strengths and weakness to the limit. Be creative in your trials! Unless you plan to watch Alex, or any other member's Trial, you do not have to wait for the others to finish. You may begin whenever you want to. Good luck![/quote]

[Tekkaman]

[center][b][i][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]5 minutes past the time of the Trials.[/size][/font][/i][/b][/center]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=darkgreen][b][i]"It's time."[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=navy][b][i]"Don't worry about it man! I'll see you when we both pass the trials!"[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Aaron smiled as sweat beaded off of his head from the nervousness. His back was to Stephen, looking at the door to his destiny.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"Modest, Optimistic, Caring... Is there any quality you don't have?"[/color][/i][/b] Aaron said, his back still to Stephen.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"I'm not as strong as [u]you[/u]."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen said from behind him. Aaron couldn't make out if Stephen was joking or serious and turning around would only show Stephen how scared he was of what lay ahead. He laughed instead, unsure what to say to such an answer.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=navy][b][i]"Aaron I just wanna sa-"[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"See you on the other side."[/color][/i][/b] Aaron said, not knowing and not wanting to know if Stephen was gonna get mushy on him. As he opened the door and stepped through the white light, the door shut slowly behind him. Before it closed halfway, only then did Aaron Covais turn around. Stephen saw his face; [i]a mixture of emotions - the sweat adding to his 'colourful' appearance.[/i] Aaron pointed at his friend as the door was about to envelope him on the other side - dividing the duo.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"You'd better pass."[/color][/i][/b] Aaron said as the door prevented Stephen from seeing his friend fighting for his future.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"I will."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen said quietly, smiling. [b][i][color=navy]"And I just wanna say [u]'good luck'[/u] "[/color][/i][/b].[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Stephen walked away from the trial door.[/size][/font]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][u]=========================[/u][/i][/b][/size][/font][/center]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]As Aaron looked around the other side of the door, a simple [i]70 x 70 [u][b]white[/b][/u] room[/i] was all that lay before him. No color, no moonlighting, no passion, [u]nothing[/u]. Even the door that Aaron had stepped through had become enveloped in white. There was no door handle or window on the side of the door Aaron was looking at, so when the door closed, the only thing visible was the light seam that the door needed to open and close. Aaron wiped the sweat from his brow.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=darkgreen][i]*What the hell is this? Sit me in here and expect me to not get bored? [u]What[/u]?!*[/i][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"What the hell am I supposed to [u]do[/u] in here?"[/color][/i][/b] Aaron said aloud.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]A door opened on the other end of the room, as if on cue, a familiar body entering the room. [i][b]Aaron's eyes widened, as if he had seen a ghost.[/b][/i][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"You're supposed to fight [u]me[/u] of course."[/color][/i][/b] the voice sounded.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"Wha?"[/color][/i][/b] Aaron backed himself into the wall from his thoughts and his fear. [b][i][color=darkgreen]"No. This can't be right... Why? Why do I have to fight...[u]you[/u]."[/color][/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"Because,"[/color][/i][/b] [i][b]Stephen[/b][/i] said, pushing his hair back confidently with a snap of his neck. [i][b][color=navy]"We're 'Risk Breakers'[/color][/b][/i].[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"But...why?"[/color][/i][/b] Aaron managed to spit out. [i][b][color=darkgreen]"I thought we were [u]friends[/u]?"[/color][/b][/i][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"You think I cared anything about you when I met you for the first time?"[/color][/i][/b] Stephen said to a stunned Aaron. [b][i][color=navy]"I [u]used[/u] you to make myself stronger. You were great for a while, PAL, But I was always above you in terms of strength, brains and looks."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen grinned as he pulled out his simple flute to battle with. [b][i][color=navy]"So now I'll beat you, and I go forward to the finals, leaving you a broken [u]and bloody[/u] mess. Hah."[/color][/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Aaron sat on the other end of the white room, frozen by fear and indecision. It all made sense to him now. [i]The lack of time they have spent together, the multiple and different 'extra curriculum' activities, the extensive training...[/i] [/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"It was all... to defeat me. To defeat me? Your friend?"[/color][/i][/b] Aaron fell to the ground, silenly sobbing. [b][i][color=darkgreen]"You were my friend and... you were my [u]only[/u] friend."[/color][/i][/b] The tears came, harder now. [b][i][color=darkgreen]"You we- were my friend. Why is the Academy doin... doing this? Why are you fighting me?!"[/color][/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"For power, dumbass."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen walked over to Aaron while talking. [b][i][color=navy]"You were so much of a loner when I met you, I knew that becoming your friend and battling you throughout the Trials would only lead to me winning in the end."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen made it to the emotionally broken, platinum-haired boy -[i] kicking him hard in the stomach. Aaron doubled over, his air escaping him. He couldn't even writhe in pain due to the lack of air[/i] - the tears sticking to his face.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"Weakling."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen scowled, looking down at his friend. [b][i][color=navy]"I'll end this quick, for you."[/color][/i][/b]
[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][/size][/font][/center]
[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]~+~[/i][/b][/size][/font][/center]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]As the real Stephen arrived to his Trial door, he looked down the straightaway tunnel that would lead him back to his friend, Aaron Covais.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"Good luck, my friend."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen said as he began to open the door to his own destiny.[/size][/font]
[/size][/font]

[TheResplendent]

[center][color=darkred]With little time before the start of the trials: Last minute words and promises.[/color]
- - - - - - - - [/center]

[color=navy][size=1]Kyosuke and the others met one last time before they were required to enter their own respective trial. Everyone voiced their determination to pass and take the next step to becoming risk breakers. Alex took his leave first, glancing around for a few seconds. He wished to go alone, but had no objections to other's watching if it was their wish. Kyosuke hoped in his mind that Alex had the right state of mind to pass his trial. Kyosuke turned to Ayame who was standing next to him, Daiya on her shoulder.

[b]"Your ready, Ayame. Let's make sure this isn't the last time we will see each other...work hard to pass your trial, and i'll see you in the final exam. We all will...because nobody is going to fail"[/b] Kyosuke said, noticing that Ayame had her eyes closed trying to regulate her breathing. Ayame looked up at him, and looked at his smile...the one she had become so accustomed to liking.

[b]"Uh huh!"[/b] Ayame said with a smile on her face, reacting to Kyosuke's words. She didn't have time to wonder if she was ready, she knew she wanted to go through with it no matter what, she wanted to be with everyone. She wanted to prove that she could be strong and be with all of her friends after the final exam. She was also looking forward to the big dance after the final exam. Especially since she wanted to put the gift Kyosuke gave her for her birthday to good use.

Sakura looked slightly away after hearing Kyosuke's pep talk to Ayame. Sakura hid very well her clouded mind, though inside she feverishly tried to fight for clarity, or at least enough focus to make sure she passed the trial as well. She knew all of her training sessions would pay off deep inside though, she was ready to take on anything the trial would throw at her...it was how to feel after she got out that concerned her. She wanted to be able to look forward to being teamed with Kyosuke in the final exam, but figured they were both good candidates for team leaders and the chances of both of them being together were slim.

Aaron and Stephen looked at each other and nodded. They were ready to take their leave as well.

[b]"Well, we're off...hopefully it's just like you said Kyosuke, we'll all pass...and see each other again"[/b] Aaron said, hoping it with all of his heart. He still considered Stephen is one real true friend in the academy, but has become comfortable with the company of the rest of the group over the past months. Aaron was happy to know the people he did, and to have atleast one true friend.

[b]"That's how it'll be, cause I said so!"[/b] Stephen added, giving a thumbs up. Aaron and Stephen said their goodbyes. Stephen went to give Rinoa a hug, but quickly changed it to a handshake after seeing Havok take a few steps toward him. It didn't take long for Stephen to recognize the signs of a jealous boyfriend, and knew when to bow out gracefully to avoid any problems. When he walked over to Ayame however, she threw him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Stephen returned it and they giggled at each other. Aaron rolled his eyes, waiting for Stephen...Kyosuke on the other hand felt a little tense but eased himself as quick as he could...he didn't want to seem unfocused infront of everyone. He couldn't help but dislike Stephen's grin everytime he and Ayame hugged though.

The two support magic users made their way, leaving Kyosuke, Ayame, Sakura, Havok, and Rinoa.

[b]"Hey, wheres Carrot and Lazarus anyway?"[/b] Rinoa asked, wondering why they didn't come.

[b]"Lazarus preferred to go straight to his trial, he wished us all luck though...he seemed pretty determined so I wouldn't worry too much about him"[/b] Kyosuke answered. He didn't anything about Carrot's whereabouts and didn't really care much either.

[b]"Well, I saw Carrot running to the infirmary before i came here...i don't know where she is now but i'm sure she was just doing some last minute preparations."[/b] Sakura added in.

The 5 students looked at each other for a few moments, they knew the time was here. They had to be on their way like Alex, Lazarus, Aaron, and Stephen already were. Kyosuke let out a sign and stepped forward out of the circle.

[b]"It's time...i better get this over with."[/b] Kyosuke said, wanting to keep his words short. Everyone stayed away from saying goodbye, because they knew in their hearts that it wasn't neccesary. Havok was the first to walk over to Kyosuke, the two firmly shook hands, looking sincerely into each other's eyes as if mentally making each other a promise that they would conquer the trials and become two of the best risk breakers the academy has ever seen.

Rinoa ran up to Kyosuke and gave him a big hug, almost with tears in her eyes. Havok had no problem with it since he started to know the type of person Kyosuke really was. There was a strong trust between the two, not to mention Havok understood that Kyo and Rinoa were friends just as much as he and Kyo were. Kyosuke returned Rinoa's hug and they made the same mental promise.

Sakura stood there and watched, she knew already that Kyosuke was going to pass the trial. She knew him well and there was nothing the academy could throw at him that he couldn't conquer. [b][i]'How easy he must have it...not having such distractions from his goal...if only i knew how to feel...'[/b][/i] she thought to herself, realizing it to be a bit unfair since Kyosuke had plenty to overcome himself, despite his natural talent and intellegence. She knew it was, but she couldn't help but feel that nobody's mind at the moment was in as much thought as hers. She looked up to a not so helpful sight, as Ayame was already embracing Kyosuke saying her goodbyes.

Ayame got up enough courage to give Kyosuke a little peck on the cheek, but turned all kinds of shades of red afterwards. They smiled at each other, as Daiya jumped over to Kyosuke shoulder and gave him a big hug with his tail and started purring.

[b]"I guess he's still enjoying the gift that he got, huh?"[/b] Kyosuke said, laughing a bit. Back when Kyosuke had given Ayame her birthday gift, neither of them really knew when Daiya's exact birthdate was so he just considered giving Daiya a gift the same time as Ayame. The gift Kyosuke gave to Ayame's faithful companion was a large box full of his favorite ice cream flavor from the academy cafeteria. Ayame giggled a bit and called for Daiya to come back so Kyosuke could leave.

At first, Kyosuke had always thought that Ayame wasn't the type of person he could see becoming a risk breaker. But over time, he saw how determined she was to prove that (which was probably a common thought amongst many other students ) wrong. She improved her magic and weapon skills greatly since they first met. Kyosuke had also noticed the change in behavior from Ayame when it concerned him...she seemed less hyper around him the past few months but never actually avoided him. Ayame always assured him that she was having a good time whenever they were hanging out, or even training. Kyosuke never thought it would happen, but over time he had become quite fond of Ayame, she made him smile a lot, and most of all made him feel like an individual. Ayame never brought up Kyo's father or his family name, and never judged him because of either of them. He felt, she genuinely liked being with him.

Sakura stood there almost frozen, she didn't know how to see Kyosuke off. He walked over to her and they stood across from each other for a few seconds just looking at one another.

[b]"Sakura...i won't wish you luck because I know you won't need it. Your one of the people i know...i know i'll be seeing in the final exam. Even if we're in different groups...we'll both become risk breakers."[/b] Kyosuke said confidently.

Sakura couldn't say anything all of a sudden, she just looked up at him and hoped that it really would be that simple. She finally just lunged herself at Kyosuke and wrapped her arms around his torso. Kyosuke felt taken by suprise, since Sakura had never been that affectionate before. He figured she was just feeling weird because of the trial.

[b]"You better make it too...or else i'm really going to have to beat you up!"[/b] Sakura said, trying to sound as much like her normal self as possible. Kyosuke gave a confident grin, as if to say "Of course i'm going to make it". He checked to make sure he had everything he needed and waved at everyone before he began to walk to his designated trial chamber. Kyosuke was more determined then ever to become a risk breaker. For his friends, for his family, and most of all...for his own legacy.


[/color][/size]

[Riku]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma][CENTER]Final Minutes Before Trials[/CENTER]

Everyone had gone to their Trial to show that their hearts were strong enough to become powerful Risk Breakers. Rinoa had said farewell to them and also given her friends their share of hugs, letting them know that she would be thinking of their safety. She had seen them all off to their Room, which was what their destiny had been awaiting for them... and prayed that they would do well.

It was now only Havok and Rinoa, which he was seeing her off before she took her Test. Rinoa was ready, having her Katana in hand and physically fit... but, she was a bit worried at what her test would be. Was she ready? Would her heart be strong enough to face her own Trial? She tightly gripped onto her sword handle, her hands shaking a little from her nerves and fears.

Havok, who suddenly noticed that her hands were shaking, lightly grasped her hands with his and looked down at her, smiling. [B]"It'll be okay, Rinoa,"[/B] he said, [B]"I know that you're strong enough to handle any situation that's thrown at you."[/B]

She looked up at his face... it was so kind yet gentle, and it helped her to become focused. Her hands suddenly stopped shaking and she nodded, looking up at him and smiling while she held his hands.

[B]"There you go,"[/B] he smiled, and then realized he had forgotten something. He dug into his shirt pocket and pulled out a chain bracelet with a small silver cross and little jewels dangling on it. He lifted her left hand and placed it around her small wrist, still smiling. [B]"This is for good luck,"[/B] he finally said, [B]"I made it for you with my fire magi."[/B]

She smiled brightly and lifted her wrist slightly, still amazed and happy that he had made something for her. [B]"Thank you,"[/B] she finally replied... then remembered that she had also wanted to give him something. She gently lifted her right shirt sleeve up her arm and unlached her silver cross bracelet, then lifting his left arm and placing it around his wrist. [B]"My mom and dad gave it to me before they died..."[/B] she finally replied, looking at him.

Havok gasped a little and became a little sad. [B]"But.. but I can't take this..."[/B]

[B]"Don't worry,"[/B] she said, smiling, [B]"it's okay... you'll give it back to me when you're done... promise?"[/B] Rinoa leaned in closer and lifted her left hand, raising her pinky towards him. Havok then smiled and nodded, leaning in closer and twisting his pinky around hers... making a small promise.

[B]"...Promise."[/B]

Then suddenly... Rinoa lifted herself on her toes and kissed him on his cheek, then leaning back and smiling at him. Havok was dumbfounded, but was blushing and smiling, putting his hand on the cheek she had kissed him on.

Rinoa then walked over to the door which lead to the Room of her destiny. She slightly opened it and looked back at him, smiling. [B]"Don't worry.. everything is going to be alright,"[/B] she whispered and then walked into the door of fate.

Havok nodded and waved at her... she looked back and smiled at him, then turned to face her trial with the door slowly closing behind her.

[CENTER]~*~[/CENTER]
OoC: Daw.. yes I just had to put that in my post. 'Tis cute, no? Anyways, if it's okay with you, Abel... Rinoa and Havok are finally together (yay!), so no one can take Havok or else. >:3[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Darth Vectis]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=1][CENTER]Several minutes before trial[/CENTER]

Blaize sat in his room, thinking about the night before and how Alex had actually won that confronation. And what he said had actually disturbed Blaize more then what happened, he had been ready to die or ready to kill. That was the easy part of the whole thing, but what complicated it was the fact he walked away and said thsoe few deadly words. You owe me one. Blaize's grin had been absent ever since that time, he just couldn't let it go.

He mostly couldn't let it go because he had only said a few words, and now Blaize was bound to him until he saved his life. He was bound to someone he dispised and craved for a chance to eliminate him once and for all. But now, he was trapped, until they were in a moment where Blaize could return the favor and then finish him. But until then, he would have to wait. He growled lightly to himself as he stood up from his chair.

He walked over to his dresser and, for the first time in awhile, pulled out his magi user. It looked something like a tribal armband with a feather handing off along with a creatuers claw and a smal birds skull. He liked this the best mostly because he had made it himself and he liked the rather unusual look it had. It had taken him awhile to find the material for it and what to hang from it. He looked at it for a moment, making sure the right amount of magi were in it.

Four blue magic magi and two earth, he nodded when he liked the combination and the strapped it to his arm. He moved his shotgun holster from his thigh to his back, he pulled his shotgun, twisted and pulled the parts away form each other. He counted how many rounds he had and nodded once more. He had a total of six inside, he pushed it back together and twisted once more the shotgun locked back into place.

He went to the back of his door and found the rest of his shells hanging from a belt, each in their own slot in the leather belt. All of them secure but all loose enough for him to pull out quickly if need be. He put his shout gun back in its holster and took the belt off the door, rapping it around his waist and latching it into place. He took one mroe deep breathe then was off, heading for the trial area. Ready to do his best, or to die.

While he was making his way to his Room for the trial, he found Havok. Who seemed to have a bounce in his step, there was also the giant smile on his face. Blaize shook his head and smiled for the first time today, he walked up behind him and patted him on the shoulder. Havok turned around quickly.
[B]
"You look awfully happy considering we are going through the trials."[/B] Havok continued to smile and clapsed his hand on his friends shoulder.
[B]
"Well, there are a lot of reasons to be happy. You'll find out later my good friend."[/B] Blaize chuckled to himself.
[B]
"Of course I will, I always do. So has everyone else gone in yet?"[/B] Havok nodded, Blaized nodded a few times then spoke again.
[B]
"Do you know where Alex was placed?"[/B] Havok shook his head, Blaize growled and looked around. Havok looked at him oddly.
[B]
"I thought you hated him?"

"I do."

"Then why ask where he is?"[/B] Blaize sighed, rolled his shoulders then spoke in as calm a voice as he could manage.
[B]
"He got the better of me a few nights ago. He spared my life in a confrontation and now I owe him. Its the worst thing that could happen."[/B] Havok chuckled a bit, Blaize punched him in the shoulder.
[B]
"You'll be fine, i'm sure he'll get into something that will require to save his."[/B] Blaize growled and nodded his head. He looked to his friends once mroe and spoke.
[B]
"Well, I'm off to do my test. See you and everyone else after its over."[/B] Blaize walked down another corridor and Havok went the opposite way. Blaize was ready to get this over with, and to think of a way to get at Alex.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Sandy]

[COLOR=DarkRed][CENTER][B][I]Carrot's Trial[/I][/B][/CENTER]

Carrot Burnheart didn't know what to expect. All she had been told about the Trials before stepping into the darkened room was that they were different for each individual, and they tested the participant's skills in combat.

Here it was, the moment she'd been training full-time for almost an year now. After this, there was only the Final Exam before she would graduate to become a Risk Breaker. Maybe she would even see Dad at the graduation party...

[B]"Focus!"[/B] she said to herself, repeating the favorite word of Instructor Aki. There were no more classes held by the Instructors after this point. This was [I]it[/I].

All Carrot saw was a dark room, with a faint light coming behind her. Then she began hearing sounds.

Something, like a door or a gate, opened with a creak at the far side of the room. It became clear to Carrot that she was now in a large hall. Then she heard something walk in, something with more feet than two, something [I]huge[/I]. She heard it breathing, she heard it's claws scraping the floor. She would soon be faced with a [I]real[/I] monster.

Suddenly the room temperature dropped drastically. Carrot's breath started to steam, and cold shivers ran up her spine. She glutched her mace tighter.

Carrot couldn't help feeling a bit confused. She was obviously supposed to fight this beast, but she hadn't trained to become a fighter. She was a healer, for spirits' sake! A moment of panic caught her: maybe they had put her in the wrong trial room!

Then she saw the monsters face coming out of the darkness. It was pale white, with large tusks protruding under a long muzzle, and cold black eyes searching for a pray. It's breath was freezing, and a whole aura of coldness surrounded it. It was shaped almost like a lizard walking on all fours, but it was covered with thick fur. Carrot couldn't name it, and frankly she didn't care what her opponent was called at the moment.

She pointed the tip of her mace at the monster, and a familiar spell came into her mind. [I]Ashes to Ashes[/I].

The monster howled in pain as the ray of concentrated heat burned a whole to it's forehead. It rose to it's hindlegs, took a deep breath, and aimed a cloud of freezing vapor towards Carrot. She was luckily alert enough to duck out of it's way.

To her surprise, a hand grasped hers and helped her up. She looked up to see Alex Glesen with a serious expression on his face, and Rinoa Ryuzaki two steps behind him.

[B]"We came to help you"[/B], Alex said matter-of-factly, and waved his longsword in front of the monster.

[B]"Is... that allowed?"[/B] Carrot wondered, astonished to see the other two students.

[B]"Don't worry"[/B], Rinoa said with a warm smile, unsheating her katana. [B]"We'll get rid of that abomination together."[/B]

[B]"But this is [I]my[/I] Trial! I..."[/B] she opposed, but a few second's distraction was enough for the icy breath to hit her. Her whole body was suddenly covered by a thick frost. She was stuck.

Carrot couldn't do anything but to watch as Rinoa and Alex fought [I]her[/I] battle, shredding the beast's fur and skin, cutting it's other tusk, piercing it's chest.

Blue blood spilled everywhere, and the monster cried out in pain. It went for a last, desperate strike. Carrot's eyes widened as she saw Rinoa get pierced by the monster's remaining tusk.

She screamed inside, because her mouth was covered by a layer of ice. She tried to release her numbing limbs from their icy prison, but in vain. She could do nothing but watch as Rinoa's limp body fell to the blood-stained floor, red mixing with blue.

This was [I]her[/I] trial! She had prepared for this in every way imaginable, and now she was losing this easily?!

[B]"NnnnNNOOOO!!!"[/B] Carrot yelled from the bottom of her lungs, and something inside her woke up. She felt as if her heart had suddenly burst into flames. Her blood boiled, heating every inch of her body instantly. The frost covering her began to quickly melt, and in one explosion of strenght, she was free.

As her Inner Flame cooled down, she observed the situation. Alex tried to finish off the monstrosity, but the more he hurt it, the more enraged it seemed to become. Carrot could quite easily end the beast with her fire magic.

She picked up her mace, but then her eyes stopped at Rinoa's body. She appeared to be still breathing, but her wounds were lethal, and if something wasn't done quickly, she'd die.

Carrot was facing a difficult decision, but she remembered what Instructor Phoenix had said in the very first lesson of Support Magic: [I][B]"In the battlefield, the user of support magic is a healer first, everything else comes second."[/B][/I]

So actually, the decision was quite easy. Carrot let go of the mace and ran to Rinoa. She placed her hand with the golden ring adorned with the [I]magi[/I] of both fire and healing on top of Rinoa's gaping wound, closed her eyes and conjured the Phoenix Tear.

She felt a flash of warmth, and she opened her eyes.

It was suddenly very bright in the room. Laying in front of her instead of Rinoa, was Instructor Merele Shandala. Carrot glanced over her shoulder, and saw that the monster was gone, and Alex was replaced by Instructor Ruben Cavalier.

[B]"Congratulations, Miss Burnheart"[/B], Instructor Shandala said smiling as she got up. [B]"You have passed your trial."[/B]
[/COLOR]

[SIZE=1][B]OoC:[/B] As I'm the first to actually pass a trial, I'm not sure if this was what you meant, Doublehex. I hope you're okay with what I came up, though, because I surely am not going to write this all over again! XP [/SIZE]

[Tekkaman]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]OOC:[/i][/b] Sorry if i'm posting to fast but I am now in[b][i] Virginia[/i][/b] for [u]military training[/u] and I never know when i'll have time to get on the computer to post. Also, once I read other peoples posts, [i][b]inspiration strikes[/b][/i] and if I don't write [i][color=darkred](type)[/color][/i] it out soon, i'll lose it. :animesmil But anyway, back to the OOC post - [b][i]I apologize for my hastiness.[/i][/b][/size][/font]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][u]=========================[/u][/i][/b][/size][/font][/center]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]30 minutes after Aaron walked through the door...[/i][/b][/size][/font][/center]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=navy][b][i]Weakling. I'll end this quick, for you.[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Aaron had tried to regain his breath but to no avail. As he looked at his friend from above - [b][i]still trying for air[/i][/b] - [b][i][color=navy]Stephen Jonuvar[/color][/i][/b] had begun to wind up his foot to kick Aaron in the forehead with all of his might. As Aaron saw the boot begin to come to his face, all he could think about was trying to regain his breath. [u]He closed his eyes[/u], believing that if he didn't see the foot coming towards him, then it didn't exist - [i]meaning he would be okay[/i]. He shut his eyes tight, knowing that what he believed would come true.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]However[/i][/b], this battle wasn't in his imagination. It was true and it was happening right here and right now. Aaron's nerves connecting to his brain told no lie as Stephen Jonuvar's boot made contact with his skull, [i]resulting in Aaron screaming in pain and immediately following sluggish and erratic movements[/i].[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]On a bright note, however, Stephen's kick allowed Aaron to breathe properly once again[/i][/b].[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Aaron, moving slower than he ever had in his entire life from the kick of his friend, tried to sit up and shake off the dizziness that he felt from the blow. However, Stephen showed Aaron no slack or sympathy as he grabbed the platinum-haired boy by the throat and began to choke the life out of him with both of his hands. Stephen smiled sadistically at his friend - [i]admiring the blood leaking from the scar on his forehead as well as Aaron's bloodshot eyes from both crying and being choked to death[/i]. [/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]Victory was in the bag for Aaron's friend...[/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"Humph."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen said quietly to Aaron, looking at the blood stains on the white room from Aaron's forehead. [b][i][color=navy]"Finally, this room has some [u]color[/u] to it, huh?"[/color][/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Aaron couldn't speak due to Stephen's grip being too tight on his throat. If would have loosened his hold just a little bit, he could have told the bastard exactly what he thought...[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=darkgreen][i]* Go to Hell. You psychopathic [u]son-of-a-bitch[/u]. *[/i][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Just as Aaron was about to fade into the darkness for the last time, Stephen screamed in total and complete agony - [i][b]letting his former friend fall to the ground[/b][/i]. Aaron wasn't surprised as he coughed up blood and flem from the horrific grip that his friend had had on him. He hacked up blood for a good minute, knowing that Stephen would be [b][i]'preoccupied'[/i][/b] with a little gift that Aaron had left him.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][i][color=darkgreen]* If he had held on any longer, i'd be dead. *[/color][/i] Aaron looked at Stephen, still screaming in pain. Aaron smiled but was unable to laugh due to the pain caused from Stephen. [i][color=darkgreen]* Oh well, at least I put my three months of Weapon Training to '[u]very[/u]' good use. *[/color][/i][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]As Aaron looked at his friend, Stephen Jonuvar, he looked at his own Rapier also - [i]going through Stephen's [u]penis[/u] [b](his pride and joy)[/b] and coming out of his buttocks[/i]. Stephen slowly pulled out the fencing weapon from his wound, throwing the Rapier into the door the Aaron first walked through - [i]10 feet away from Aaron[/i]. Arron sat at the middle of the room, looking at the weapon that Stephen had thrown away by slowly turning his head around. The Rapier had went through the door, problably sticking out of the other side.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=navy][b][i]"You... dick!!!"[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"Yes, that's right."[/color][/i][/b] Aaron coughed up more blood from talking but he couldn't let this oppurtunity slide from his grasp. [b][i][color=darkgreen]"At least I still have mine."[/color][/i][/b] Aaron said with an evident grin, blood covering his mouth. He pulled out his Support Magi crystal and casted [u][color=darkgreen]Healra[/color][/u] on himself. The light emitting from the crystal [b][i]erased the pain and wounds that he was inflicted slowly, but surely[/i][/b]. Stephen watched on, his look of pain turning into hatred as he saw Aaron recover.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][i]However, the crystal could not erase the pain [b]in Aaron's heart[/b]. He sighed before he continued talking, cockier now from the heal that he had recieved.[/i][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"I figured that since you were taking something precious from me - [u]my trust[/u], then I could take something precious from you."[/color][/i][/b] Aaron nodded to the blood from the middle of Stephen's blue jean pants. Stephen looked down and as he brought his head up, [i]he smiled[/i]. Aaron wasn't expecting the grin, making him uneasy as he ran to the door he entered from, grabbing his Rapier from the solid matter that had held it in the first place. Aaron ran closer to Stephen, [u]though at a safe distance[/u], pointing his Rapier at his comrade with his left hand, [b][i]his weapon hand[/i][/b]. Seriousness covered his face, though he was upset that he had to fight his pal, wanting answers now that the playing field was even, sort of.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"Are you still my friend [u]or not[/u]?"[/color][/i][/b] Aaron stated.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Stephen thought about it. [b][i][color=navy]"Let's see, you stab my penis and you wanna know if were still friends... Hmmm."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen looked at Aaron blankly while answering. [b][i][color=navy]"I'll say... [u]not[/u]."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen answered, returning with the same grin. [b][i][color=navy]"I never was."[/color][/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Aaron, angered by the answer, tried to stab Stephen in the penis again. However, Stephen kicked the Rapier out of his hands, [i]flying into a new area of the same room that the two had not yet fought in[/i]. As Aaron tried to regain his balance from the deflected attack, [u][i][b]Stephen transformed his flute into a Katana[/b][/i][/u], stabbing Aaron cleanly in his left shoulder - [u]cutting through muscle tissue and bone[/u]. Aaron wasn't even able to scream from the lightning fast attack; Stephen throwing his right knee into Aaron's bottom jaw with unbelievable force. Aaron flew backwards as superheroes do in comic books when they've been hit very hard, sliding across the white ground - the blood from his left shoulder covering the floor with different shades of red. Aaron hoisted himself from the ground with his good right arm looking at the damage inflicted with bulging eyeballs. He looked at Stephen...[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"How'd you transform your flute?!"[/color][/i][/b] Aaron screamed - more from the pain of the attack he'd felt rather than being surprised from the flute trick.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"I got skillz."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen jokingly said to Aaron, holding the katana in a battle stance.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Aaron, still sitting on the ground [b][i](and bleeding, no less)[/i][/b], quickly tried to grab the Support crystal once again from the carrying case on his belt. Stephen, though, was one step ahead of him, [u]pulling out his [b][i]Black Magi[/i][/b] crystal first[/u].[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"Necromancy."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen said aloud, pointing the crystal at Aaron. Aaron soon became shrouded with a dark mist - [i]enveloping him, consuming him[/i]. Arron, however, felt [i]unaffected[/i] from the spell by itself. Aaron stopped moving, talking to Stephen once again.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=darkgreen][b][i]"Stephen, [u]you never knew this spell before[/u]."[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=navy][b][i]"Aaron, I've got [u]all sorts of tricks[/u] you never knew before."[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Aaron began moving again - [i]temporarily stopping to see the effects of the spell Stephen had casted, trying to cast [u][color=darkgreen]Healra[/color][/u] instead -[/i] seeing nothing happen.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3]Stephen grinned as his friend, [i]just 7 feet away from him[/i], tried to heal himself. He knew that Aaron had not studied [b][i]Black Magi[/i][/b] before. If he lived through this day however, maybe he'd pick up a book or two.[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]As the healing effects of Aaron's support magi cut through the black clouds and onto Aaron's body, [u]he bagan to double over instead[/u]; pulsating, hellish pain droning inside of his body. Aaron was being killed by his own supporting magi.[/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=darkgreen][b][i]"Wha..wha.t's hap..pinto happening.. to me?"[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=navy]"Elementary, or rather [u]Necromancy[/u] my dear."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen said, admiring is [b][i]Black Magi[/i][/b] crystal. [b][i][color=navy]"It's a [color=black]Black Magi[/color] spell i've been working on for a while now."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen walked up to his former friend, the pain from Healra too much inside of Aaron's body. Stephen put away his black magi crystal. [b][i][color=navy]"I saw you and how much you loved your precious crystal from the moment I first met you. Then when I was briefed by my superiors in this Academy showing your potential in battle combined with your attitude off-battle, I knew it was a no-brainer to defeat you."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen said, kneeling down to Aaron - who clutched his heart in pain from the reverse effect of Healra. [b][i][color=navy]"I won't lie to you Aaron. You are a tough cookie in battle, just as level-headed as the rest of the best in this school. But..."[/color][/i][/b] [i]Stephen whipped his hair back with his neck[/i]. [b][i][color=navy]"You are ruled by your emotions,[u] just like everyone else[/u]."[/color][/i][/b] Stephen stood straight up, kicking Aaron in the gut just for the hell of it before speaking again - [i]Aaron clutching his stomach from the pain.[/i] [b][i][color=navy]"You're just as weak and insipid as the rest of your friends in these caverns and I saw it when you sat next to me at lunch 3 months ago after the headmaster's announcement."[/color][/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][i][color=darkgreen]*Wha? 3 months...ago? You... sat next to me?*[/color][/i] Aaron had a pretty good memory, [i]remembering clearly about that day[/i].[/size][/font]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=darkred][b][i]~* FLASHBACK *~[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font][/center]

[size=3][font=Palatino Linotype][QUOTE]
[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][u]Sitting a chair away from Stephen[/u], the seat next to him was taken by a beautiful brunette that ? unfortunately for Stephen ? wasn?t his girlfriend. Aaron moved his head past the brunette to look at Stephen [u]only to have another girl to the side of Aaron interrupt his talk[/u]. The girl who had tapped him on the shoulder was a 17 year old black girl who [b][i](like every other woman)[/i][/b] wanted a piece of Stephen Jonuvar.

[b][i][color=pink]?Excuse me.?[/color][/i][/b] The girl politely said, rubbing lip gloss with her lips. She was very attractive to say the least, despite Aaron?s attitude towards women. [b][i][color=pink]?Are you friends with Stephen Jonuvar??[/color][/i][/b]

[b][i][color=darkgreen]?Uhh? yes I am.?[/color][/i][/b] Aaron stated.

[b][i][color=pink]?Really??[/color][/i][/b] The girl squealed, sounding elated. [b][i][color=pink]?Well can you give him this note for me please.?[/color][/i][/b] The girl winked playfully at Stephen who had his hands full with the brunette already. [b][i][color=pink]?I?d appreciate it.?[/color][/i][/b][/size][/font]
[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][/QUOTE] [/size][/font]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=black][b][i](Taken from Post #74)[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font][/size][/font][/center]
[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=darkred][b][i]~* END FLASHBACK *~[/i][/b][/color][/size][/font][/center]


[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"You... weren't sitting next to me that day, Stephen."[/color][/i][/b] Aaron said squinting his eyes at his former friend despite the pain. [b][i][color=darkgreen]"A beutiful... black girl was."[/color][/i][/b][/size][/font][/left]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][i]Stephen smiled at Aaron causing Aaron's eyes to nearly pop out of his sockets[/i]. Even with the pain pulsating through his body, he couldn't accept the truth that was deep inside of his brain, wanting to come out. He didn't even want to say it aloud, but he knew what he knew was true. He stared at Stephen, [b][i]who rubbed his lips together minus the lip gloss.[/i][/b][/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i][color=darkgreen]"I knew you flicked your neck back [u]like a girl[/u]."[/color][/i][/b] Aaron said angrily, gripping the white ground with his wavering strength.[/size][/font]

[center][b][i][u][font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][color=darkred]==========================[/color][/size][/font][/u][/i][/b][/center]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]OOC:[/i][/b] I hope everyone liked the [b][i](extremely long)[/i][/b] post. And yes, I had the plot picked out for a long time - especially after I wrote about walking into the [u]Trial Door[/u].[/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]OOC2:[/i][/b] I'll hold off from my [u]final few Trial posts[/u] until more people write about their own trials [b][i]'and tribulations'[/i][/b]. :animesmil [/size][/font]

[font=Palatino Linotype][size=3][b][i]OOC3:[/i][/b] I [b][i][color=darkred]<3[/color][/i][/b] posting for this string. [b][i][u]Doublehex[/u][/i][/b], you're a genius. :animesmil[/size][/font] [/font][/size]

[Kitty]

[size=1][indent][center]The Trials: Ayame?s Rage[/center]

Ayame?s face was still quite red and her heart was pounding fast after her temporary good-bye with Kyosuke. Now her mind was as far from the trials as it could have wandered, leaving her absent-mindedly walking into the viewing area for another trial. When her sighs and giggles couldn?t stop her from running into something, she blinked back into reality, a very confused look on her face. Daiya made a small joke, but she shooed him off her shoulder. He decided to float outside and wait for her, telling her not to take very long.

Ayame glanced around the small area before realizing she had bumped into a large window. Looking through it, she wondered what it was doing there before looking down and seeing Alex.

[b]"Alex!"[/b] she shouted, waving from behind the thin glass. He must have heard her yell, or bump into the glass, as he looked up to see her. He sighed, still feeling that he?d rather have his trial witnessed. But Ayame continued to wave and smile like she always did. Before she could watch him anymore, she heard a shout.

[b]"Hey you!"[/b]

[b]"Ah!"[/b] she cried quietly, seeing the figure jogging towards her. She recognized the man?s peculiar clothing as that of a seeker, characters that brought, generally, only bad news. But she couldn?t get away, and felt the cold, firm grip of the man?s hand on her shoulder.

[b]"This trial can not be viewed by any students,"[/b] the man said in a low whisper. His voice sent a shiver down her spine, and she suddenly found herself wishing that Kyosuke was there. Without warning, Daiya flew in from outside and bit the man ferociously on the hand. He recoiled, and Ayame could?ve sworn she heard him snarl. But Daiya quickly latched onto her shoulder and instructed her to stay quiet, but Ayame wouldn?t listen.

[b]"I was told viewing other trials was an option, since there is time before we have to start our own,"[/b] she explained to the man.

[b]"This is a special case. Now leave. Report to your own room now."[/b] He stepped forward to push her out the door, but Daiya arched his back and hissed, stopping him and reminding him of his bloody right hand.

[i]"I?ll take her,"[/i] he told the man. The next instant, they were gone.

[center]---[/center]

The two reappeared in front of a large door, similar to the ones the others had walked through. Ayame gulped, looking around her to see if there was anyone remaining. Since she didn?t see anyone, she reluctantly grabbed the handle and pushed it open. Inside it was dark, except for a small flame at the other end of the room. A few steps inside, she noticed that Daiya had not followed her.

[b]"Aren?t you coming?"[/b] she asked him. He shrugged, and attempted to float in after her, but was thrown back, followed by the doors closing swiftly behind him. [b]"Daiya!"[/b] she shouted, running back towards the door. She banged several times, pulling as hard as she could, but it refused to budge.

Behind her, she felt a wave of hot air flare up in the room. Turning around, she saw the flame had engulfed half the room. Her eyes grew wide as she fell slowly against the door.

[b]"? Mother? Father?"[/b] she muttered, the flames slowly reawakening buried memories. Images she had not seen since she was four flooded her. Friends, homes? family. As she sat in a collapsed heap against the locked door, the fire was quickly approaching her.

The heat made it harder and harder for her to stay conscious, even though she was off in another world anyway. The memory of the day of the fire that burned down and killed her entire home village snapped her out of it. Getting onto her feet in a flash, her eyes full of rage, she pulled her warhammer off of her back and slammed it against the ground as hard as she could, creating a large crack in the floor. Despite the obstacle that was opening slowly, the flames continued to crawl around it and towards her.

[b]"Serpent, awaken!"[/b] she shouted angrily. Suddenly, the room shook violently, creating several more cracks throughout the floor and walls. The crack she had created broke apart until a large circular hole rested in the center of the large room. The flames fell into it as it grew until they stopped advancing, though they still remained. Out of the hole emerged a giant, jet black snake. Its belly was decorated in symbols that showed it was bestowed with black magic. This would normally surprise her, since she could never summon anything with powers other than the basic four elements, but her rage had engulfed her and she thought nothing of it.

Ayame jumped skillfully onto the creature?s back as it continued pulling its lengthy body out of the hole. When it was completely out of the crevice, it took up half the room, even though it had curled itself several times, and its head nearly reached the high ceiling above. Grabbing Ayame with its tail and placing her on its head, the snake?s eyes suddenly changed from calm to angry, using her emotions as a source of power and determination.

To match the ferocity and size of Ayame?s summon, the flames suddenly shot up four times its previous height, and the fire spread to wherever the snake?s mass did not reach. But neither the angry girl nor her summoned spirit were fazed by this sudden menace. Ayame waved her extended right arm, her warhammer gripped firmly in her fist. The snake beneath her opened its large mouth, revealing oozing fangs and a black tongue. Following a frightening hiss, a black beam suddenly shot out of the beast, erasing whatever it hit. Soon there was only one spot of fire that refused to be extinguished.

Before Ayame could instruct the serpent to erase it, too, it suddenly transformed itself in a burst of mist into a small lizard-shaped monster.

[b]"Shape shifter,"[/b] she muttered upon seeing this form, though her eyes were still full of anger and hate. With a thought, Ayame instructed the snake to pick her up and place her on the ground. She walked towards the mist as it shifted through forms of the people and creatures she loved and cared for. It tried desperately to falter her so it could escape, but she continued her advance.

She did not pause when it turned into her friends, Daiya, or even her recently remembered parents. Only did it temporarily change into Kyosuke did she pause, or maybe it was because she was standing right in front of it. She looked up at the fake Kyosuke?s face and smiled. The creature was about to jump away when it stopped after a sickening crack filled the room.

Her warhammer was firmly set in its head, Ayame?s hands still attached to the handle. The disguise faded away, and her warhammer floated towards the ground to reveal it had crushed the skull of the creature. Blood began to pool around her feet as she dropped the handle of her weapon.

Part of the back wall of the room suddenly opened and Instructors Iraki and Gillium rushed into the room.

[b]"Ayame! Your trial is over! Send the beast back and come with us,"[/b] Iraki said calmly. Both Instructors warily eyed the giant black snake behind her. When she was placed on its head, it made a telepathic-connection with her. Though she was mostly in control, it was influencing her into a more violent state of mind. But it couldn?t remain in the physical world if she didn?t want it to, and the longer she stayed off of his head, the easier it would be to break the connection. Before either could reach her, the snake grabbed her and replaced her on its head, both of their eyes glowing for a moment.

[b]"Jane, what do we do?"[/b] Iraki asked in an anxious tone. [b]"If we don?t do something, that thing will make her destroy the entire academy!"[/b]

[b]"Solomon?I just want you to keep her distracted for a little bit,"[/b] Gillium replied. The water expert was reluctant to attack one of his students, especially one that was normally so gentle and kind, but he nodded solemnly. [/indent]

---
OOC: Gah. This thing ended up being really long [and boring]. =3=;; Sorry if it?s too much to read. D: My next post will finish up the current problem. If others finish their trials before I post, feel free to have your characters see Ayame if you want to. And way to go Acheron. Stealing my first idea for Ayame?s trial. xP[/size]

[Darth Vectis]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=1]The room was dark and it seemed rather warm and uncomfortable for any normal person to actually want to stay here. He kind of felt like the instructors were trying to hussle him out of the room, like they wanted to see him give up. But, because of the way he thought they felt, he was more determined to stay. Even if this place turned into an inferno from hell and he was at risking of being burned alive.

He waited patiently for somethign to happen, but, he got that errie silence and the sort of calm before the battle. He was anxious, egar, nervous and a tad bit sweaty but he continued to wait for something to happen. A few seconds later, he saw a small hatch of light through the darkness and saw a shape crawl out. It seemed to be the height of a cat but had the length of a large ferret with long legs used for extension, not so much for height.

Out of the small hatch, he saw another creatuer of the same kind scurry out, then another, and another, another, and one more. At this point Blaize had counted four of the little critters roaming around now, he could feel the squad of creatures watching him. He would get the occasional flash of glowing eyes then watch them vanish, what really was suspisious about these crittes was thet there was no noise from them. Save for the light scraping and the padding of paws.

They didn't make a peep, and if these creatures were pack hunters like he suspected, then they would be making some kind of noise regardless of the prey and if it was aware of their presence. All he could do was watch and speculate on what this cat like creatures were gonna do. As he had finished that thought, he saw one of the critters move into the light for a few seconds then vanish back. But it was clear why they were not speaking.

They didn't have mouths, which meant they most likely didn't have vocal cords. So this meant they were telepathic, they were speaking to eachother on a connection he couldn't pick up and if they were telepaths then who knows what else they could do. He looked aorund more cautiously now, and reluctantly, he remembered what Instructor Andrews would say.
[I]
'Keep your foucs, find out your enemies strengths and then use it to your advantage. Be ready for anything.'[/I] Blaize shook his head and pulled his shotgun free, he gripped it in both hands and pumped it once. He then let it point down to the gronud while holding it in his right hand. He watch carfully, seeing if the creatures would attack and soon enough, they acted.

Suddenly, there were more shapes in the darkness, bipedal beings that stood on the edge of the light and darkness. Threating to break into his zone, he watched eachone carfully. Unable to see what could possible be in the darkness, right then, it passed into the light and stood in front of him. It was the one person he had hated since birth, his mother. She stood there, staring at him, her face guant and pale. Her body in a rather fit state but still looked as if it would fall apart at any moment. His mother began to speak to him.
[B]
"Oh look, its you. Blaize, the unwanted child."[/B] Blaize made his face hard, ready to lash out at her with any force.
[B]
"Hello mother, look as awful as you always did."

"Don't talk back to your mother like that."[/B] Another voice yelled out at him, another figuered stepped into the light. It was the second person he hated from birth, his father. He was dressed up in his business suit, straighting his tie and brushing himself off. His blad head gleaming lightly in the light, his pudgey face that was hard to forget, his sausgae fingers and his rather round body. Blaize growled.
[B]
"And look, its the fat man himself. I'm suprised you showed up at all."[/B] Blaizes father chuckled and moved a bit to Blaizes side. Blaize kept his eyes on hsi father and mother, they were both known to him as being able to hug you with one arm while pulling the kinfe with the other and stabbing you in the back. He did his best to keep his anger from getting him. His father spoke again.
[B]
"Of course we had to come, I had to watch you fail so I can use you as I had planned to so many years ago. And your mother here is just anxious to slit your throat while you sleep, that will be enjoyable for both of us."[/B] Blaize spit at his feet.
[B]
"Not likely, you and this harlot will never see me again. I'll make sure of it, after I pass this i'll be a Risk Breaker. I will be one of the elite twelve that can do anything, and beause of blue magic skills I can take any move and make it my own then use it at my will. You'll see fat man, and you'll wish that you had never bore a son like me!"

"I already regret having you for a son, you did nothing but cause problems for us and disrespected us at every turn. You were a lousy son and you will be a lousy Risk Breaker. Not even bunnies will run from you."

"Shut up! You know nothing! I've trained for years for this moment, i'm more powerful and accurate then I have ever been. And i'm not even in my prime yet, I have more to go but I will succeeded and you will know my name."

"Unlikely."[/B] He heard one more voice, this one was the dread of his existence. He turned around slowly, he saw Alex standing there. That fool grin on his face from those several nights ago, when he spared Blaizes life. Blaize was reaching his breaking point, Alex walked over to where his parents stood.
[B]
"What are you doing here? This is none of your business."

"Oh but it is. You owe me your life, so, it is always my business. And like they said, you will mount to nothing. You are nothing but a failer and a punk, doomed to walk on this planet with no purpose and no magic."[/B] Blaize roared with his anger unleashing and bring his shotgun up to eye level, pointing it at the group standing before him.
[I]
'Do it! Just one shot, and bam, they will all be gone for good.'[/I] The voice in his head screamed and urged, Blazie put his finger over the trigger and to progressivly pull it back. Until, something caught his eye. He noticed the cat like creatures had stopped circling and now were standing on their hind legs. They all were staring at him, their eyes having a weird glow to them. He could see what was happening, he lowered his shotgun and his head. Then started to laugh, it started out low and light.

But grew until he was laughing hysterically, almost like a mad man. Gradually his gaze came back to the three in front of him, his grin spread wide across his face and his attitude returning to the normal, cocky and sarcastic person he always was.
[B]
"I understand now. Those little ferret bastered have been messing with me, this is what they can do. Well two can play this game." [/B]Blaize pulled his holster off and then unbuttoned his shirt, he pulled it off and exposed the armband. He then stood stiil and began to foucs his attention soley on the creatures in the darkness. And suddenly, he felt the magic shoot through him. Passing across his brain and then passing into one of the magi crystals. His grin grew in size.
[B]
"Now, we'll see how you like seeing what you hate and fear rodents!"[/B] And with that said, his eyes took on the same glow. Flashing through the minds of the little ferrets and forcing them to fall over and cringe and curl up into little balls of fur. He couldn't hear anythign they thought, but he was sure they were screaming in agony. The images fade and all the creautres laid on the ground, except for one. That continued to stare at him.

This one didn't have to weird glow in its eyes, so Blaize approched it. He stood over it and looked down at it, curious on why it too wasn't on the ground in fear. He found that out real soon, the creature began to morph and shift and grow. Blaize took a few steps back, picking up his stuff and looing at the morphing being. He watched as it slowly came to a complete form. Blaize grinned and the man before him smiled and bowed his head.
[B]
"Instructor Andrew. How interesting it is to see you here amongst the rodents."[/B] He shook his head at Blaize.
[B]
"I can see you managed to take your shirt off again."

"Well you know me, always got to show off that rock hard body."[/B] Blaize said as he shrugged his shoulders. Instructor Andrew chuckled and patted Blaize on the shoulder.
[B]
"Well, I am proud to say that you have pass your trial. Congratulations."[/B] Blaize bowed his head and then stood back up, putting his shirt back on and his holster over his shoulder on to his back. Blaize grinned broadly, a door opened and Blaize exited. Proud of his acomplishment.[/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Riku]

[COLOR=DarkSlateBlue][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma][CENTER]Rinoa's Trial[/CENTER]

It was dark at first when Rinoa walked into the room.. she couldn't feel anything, see anything... the only thing that was in front of her was darkness. She tightly gripped her samurai sword, hoping that maybe she might get some sort of comfort from it. [B]"There's no need to be scared,"[/B] she thought quietly to herself, [B]"it's all just a test to see how strong we can overcome it."[/B] As she walked a little bit into the dark, a bright light suddenly flashed in front of her, causing Rinoa to shield her eyes from it....

And then suddenly, she was in the living room of a small quiet home. She quietly gasped and looked around at her surroundings... white and blue living room, stairs leading upstairs... it was her house... her house where she used to live with her parents. [B]"It.. it can't be,"[/B] she reassured herself. Then, without even thinking, she looked out the window and saw snow falling... it was the first time in years it had ever snowed where she lived.. it only snowed when that day happened. She recoiled back and gasped softly, dreading at what she knew was about to come.... the day of her parents death.

Loud footsteps were heard coming from upstairs and suddenly were heard stepping down the tall steps. Rinoa looked up, seeing her father marching towards her and smiling that same comforting smile he would always give her. He walked right up to her and layed his hands on her shoulders, smiling as if he didn't realize what was going on. [B]"Rinoa,"[/B] he cheered happily, [B]"it's that time of wisdom in your life... the time when you recieve the heirloom of the Ryuzaki family."[/B]

She looked up at him in awe, still happy that she could see him again. [B]"Father,"[/B] she looked up at him, tears starting to form in her eyes.

[B]"Oh my dear, don't cry,"[/B] he said, [B]"this is a joyus occasion for all of us."[/B] He then turned his body back to reveal her mother.... smiling warmly and holding a sword in her hands... Sakura Crimson, Rinoa's sword. Her father then grabbed it from her mother's soft hands, grasping the sword in front of him and getting ready to hand it to her. [B]"Rinoa... it is time. Here is the start of your own destiny... your own wisdom at hand."[/B]

Rinoa started to cry, remembering all too well what was going to happen next. [B]"Father, wait I....!"[/B] And then suddenly, the door burst open... daggers flying right through her mother's body... causing her to fall to the floor, dead and blood flowing into a puddle under her cold body. Rinoa gasped, a dread feeling swarming all over her body.

She tilted her head up to see a tall man with two others behind him... black masks hiding their faces. Rinoa watched in horror all over again as she saw her dad trying to resist them, drawing Sakura Crimson from it's sheath and killing one of the henchmen.... but then caught by surprise by the other man, holding him down and stabbing his throat with a long knife.

It had turned black and white all of a sudden, but only her parents blood was colored red and splattered all over the room.. and all over Rinoa. She slowly lifted her hands close to her face, shaking them and looking at the red blood all over her hands.... it wasn't her fault.. it wasn't! She was only thirteen then.... any normal child would be stunned and not do anything.... but, she could finally do something now.

The leader slowly turned towards her and walked slowly.... she rembered. After they had killed her parents, he would take her upstairs to her room and rape her... taking her innocence and childhood away from her young body. [B]"I won't," [/B] she first whispered then yelled louder, [B]"I won't act like the weak girl I once was!!"[/B] The man was walking closer.... and then Rinoa stood up, her cheeks wet but red with anger. She tightly gripped her right hand around her sword sheath and placed her left firm over the sword base... slowly pulling it out while her braclet dangled, the cross chiming with every move she made. She placed the sword in front of her body and pointed it at the man.... when suddenly the sword burst into flames of blue. It wasn't hot.. it was more comforting to her... she felt power coming from the flame.

The man stopped in his tracks, smirking under his mask. Rinoa saw his face for a moment.... pure anger sweeping over her shakey body. She tightly gripped the sword handle and started running towards the man, draggining the sword on the floor while it glittered and danced with blue flames. [B]"Tsubasa no Ryu!!!"[/B] she yelled at the top of her lungs, bringing up her flaming sword on the man that had taken everything from her... blaming her for the death of her parents. Rinoa was then suddenly behind him, still holding her sword up from the slash. She and the man stood there for awhile... and then the man split into two, slowly falling apart.

The bright light had come again.... bringing her back into the room which she had first stepped into. Rinoa was breathing hard, still amazed yet saddend by what she had to relieve over again. She slowly placed her sword... her family's sword... back into it's sheath and slumped to the ground, breathing hard and holding herself up with her sweaty palms. [B]"I...I..."[/B] she tried to speak, [B]"I finally.. avenged my parent's... my dishonour."[/B]

Suddenly, the door finally opened, Instructor Atsu slowly stepping in and walking towards Rinoa. He stood right in front of her and placed his gentle hand on her head. [B]"Mrs. Ryuzaki... congratulations,"[/B] he said softly, [B]"not only have you passed your trial... but also healed the deep gash in your tender heart."[/B]

Rinoa tilted her head up and thanked him with a small smile, Intstructor Atsu smiling back at her. She then looked at her sword in her sheath... it seemed to be surging with power, yet the bracelet that Havok had given her also seemed to give her more strength... allowing her to know that she wasn't alone in the fight. She looked back down at the floor and smiled... forgiving herself of her horrible past..

[B]"Thank you... mother... father...."[/B]

[CENTER]~*~[/CENTER]
OoC: GASP! The "R" word!! :O Lol. Yes, Rinoa was raped when she was still young... but she's never told anyone because she felt they would think wrongly of her. She'll probably tell you all soon enough, anyways... so meh. XD[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Doublehex]

[b][center][url=http://www.otakuboards.com/showpost.php?p=741603&postcount=11][-Alex-][/url][/center][/b]

[center]The Trial
---[/center]

?Are you ready, Alex?? the Seeker asked the young teenager as he stood before the open entranceway into the chamber. His left hand lied against the arch, shivering. As much as he wanted to go, to continue, to face the destiny that he had wished for as the past twelve years, he could not make his feet budge even an inch. He was too scared of the possibilities of failure?if he failed, Mox?s prophecy would have been true. His sorrow would consume him. The possibility of success seemed impossible.

After all of his failures, how could he, a nothing, succeed?

Why did his friends come to wish a nothing good luck? Why did Lazarus decide to watch him, even though one of the Seekers refused him? Why did Alex demand that the black mage be allowed to stay? Why not Ayame?

Why? Why was he even here? He had no one to fight for, or even a future to fight for. His father abandoned him, his mother is dead. His friends will probably die a horrendous death on the battlefield someday. Why continue? Why even bother?

Why was he still here?

?Go.? It was Lazarus, and the demand was all that Alex needed to continue. To be a slave?that was his purpose, it seemed. To follow commands without question; to complete one objective and to await another. That was his destiny.

So be it.

Alex stepped into the darkness. For a moment, there was nothing. It was as deep and as fearful as space. It was as if he could have had stayed their forever, and no one would find him. There would be no one to counsel him, to nurture him or even to mock him.

Suddenly, two glowing figures appeared. One let off an aura of a crimson red, the other a navy blue.

They looked just like him. They were his superego?and his id.

The id had fiery red hair, and was bleeding all over. His clothes were reduced to rags, and his eyes were as red as blood. The fact that even his eyes cried blood made him all the more monstrous.

The superego, on the other hand, had the appearance of Alex if he was a gentleman from Victorian times, with a polished coat, finely trimmed glasses, and a delicately trimmed goatee.

?Hello ego?, the superego said in a gracious manner.

?You?re late, you piece of shit!?

Alex just stammered. ?The hell?where am I??

?I is you?, the superego and the id stated at the same time.

?This is your psyche?, the superego explained.

?Yeah, here we mess with your mind.?

?Mess?my mind?? Alex didn?t understand any of it. He got no verbal response from either of them, only a snapping of their fingers. Suddenly, Alex stood in a hospital room, towering over the naked form of a woman Alex remembered all too well.

Carrot Burnheart.

?What is this..??

?You lust for her, do you not?? the superego verified. Alex only stammered.

?You wanna fuck her real bad, right??

?No...no!?

The superego just sighed. ?There is no point denying it, ego. You fantasized many times as you stared at the back of her red hair, of a perfect fantasy between the two of you. You truly want her. She is ripe for the plucking, as it were.?

?No??

The id grinned. ?Come on, fuck her! Touch her boobs; slip your fingers into her pussy! You know you want it.?

?NOOOOO!?

?Touch her. Take her. Unite her. She wants you. You want her. Take her. Take her. Take her.? Their demands continued for what seemed like hours, Alex?s eyes shaking incredibly as he screamed again and again. All that they said were true?but it had to be lies! It had to be! He wasn?t a pervert like this! He wasn?t some woman fucker who thought of them as just objects! He was different! He had to be! He was better than this!

Yet, why did he masturbate almost every other night? Why did he dream of intercourse with a lustful smile? Who was he?

?Get the hell out of my mind!!? he demanded. They smiled. Then, in an instant, they vanished. But not before giving out a warning: ?We?ll be back.?

Suddenly, he was on the open plains of the Proud Lands. He opened his eyes slowly, to make sure this was not another trick of his psyche. Seeing that it wasn?t ? the id and the superego were no where in sight, nor was the doppelganger of Carrot ? Alex slowly rose up, picking up his long sword.

He looked around his surroundings. Minus dessert trees that dotted the surrounding, and the random hill and oasis, there was no one beside him. At least, that?s how it was for a moment.

Then a lion spirit came to greet him. The wise creature entered Alex?s plain of vision in a proud manner, it not being in any hurry at all to start the conflict. They had all the time in the world. In its hand was a ceremonial spear, and besides a few ornaments, it was a naked blue beast.

?Greetings onto you, Alex Glesen.? Alex was hunched down, his breathing irregular. ?You did well in not allowing your lust for the red head to consume you. Let it be known now that the Lionhearts are pleased.?

Alex slowly faced the lion spirit. ?Who?are you??

It pounded its chest in a proud manner. ?They call me Marthrim.?

Alex nodded weakly. ?All right?Marthrim?what do we do now??

?First, we get you some water. There is none cleaner in the Proud Lands, I assure you.? Marthrim turned to a nearby oasis, which Alex was certain was no more than a two minute walk away. Marthrim motioned Alex to follow, and he did so.

When Alex finally drank some of the Oasis water, he felt like he was in heaven. Forgetting about the harsh heat, Alex wanted to stay in this Oasis forever. There was no pain here, no hate, no lust?just the water that seemed to complete his soul.

?It is interesting, how you humans think at times. You believe you want one thing, and yet in truth, you want another.? He turned towards Alex, tapping him lightly with the end of his spear. ?Risk Breaker, it is time to begin.?

?I?m no Risk Breaker yet.?

?Risk Breaker, it is time to begin. Grab your sword??

Understanding that Marthrim was a Lion Spirit of little patience, Alex did as he was told. ?Begin!? the Lion Spirit commanded, and Alex suddenly went flying a few feet back. Marthrim brought his spear to bear.

It had begun.

Marthrim charged towards Alex, expecting the teenager to not get his bearings quick enough to counter attack. Despite his wisdom, he thought wrong, and the two weapon masters? tools of battle came into contact with each other.

?Well done?, he congratulated. ?But do not slow when the enemy still breathes!? Marthrim pushed Alex back, and swiped at his feet. Alex barely dodged the attack, and before he knew it, he caught himself in a storm of spear swipes. The Lion Spirit?s attacks were too quick and many for Alex to go on the offensive. He was caught in a trap!

Alex decided to take a chance. It was all or nothing ? it was his one chance to win, his only chance to win. He waited until Marthrim prepared to swipe downward at him, then Alex charged inward. Even as he felt the pain in his back, he did not let go of his blade. With grim satisfaction, he felt the spill of Marthrim?s black blood. The noble beast pulled away before making his counter attack, knocking Alex to the ground.

Before he could get up, a spear was pointing at his stomach.

?I am sorry, Risk Breaker.?

?No??

?You gave it your all??

?No! It can?t be!?

?You fought like a true warrior??

?I won?t fall! I won?t be a nothing! I won?t! I won?t! I?d rather die here than accept defeat! I won?t let my life be wasted!?

Suddenly, Alex rose up, allowing the spear to go through his stomach. Blood flowed everywhere as Alex rose higher and higher, allowing his failing legs to get some support.

Blood dripped everywhere ? his arms, his legs, his face?he had the look of a demon about him.

Marthrim said nothing.

Alex pulled the spear out of his gut, allowing more and more blood to be spilled. He felt an unspeakable pain in his gut, but he didn?t care. He didn?t care if he was going to die here. He didn? care if he never even got a chance to become a risk breaker. He could care less if he didn?t see any of his friends again.

All he cared about was winning.