A weapon of hope. (Open)

[Kain Angelo]

Wild Unda, the 'City of the Saviors'.

Kain wasn't sure what he was expecting to see, perhaps he was hoping for a familiar sight that would bring back memories of some of the 'better' times in his childhood. What he got was something so foreign to his memories that he couldn't help but frown at it – the small, poverty stricken village he grew up in was gone, replaced by a city that stretched for miles.

It wasn't the place Kain grew up in for sure, he couldn't even find a landmark that might let him know where the small village originally stood. It was something Kain expected, to be truthful, but there was just a lingering hope that he was wrong...

“This was the place I was born...” Kain finally spoke, his eyes scanning the entire area. Up until the beginning of this war, this city was becoming the poster-child for President Benjamin's economic policy of development – Eastern Undian schools were built, along with massive trade ports to funnel raw resources from the most south islands and all the way up to La-Fe, and with a small Marine base to ensure safety this was becoming a incredibly powerful city.

Now of course, it was a different story, it seemed the rebels has managed to seize a great deal of the city and if there were any Marines left, they were trapped inside the base. Kain knew why he was here, he could still feel the presence of the object that he needed to locate. His fear was that Duo's forces were here for the same object.

Kain took another step towards the city...

[annabelle]

"Well isn't that lovely. I was born in Santo-Luce," the voice of what sounded like a sweet old lady reached Kain's ears, Annabelle having heard his open thoughts of him being born in this very city. She stood with staff in both hands, leaning on it as she looked around at the hell all of the citizens here must have been living in.

"You're a bit of an influential young man, aren't you?" she continued, noting that she'd witnessed earlier his calls to 'the saints' and approached a woman in tears. He at least had the gentleness of a real man, if nothing else.

[Kain Angelo]

Kain chuckled a bit as Annabelle spoke, 'influential' was a title he long lived with. The day he himself knew he had the power to make people follow him through words alone was during one of Duo and his own 'games',in which they both rounded up an army of children around their own ages and fought with them like chess pieces. The kids they used thought of it as just fun games, but the underlining goal of it was so that the brothers could test who was better in the art of war.

It wasn't until Kain began leading the Saints did he value his influence and care for those who followed it. "Indeed. It may have been a long time ago, but at one point I lead thousands of people into battle, it's a feeling that just doesn't go away. To hold so many lives in your hands..."

He paused momentarily before looking over Annabelle.
"I'm curious, what motivates you to fight such a war?" It was something Kain always asked the Saints at one point or another. Sure he could take her memories and individually root through them to try and piece together the reason why she wishes to fight, but besides how much effort that took it was always better hearing it from the person.

[annabelle]

"Power is a stupid thing that makes good men turn pure evil even without them realizing it. This is why one man shouldn't run an army alone, and more importantly why one man shouldn't lead an entire planet under his thumb alone," Annabelle shook her head as she answered, her reasons she gave for fighting this particular war being those of the obvious kind, her graveness turning into a more darkly amused chuckling then as she added in, "I'd rather we have several idiots with smaller jurisdictions each than one big one who could ruin us all with one decision! We have a better chance of survival this way!"

She cackled away, amused by her own humor as horrible as it was. She frowned at Kain then as she tugged at the hood of her cloak, pulling it down to reveal her more obvious of age and long, silver hair.

"I think the moment we are unable to serve our society is the time we should be put to rest. As you can see, I've simply condensed all of my speed, strength, and skin elasticity together into a nice, orderly package so nowadays my contribution to society revolves entirely around the arcane. Instead of being okay at all things I am now a paragon of one," and this she spoke of so matter-of-factly that if Kain even dared to try to say she was old, she was already prepared to beat his sorry ass in with her staff mercilessly. Because she wasn't old, she simply traded in all of her body's young qualities just so she could be the greatest mage ever.

For realz.

[Athereon Whispersilk]

"Spoken like a true partitioner of the arts, my dear. The mind transcends what the body can do, and with the arcane, the mind can be given form just as, if not more real, then the body itself," an aged and slightly raspy voice uttered from behind the pair. "But I digress, as you my young lad, you shine like a star in the night sky before my trained vision. Such magic that flows forth from you as you stand here before me can only mean that you are a being not entirely of our world."

Athereon's appearance was no strange coincidence, as his initial research attempts to commune with the water spirits within Wild Unda came to an abrupt halt upon the overwhelming sensations of magic that washed over the elder man. All to interested in it's point of origin, the Archmage sought out the flowing energy and came across Kain no sooner then the elder woman before him approached in kind.

"Oh, by the elements, where are my manners. I am Athereon Whispersilk, Master Evoker of the Seven-Fold University and every intrepid adventurer of Allorum. I have seen from the highest peaks of the glaciers of Ghaccio to the lowest chasms of Roccia; bore witness to the cerulean blues of Unda's waters, and the azure red of Ignis lava; ventured..." the man paused for a second with his hand raised dramatically in the air before turning his gaze back to those before him, briskly clearing his through as his raised hand lowered to stroke his silver beard. "Ummm, my apology, deer people. This old man tends to get himself carried away in the past. But lo, for it is the future that draws these old bones onward, ever searching for the answers to the worlds mysteries!"

With a gaze of determination, Athereon set his eyes directly upon the young man before him, his eyes maneuvering up and down, to and fro over Kain till resumed talking. "As such, I must ask, what brings you to not only our world, but Wild Unda, Sir Kain Angelo?" Athereon inquired with a rather sly grin towards the young man, more so confident and proud that his knowledge allowed him to identify the individual.

"And don't think the lad here has taken all my attention, milady," the elder Mage remarked, quickly diverting his attention to Annabelle with a hint of charisma behind his voice. "I'm simply a man who likes to deal with business before pleasure, and I certain hope for the pleasure of getting to know you, my dear," Atheroeon quipped as he delivered a dashing wink to the woman.

[A.B.A.]

For the short journey to Wild Unda A.B.A. had greatly enjoyed her time with Kain, though truth be told she had spoken little to him. She was content to hold to their old formalities, speaking when spoken to, and otherwise keeping a constant vigil over her leader. Not once had she reformed back to her true self, thinking it best to save as many secrets for when they mattered as possible. To Kain's comment she merely nodded, surveying the empty windows along the city streets in case watchmen had taken any posts in the abandoned buildings.

Yet company appeared to come not from the city, but the path behind them. A.B.A. glared out from the corner of her eye to see the elderly woman, followed only shortly behind by a man of similar age. A.B.A. stiffened up, taking her staff close to her in a defensive stance as she looked from Kain to the two strangers and back again.

Drawing herself near to Kain, her lips came mere inches to his ear so that she could speak to him privately. "We should be wary sir, I know little of either of these two and Duo could have ears everywhere by now."

Pulling back A.B.A. placed herself subtly in front of Kain, adopting an innocent visage to the two elders. "Pardon me, but I think it prudent that you not address my lord by name. We wish to keep a low profile, and in a war torn country it is best if as few people know of his presence here." She gave a small bow to them both, but never dropped her eyes to the ground, just in case.

[Kain Angelo]

Kain suddenly turned around as the man appeared, he needed to be wary of all in this area. Duo had spies everywhere, back when they were children Duo had apparently paid off the adults to give Kain false information... his tactics weren't too different now than they were.

Kain tilted his head to the side as the man appeared, he wasn't sure what to make of him at first... he seemed harmless by appearance but the magic this man was capable of using was a completely different story.

And than to further Kain's confusion, the man identified him by name!

Kain nodded towards ABA before looking back at the older man, their eyes meeting and suddenly Kain absorbed all memories. It took a bit of rooting through, but his story seemed to check out.

"He's fine, ABA," Kain began, "But please good sir, it'd be better that our enemies do not know who I am."

[annabelle]

Annabelle listened to Athereon's adventures with very much a "been there, done that" kind of smirk on her face. This very random, aged gentleman appeared to have a couple of things in common with her, and to that all she had to say was it was about damn time someone understood!

"Hoo hooo, he's a charmer, this one," Annabelle chuckled, giving him a respectful bow, "Annabelle Fraus, Twilight Mage of Crepusculum and...ginger spice tea is the key to find out more."

She shrugged at A.B.A., understanding her views on trying to maintain a low profile here.

"I never said anything but I'll work with the sweet young lady," she finally responded, offering A.B.A. a warm grin.

[A.B.A.]

Once more A.B.A. only nodded in response. She didn't like the idea of these two, or anyone for that matter knowing of their presence here, but who was she to question the eyes that Kain possessed? They had relied on them before for information, allies and more in their time as Saints, and never before had they betrayed them. Much as she detested the old couple, she knew enough to keep herself civil.

"My thanks. Now to the matter at hand." Her lyrical tone rang soft and sweet as she flashed a brief smile towards Annabelle before turning back to Kain. "What are we looking for sir? You can't possibly be looking for something from the last time you were here are you? It's scarcely even a 'Wild Unda' anymore."

[Kain Angelo]

"True words, ABA..." Kain nodded, scanning the city once more, "But the object I'm looking for is here. I can feel it."

He paused before speaking any further, a brief moment of doubt about their two guests led him to the pause. He pushed those thoughts aside and continued, "The only gift my father ever gave me, Mani Katti."

Kain's weapon, Mani Katti, was a remarkably powerful weapon, with that by his side he was unstoppable. Mani Katti had a mind of its own, it was SOMEWHERE here in the city waiting to be found and Kain was desperate to find it.

[Kyoki]

BARK. BARK. BARK. BARK.[/i]

The rabid barks of the wild dogs of Unda could be heard in the distance, followed by the screams and squeals of somebody being no doubt attacked by the vicious creatures not too far away. The barks seemed to turn into snarls and growls as the animals latched on to whatever poor victim it was that they had found. The screams and squalls of the object of their aggression seemed to get louder and more desperate as time went on, occasionally just falling silent for a moment, before starting up again.

[Kain Angelo]

Kain's first instinct was that it was Duo's men using dogs to chase down their enemies, so without a second thought Kain leaped into action. Running right towards the edge of the town, he got a perfect view of a man... being attacked by dogs... pretty small dogs too.

Kain couldn't help but just stare as the man struggled against the wild dogs. He sighed, raised his hand and let out one small lightning bolt that scared away the dogs. "Are you okay?" Kain questioned as he stepped closer to the pack of dogs.

[Kyoki]

As the dogs suddenly started fleeing, the man, wearing a large white robe with the hood up covering his head, suddenly got onto his knees and held a hand out towards the rabid beasts almost as if they were old friends who suddenly had somewhere else to be... Even though you couldn't see his face, the man seemed almost on the verge of tears.

"Wait! Come back! I THOUGHT WE WERE PLAYING! I STARTED BARKING, SO YOU WERE BARKING AND GROWLING, AND I WAS CRYING AND SCREAMING! YOU STARTED GROWLING MORE WHEN I DID THAT! COME BACK~!" He let out a sad sigh, before apparently realizing that there were people stood near him. He quickly stood up, brushed himself off and turned to face them, slipping his hands into the sleeves of his robes so that they were joined at the cuff. He gave an awkward cough and cleared his throat as a dull red light shone from behind the shadows of his hood.

"Kain Angelo. You have arrived, I see." The figure said in a slightly deeper voice, their entire persona apparently changing as their gaze shifted to the rest of the party. "With company, as well."

[Kain Angelo]

Kain cringed, he didn't believe it. Duo had somehow managed to trick him by having one of his soldiers act like a fool being eaten by dogs! Duo was going to some insane lengths to find him...

Sparks of lightning traced along Kain's fingers, "How do you know who I am...?" Kain growled, preparing to strike the man with all he had.

[Kyoki]

"I have studied you and your ilk for centuries. Admittedly, I never thought I'd see you in the flesh, given that I missed my chance to do so those long years ago where you alone were sealed away for a second time. Standing almost very much alone, your own friends took the most drastic measure to prevent the evil that gripped your heart and soul. And yet..." The figure was gone, disappeared without a trace. No tell-tale movements or shifts, they just flickered away.

"Here you are." The figure was sat in the midst of the group with his legs crossed and his hood now down, revealing the chipped and cracked mask of Solaris' servant Kyoki.

"I cannot help but be curious..." He continued, staring at the floor. "Does that same evil still hold on to you? Does it wrench at you and drag you through the mud of evil and darkness? Do you still feel the need to take vengeance upon the innocent descendants of those who did you harm? Will you dispel your brother only to take his place? Will you stand against those who stood beside you on that faithful night, but have now carved out names for themselves..?" The voice of Kyoki unwavered in the face of the awesome might of Kain, but instead, continued.

"Many Saints still live, Kain. Will you stand against Roxa? Alessia? Nia? Bartholomew? Your former family?"