Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jun 26, 2019 21:01:29 GMT -8
As the seconds passed in Mariah's hesitation, Gavin never once moved from his spot, his smile not fading, even for a moment. Whether it came from her thoughts or just the state her body was in, he couldn't tell. But until she was on her feet again, he'd continue to offer his aid. After fixing her weapons back upon her person, she finally took hold of his hand as he helped her up, trying to do most of the lifting to ease the strain on her body.
When she stumbled a bit, his hands rose to her shoulders to catch and stabilize her. As he did, she bumped him, which reminded him of his own injuries as the pain coursed through his body. He might have seemed fine compared to her, but it was an act. With the fight over and his body starting to relax, each wound cut through his comfort, his muscles screaming in agony at each movement. Still, he forced himself to ignore it for now.
Once she had gotten her balance, she pulled away slightly and worked her way across the battlefield towards the final weapon that had fallen to the ground. He only watched as she limped over to it, not speaking a single word. His eyes remained fixed upon her for a long while before he looked upwards, the clouds clearing to reveal the twilght sky upon them. He gave a sigh then as he moved over to his own things. Reaching down, he grabbed his shirt before looking back to her, the silence starting to get to him. Taking a breath, he finally broke the quiet between them. "Your skills are really impressive, Mariah. I don't remember the last time I was ever pushed this far. It really could have been anyone's fight. So thank you for this opportunity."
As he spoke, he slipped his shirt on, his back to her a bit, the sweat glistening of the patch of scales that resided there, the one place that didn't take any serious damage.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 28, 2019 15:12:59 GMT -8
Mariah stumbled. Gavin steadied her. Her desired reaction was something she was far too exhausted to execute, but the hollow feeling in her chest and the weight in her stomach didn't exactly go away despite it. Nonetheless, she continued onward, pulling herself away weakly instead of whipping herself violently out of his care. With her eyes trained upon her saber, she made the few-feet journey that felt more like a mile-long trek. As much as she wished she had the strength to pull it to her with the Force, she knew she had none. With no other option left for her, Mariah knelt down to pick it up, only to find herself steadying herself with her right palm flat against the earth. Her head felt light, her crimson hair turning black within her vision, but with a determined, frustrated growl, the woman pushed herself back to her feet and steadied herself. However, she couldn't hide the labored breaths she took, doing all she could to just keep herself conscious.
And then came those words that she herself avoided. She had half a mind to completely ignore him as the weight of her loss continued to prey upon her mind. Those burning questions. That analytical mindset of what she should have done to see victory -- and there was plenty she believed she could have done. But then came those lurking thoughts, that his sincerity was a mockery. Easy enough to say when he came out the victor. Even more so, throughout the beginning of the battle, she lost sight of the man she was truly fighting, with his perplexing shifts in behavior.
"Shut it, Phoenix," she answered in weak, half-hearted tones, as she trudged her way off the battlefield and down the path he had brought them.
Limping with every step, Mariah fixed her gaze in the general direction of the Academy, now unseen by the miles of distance that Gavin had put between them. With a sigh and a shake of her head, the crimson-haired woman seemed to accept that journey, ignoring the speeder bike and even Gavin himself. The trek would be easier if she could just summon those healing magicks again, to even partially heal some of her injuries. If she couldn't even summon her saber to her grasp with the Force, though, there was no way in Chaos she could summon those magicks, though. Still, she seemed to press on, step by slow, limping step, as if that fact had little sway over her decision.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,144
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jun 28, 2019 18:47:25 GMT -8
Gavin had already begun moving over the field, heading over to where Kolk Illuminate rested. Reaching down, he picked it up and simply stared at it for a good moment. He had worked hard, mastering the different types of combat required just to create this form. It had been an achievement, developing something that was his and his alone. It had served him well many times. Yet, somehow, as he gazed upon the saberstaff, he felt disconnected from it. Mariah had proven herself to be an incredibly capable woman in a fight, but what amazed him was how quickly she adjusted to the switching styles that the form held. Strength, speed, chaotic unpredictability, all of it she met head-on and overcame it. And through this one encounter, it almost felt as if he didn't know himself at all anymore when it came to combat.
His thoughts were broken by her words. They carried the same flow as the rest, yet, they were weak and lacking the fire and resolve she carried throughout the entire fight. He turned to look at her only to see her beginning to walk away, limping on in a battered state. At first, he simply watched with saddened eyes, wondering what had happened to her. Did losing really affect her that much? He knew she carried great pride within her, but surely a single defeat wasn't enough to bring her down. It wasn't until he noticed her move past his speeder bike.
First, he turned fully to her in a slow, uncertain pace. Then came the first step, then the second. By the third, a casual walk turned into a jog as his body screamed at him, that pain the only thing from going after her in a full run. What was she thinking? Trying to walk that distance in her state, she'd collapse and die before ever reaching the academy. Leaning over, he scooped up his bag as he moved towards her as quickly as he could, dropping everything as he passed his bike. At her pace, it was nothing to catch up to her, stopping n front of her, blocking her way so she couldn't continue. If she were to look at him, his gaze would be focused and concerned. "What do you think you're doing? Surely, you're not about to try and walk back to the academy in your condition?"
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Post by Deleted on Jun 30, 2019 13:10:00 GMT -8
It was like tunnel vision, the way the woman just continued to trudge onward, even as Gavin's footfalls hit, quicker and quicker, as he closed the gap between them. It wasn't until he was standing directly in front of her that she stopped, and only because she had no real other option unless she wanted to collapse into him. Instinctively, her palm reached up to his chest, as if to try to push him out of the way, but the force behind it was so weak, it was almost pathetic and nowhere near enough force to move someone even her size, let alone someone with Gavin's stature. Even the crimson-haired warrior couldn't hide a scowl when her muscles refused to listen, refused to clear her way forward.
Gavin's concern was almost laughable. Then again, it also spoke to the fact that this was only their second encounter. However, Mariah thought that he knew her better than that. He pointed it out easily enough in the beginnings of their fight, at least. Stubborn. Yet here he was, questioning that in such a shocked manner. Mariah's first reaction was some sarcastic remark regarding finding a nearby acid pool she could push him into if he sought to follow her, but in her state, even that would take too much effort to string together. With a sigh, she could only look up and meet his concern with a tired gaze that still held a faint intensity, if but from the exotic hue of her eyes alone.
"I am," she answered bluntly. "Now move."
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,144
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jun 30, 2019 15:22:01 GMT -8
He knew well enough that she was stubborn, but he didn't expect it to this level. For someone who always talked about just living to survive, this didn't show that belief. That or she was too stubborn to believe she was that bad off. Either way, he wasn't about to accept that stubbornness, not with her life possibly hanging in the balance. Looking at her with focused eyes, he didn't even budge as her hand came up to meet his chest in a weak attempt to push him out of the way. In her state, it was but a gentle touch.
"I don't think so. There's no way I'm letting you walk back alone, especially in your condition."
He expected her to try and resist, but he wouldn't hear it, his own stubbornness kicking in, though for good reason. Lifting his hand to his chest, he placed it over hers. Focusing what little energy he had left, he began to use the Force to heal her. The healing light began to course through him into her, working to do what it could in healing her injuries. There was a technique he possessed that could heal her completely back to one-hundred percent in a matter of minutes. However, considering the state they were both in, performing it would almost guarantee his death. Something he wasn't about to try so regular Force Healing it was. If she tried to pull away, his other arm would reach up to grab her waist, effectively holding her there until her wounds were patched up enough that some of her strength could return.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2019 9:45:20 GMT -8
Inhaling slowly, Mariah pondered her real options at this point. She knew it was doubtful that he would let her pass, no matter her command or reasoning. Or at least, this version of him wouldn't. He was an oddity she couldn't decipher. Most times, she could see the truth of a person after she had locked blades with them, but even now, he was an anomaly. There was a dissonance when she looked at him, though, as if the truth of him was still shrouded somewhere darker than even she could peer past, as if the mask he wore was far more refined over his countless years of experience. That, or he was two different beings in one body. It was anyone's guess. Which one she was dealing with right now left unanswered for the most part, which kept the crimson-haired woman on-guard around him, even with the duel having reached its end. However, the touch of his hand over hers gave her that immediate answer.
It was an instinctive reaction to attempt pulling away, even before Gavin began channeling the Force through her to heal her wounds. It was as if he had been expecting that, though, and the moment she tried to tug herself away, his grasp not only tightened, but his free arm wrapped around her waist, holding her still. Her eyes narrowed upon his as she tried to understand what in Chaos he was doing. It wasn't as if she was so powerless against him during their duel that he wasn't wounded, injuries of his own that he needed to take care of. Her thoughts seemed to surface with a single word escaping.
"Why...?"
Her voice was a quiet whisper in comparison to those crimson eyes that judged him so harshly, searching him with a critical acuteness. When it all came down to it, though, Mariah was forced to linger until Gavin had spent up what little energy he had left. Although her wounds weren't fully healed, she could feel some vitality return to her. The piercing pain in her head dulled, and the burning wounds in her back and leg subsided to a more manageable level. Even with that fraction of her energy returned to her, though, she found herself frozen in place for a beat until she could gather her thoughts.
"Get on the bike," she commanded, lingering nearby as if she was now waiting for him to collapse on her. "I need to get you to the medbay, and I can't risk you doing anything else foolish today on my behalf."
Although it may have seemed like a change in tune, there was something exasperatingly regretful about her tones. It was like he knew those codes that bound her and abused them every time he could. Still needing to pay back his kindness from her first encounter, Mariah now found herself indebted yet again. She hadn't the strength to heal either of them, so ensuring he reached the medbay would have to suffice for now.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,144
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jul 5, 2019 10:15:36 GMT -8
Never once did his eyes leave hers. Not even a smile crept to his lips when she realized that he wasn't about to let her go. His focus was too directed upon healing her to do much else. This kept any real sign of his intentions hidden from her in his eyes. But he could see it, the thought registering within the depths of his mind. She was confused by his actions, the changing nature he seemed to carry. And it became clear with that single, whispered word. It was then he actually gave a response, no longer seeming to be lost in a trance. "Does there need to be a reason to heal a friend?"
It wasn;t much longer before the last of his energy was spent and he let out a few strained breaths. He couldn't remember the last time he had been so drained of his energy. Letting her go, he stepped back, his left moving back to catch him as he stumbled a little bit. For a second or two, she had remained still and quiet before finally speaking, her commanding tone telling him to et on the bike. His first thought was to resist and tell her no. But, for this moment, he let his stubbornness fade as he knew that in using the rest of his energy, he had grown weary. He didn't need to risk wrecking the bike and getting them both killed. Nodding, he moved over to the bike, only waiting for her to get on first if she was going to be driving. He picked up on the tones in her words about getting him back to the medbay. He hated that she felt indebted to him because of what he did. It wasn't about keeping score or being bound to honor another's aid.
Looking back to her, he gave a sigh. "There's no need for the medbay. My body heals faster than most. And once I get some strength back, I can enter a healing trance."
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2019 11:18:11 GMT -8
Mariah still lingered near him even as Gavin protested against the medbay, but there lied the difference in the way they handled things. Where Gavin would protest against her decisions he didn't agree with, if he chose to bypass the medbay and simply rest and heal up on his own, then such was his decision, and Mariah wouldn't stop him. Besides, she had other things preying on her mind now. 'Friend' -- he spoke the word so easily and naturally that it haunted her thoughts for a few seconds longer than she would have liked.
"Do you have a habit of belittling and provoking all your friends then?" she uttered, shifting her gaze away from him in a display revealing her battle with the word.
Not like her internal battle mattered. It was easy enough to sense that Gavin had his own internal battles going on. There was his resistance to her command hanging about his aura that he ultimately hushed, as she would need to do with her own. Her primary concern was still getting him back to the academy. Honor code or friend, it didn't matter what excuse she used. As Gavin stumbled, she kept a close eye to ensure he didn't end up tumbling to the ground. It would be far more work and effort getting him back to his feet. When she realized that she wouldn't need to interfere in keeping him upright, she approached the bike and climbed on so that he could follow suit.
"Whatever you say, Phoenix."
His words only continued to baffle her, although she did her best not to show it. Healing faster than most. Add that to the mental list she was beginning to make: two centuries years of experience, the scales on his back, natural healing abilities. Her mind went down the list of all the different types of beings she had crossed paths with over her years, but none seemed to fit the bill. It made him only more of an oddity, but not exactly in a way where she could just openly ask, even if she had the desire to. If he chose to wait until he had enough strength to enter a healing trance, though, she might be able to beat him out with time alone and repay the debt, even if for the sole fact that it could be something she could put behind her.
"Just get on and hold on tight."
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
Posts: 1,144
Affiliation: The Dark Jedi Order
Traffic Light: Green
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jul 5, 2019 11:37:19 GMT -8
When she spoke of belittling and provoking friends, his head fell and gaze shifted away from her. It wasn't hard to sense his feelings on the matter, that being one of a few small regrets he carried, despite his words of not regretting anything. He had no problem doing so with most of his friends that he had as they would know well enough his intentions behind them. For friends, it would be merely teasing. For students, it'd be for working to strengthen them. But the way he had gone about it with Mariah wasn't right, taking the little bit she had shared so reluctantly and turning it on her the way he did. After a moment, he let off another sign before looking back to her. "Only to tease and push." He left it at that, not expecting her to believe or humor his words. There was no doubt to him that she despised him for that thought.
As she got on the bike, he followed suit. His hands slipped around her, but instead of grabbing her waist, they moved down to the tank in front of her. His long arms kept him from being completely pressed up against her. He had expected some question to him comment of healing, but none came. For now, all she seemed to care about was getting back. Letting her know, he was ready, he tensed his body enough, ready for the lunge forward as they made their way back to the academy.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2019 13:01:00 GMT -8
<< Hold on tight. >>
She reiterated those words through the Force with a staccato emphasis. Ultimately, it was Gavin’s call as to how he’d accomplish it, but him falling off his speeder would defeat the whole purpose.
Summoning the bike to life, Mariah felt an odd feeling in the pit of her stomach but swallowing it, she took off with a burst of speed as if testing the bike's acceleration. At least Gavin had prepared for the lurch forward. Hopefully her desire to get back to the academy as swiftly as possible wouldn’t end in some terrible fate. He had taken care on their way to the battleground, and hopefully it was more so in some misplaced care he had for her tolerance and not for his sake... or the speeder's.
Mariah forced the speed to climb, far surpassing that which Gavin had taken on the way up. Keeping her eyes in front of her and her senses on the one behind her, it gave her enough of a distraction at least to his answer to her question. 'To tease and push'. He had certainly accomplished that. As much as it irked her, she couldn’t hide from the fact that he managed to light a fire under her and pushed her farther than she had been in all too many years. Even if she refused to admit it just yet, even silently to herself. And even after falling to him in battle, she still breathed, lived. A concept she hadn't thought possible since...
Shooing away those thoughts to focus on the unmarked trail back, Mariah raced the two back to the academy as swiftly as the speeder would carry them.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 5, 2019 16:57:34 GMT -8
Outside of the Hidden Training Temple of the now, Lord Znalost.
It had been days since Vendel left the Academy on his quest, He still hadn't figured out how to open the Temple's door. Vendel had gotten permission to leave the Academy for a month, several masters had suggested that he take some time away from the Academy and 'find himself', to be precise find out what type of person he wanted to be and the path he would follow. Vendel had tried everything he could think of to open the door, but nothing worked. This was causing him a great deal of anger and he had finally had enough of it and started to focus the force to form the Darkshear spear, it took several minutes for it to fully form and once it had Vendel hurled it at the door. The Darkshear spear it the door causing it to open, Vendel having dropped to his right knee after performing the advanced force technique stood up and entered the temple.
Inside the Temple.
Once Vendel was inside a recorded message from Lord Znalost started to play.
Welcome to my former home, seeker. The Temple has scanned you and sent the data to me, to be reviewed at a later date. Feel free to browse the Temple's Library and continue your training. Should you need some assistance with anything use one of the nearby terminals. Once you have found what you seek, speak your name so that the temple may record in it's records.
As the recorded message ended and the holo of Lord Znalost disappeared, Vendel walked farther inside and the door to the temple closed and locked itself. Vendel walked over to a terminal and activated it, before asking the terminal any questions he thought for a brief moment, as it was very likely that the temple and it's terminals would record everything he asked.
"Access Temple History."
Vendel wanted to know exactly what he was in store for and finding out the temple's history was just the first step in doing so. A second passed after Vendel's question was asked and the terminal's holo projector turned on and displayed a holo image of an old man with long grey hair and beard. The man appeared to be dressed for some kind of conflict.
One Moment Seeker. The Temple was built long ago by a group of Grey Jedi called the Seekers of Knowledge. The site in which the temple was built on was chosen due to it's close proximity the capital as well as the planet's Sith Academy. Over the years the seekers, gather secrets from across the galaxy. These tomes were housed here for years, until the First Order's Invasion lead by the Sith'ari's forces. It was during this invasion in which the last true Lord Seeker was killed and his student was turned into an agent of the Darkness, that lead him to be twisted by the dark side.
Vendel listened to the information given by the terminal, and thought some more before asking the terminal another question.
"Who was the last one to enter the Temple?"
Last person to enter the temple was Lord Znalost of the Blackguard. In which he updated the temple's information. As he knew a student or two may find the temple. Would you like to know more?
"Yes, continue."
Lord Znalost made sure to include data from mission reports of all active members of the Blackguard as a way of informing hopeful students of advanced battle tactics and strategy. All information on Blackguard mission are located at another terminal, all information on Lord Znalost has been classified and locked from all unauthorized users.
With that The Terminal's holo disappeared, not wanting to waste any time, Vendel walked through the temple and found the library. It was a sight to behold, for it was filled with tomes and datapads. Vendel was hopeful that this selection of knowledge would have the information on the lost section of the Academy, plus it may hold insight in many force abilities that are not taught at the academy. Knowing the kind of force abilities that a lightside force user might use in battle was useful information that he could not pass up.
Unbeknownst to Vendel the Temple's security feed was being transmitted to the Sith Citadel on Ziost, where one of Znalost's subordinates was keeping a watchful eye and made sure to record everything that Vendel did and all of the information that he accessed while being in the temple.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2019 14:40:02 GMT -8
Inside of the Hidden Training Temple, The Library.Vendel had spent several days inside the temple, spending his time between being in the library and in the training room. He had learned how to perform the Darkshear technique without falling to one knee, and while he still felt spent from performing the technique it wasn't as bad as when he was first learning it. He also began to learn how to imbue items with the force, it was a difficult technique to learn due to the massive drain the technique took on the one performing the ability. A master at the ability could only imbue items every twenty-four hours, Vendel could only perform the ability every seventy-two hours due to the massive drain. Vendel was able to imbue his boots with force which had the effect of making the wearing move quicker, Vendel saw this as an advantage while in combat. When he wasn't learning new force powers or practicing the ones he already knew, Vendel was improving his lightsaber skills and disciplining his mind. It was during one of Vendel's library sessions that the Library Terminal activated.Congratulations Seeker, you have completed the preparations for the trials."What trials?"The Trials of the Seeker, of course. You have spent enough time in the Library to have learned plenty of new force powers, which will help you on the upcoming trials."Ok, how many trials are there? Also what's the first trial?"There are four trails in total, the first of which is to defeat a powerful foe. The Master had summoned a creature and sealed it away until someone meet the requirements to start the trial."What type of creature are we talking about?"While Vendel waited for the terminal to reply to his question, he could help but see that even though the terminal's holo image was that of Lord Znalost, it was however nothing like the really Sith Lord.Why its a Smoke Demon of course. You have twenty minutes to get ready for battle. It is suggested that the hopeful seeker does not do battle in the Library.With that the terminal deactivated and Vendel exited the library. As he walked into the hallway that lead to the courtyard, he saw the Smoke Demon emerge as spirals of smoke and then it started to assume its shape of Vendel's worst fear. Vendel ignited his lightsabers and took a stance ready to attack, but the form that the demon took was not what Vendel expected for it assumed his shape. Vendel could hear the demon's voice in his head. Look at you. Nothing but a weakling. You will die here and now.Vendel screamed at the demon and lunged forward slashing at it, the demon however was able to dodge each and every swing that Vendel took. Then the demon through a punch at Vendel, which sent him flying backwards toward the door to the library. Vendel stood up and started to run down a different hallway away from the demon, and just when Vendel thought he was in the clear he started to hear the demon's voice in is head again. Repeating the same words over and over again, this angered Vendel to the point that he turned around and charged at the demon with both sabers ignited, due to his boots being imbued with the force Vendel was able to move quickly and was able to slash at the demon's back twice before the demon punched him in the gut and kneed his face. Vendel staggered backwards and interlocked his lightsabers turning them into a double bladed saber. Vendel continued to fight the demon into the night.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2019 18:00:45 GMT -8
Inside of the Hidden Training Temple.
Vendel continued to battle the smoke demon, until he managed to plunged both lightsaber blades into it's chest. The smoke demon smiled as it disappeared into nothing. Sweat dripped down from Vendel's forehead as he deactivated his lightsabers and clipped them to his belt. Vendel had completed the first trial, but he still had three trials remaining. Vendel walked into the barracks and crashed onto one of beds and fall into a deep sleep, as he had no idea when the next trial would begin and what it would be. So getting some sleep would be benefit him greatly.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 30, 2019 14:33:36 GMT -8
Hidden Training Temple.
Hours had passed since Vendel had defeated the Smoke Demon, the first of his trials. Vendel had slept for a few hours before awaking in a place he hadn't seen before. Vendel walked through out the place but found that he hadn't moved from the spot that he woke up. Vendel's mind raced and began to think through all the possibilities, the most likely one was that he had somehow awakened in a plain of existence within the mind and that he was still in the bed inside of the temple.
"So... What's my trial going to be now?"
Vendel had figured out that this place must exist for the sole purpose of one of the trials of the seekers. What he had to do to complete this trial was unclear and nothing appeared to explained the rules of the trial to Vendel. Which to Vendel explained the trail perfectly, for this trial must be about escaping this plain of existence, but Vendel had no idea where he should begin.
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