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Post by Deleted on Oct 27, 2019 20:53:22 GMT -8
The encouragement with his excitement for their next battle fell on deaf ears, for all he knew. Even his questions pushing, asking about the runes that littered the walls with their arcane glow, went without an answer. The very fact that he was laying eyes upon them was more than enough to warrant his head being severed from the rest of his body. The fact that she hadn’t done so already was a gift enough, and the crimson-haired woman couldn’t care less if Gavin understood the gravity of his current situation.
As she said once before, Mariah planned to leave for the Temple. All that mattered was that she located this chamber. Sealing the entrance and returning -- alone -- was the wisest choice she had now. Humoring him with further conversation was the illest decision she could have made. In another attempt, she turned to head to the crevice of an entrance. As far as she was concerned, she could seal him in here if need be and return within the month to find his rotting corpse.
But then came his truth, that answer she had sought once already, months ago. His history with the Dark Jedi, the revival of the home that he sought, his quieted desire now able to be verbalized to her. However, he gave it to her months too late. Months that she had time to grow cold to him, her loss, and his feigned disinterest. It was enough to force the small woman to pause, though the tension that ravaged her body at her internal war revealed itself through a stiff posture and balled fists that hung at her sides. She remained this way for an exhale, a breath that expelled the conflict which had no place within her. Her mind had been made up about him the moment she walked out the door from his chambers. No amount of silvery words would change that now.
Turning gracefully on a heel to catch him out of the corner of her vision, a dark smile played at the edges of her lips, that same smile she gave him before departing his chambers the last time she saw him. “Well, color me surprised, Phoenix,” she cooed lowly, sarcasm dripping like poison in her tones. “You made a wise choice in crawling into the good graces of the Fallen to be here, instead of seeking me out the moment you landed. I would have sent you back home to the dogs you ‘pretended’ to serve.”
Blocking the face of the exit, Mariah turned to fully face Gavin. Her gaze was locked upon him now, and despite that eerie smile that still lingered on her lips, the intensity of her eyes revealed a fury like no other. The runes that lined the walls seemed to feed off of the energy of the woman of Shadows, even the blue flames flickering and shifting from blue to a dim, threatening orange. The colors reflected off Mariah's pale complexion with an ominous glow, the faint light casting shadows to shrouded her crimson hair and eyes in darkness.
“Consider this your one and only warning, Phoenix. You wanted to come home? Consider Ambria and the Dark Jedi your home. But don’t you dare try to lump me in with those ‘brothers and sisters’ you plan to make here. I'll faster scatter your remains at the farthest corners of the desert.”
Her wicked smile was there and gone with a roll of her eyes and a disgusted snarl. It was only a brief expression he would have seen because, with it, Mariah turned back round to seal her words with her departure. As her slim fingers gripped onto the crevice, however, she froze, as if time around her had suddenly stopped ticking. Motionless, statuesque, as the sinister glow of the runes resolved back to the radiant, crystalline color of their origin...
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Oct 30, 2019 7:01:41 GMT -8
It wasn't unexpected, Mariah's feelings towards him at the moment. In hindsight, he was surprised things had gone as well as they had up to this point. But for the month or so since their last meeting, this encounter had plagued Gavin's mind, wondering just how it was going to go, what he was going to say to make her understand and not hold his decision against him. However, things might have gone differently if he had explained his thoughts on the matter from the start instead of playing this game.
Her words came hard as he watched her, that same look and smile present as it had been in those final moments back on Iridonia. It wasn't going to be an easy task, but he wasn't going to just let this go, to let her walk away. As she turned, he stepped forward, his voice carrying with it a conviction that had been present in that first encounter. "I did what I felt I needed to, Mariah. You have no idea how hard it was not to take that offer, to drop everything and come here with you. To hear that the Dark Jedi were returning, that you were at the head of its creation, I can't remember the last time I felt such relief in knowing something I desired was right there. But at that moment, Ifrit was working out the treaty with Viox. There was no telling if he would have allowed such a thing to happen. He could have taken the both of you out or let you go with the warning of not crossing his path. But I was embedded enough in the training of new students that I was considered more or less apart of the order. I needed to make sure everything went as you two planned. Otherwise, me leaving ran the risk of causing issues for the Dark Jedi. Just leaving could have had me branded as a traitor and brought Sith to your door in search of me. While I know that the two of you are capable enough of facing down a few Sith, but if they fell, that would bring a declaration of war from the Sith'ari and the Blackguard would have come through and destroyed this place without a second thought. I know you don't yet possess the assets to stand against him. I needed to wait and see what happened in order to make my plans going forward in coming here." He gave a sigh as he came to a stop. "I know that I could have at least been upfront about it instead of playing this little game with you all in an attempt to add surprise to the caution I exercised. But tell me, were you not showing the same caution when you led me back to my chambers, away from the eyes and ears of those within the temple just to ask me to join you?"
It was then she stopped. Yet, he couldn't get a read on her or her thoughts. Did she understand his reasoning? Did it make sense to her? Or did she still see it like some pathetic excuse that she didn't wish to entertain. The cards were now on the table and her hand was about to be revealed.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 1, 2019 13:07:14 GMT -8
At first, it appeared that Gavin’s words fell on deaf ears as the crimson-haired woman just stood there at the entrance, like a statue, frozen in time. It wasn’t until she expelled a breath, a sigh, that any life seemed to fill her again. Mariah spun turned around to face him, but there was just the slightest thing that was off about her stance, her expression, everything. At first, it was all minute and easy to dismiss.
Up until her faint laugh resolved. The sound wasn’t low nor menacing, but rather a higher pitch and lyrical intonation.
Mariah re-entered the chambers with a bit more spring in her step. Graceful as ever, but her steps couldn’t be described as ‘prowling’ so much anymore. Her eyes remained fixed upon Gavin, as though studying him for a long moment, but the judgment had been wiped clean. The woman before him seemed more curious than anything else, as she headed down the stairs and deeper inside.
“O, ye of little faith,” she uttered with a giggle. “First, to answer your question, she exercised caution and secrecy to ensure that she didn’t endanger the treaty prematurely. Not because she wasn’t ready to fight for this misplaced home she wants, for reasons even I can only guess at.”
Smooth, honeyed tones resounded like a song as Mariah -- or who looked to be Mariah -- offered something of an explanation, although her words seemed cryptic, if not downright insane. Referring to Mariah in the third person, yet she herself was a being all her own. Perhaps enough to frighten most others away, if Gavin stuck around Mariah despite the death threats and knife-greetings, a little mind game with the help of the Force Nexus surely wouldn’t chase him away. Or so she hoped.
“I’ll explain what I can that she won’t ever tell you, Gavin,” the woman continued, hopping down another stair and closer towards the pedestal at the bottom. “You beat Mariah in a challenged duel, a feat that is one of the most honorable mentions an outsider like you can ever achieve in her eyes. She was cocky, and you put her in her place, and now she doesn’t know what to do. So then,” she sang, plopping herself down, stretching back to keep eyes on him, her head cradled in a hand, “then she decides to do something so out of character, by my instruction no less, and offers you a place among her growing home. To which you deny out of fear. Fear of war. Fear of your precious Sith’ari. Fear of the menacing Sith who shackled you to their cause.”
Mariah huffed, an open grin curling at the edges of her lips, but there was still challenging darkness that swirled around her. This side of her may have been believable as the Mariah he knew, had it not been for the talkative openness.
“And now that you believe it to be safe, and only now, you’ve come home. You hide behind the simple wish to surprise her, but you've admitted otherwise just now. You can beat her in a duel, a feat that proved to her that you were an honorable warrior worthy of standing by her side to protect whatever she hopes to build here, but when it came down to it, you wouldn’t do so as the warrior you showed her you were.”
Mariah pushed herself back up to her feet, the force sending her to leap down the rest of the way down the stairs. The woman landed, and within the same movement, spun herself around to look up at Gavin, a considerable space now between them. However, as she talked, her voice echoed off the walls with crystalline clarity, as if when this person spoke, the very runes resonated with her voice.
“You see, Gavin, even I thought you better than that, and why I was hopeful and pushed her to talk to you that night,” she murmured, leaning on the dark pedestal as though it was a pillar and not itself some holy artefact. “I’ll strike you a deal, though. If you can manage to convince me of your pure intentions in all of this, I’ll make sure my sister shows you a bit of mercy when I let her have her body back. I’ll even freely answer all of your questions, as a bonus.”
Mariah winked as she let the first of many questions surely swirling about his head be answered. What happened to Mariah, and who was this woman he was now speaking with? A first gesture of good faith. Maybe. Then again, it’s not exactly like Mariah consented to this anyway, and only Chaos knew the hell she would inflict when she was finally back in her body. However, Aria would have her fun, while it lasted.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Dec 3, 2019 3:29:52 GMT -8
Gavin stood there, waiting for a resonse from Mariah in regards to his reasoning. He expected heavy resistance from her, no matter how much his words rang with truth and sense. For all the time they had been around one another, it was just who he knew her to be.
However, after a few moments of silence, something seemed to shifted. He couldn't explain what it was or its origin, but he knew something to be off. When she turned to face him, the answer became obvious. What would have been sutble, varely noticable details were clear to him. Her nature was easily determined in those three meetings, enough to know she was direct, cold, and harsh. Along with it, the way she carried herself spoke the same. But now, it was all different. Even if she had accepted his words and knew him right, this still wouldn't have been how she acted.
It was only confirmed by her voice and the way she talked, referring to Mariah as if she was someone else. Gavin took a faint step back, one that would have been noticed as his fists tightened and his guard lifted. His own presence grew darker and more serious, as if he expected a fight.
But he only watched and listened as she spoke, keeping himself a bit aways from her. Just who was this speaking from Mariah's body and how did they know so much? Who was this person, speaking down to him like they knew who he was and what his choice truly meant?
It was only when she stopped and told him that he had that one chance to prove his intention that he stepped forward. They wanted him to prove his words and intentions? That was quite the bold statement to make. Instead, he only asked two things. "Who are you and what have you done to Mariah?"
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Post by Deleted on Dec 24, 2019 13:03:21 GMT -8
After everything she had just said, it was a bit of a disappointment that that was the first thing he chose to ask. Even after she had already somewhat gave him that answer. Mariah sighed as those crimson eyes turned from her companion in the sacred place of her people and turned to look at the crystal shard which floated delicately above the pedestal she leaned upon.
“How about we play a little game and you make a wild guess?” she asked with a giggle, staring deep into the shimmering, white beauty that reflected off and even within the stone. “I mean, it’s the least you can do after I helped lead you here.”
‘Patience.’ That mellifluous voice that rang in his head, before the shudder of power resonated. She wondered if he would be able to connect the dots. It would take an extreme amount of serenity, the ability to keep calm under extreme amounts of pressure. It wasn’t exactly an unknown that he was facing quite a bit right now. From the strange runes on the wall, the strange piece she was currently transfixed upon, to the sudden shift of her very person. She expected any normal person to flee from this place. At the very least, he remained to ask that question. An interesting curiosity about his person.
“I already gave you a clue earlier, too, so… Who do you think I am?”
As her question lifted up into a lighthearted challenge, so did her lips into a childish grin. It was only then that those crimson eyes tore themselves away from the stone to find Gavin again. If he could piece together who she was, what she ‘did’ with Mariah would eventually follow suit. While she could just give him the answers he sought, she didn’t find any fun in being so cut and dry as her sister tended to be. Besides, she was curious to see just how calm and cool he could continue to be in the most unorthodox situations, such as this one.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Dec 24, 2019 16:55:00 GMT -8
Gavin remained where he stood at the top of the steps. His ice-blue eyes seemed to glow, especially in the blue firelight as his gaze pierced into those now unfamiliar crimson orbs. His guard didn't falter, yet when he spoke, there was a calm, yet serious tone that came as a response. "You take this as a game? I heard you clear enough that you called her sister. But that still far from answering my questions. As a sister, you could very well be blood, the sister she mentioned that she lost with the rest of her family. You could be adopted, close friends, even rivals or an enemy of hers. A single word that encompasses so much. Just as well as you could be something else entirely utilizing the power of this place to take over her body. I have seen many things in my time wandering the galaxy so I know what is possible and don't doubt that which I have yet to witness. So, how about we try that question again? Who are you?" But that was far from all he had picked up from her words. Even in that moment, that single word and feeling resonated within his mind again. And it only furthered to press that question. "Why would you guide me here? If you are her sister, it seems disrespectful to expose a secret to someone when she's been trying to keep it hidden."
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Post by Deleted on Jan 7, 2020 13:51:02 GMT -8
“You two really are cut from the same stone...!”
Her laughter reached a crescendo as the woman stepped away from the pedestal. Although her tones were laced with some sense of childish innocence, there was a far more devious, controlled gleam in those crimson orbs. Yet somehow, all of that sharp intensity was nowhere, further reinforcing the idea that Mariah was long gone now to a place only the Force and this woman knew.
“Put you in a predicament where you're no longer in control, and all of sudden, that sassy confidence goes right out the door.”
The woman quirked an eyebrow thoughtfully as she began her ascension back to the main platform above where Gavin stood as she continued.
“I guided you here because there are some secrets not even Mariah can shoulder on her own.”
It went without explanation that Mariah was one who would rather be on death’s door than ask for aid from an ally or even friend, something even this woman knew. Before she reached the top of the staircase, however, she paused just two steps shy. Her crimson gaze remained as steadily locked upon him the same as always as if watching him. Judging him. The Force seemed to shift around her briefly, the color of her eyes reflecting a brief, burning orange hue. This woman seemed to come up with her answer in due time, though, and not one she wanted. Her eyes narrowed as she cocked head curiously to the side.
“You’re also an anomaly in the Force to me… which could be either beneficial or fatally detrimental to what is to come. You know what they say, though, about the bigger the risk...”
Regardless of what cryptic answers she gave Gavin, all would be revealed in time. Now was not the time for all of that, though, and the future was ever-shifting with every action made. As her pause filled the chamber with a brief silence, a smile twitched at her lips again, and with it, the woman outstretched her hand towards Gavin. There, she would stand, until he accepted it, and she would remain unfaltering in that position.
“My name is Aria Shadows, the last Spellweaver of the Tribe of Shadows, and the younger sister to dearest Mariah you see before you. There are powerful arts playing in this room, Gavin, but I cannot continue to weave the Force like this forever. For Mariah’s sake, I’ve chosen to displease and ‘disrespect’ her wishes as you’ve so elegantly put it, and for her sake, I hope you’ll join me.”
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jan 8, 2020 6:59:41 GMT -8
Gavin's face never changed as Aria made her comment of him and Mariah being so similar. It remained fixed upon her with that intense stare piercing into her. He wasn't amused with her words nor her misguided thoughts for yet a second time. "Do not mistake my caution for diminished confidence. Only a fool approaches a sudden unknown so casually. A trait your sister knows all too well." A part of him wished to stoke the fire, to turn the words against her in that moment, but he refrained. He didn't know their history, other than the fact that Mariah lost her family. By what he could tell, they were young and he wouldn't cast such an insult her way, especially if Mariah could still hear.
Letting out a sigh, Gavin relaxed though his eyes displayed that same guard as they never left the woman, no matter where she went. Crossing his arms, he simply stared at her with a tilted head as she waited with her hand stretched out to him. "I'm well aware that she carries her fair share of secrets. But discovering them outside of her influence is not something I'm very fond of. I had hoped you guiding me here was simply to just find her, not lead me to sneak up on her while she was dealing with something meant to be kept in shadows. Such things are learned through time and trust. This situation bodes ill for that. And as a man who respects the ability to choose, inserting yourself like this to share what she won't doesn't really gain you any points. Her body, her life, her secrets, her choice."
HIs head then straightened as he thought on her words regarding him. So he was being watched from beyond the grave and through this connection the sister had as he was putting together. "So what if I am? What does it really matter to you? Why does it? And why tell me instead of watching through your sister. Clearly, even in death, you two share a connection that allows you to see what she does. You know a little of me, so why make anything known and not simply stand by and watch?"
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2020 8:22:22 GMT -8
The shell of Mariah released a peal of mellifluous laughter, which bounced and echoed around the small chamber carved out in the canyon walls. Even as the sound diminished into silence, the runes and markings on the wall fluttered with arcane light, continuing her eerie sound with a thousand hushed whispers. Aria found it adorable, the way he spoke of her sister. As though he knew her, knew the challenges and battles that she fought over the long course of her life. The number of times that Mariah raged head-first into the unknown, for that was the only path she could take. And typically, how she had done so with a wicked smile on her face, holding impervious confidence that nothing and no one could fall her. Yet, all of that changed, and rather suddenly… All these things this Gavin Phoenix didn’t know. Yet.
Aria’s amusement to all that he didn’t know shimmered in her eyes, still ever locked upon him. She wouldn’t correct him, though. That wasn’t her place, and it would be far more amusing for him to one day see the truth of the red-haired woman’s demeanor. Her amusement was struck dead, however, as Gavin rambled on. Her body, her life, her secrets, her choice. Aria sighed and loudly rolled her eyes. Her outstretched hand lowered back to her side, and her body slumped, mocking some pathetic defeated look. Unlike Mariah, though, it wasn’t something done out of sharp anger, frustration, or wrath. Her body crumbled to sit on the stairwell, her back facing him.
“Her life, her choice, huh?” Aria asked with a sudden quietness.
Contrary to his beliefs, there were some secrets she vowed she wouldn’t tell him, and this would be one. Even as his questions continued to beat into her mind, reminding her of all the futures she had seen, she knew that there were some things that were better left unspoken. The curse of a Seer was knowing that the future was ever-shifting. Her doing as she did now was already creating ripples, changing fate as she had known it moments prior.
For that beat, she revealed something of a weakness, a softness so to speak, before the chipper and mischievous woman returned. With her back still turned to him, though, it was evident only in her rising pitch and eclectic tones. For the most part, her body remained as still as stone as she set her elbow on a knee and cradled her chin in the palm of her hand. Her free hand, though, traced circles through the thin layer of sand that dusted the whole of the chamber floor.
“There are so many ways I can answer your questions, Gavin Phoenix, and yet none of them would be wholly accurate or even remotely satiate your curiosity,” the woman giggled. “What I can tell you is that you misjudge what it is I’m trying to do here. I dare not share a single one of my sister’s secrets with you. All I wish to do is answer your questions about this room, about our People who carved this chamber and cast these magics of a hidden Force. While these are questions that Mariah will not answer, I have just as much a right to answer your questions as she has the right to not.”
Unknown to Gavin, her eyes narrowed upon the pedestal as a smile curled at the edges of her lips. It was surprising that the nexus of this room could be so oblivious to him. Although the magics did their part in masking the whole of its glory, here within its sheer aura, it should have at least garnered a bit of attention. More than a simple take-over should have, or so she thought. However, over the past few meetings Mariah had had with him, he had surprised her. Another unspoken answer to one of his questions that she would lay to rest today, here, if she could.
“While I know very little about you, I know that your presence has already shifted my sister’s fate in far greater ways than you’ll ever know. That is why I can no longer simply stand by and watch as she fights the current of time, attempting to remains to stand like a stone against its pull. If memory serves… You couldn’t stand by and watch her remain stagnant, either.”
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Jan 24, 2020 14:29:18 GMT -8
There was some much of Mariah that still remained a mystery to Gavin, of that he was aware. But, at the same time, he felt he had gathered enough to grasp the person she was for the most part. That first encounter that revealed much and from that alone could he guess at the life she led. As had been suggested over and over, the two of them were cut from the same cloth aside from a few key details. So even without knowing the exactness of what transpired over the years, he could, at the very least, understand her.
He then watched as Aria began shifting through her emotions, starting with laughter at his words to eventually appearing defeated and weak against what he finally drove home. Had the reality of the situation sunk in? Had his logic bested her? Gavin doubted it and it was proven so as she began to speak again. With each sentence, he wanted to interject once again as it seemed they were only going to continue in circles with their thoughts and opinions on the matter. Yet, he remained silent, letting her finish all she had to say just in the off chance that something would come across to validate her point against him.
And in a way, it had.
Though still on guard, he seemed to fully relax as he moved to the wall and leaned against it, his arms crossing over his chest. Thoughts surged through his mind as he began to debate whether to stay strong to his path or give in to his curiosity and her logic. Every time he tried to let go, something kept pulling him back. Aria had mentioned she was the last of the Spellweavers of her people. So did that mean Mariah to be the last of her people completely? Everything pointed to that being the case. Otherwise, the woman wouldn't have spent all those years alone wandering. As such, he could relate. He, too, was the last of an order that had remained secret within the galaxy, known to only a handful at a time. But he was the last remaining member that carried all that knowledge. And so it fell to him to determine the future of that order and the legacy it would carry. Would he continue it or would he let it die? One thing he did know, however, was that as long as he was still living, it was his choice to do so, not any of those who had come and gone. Only when no more existed did the dead have the right to choose someone new to reignite the flame.
But there came the next revelation. His appearance in her life had shifted her fate, according to what was said. If that was something she could tell, then she had to be capable of knowing what lay ahead, which meant she was a seer. And if that was the case, she was interfering with the course of time. In the end, being instructed could very well damage future events in an attempt to hopefully correct. He couldn't express how many times he had heard that.
After a few minutes of silence, he gave a sigh. "You may not be sharing her personal secrets and seeking to inform me of your family. I understand that. However, it is something that she plays close to the chest. Tell me, was your people a group that was well known or kept secret? If it was the latter, surely you can understand her feelings on the matter, especially if she is the last surviving member. To share that knowledge takes a great amount of trust. I can feel the difference of power within this room compared to the typical flow of the Force. It isn't something that should just be so openly revealed less the risk is run of that knowledge or power becomes abused. As one in a similar situation, sharing such ancient and secretive knowledge isn't something done carelessly. After all, you said I'm an anomaly. What's to say telling me all this becomes a greater burden to that legacy and to Mariah? All the more reason to let time and trust be built between us and then determine if I'm worth telling. Have you interjected to tell anyone else Mariah has interacted with? If not, why me and why now? And how would you feel if you were trying to keep it hidden from someone, uncertain of the trust you could put into them only for Mariah to just insert herself and tell them everything?"
He then rubbed his eyes with a gloved hand before looking at the open palm, his hand closing into a fist a few moments later. Another sigh came as he slowly began to walk down the stairs. "You do realize the risk you are running, right? You speak of her fate as if you know it. Which makes you a seer. Which means you of all people should know what happens when you look into the future and attempt to alter it. Sometimes by seeking to correct it, you cause it." He had finally moved in front of her and was looked down at her with his ice blue orbs, the hard focus of suspicion gone, replaced by one of caution. "I can't express how many times I've been told that. I was once married to a Seer. When I was three and asked her to marry me, she answered yes because she saw who I'd become. And as much as I don't want to accept the truth, I'm certain she saw the day Videl was taken from her right after birth. I know she saw here own abduction, torture, and death. Things she never told me, things she never tried to alter. If she had, maybe we'd still be together. Maybe I would have died a long time ago. Perhaps she saw clearly enough that this was the path that needed to be walked. I don't know. I can only trust in the choices of the woman I loved. So be careful. After all, you don't want her staying still like she is, but acknowledge I don't either and have fought against it. Do you not have enough faith in the Force and our meeting to hope for your sister's future?"
While in those words, it seemed he continued to fight the logic she was presenting in confiding such knowledge to him, the tone of his voice had shifted, revealing enough that he was no longer against denying her, but was now ensuring she understood the situation going forward. If the sisters were still connected, he would hate for this moment to be something that would shatter everything. He didn't know the depth of their connection or what they'd tolerate and endure together, but he didn't wish to become the catalyst for any divide between them.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 1, 2020 15:57:40 GMT -8
Only when no more existed did the dead have the right to choose someone new to ignite the flame. Or so that was the case for so many factions and orders, those with rules and traditions set before them. If you adhered to them, you were them. Such was not the ways of the Shadows, the children of Chaos and Summoners of its magicks. They were more than an order or faction, they were a tribe. Born in darkness and raised to revere it. And in death, becoming One with their name, perhaps granting them even more of a right than those of the living. Secret traditions that had no weight or time here today. Aria did not seek the shatter their ways, only to create a tiny bridge between them and another outsider. She could still feel his tension, his resistance to such things. Something that further reinforced her decision -- why him, out of all the others.
It was an amusing contradiction, the distance that Gavin kept between the two of them as his mind continued to churn with questions. However, that contradiction lied in the closeness that Aria could feel as he leaned up against the wall, the runes surrounding him pulsing with a brighter light than their brethren. It was yet another unexplainable thing to the Spellweaver, a minor occurrence that might not have caught his attention but something that struck her like a ship crash-coursing into her at hyperspeed. The woman managed to only utter a thoughtful hum, as Gavin’s ponderings drew her back to the present, followed by a pained wince away from his gaze, which she kept hidden well enough by her back being turned to him. Her magic was weakening, a realization that bubbled suddenly to the surface. Even in the awe of the magicks within this room, her spell was only possible because of it. Rapidly, she could feel the internal shift of Mariah’s consciousness, and even more, the clawed chains of Chaos shredding at her soul and tearing her back into darkness.
She had to keep fighting, though, for his questions soon came. Those questions she intervened to answer. Keeping Mariah’s voice as steady and calm as ever, she spoke, leaving Gavin none-the-wiser to the pained struggle the Spellweaver was up against.
“If we were well known, then surely you would have heard of us,” Aria jested with a giggle, hiding the strain that attempted to peek out in her voice. “You act as though I’m carelessly choosing the first person who has run into my sister after all these years. It’s true that it does take a great amount of trust to share these secrets with another. And as hard as it is to believe for you, I’ve put a great deal of thought into this, as has Mariah. However, while she still chooses fights with the idea of allowing an outsider in to know these things, I know the benefits of our people’s Guardians. Outsiders," she explained, "who may not have been chosen by Chaos to be born into the Shadows but are worthy to walk among us while upon this mortal plane of existence.”
Aria replayed the countless Guardians she could remember, the last being a special face -- Valance. Her protector, her father’s brother, although not by blood but by something far greater. An unspeakable bond, shattered by death, but still alive in his journeys to remain close to his daughters. Mariah may have never cared for the outsider, for she cared very little about all of them. It was a trait she still seemed to share after all these years. However, Aria understood the necessity of them, even when her memories were torn from her. To explain all of this to Gavin here and now, though, it would take more time than the power she had left.
“There is always a risk in welcoming an outsider as a Guardian,” she added, “but it isn’t something achieved overnight. Nor is it something I believe you’re cut out for... yet.” She let out a self-satisfied giggle, wondering how Gavin would take the jest before she continued with a bit more seriousness than she had given this conversation before. “However, I see much potential in you, if you chose to walk that path alongside of my sister. In which time, she will eventually be the one to carry the torch, to entrust you with the knowledge forbidden to all others. That is, if she lives to see that day…” Although her voice grew quiet again, she uttered a sigh before continuing. “If I had led any other into this room, they would be frothing at the mouth for what this room contains, to know what power it contained, to unveil its secrets, and yet you… You’ve only affirmed my decision by not even acknowledging it. Curious of our magicks, but nothing more. Overcome with this noble sense of protecting my sister and her secrets that you’ve remained blind to it. You don’t seek its power, only to protect the Shadows and that which they protect. Am I wrong? Tell me I'm wrong, Gavin Phoenix.”
Aria hummed quietly as a grin curled at her lips, quickly seen as Gavin made his descent down the stairs to face her head-on. The moment that those blue orbs locked against her crimson, she felt her breath catch in her throat, her smile fading. How Mariah managed to remain composed under his stare remained a mystery for the Spellweaver. With a deep breath and faint nod of her head, Aria managed to break her stare, to find the one thing more breathtaking in this room than those eyes.
“Your assumptions of me are also correct. I understand that there’s a certain risk in changing fate, but a Seer also understands that the future is always ever-shifting. Any one action can create a ripple in time, changing the future as we know it. Mariah has already single-handedly changed her fate in drastic ways during her time of joining up with this faction of Dark Jedi… with that demon.”
Her words, although meant to be factual and without emotion, were laced with a displeased snarl that perhaps made it seem as though Mariah managed to sneak through the cracks and take over again. As far as Aria could see it, Mariah had stepped out of the darkness to join a cause that neither believed in. However, Aria had quickly composed herself, releasing the venom and continuing on as though her slip up had never happened at all.
“Even she knows that alone she has little chance of surviving this world, though. She had managed to trick and outrun fate up until now, and even I cannot fault her for growing weary. However, what she chooses to do now is a dangerous game, which has only hastened the fate she sought to hide from. To meld among a group she deems unworthy while continuing on this pilgrimage to unmask our People’s most powerful artifacts. Should she continue on this path, she will become like me, like your precious Seer, and perhaps bring down the entire galaxy with her.”
Aria exhaled as she lowered her stare downwards towards the floor. Her vision grew blurry, and her chest was tight. Her limbs felt weak, and for a moment, the screeching wail of Chaos deafened all else around her. ~Hold tight,~ she whispered to herself. There was still so much left unanswered. Every second counted. ~I’m sorry, sister. Just a moment longer.~
“As Seers, it’s easy enough to accept your own fate once you’ve seen it, but when you see the loss of someone you love, you’d go through hell just to ensure that they remain safe. I’m sure that your Seer saw her demise, just as I saw my own, but do not doubt the number of times she may have seen yours and did all she could to alter that fate. That is what I seek to do today, Gavin. I trust that the Force brought you two to meet, but I also trust my sister’s ability to keep all at arm’s reach. If I don’t attempt to counteract her foolishness, her death I’ve seen a thousand times -- her blood is on my hands. Do you understand now?”
As her tone lifted upwards with her question, as did her gaze to find him again. Now, it was more than easy to see the strain that the Spellweaver went through in hosting such a connection, but there was still that fire, that determination. That look he had seen in Mariah time and time again. She was on a mission, and she would do all it would take to walk out of it with a victory, in some fashion. When it was her sister's fate on the line, at that, the momentary torture and exhaustion of the impossible were more than worth that which could be altered.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 2, 2020 9:18:49 GMT -8
It hadn't gone unnoticed, the slight swell of power, the brightening of the runes. Yet, with his focus upon her, what he missed was the source. He believed it to be nothing more than the magic of the room fluctuating a bit as he would expect from anything in constant use. Just like a flowing river, there were always points where the water fluctuated in its flow, depth, and so much more. And what was more was that most people never even noticed any changes that came about unless they were revealed on a massive scale.
As he descended the stairs, her words came, the beginning of her next explanations. Without hesitation, she began explaining more about her people in order to best answer his questions. In the end, Gavin had come to the realization that he wasn't leaving her without some knowledge of their tribe. It wasn't something he intended to fight. After all, even with telling her no, all she had to do was keep talking. In order for him to not know what was said, his only option would be to leave or remove himself from his senses so as to not hear the audible word. She was determined to share this knowledge and he knew she would, one way or another. All he could do was integrate the point that he wished for Mariah to share out of the desire of wanting to build that trust, to want her to share willingly. It was fair to her as it was her body that was being used against her will.
He listened as he went, taking the knowledge in and going over it over and over again so as to never forget. It was easy enough to deduce some aspects, such as the idea of them being chosen by Chaos meant they existed in darkness, though not quite the way typical Dark-siders were. Along with it existed the idea that their beliefs were vastly different, especially if they remained hidden away and quiet. But what was more was the discussion of a Guardian, the outside connection that kept them hidden and safe. Aria saw him as that, yet she didn't. An interesting contradiction, one that made him smirk slightly as he finally found his way in front of her and posed his final questions to which she answered.
With a sigh, he closed his eyes and dropped his head slightly as he turned towards the pedestal, his gaze then fixing itself upon the stone that rested there. A brilliant shiny white as the power surged from it. It was undeniable in what it contained in both essence and power. It hadn't gone fully unnoticed as he had felt the great power the moment he arrived but had chosen not to think about it. But only now, when he focused directly upon it could he truly tell what existed there. His fist clenched as a sudden realization washed over him.
~This is what you saw, didn't you? You knew I'd end up here one day~ His thoughts were only met by a soft giggle before fading away. His head dropped again as he smirked.
Turning back to Aria, the smile faded but his eyes were so much softer now. "No, she never did. I've died twice already and, yet, not once had she directed me in a different direction. She didn't change anything knowing Videl would have been taken a birth. Didn't step in to warn me of the results of my actions. She had seen who I was and knew that was the path that needed to be walked. If I didn't, if anything changed, so to would have many other events throughout time. Change one thing, and everything will follow. What may seem small could have repercussions that rippled out in devastating ways."
He then smirked as he stepped closer, the tension gone. "You certainly aren't wrong. I know full well the price of power. The more you obtain, the greater the burden. More responsibility falls on you if you believe such, but greater power functions as a beacon, making you a target for those that want your power or see you as a threat. It was that growth of power that ultimately brought death to my family. I grew strong enough that they became caught up in the rivalries and quests for power. And for decades have I blamed myself for it. But I've come to realize that it was the path I had to walk. If I had remained with them instead of returning to my duties and lived a happy life, so many things would have fallen apart."
Standing beside her, he rested a hand upon her shoulder. It was clear enough, her dislike for Ifrit. He, himself, knew little of the man but trusted the ideals he once followed long ago. "I will protect her, Aria. Of that, you do not need to worry. After all, I didn't come to the Dark Jedi for Ifrit. I came for the ideals and for her. But even more than that, I now know that this was where they wanted me to be. This was the path I was always meant to walk, to eventually find this moment. Save the secrets that remain for Mariah to share. It's not about right, but trust. If you tell me now, at what point will she ever feel she trusts me enough to tell me herself? You speak of Guardians and clearly, you want me to be hers. But to be that for her, we can't be at odds. That trust must exist completely and it is through her that I must learn of everything. Otherwise, it is meaningless. So trust in the Force and where it has guided your sister and trust in me to always be there, even when she thinks she doesn't need it. I will keep her safe, no matter the cost."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2020 13:33:55 GMT -8
Although a sweet resolution to her words, Aria wished she could hold to this mortal body longer. Gavin seemed to have taken what she said to heart and listened, despite his desire to remain in the dark to such things. At least until Mariah would share them. The thought uttered a faint, weakened laugh seemingly out of nowhere, but then again, such was the nature of the younger Shadows.
“And where you have died and have been reborn into this world, again and again, that is not the fate of our People,” she murmured, “and any change to the current future will be an improvement to that which I’ve seen.”
The depths of these secrets, though, she would leave for another day, and perhaps another person to share. She could only hope that the future she spoke of would never come to pass, that this small act could have that devastating effect to ripple out and touch the farthest reaches of time. Her time here was coming to a close, and with so much she wanted to say, she would need to pick her words carefully. He could rebuke her decision wholeheartedly, but if there was one thing stronger than his devotion, it was her bond and loyalty to not only her sister, but her People.
Gavin attempted to wash away the tension in his words, sharing his own story with her until he approached, comforting her with not only words but the touch of his hand upon his shoulder. Weakened, Aria leaned against him, resting her head against his thigh. She sighed deeply yet quietly as she closed her eyes, holding onto those words, reassuring her that this risk was well worth the reward that would come to fruition. There was a question there, though, and one final thing she needed to address.
“That first night you two met... you ignited that little spark of trust in her, as I believe you so elegantly put it. A record.” She laughed weakly, barely hanging on to this mortal body. “I couldn't continue sitting back and watching her attempt to smother it dead. No one has been able to play on her level while also exuding a sense of gentleness and..."
Pure intentions. Another thought. Another brief and whispered laugh. As he had pointed out, though, the rest would be up to Mariah. Although her sister's ways were nearly cut into stone, she had hoped that meddling, even just this little bit, could shift the course her sister took in life. She had attempted so many times already, seemingly to no avail. Words were never enough for Mariah. Only action.
"She may despise me for what I've done, but she'll trust in the decisions of her Ancestors and those who have passed before her. Fear not, Gavin Phoenix. I’ve accomplished all that I sought today." One final, straining moment. One more warning she needed to impart. "Please... be gentle with her when she wakes. She'll know of what I've done, but she won't know a word of what was shared. Her ferocity will not be derived from anger but from the uncertainty of the unknown... something you know about her all too well...”
With a faint smile, Aria expelled a strained breath and allowed that to be her final moment here. He had assured her of all she needed to know, and she could sense that his words were pure. In time, he may very well be the shifting point in Mariah’s future she desperately needed him to be. The enigma that set her People’s magicks alight, yet also one seemingly immune to them. The wild card that could shift fate as she saw it. Although these would still remain whispered thoughts, she had conveyed all she could within these moments. The rest, as he desired, would be up to Mariah, who, after a beat, stirred from where Aria had let her body rest.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 11, 2020 7:24:03 GMT -8
It had become a strange thing, dying and being revived to continue walking the now seemingly endless years. It was something that had aided in his stagnant living. While his life was lived in centuries, it never stopped him from living as he could die at any time. But when he was constantly finding his way back to the living plane, the essence of life began to grow meaningless. But maybe, he was once again finding a reason to exist. After all, he had felt the call of faint, invisible voices pushing him forward, guiding his path to this moment and to learn these things.
He had remained silent as she spoke, sensing the weakening connection she now had, which had become evident in the way she held herself. In mere moments, she would return to where she rested and Mariah would return. But those moments, as he was now understanding, was important to her. In the end, it was not so much her trying to tell the tale of her People, but wanting to see if he was the person she hoped he was, for her sister's sake, and to establish the hope she had for him. That message had been received and he would seek to fulfill Aria's wish.
His hand still resting on her shoulder, his free one moved up to rest on the top of those crimson locks. "Rest now, Aria. Leave me with the rest. Your words will remain between us until such a time you are ready for them to be known. Thank you."
It was the final words he would speak as he felt the last bit of the presence fade, leaving Mariah's body to stir shortly after. Pushing up on her so that she could sit up, the hand on her head fell back to his side, though the one on her shoulder remained if only to ensure she didn't fall over as the fiery woman stirred awake.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2020 9:57:10 GMT -8
Mariah had just made the decision to leave, hoping to lure Gain out. It had been a sudden shift, like being ripped under a tidal wave. Unable to fight against the current, Mariah has been forced to ride with the current, her world dark and muffled for what felt like an eternity. Suddenly, her sister’s voice cut through the black with a quiet ‘I’m sorry…’. That was when Mariah fully understood what had transpired. However, this understanding led to another mystery. Why? What meddlesome decision had the younger Shadows made, one that had such severity to it as forcing her out for only the Force knew how long?
Eventually, though, that dizzying current came to a still. Aria’s magicks were weakening, allowing Mariah to regain the control that was ripped from her. As her head broke the surface, she could make out his voice, like a guide leading her back to the realm of the living.Mariah inhaled deeply as she attempted to gather more of her surroundings. She was more disoriented than having woken from a coma. While it wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling to the warrior, she knew her limits and dared not stir too rapidly. If she stood to her feet, she very well may have lost true consciousness. However, the more that she gained an understanding of her surroundings, the sudden feeling of a hand upon her caused every muscle in her body to lock. Then came that understanding that she was only remaining propped up by her head resting against him.Lowering her head as she slumped forward enough to gain her own bearings while seated, Mariah uttered through clenched teeth, “You have until the count of three to get your hand off me.” She had a feeling she wouldn’t even need to start that clock. By this point, though, it was more than evident that Mariah had returned to her rightful place within her own body, with Aria’s previous warning proven true by Mariah’s snarled murmur.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
"See first with your mind, then with your eyes, and finally with your body"
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 16, 2020 10:15:40 GMT -8
It was a slow, yet sudden shift. The sudden, deep breath she made was the evidence he needed to know Mariah was coming back. All that was left was her fully waking. With it, he knew what was to come most likely come with his hand on her shoulder, but it didn't matter. He only needed it there long enough until she had enough focus to hold herself up. And that was what came to pass.
Her words came sharply as they typically seemed to. That very moment, Gavin's hand retreated casually as he took a couple of steps back in order for her to regain herself completely. There was a slight tilt of his head as his mind started to wade through the thoughts that came about. It was only now that he could truly make a comparison between the sisters. They were like night and day in their personalities and interactions. He knew not of the history that Aria lived, but guessed for what she did live wasn't as rough as Mariah. Even still, he couldn't imagine Mariah being that much different even if she had that same type of life. Then again, he could have been wrong and Mariah could have very much been like her sister had she lived a happier life.
Crossing his arms, only the slightest of smirks came across his face before fading. "Welcome back."
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2020 10:41:27 GMT -8
Gavin’s words resonated with slight irritation, but at the very least, he had stepped away from her as she had demanded. Welcome back. At the very least, he was aware of the shift that happened. It lent some comfort, although not very much, to know that her sister didn’t attempt to act like her. With Aria’s mischief nature, it wouldn’t have surprised her if she had tried. At the very least, Gavin was aware that whatever had been discussed wasn’t something she had offered willingly. Which led to another realm of concern.
“Not exactly a warm welcome anyone wants,” Mariah spat under her breath.
Mariah took in another few beats, another few breaths before she even attempted to stand back to her feet. Even then, though, her movements were slow in comparison to the swift and agile grace she typically exuded. Nonetheless, she made it to her feet, although she didn’t move very far from that exact location. For now, Mariah would need to gather her bearings, one step at a time.
The primary concern, though, was that Aria didn’t pull some stupid stunt. Mariah’s eyes remained fixed upon the pedestal, the artifact within the room. Mariah wouldn’t dare reveal the relief that trickled over her, but another sigh did escape her. The runes were still alight with their arcane fury, and the crystalline shard remained set in place. Either Aria revealed all and Gavin somehow hadn’t a care about it, which was unlikely, or she meddled in other ways. The uncertainty created a tightness in her chest and set a fire within the crimson-haired woman.
“So did you get all the answers you were after, or did she just waste her time seducing you?”
Her next primary concern. Aria’s nature, her body, and Aria hadn't exactly hidden her particular... fascination for him in the past. If Mariah could delve into Chaos just to beat some sense into her sister for this, she very well would have. Then again, if Gavin was that shallow type to fall for it, she had the perfect punching bag right there in the room with her. At this very moment, Mariah couldn't decipher fact from fiction as she continued to fight off the disorientation. Still, that would only be another couple minutes before she could rain hell at her fullest potential.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 16, 2020 10:56:16 GMT -8
Gavin gave a shrug of his shoulders as she spoke, his eyes not leaving her as she stood in case she ended up collapsing. Not something she would have been fond of had he rushed to help her, but something he would have done, nonetheless and faced the fury thereafter. He certainly couldn't blame her with the idea of it not being a warm welcome. Being taken over against one's will wasn't something he imagined to be pleasant, especially the waking back up not knowing what had transpired, which she had verified to be the truth from Aria's words.
It was only for a few moments as she steadied herself and regained some of her composure that the next questions came. He was silent for a second as he contemplated his next words before shaking his head. "No answers. I didn't want them. Not unless you were the one giving them. And no, there was no seducing for whatever reason there would have been to do so." He knew he had gained a few bits of knowledge from Aria, but in all honesty, nothing that answered the questions he had actually asked. That and he didn't ask Aria, nor did he want answers from her so he wasn't lying. But through it all, there had been no attempt to seduce Gavin, though he had remained oblivious to any attention Aria paid him with her interest outside of the anomalist nature he appeared to be to her.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2020 11:31:18 GMT -8
Mariah hummed thoughtfully as she let Gavin’s short explanation shimmer in her head for a moment. It wasn’t as though she was taking his words truly to heart, though, but rather as though she was attempting to gather enough information to unleash her fury upon the first poor soul who managed to say the wrong thing. A few times, she clenched her hand into a fist and relaxed it, before she rested it upon the hilt of her saber.
Mariah stepped down a stair to gain a better understanding to her current status. She still wasn’t one hundred percent, judging by the shakiness in her limbs as she settled her weight upon her foot. She sighed, a quiet growling resonating in her throat. So Gavin hadn’t received his answers nor did Aria attempt seducing him.
“So you come here demanding answers from me, but you didn’t want those answers all along? Perhaps you should take your leave from this place then, as I originally asked, Phoenix.”
Mariah slowly stepped down again, heading to the lowest level of the chambers. However, she only made it another few steps before the weakness in her limbs finally took its toll, forcing her to crumble and grab onto the stairs as to not completely go tumbling down. It was a quick recovery, proving that her reflexes weren't completely muddled. However, she cursed verbally as she pushed herself up, some strange obscenity in a different tongue. Although it closely resembled the Sith language, those who knew it also knew that it wasn’t quite the same, either. Show no weakness, especially with another around. A possible enemy may make note of it, and a so-called trusted friend can swiftly become an enemy with the right persuasion or payment. It was a lesson long burned into her memory, further reinforced and evolved as she was forced to grow up in the underbellies of certain city-planets.
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Gavin Phoenix
The Dark Jedi Order
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Post by Gavin Phoenix on Feb 16, 2020 11:47:48 GMT -8
Gavin stepped back a little more after she spoke her line, leaning up against the wall. It was his small sign of defiance against her request. Now, more than ever did he refuse to just walk away. She was still a little out of it so he wanted to keep eyes on her. Also, he couldn't forget that which Aria had entrusted him with: him being a Guardian. It would be a difficult task, fully getting her to open up and trust him, to feel relaxed around him, but he would try.
He shook his head, though he knew she wouldn't see it as she began making her way down the stairs completely. "I don't recall demanding answers from you. I merely asked a question. You are more than capable of lying to me or not saying anything. Besides, while I would like to know, it felt wrong to cheat my way into that knowledge. I asked you, you are the one that's here. If you don't want to grant me answers, then another shouldn't be able to slip behind your back and tell what you want kept secret."
There was a moment where she began to stumble that forced Gavin to stand straight, ready to rush to her side. Yet, in that split moment, she had already caught herself and began to press forward. She was stubborn, though and though, but she was strong and independent. That was something that couldn't be denied. He waited another few moments before slowly progressing down the stairs behind her. "I didn't come here to invade and steal the secrets of your family or their power. If you truly wish me to leave this place, I'll go. But I'll make sure none know of this place or any bit of knowledge that you've imparted to me, even if I need to erase my own memory of this encounter."
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