RPG Citius Altius Fortius [M-LVS]

[Engel]

[color=darkslategray][size=1][center]35th of Estembre, 6:35 pm.[/center]

Kristos looked at her and sighed deeply, stroking his cheek thoughtfully as he played with the ruby on the fingerspike.

[b]"Liberated."[/b] He said, before going on to tell her about how his parents did so many things to him when he was young, and that he was a drug child, and often had trouble concentrating in class. However, his extreme intelligence allowed him to overcome it with hard work. Aizen bit her lip and sat back after a while.

[b]"I see..."[/b] She said softly, thinking about what he'd told her. He looked out at the shifting sky, casting a lance of ice from the fingerspike and watching it splash across the lake, before he traced a word in the lake with the laser thin ice. He smiled and pointed out on the lake for Aizen to look. The word was written neatly and with painstaking care.

[b]"Hyouri."[/b] Without another word, Kristos turned around and left her there, walking off and flicking his long black hair over his shoulder, adjusting his blue and white silken robe and tying Zenjiga to the sash. He passed by a room, hearing a glimpse of the conversation.

[b]"Hey, Kristos is ranked number 2? Hm, why is he always saying he's the number 1 ice student then?"

"Ha, the hell should I know. Probably because he's so full of himself. What's with that new look anyway? Does he think it's going to make him stronger or something?"[/b] They were interrupted as Kristos popped his head in the door and looked at them.

[b]"A few things. Don't leave your damn door open, and I'm the number one ice student because he doesn't go here anymore. And the new look? My hair was singed, my clothes ripped and torn. This is medically grown hair. Then again, you weren't the one with the smashed in face and broken nose, are you?"[/b] Kristos wheeled out of their room angrily, moving to sit down in lounge chair in the fire section. After defeating Leon in one on one combat, no Fire student dared to approach him to knock him off their grounds.[/color][/size]

[b]OOC:[/b] When Doublehex gets around to posting Kristos' character page on the CAF website, you can read about his past there. And I think DH will be shoving us forward a week. /NUDGE DH. =p

[Doublehex]

[color=royalblue][center]Friday; The 42nd of Estembre; 5:27 PM[/center] Alex pushed himself back on the chair so he could get a clean look at the afternoon sky. He didn?t realize how quickly the sky could turn from clear to gray during the fall. When he left the dorm, Alex was complaining to himself that the sun was too bright in his eyes. But now, he was contemplating to himself how he wished it would stay brighter for a few hours longer, so that he could actually enjoy it after he got out of his final class. Alex?s thoughts wandered to the past week. After his encounter with Monique, things seemed different between them. Before they were indifferent to each other; but now, there was some sort of friction between the two of them. It wasn?t that they necessarily hated each other; it was more along the lines of them just having trouble even looking each other. Alex sighed indifferently. Taking the benefits of a small yawn, he took a quick stare at a digital clock. It was time. Alex picked up his Longsword, and left the dorm room for the Oedipus Complex. Lazarus was waiting. [/color]

All right, a week has passed. What does this mean? Well obviously, things have happened in the last week, so you will have to refer to it either through dialogue or some other means.

Lazarus, you're up.

[Kitty]

[size=1][indent][center][b]42th of Estembre; 3:15 PM[/b][/center]

Monique and Syrus had spent the night together in his dorm room after their reconciliation, but the following week they saw very little of each other outside of class. Most of their free time was dedicated to studying and spending extra time with teachers, which was a first for Monique. When the two did see each other, there was plenty of giggling and flirting, mostly for the fun of seeing their friends' reactions.

But while she had finally obtained the boy she had been striving for for so long, she had lost another. After her falling out with Alex, the two averted eyes and tried their best to avoid the other. While Monique somewhat regretted what she had said, as she understood it was only her taking out her frustrations on him, she felt he had brought it on himself. She didn't feel the need to apologize, and was fine with the uncomfortable-ness between them for the time being.

When Monique heard the dismissal bell ring for the third class of the day, she slowly got up out of her seat and yawned as she walked out of Instructor Garle's classroom. She stretched her arms for a moment before realizing that she had her last private session with Instructor Algreis today. She jumped in the air before straightening out and gliding quickly down the corridor. Between extra sessions with Garle and Algreis and actually paying attention in her classes, Monique's abilities had improved immensely within the week. The spells she had already known advanced, and she learned quite a few new ones.

One of her favorites was the summoning of a [url=http://ic1.deviantart.com/fs11/i/2006/176/3/a/Meep__by_shiari.png]baby dragon[/url], whom she had dubbed Lumen for his pure white scales, and eyes that lit up when it was dark. Despite his tiny size, Lumen was very vicious when he got riled up, making it extremely amusing for Monique and very surprising to whoever she sicked him on.

[b]"Ah, there you are, Miss Tyriest!"[/b] she heard her professor call.

[b]"Hello,"[/b] she smiled, landing in front of him.

[b]"Ready to begin?"[/b]

[b]"Of [i]course[/i],"[/b] she giggled, bouncing impatiently on her heels.

[center]~
[b]5:33 PM[/b]
~[/center]

Monique rushed down the staircase in the library, eager to check out the book she had finally found after searching for the past few days. It was something she had been told about by Syrus as a great free reading book, and since she saw so little of him lately, she needed something to pass her time with. She was shushed by the librarian when she approached the desk, having been giggling when she handed the book over the counter. She rolled her eyes when the older woman wasn't looking, but showed a fake smile when the woman turned back around, to which she raised an eyebrow.

Leaving the library as quickly as she could, she wasn't paying attention to her feet and fell clumsily onto the ground of the hallway outside. Her crumpled heap wasn't noticed by a passing student, who consequently tripped over her and landed beside her awkwardly.

[b]"Sorry! Sorry!"[/b] she cried apologetically, helping the other student off the floor after standing up herself. When the girl was on her feet, Monique realized who it was. [b]"Oh, hey Clyne,"[/b] she smiled.[/indent]

---
[b]ooc ::[/b] Momo's a serious fighter now, what with all those private sessions. ;D Names and details of her new spells will be posted in the underground soon. And I left this off as an introduction for Sakura to post (as she hasn't in a while, and I don't want CAF losing more players).[/size]

[Lazarus]

[center]Friday; The 42nd of Estembre; 6:49 PM[/center]

It had taken Alex a little over an hour to navigate the complex. And standing at the center of the arena was Lazarus, shuffling a deck of cards.

As Alex stepped into the arena, Lazarus pulled a card from the deck, twilrling it in his fingers to show the Seal of Heaven.

"Heaven is something that a man only reaches when he dies without regret for anything in his life. Would you agree Alex?"

Alex fingered his sword, eying the card warily. He'd seen Lazarus wield those innocuous looking objects with deadly finesse and incredible skill. Then again, Alex himself was a trained warrior of the academy. He was confident he could defend himself.

Lazarus smiled. "Today, we'll have a chance to reach for Heaven."

The card that had been between Lazarus's fingers sunk easily into the stone of the roof, quivering there, and large, solid columns of the floor followed it, turning the expanse between the two combatants into a many-tiered mountain of stonework.

Lazarus's voice echoed out around the room. "First person to reach the card and retrieve it is the winner." A snap of the fingers followed, and the stonework blazed with magical energy.

"Each platform will subject you and I to a variance of environmental effects. A change in temperature, pressure, gravity, the amount or composition of the air, or one of many varied monsters may be conjured for either of us. The conditions will change and are completly random, so sometimes pressing onward might be wiser than falling back." Lazarus announced. "Ready, Alex?"

Alex's affirmative was a soft scrape of the point of his blade against the floor.

"One more thing." Lazarus mentioned, causing Alex to draw up short in his rush to the first of the shifting and grinding pillars of stone, the muscles in his legs uncoiling for the spring that would have brought him to the flat surface of that stone as it shifted upwards. Alex watched it slide out of his leaping range balefully.

"If we should encounter one another, I'd expect no quarter from you, Alex. Until one of us has that card, we are bitter enemies." Lazarus announced.

"Now. Begin."

And with that proclamation, both boys sprang towards the tower of shifting stones, and the ultimate goal for this exercise.

Alex alighted upon the first stone, and felt the air in his lungs thicken into something like jelly. He tried to hack it up in alarm, but realized his body was suffering no symptoms of oxygen depravation. Whatever strange mechanics ruled this square of the challenge, they weren't directly harmful, just oppressive, an impediment. His eyes looked upwards, plotting his next jump. His entire body felt heavy, another effect of this particular square. His leap was powerful, but with the added gravity, he barely cleared the lip of the next ledge.

At once, a blistering heat assailed him, sapping the moisture from his skin in a heartbeat. He frantically looked about for another square, knowing this one would quickly leech all the water from his body in mere moments. He considered hopping back down to his previous square, but discarded the idea. The squares changed, and while he'd be risking a new environment, he'd also be foregoing any forward progress he'd made.

Mind made up, Alex timed his jump to the next pillar, one that was rising rapidly. His leap brought him to within a few feet of the ledge, and sinking his sword into the stone, he hauled himself up, swiftly dislodging his blade in the process. He turned to find himself confronted with a hulking monstrosity of a creature, a dusky green colored thing whose skin peeled off in flaky layers, like an onion.

Alex sucked in a breath and raised his sword. A Troll.

[Doublehex]

[color=royalblue][center]Friday, The 42nd of Estembre; 6:32 PM[/center] One?s opinion on Trolls would have to depend on one?s history of them. If you were raised with a more fantastic background, you would consider Troll?s dumb, vulgar, and perhaps worst of all, ugly. However, on the retrospect, if you were introduced to Trolls via a scientific and realistic background, you would know that Trolls not only had a longer history than man, but they also controlled the largest empire in the world at one point. The fact that they can think up to six times the number of thoughts than a regular human probably contributed to this. To humans, their dialect was inferior and stupid; in truth, it was all the information their brains could relay to their tongue without imploding causing internal injuries. A Troll was a very good opponent. This particular Troll was wielding a large, metal mallet. It was a very cumbersome weapon, one that required a good deal of effort to use efficiently. But if it hit, you were dead. Alex gripped his Longsword, and charged towards the Troll. The Troll analyzed Alex?s attack patterns, and expected him to head straight towards him. The Troll was mistaken. The Troll swing the mallet downwards, creating a gigantic shockwave that would of have had sent Alex flying off of the platform if he had not jumped over it and onto the very mallet. He dashed halfway through the handle, and at the very moment the Troll swing the hammer to shake Alex off, he jumped. He twisted his body, flipping his blade into a stabbing position. He plunged the sword into the Troll?s shoulder. As one would expect, the Troll hollered a cry of pain. Alex swing onto the shoulder, ripped the Longsword out, slashed the Troll?s neck with it, and leaped for the next platform, all in a single moment. Suddenly, Alex felt gravity quadruple. His blade fell to the floor, and soon, Alex fell along with it. He couldn?t move; he didn?t even know if he could blink! Things were not looking good, especially considering he saw Lazarus on a platform above him, staring downward. [/color]

[Tekkaman]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=1][color=darkred]OOC: Sorry about the wait - i've been very active in Mafia[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]Friday, The 42nd of Estembre; 7:27 PM[/color][/size][/font][/center]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom practiced in the newly rebuilt training arena, complete with twenty (20) taser turrets mounted on the walls. The turrets were controlled via panel embedded in the center of the floor. To activate the training turrets, all you needed to do was step on the panel a certain number of times - the number of times you stepped on the panel was equal to the level of difficulty with the turrets (10 was the highest). Strom had pressed down on the panel 6 times and was 15 minutes into a well deserved practice with the new machinery.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][color=gray][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]"Time for some music..."[/color] Strom thought, dodging shots of electricity from the turrets - each blast capable of stunning a student for a few seconds. He turned on his CD player and placed the headphones inside his ears while dodging the blasts with twists and fancy backflips.[/size][/font][/color][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=navy]'I was moving at the speed of sound,'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom pulled out his Kyndras and began to block turret attacks with the blades.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=navy]'Head spinning, couldn't find my way around and,'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom had avoided three (3) turret blasts with a giant backflip, his feet planted on the panel controlling the turrets. The panel read Level 7.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][color=gray][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]"Uh oh."[/color] Strom said.[/size][/font][/color][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=navy]'Didn't know that I was going down,'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom blocked a massive blast from a turret with his Kyndras fashioned in an 'X' position.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=navy]'Yeah, yeah'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom was hit in the back with a blast of electricity; all of a sudden Strom couldn't move; he saw the other turrets targeting him in suit.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=navy]'Where I've been, well it's all a blur,'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom was hit in the shoulder with another blast; as Strom fell, he landed on the panel again - this time, it read Level 8. Strom picked himself up and strained his body do evade the electric shocks.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=navy]'What I was lookin' for i'm not sure,'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom felt as if he was doing too much at once; he began sweating the faster he moved. He placed his goggles on while not trying to get electrocuted.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=navy]'Too late, didn't see it comin', yeah, yeah...'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom, while executing a roll, was feeling his right ring - his Blue Magi ring - burn hot again. As he looked, however, he was bombarded with blasts from turrets; he writhed in pain.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Fire was beginning to show on Strom's body.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=navy]'And then I crashed into you, and I went up in flames. Could've been the death of me, but then you breathed your breath on me...'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom ocean blue eyes turned red as the earth heated around him. Strom was engulfed in flames due to the stress of the training and the pain of the turret blasts. The electric blasts that shot towards Strom bounced off the flames, darting across the training room.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom, still engulfed in flames, looked at his CD player.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]It had completely melted due to the flames, though, his clothes and goggles were unharmed. The flames burning around Strom vanished.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][color=gray][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]"Damn. That's the secon' CD player this week. Ima have to talk with someone 'bout controlling these powers I aquired from Leon during that firestorm he manifested."[/color] He said quietly to himself.[/size][/font][/color][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom quickly turned off the panel controlling the turrets and decided to walk the halls.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[right][font=Palatino Linotype][size=1][color=darkred]Lyrics from the song 'Crashed' on the CD 'Daughtry'[/color][/size][/font][/right]

[TheResplendent]

[FONT=Tahoma][color=darkred][center]Friday, 42nd of Estembre 6:51 PM

* * * * *[/center]


[b]"Well Mr. Cainun in one weeks time you've made incredible progress. I'm very impressed with what you've accomplished. But you should still be careful when using this technique.[/b] Instructor Piro warned, escoring Syrus out of the Elemental Training Facility.

[b]"Don't worry about me Instructor. I have full control over it, just like all my other spells. What's important is that the next time Leon wants to flaunt off his strength...Syrus Cainun will show him what real strength is!"[/b] Syrus said with his fists balled up in anticipation. He turned his head slightly toward the hallway, a burn mark the shape of a think scratch evident on his right cheek. Instructor Piro took notice to it one last time before seeing Syrus off.

[b]"Eventhough that wound is almost healed completely, I still think you should see the nurse for some ointment. It may be another week or so before it completely dissapears."[/b]

Syrus lifted his hand up to it and just kept it there, staring into the air as if lost in a day dream.

[b]"I'll be fine...it dosn't even hurt anymore. Besides...I won't let it happen again. It's like I said, I'm in full control."[/b] Syrus said, waving back to Instructor Piro as he started walking toward the cafeteria to get some food. The designated time students were to eat dinner during was around now. Syrus wondered if he'd see Monique or Clyne there, it's been days since he last saw either of them.

He quickened his pace as he began to smell the food coming straight from the ovens.

[b][i]'Oh yes yes yes, I can't wait to dig in, i'm starving!'[/b][/i] he thought to himself as he turned the corner leading to the double doors of the cafeteria. Through the double doors though came another student running toward him.

[b]"Aizen? Heya."[/b] Syrus said, stopping Aizen in her tracks.

[b]"Syrus! Hi! How are yo...OH MY GOD! What in the world happened to your face!?"[/b] Aizen screeched, noticing the burn mark. Syrus looked a bit surprised at first but then remembered what had happened.

[b]"Oh, this? Ha, I've been forgetting that's even there. It's nothing...something that happened while I was training with Instructor Piro."[/b] he answered in a casual tone.

[b]"Syrus, is there anything I can do? Has it been quelled yet? I can help if you need, does it hurt?"[/b]

[b]"No no! It's ok, really! It dosn't hurt, and it's been pretty much healed all it can be using magic."[/b]

[b]"Oh, well then atleast let me get you some ointment! You should put some on that until it dissapears."[/b] Aizen persisted.

Syrus wanted to say no but he didn't want to sound rude or ungreatful. Unable to say either yes or no, Syrus just nodded.

[b]"I...uh, thanks. But, aren't you in the middle of something?"[/b] Syrus asked.

[b]"Oh, no it's ok! I just finished eating. I'll bring it back to the cafeteria since you'll be eating, right?"[/b] she asked, already taking a few steps toward her dorm.

Syrus nodded and watched her run off. He sighed to himself, wondering for a few seconds why she's so nice to him. He walked into the cafeteria and got in line right away, as the growling of his stomach guided him. While in line, his thoughts couldn't help but run across another name.

[b][i]'Hmph, I wonder what Strom has been doing this whole time...'[/b][/i][/color][/FONT]

[Tekkaman]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]Friday, 42nd of Estembre 8:00 PM[/color][/size][/font][/center]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][i][color=red]'Hmph, I wonder what Strom has been doing this whole time...'[/color][/i] Syrus Cainun wondered. [/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]As if on cue, Strom Vanguard strolled into the cafeteria grabbing a couple packs of Ramen Noodles along with some bottled water. Syrus noticed that his clothes looked a little singed and, despite his coolness, that he was bothered.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=red][i]'Wonder what the deal with him is? Oh well, at least he's alive.'[/i][/color][/size][/font][/left]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]--------------------------------------------------[/color][/size][/font][/center]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]After Strom walked back out of the cafeteria, he broke into a run back towards the training center. As he entered, he was greeted by none other than Ms. Sigreis herself.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][color=darkred]"Hello Mr. Vanguard,"[/color] The Water Instructor said; she talked while keeping a dartful eye. [color=darkred]"I was wondering why you never visited me?"[/color][/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom was stuck; he wanted to tell her the truth but there were so many 'truths' that he could use. He finaly decided on the real truth.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][color=darkred]"Because... I don't wanna get you in trouble."[/color] Strom said looking her in the eyes.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][color=darkred]"...How will personally teaching you a new Water Magi get me in trouble?"[/color] Ms. Sigreis asked.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]"I - well... I thought th- that...you liked me or someth-"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][color=darkred]"Ah."[/color] Ms. Sigreis said, a smile on her lips. [color=darkred]"I understand. You think that because I gave you my dorm number after I saw your sketchbook[b][color=navy]*[/color][/b]... that I [u]liked[/u] you?"[/color] The Water Instructor giggled to herself. Strom didn't like the way that she had said 'liked'.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][color=darkred]"No dear..."[/color] She continued, [color=darkred]"The reason why I hurried you out was because I didn't want [u]you[/u] to get in trouble."[/color][/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]"Me?"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]"Oh yes, dear. You see, you are my strongest student in Water Magi next to Ayame[b][color=navy]**[/color][/b] and I don't need you getting expelled for a little crush you have on me. Futhermore, I wanted to teach you an ability personally that could help you in the long run. Ayame has already visited me and now she has learned to control a Leviathan upon her summon."[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom was in awe at the information. Leviathan's were very hard to control - summoned or not.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]"So, Mr. Vanguard, I do hope you'll come to my room in your own time. Do you remember my dorm number?"[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom didn't dare say it aloud; he nodded in agreement.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][color=darkred]"Good. Have a nice evening then."[/color] She finished, walking out of the Training Center. Strom, for a moment, had totally forgotten that he had Ramen Noodle cups in his arms.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][color=darkred]"...Great."[/color] Strom said to himself, looking at his Instructor leave. [color=darkred]" I kno' now that my chances with her are a big fat zero."[/color][/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom put down the Ramen Noodles, walked towards the turret panel in the middle of the training room and stepped on it seven (7) times. He then focused as hard as he could on what happened during his last training meeting.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Pain...[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strife...[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Stress...[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]Strom opened his eyes to see everything with a crimson shade. Surprised, he looked at his hand -[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray]It was engulfed in flames, along with the rest of his body.[/color][/size][/font][/left]

[left][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=gray][color=darkred]"Well now,"[/color] Strom said with a smile. [color=darkred]"At least I got the 'transforming into a human fireball' thing down."[/color][/color][/size][/font][/left]

[center][font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][color=darkred]-------------------------------------------------[/color][/size][/font][/center]

[left][font=Century Gothic][size=2][color=#4b0082][font=Palatino Linotype][color=gray][b][color=navy]*[/color][/b] Post #45 - When Strom's sketchbook was taken.[/color][/font][/left]
[font=Palatino Linotype][size=2][/size][/font]
[left][font=Century Gothic][size=2][color=#4b0082][font=Century Gothic][size=2][color=#4b0082][font=Century Gothic][size=2][color=#4b0082][font=Century Gothic][size=2][color=#4b0082][font=Palatino Linotype][color=gray][b][color=navy]** [/color][/b]Ayame ([color=darkred]Kitty[/color]'s character) is from the original CAF; she was also a top-ranked Water student.[/color][/font][/left]
[/color][/size][/font][/color][/size][/font][/color][/size][/font][/color][/size][/font][/color][/size][/font]

[Lionheart]

[SIZE=1][CENTER][B] Friday, 42nd of Estembre 8:30 PM[/B][/CENTER]

Blood poured onto the ground as Leon fell to his side. His gaze was fading as he tried his best not to fall into the darkness. The blood was pouring fast as he was running out of time to safe himself. He slowly ran his fingers over the gash and focused carefully. Slowly, but surely, the gash regenerated back to normal. He flipped to his back and watched the starless sky.

[B]"...I need to slow down alittle..."[/B] He whispered to himself as it seemed he didn't have enough energy left to get up.

Leon had been beaten not only once, but twice. He thought he could take on all three of the best students at the school. It seemed to backfire as he lost because of his obession to win and destroy his nightmares once and for all. Then, he thought he could show Kristos he was full of steam and beat him down. But it seemed not even the Fire God level 6 could break the strong walls of Ice. From that night after losing to Kristos, he made a oath He was going to get stronger.

He'd been pushing himself to his limit and beyond for the past week. Nothing but training. He would skip lunch and dinner one day to train non-stop. Instructor Piro wanted himt to stop, but knew he couldn't hold Leon forever. He spaced himself from the school life and devoted himself to reaching new heights. The only instructor that would help him would be instructor Shavers. Leon asked Shavers to show him a new style of combat that was very advanced. He told Leon that no one knew about this style and didn't know how to counter it either. He also said it would take several months just to get step one done, Leon almost knows the style by heart.

Leon, though has acouple of new spells that are sup-par to a low Fire God techinque. The first one was a spell that fitted right into the new style he had learn throughout the week and it just seemed to click to him. It was a mederate technique, but was only to get the oppenent off-guard. The next was a very strong one also, and Leon had been thinking about it for awhile. It was a form of Fire God spell, but involved Leon. It came up to Leon when he battled Kristos and saw his icy wings.

[B]"..I'm not going to be weak anymore..." [/B] He whispered as he closed his eyes, but quickly opened them to see his father's face.

He got up after a small rest and headed to the school. Over the course of the week, his and kristos relationship has been as they 'good', but Leon doesn't want to get involved with a new foe. As it far is it comes, Kristos is the one one to beat. Then again, Leon had been keeping up with Syrus and Strom and their progress. As it was seemed, Kristos wasn't a wanted man anymore. Leon was the target to beat after the battle in the arena. It was going to get interesting...Really insteresting.[/SIZE]

[Riku]

[COLOR=DarkGreen][SIZE=1][FONT=Tahoma][CENTER][B]Friday, 42nd of Estembre 6:53 PM[/B][/CENTER]

Aizen hurried towards her dorm room getting some salve for Syrus' burn, still pondering about how he got such a wound. As she walked, she noticed some students waving at her, causing her to stop and smile, waving back. Since the past week, Aizen started talking to people more and stopped being shy. She realized that she needed to be stronger in order to be a good Risk Breaker and that being nice to people wasn't actually so hard as she thought it would be. She wanted to make a change... making this school year an actual success.

[B]"Well, Rease,"[/B] she thought to herself, finally in her room and searching for the medicine, [B]"I guess things will be alright from now on... even though you're not here with me..."[/B] As she finally found the bottle, she closed her eyes and hugged it close to her chest, old feelings coming back through her memory once more.

She sighed and made a small smile, standing up and walking out the door towards the Cafeteria to see Syrus.

[CENTER]~*~

[B]8:35 PM[/B][/CENTER]

After giving Syrus the salve, she waited and talked with him as he ate, having many conversations about different things. After an hour or so, Clyne and Momo came in, sitting down along with the two and engaging in the talk. Aizen then left, waving to her friends and telling them that she had to do some other things.

Aizen walked down the lighted hallway, making her way towards Instructor Kaya's room to ask her if she could help control her wind magi so that she could combine it with her Javilin.

As she continued to walk, she thought about how Kristos was doing since she last saw him a few hours ago. They were in Dance Class, improving on their steps and talking to each other. He had helped Aizen on her dancing, causing her to excel in the class and making improvements.

[B]"I wonder what he's doing now,"[/B] she sighed, putting her hands behind her back. Suddenly, she bumped into another student, causing her to bounce back a little. She cursed her ignorance lightly and bowed low to the other student. [B]"I.. I'm sorry for bumping into y..."[/B]

Looking up, she saw that the student she had just bumped into was Leon, looking down at her with a sort of restless stare. The last time she had seen him was when he was putting her life in danger, not thinking of anything but fighting with Kristos. She was a little scard of him, wondering if he was going to use her again anytime soon.

Gulping a little, but realizing that she should stay strong, she stood up straight and looked him in the eye. She took a deep breath and steadied herself, not wanting him to notice how scared she actually was.

[B]"Leon,"[/B] she replied in a husky voice, [B]"I... I didn't mean to bump into you..."[/B]

[CENTER]~*~[/CENTER]
OOC: Yeah, Aizen's a little scared of Leon because he almost killed her in the last fight because of his selfishness... hope that's okay, Lionheart. :D

And BK, what the hell you talkin 'bout? Aizen's always nice to you every single day, dur. XD

Oh yeah, and the reason why she's hugging the ointment bottle is because awhile ago, Rease and her made the medicine together so that they could help others. Isn't that sweet?[/FONT][/SIZE][/COLOR]

[Lazarus]

Lazarus stood watching Alex struggle against the increased gravity. It really wasn't fair that the boy had gotten that effect when he was so dramatically unprepared for it. Had he landed appropriatley, he could have easily locked his joints and continued onwards off the tile, albeit slowly. But he'd been caught flat-footed, and was rendered helpless.

Lazarus contemplated helping, but wasn't without his own distractions. The floor surface of his own tile was slick and slipperly, reducing friction to nearly nothing. One false move would send him sliding right off the edge. And the bandit behind him didn't seem to be bothered with that in the slightest as he cocked back his arm and swung a shamshir at Lazarus, cutting sideways and down low,knowing such a strike would force the mage to dodge and fall, or take the blow.

Lazarus didn't leap upwards so much as smply tuck his legs up tight underneath him, giving the blade ample room to sweep underneath him. As it passed harmlessly, it was met by a pair of booted feet that forced it downwards, and made the wielder let go of the blade. It clattered to the floor, sliding slowly towards the edge.

The stomp threw the bandit off-balance, and Lazarus snapped a foot out, slamming the ball of his booted foot into the bandit's jutting chin, driving his head back and transferring a few metric tons of force into his neck. At the same time, the mage's free right hand glowed with a deep red light, and the bandit's right arm split in several places, bled profusely, then shriveled up, the spell drawing the blood in his extremity out of his flesh through ghastly wounds.

The bandit staggered back, his adam's apple straining and writhing like a creature alive as the muscles in his neck fought to absorb the force of the snapkick.

A vertebrae cracked under the stress...

A second followed.

The first was pulverized, pinching down on the delecate blood vessels and nerves in the spinal column.

The bandit's body slid lifelessly off the back edge of the tile, and the sword toppled soundlessly off the edge to the left. Lazarus was out of time, and he allowed his heels to touch down, and the lack of friction carried him over the side of the tile. Immediatley, the increased gravity of the adjacent tile pulled him downwards like a stone.

It also pulled the card from between the fingers of his left hand. Lazarus would have hit the tile before the card did, certainly breaking his legs, but he'd given the card a little boost, a slight flick of the wrist. The increased gravity drove the card into the stone tile, causing it to quiver madly for a moment.

Centimeters from Alex's nose. Alex crossed his eyes to make out the card, and felt the gravity around him lighten. Lazarus landed, bending down into a deep crouch to help absorb the force of the landing, then rose and turned to Alex.

"Better move, Alex. It'll change anytime now." Was all Lazarus said before springing down towards another tile, one set down low among others.

Alex scrambled up, retrieving his sword, and leapt for the tile Lazarus had vacated, using the greased surface to slide quickly across, and the momentum to propel him cleanly over the surface of two tiles before landing on a lower third one.

Still, the image that was on that card flashed through Alex's mind. Sloth, in Negativa, with the Fool in relief.

Lazarus landed on the tile next to his, breaking his concentration abrubtly. Lazarus fell into a ready stance, fanning a deck of cards easily in his right hand.

"Something comes." Lazarus warned. Alex had sensed the disturbance as well, and both boys stood at the far edge of their tiles, facing one another with their weapons drawn.

An indistinct shape blurred into being, solidifying into two seperate forms, one on Lazarus's tile, another on Alex's.

More disturbing was their make-up. A featureless black rubbery looking substance compromised their bodies. Doppelgangers.

The one facing Lazarus rippled and flowed, becoming an obsidian replica of Alex. It's featureless eyes twinkled with mirth as it hefted it's new weapon and advanced.

Alex found himself facing a similar copy, this one of Lazarus. It's eyes promised death, and it fanned a deck of black cards while taking a menacing step forward.

They were in trouble.

[Doublehex]

[color=royalblue]Alex licked his lips nervously as he allowed his right hand to slide along the flat side of the Longsword, his blue eyes staring into the brown orbs of the Lazarus clone. The doppelganger had the appearance of Lazarus, but it still lacked the dark persona of the black mage. Its eyes did not glow with the aura of command that the true Lazarus had. This was [i]not[/i] Lazarus. It had the looks, it may even have the same voice, but it was not Lazarus. As long as Alex knew that, he could beat the thing. The doppelganger brought to its hand seven black cards, the black side covering its true intent. Showing no change in emotion (not to say the mutant had any to begin with), it tossed the six cards upwards. The gambling cards radiated with red chaotic energy as they began to circle the imposter. In a single moment, the cards stopped, and showed their insignia to Alex. Alex did not know what the symbols by themselves represented, but he knew what was happening as a dozen or so roots sprouted from the platform, and wrapped around him. In mere moments, he was unable to move even a muscle. Two of the cards returned to the deck. Five cards began to shine greater than the others, and in a few moments, Alex saw the reason as to why. A blade materialized in the middle of the incomplete circle of hovering cards. The remaining cards returned to their deck. The sword slowly came into the doppelganger?s grip. The imposter looked at it as if it had something to say, and nodded in agreement as if the blade truly did say something. It stared at Alex with eyes showing the lust of murder. It grinned as if it had already won. In a way, it was right. Alex was already hard at work, trying to break free, when the mutation charged at him. He broke his arm free of the roots at the very moment the blade plunged into it. Alex winced at pain. The doppelganger saw its chance, and it tore the blade from Alex?s arm. It swung upwards, certain that victory was in its grasp. Alex grinned in victory. Alex tore his left arm, his sword arm, free from the roots, and swung it in an irregular fashion into the stomach of the doppelganger. It had fallen into the trap. Alex would take an arm over a stomach any day; the stomach was home to hundreds of acids that decomposed food. When the acid was released, it burnt the body from the inside. Already the doppelganger was falling to its knees, the inhuman eyes showing immeasurable pain. Alex charged. He won. [/color]

[Lazarus]

Lazarus tossed his deck of cards up into the air. They scattered into the gloom of the room.

Lazarus smirked at the Alex double. The real Alex had issues, things that Lazarus would've hesitated to attack during any actual conflict, but this pale immitation had no such issues. Most importantly, it was [i]not[/i] his friend.

Lazarus smirked, hands disappearing into his pockets.

"No hands." Lazarus mentioned off-handedly, chuckling mentally at his own joke.

The doppleganger smirked, mimiced blade raised and ready, and rushed in, ducking low and slicing high, rising into the attack and dragging his blade across Lazarus's chest. The mage calmly stepped back, spinning to his right and kicking the sword out of the way with his boot smashing against it's flat. His spin completed, Lazarus brought his forehead down hard into the doppelganger's face, the thing's nose making a delightful crunching sound as it staggered back.

"First blood, trash." Lazarus snarled as the doppelganger clutched it's nose with it's free hand. It's sword was in it's other hand, and it changed it's grip, rushing in again with a backhanded slice.

Lazarus danced backwards nimbly, catching the foot that followed the feint with his knee, then firing off his own kick, the block having chambered his foot already. His boot smashed into the nose of the copy, pulverizing the already cracked cartilage and bone. The attacking foot stamped down, and the opposite knee rose, blasting the air from the lungs of the copy as it slammed into it's solar plexus.

The Alex copy knelt, struggling to keep from retching up it's stomach contents and hold his entire breastbone in place.

Lazarus stood over the copy, smirking grimly. "You lose."

The doppelganger's world went dark, and Lazarus calmly scuffed the brain matter off of his boot after extracting the shoe from the shattered remains of the copy's skull.

A twitch of his fingers had his scattered cards assembling themselves in front of him, and he pocketed them once more. He looked to Alex.

"Shall we continue?"