Lords of Creation (Story Thread 2)

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox smiles slightly to himself as he slips the book into his pack.

"Home....I'm headed home."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"The Desert road can be pretty rough. Here" he takes off his cloak, and hands it to Aox. The Durhian hasn't noticed the hood before. "If a sandstorm kicks up, lay down. I don't know anything that can get through this."

(Create Artifact-6, Defense+1. Cloak of the Veteran, Looks and feels like a normal cloak, but indestructible.)

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox hold the cloak for a moment, rubbing it between his fingers. After a moments thought he glances up at The Veteran and looks him in the eye.

"I swear to you that I will never forget your kindness, I swear I will repay you someday."

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Tyran stepped out onto the arena floor after adjusting his armor, and playing a couple more times with his sword; a little last-minute practice. Keeping in mind what Jissei and Jassi had said to him in combat training, he picked up his shield, and held the grip on the back tightly.

His opponent would be human, another under Gilgamesh.

"So...you're a Boquabian?" The scrappy human brushed back his shoulder-length mane of sweat-soaked blond-hair; he looked at Tyran's blue skin with a smug smirk and gestured with his sword to Tyran's sword and shield, "And what are those made out of, sparkles and rainbows?"

Tyran menaced the human's features; what about him was so strange that this human found him amusing? His hair was yellow, Tyran had friends with yellow skin. Same thing, right?

Oh, well, Tyran thought at last. If this human thought he was so entertaining, he'd just have to work a little harder to convey the true gravity of the situation at hand.

He couldn't wait for the battle signal, so he could do just that.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Well, if you insist." He replied, smiling. "Go on then, son. If you move quick, you can catch a boat early tomorrow. Sliding Sand! Footprints on the Wall!" A pair of Vandals step out of the circle. "Escort our friend to his ship. Make sure he doesn't come to harm. Remember about the thing in the desert I was telling you about."

They nod, and walk over to stand behind Aox. The Veteran salutes. They salute back.

"God speed, son. I wish you safe travels."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"So, is another about to begin?" Two Gods Sitting asked the Watchman, eying the two in the arena intently, hungrily.

"Yes. As soon as Gilgamesh gives the word."

"They should begin now." she says, her voice distant. The Watchman couldn't read her eyes, but he could tell from her tone that she was fascinated. Those eyes were just taking everything in. He wondered exactly how good her vision was, how well she could see.

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox waved goodbye and set out across the desert with his two new traveling companions. He tied the cloak about his neck as he walked.

After a mile or so, Aox finally gave in to the silence. "So, what exactly are you two?"

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

(15 motes previously +3 motes, Total: 18 motes)

Mina concentrated and created 3 more Magatama and a necklace before slipping the Magatama onto the necklace (-18 motes, Create Artifact thrice). This Magatama Necklace would go to Kagehana only if she won three consecutive matches in the tournament.

(Total: 0 motes. I'll expand more on the Magatama Necklace after I finish with my school project. Later y'all.)

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Vandals," said Footprints. "He said we were supposed to be soldiers. That we're meant to protect people. Specifically, from something evil he said was hiding in the desert."

Sand is a lot more informal. "We live in a hole in the ground, outside the government district. We've been working on marching and stuff all day." she looks from side to side. "So, cool arm. Where did you get it?"

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox raises his hand to look at it, flexing it a few times for show.

"It was a gift from a god. Von Trapt."

[Philote]

Motes Left: 1

A golden Sprite flew from Gilgamesh's booth, levitating an object with it.

Moments before, Gilgamesh had summoned Bahamut's Demi-Spirit assistant for his own personal business. Gilgamesh had created a shield that reflect all that was shown to it for the purpose amplifying the difficult of the Vault of the Titans. The shields power would reflect back the qualities of those that entered the Vault. The Spirit Titan would not always use the full power of the Divine Artifact though, but would only use enough that was proper for each person's test. Now all that was left was for the Sprite to deliver the Divine Artifact (-12 Create Divine Artifact, Mirror Shield).

As the Sprite flew off into the distance Gilgamesh signaled for the horns to sound the start of the match.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

" The Castle? So, the cloak wasn't your first, huh? You must be popular with gods."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

"I never thought I was. Though recently I have begun to rethink it."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Don't be to thankful. He was using you as an example dummy." Footprints says with a chuckle.

"What! No way." Sand says.

"Did you happen to notice that we don't have any of those things The Veteran mentioned? He wouldn't be able to fight us with those tips."

Footprints puts her hand to her mouth. "Oh, that is so dickish."

"Our creator is nothing if not pragmatic."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Aox stops, "I....I don't....no, it doesn't matter. I learned a great deal and received a helpful gift, that's all that matter now I suppose."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Oh, I wouldn't make anything of it." says Sand, "It's just his way."

"Use every resource that presents itself." Footprins say, affecting a impressive impression.

"He's big into practicing what he preaches. And you did sort of present yourself." Sand says. "Here; you want to take one of us, use a hammer and go for the joints. We don't have skeletons. Just don't go spreading it around."

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Hmmm, I'll have to keep that in mind. Though I can't see why I'd ever have to fight any of you. You seem so nice."

[Tsubasa & Wen Tien]

After leaving the arena after training, Kagehana and Hikaru separated. Kagehana to do more training on her own and Hikaru to see the stores and sights in Spectropolis. Before Kagehana left Hikaru to her own devices though, she handed Hikaru a bag with money in it so that Hikaru could buy as she liked. Hikaru wandered around Spectropolis taking in the sights of the Religious District and paying homage at Lady Mina's temple before going to the Business District and entering stores to buy items that caught her fancy.

The first store that Hikaru entered was a clothing store and she checked out the most colorful clothes that she saw before finally buying a beautiful kimono with a dragonfly print on it. The dragonflies on the kimono were in every color of the rainbow and apeared to chase each other all around the dress. Hikaru packaged it up neatly before leaving the store.

The next store that she set her sights on was a store that sold weapons. Hikaru wandered aimlessly throughout the store, unable to decide what to buy. Eventually she found herself in a section for bows and arrows. Not knowing what they were, she asked the storekeeper for some information on the weapons. After listening for a few minutes to what the storekeeper knew about bows and arrows, Hikaru decided to buy a set and try them out herself. Now all she needed to do was find a training ground for her new weapon... and a teacher.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Well, not us specifically." She says hastily.

"Maybe us." Footprints interjects.

"No way!" Sand shoots back. "Why would we ever fight Aox?"

"Well, not him specifically."

"Huh? That's-"

"Look." she interrupts, "I'm just being realistic. Things like friend and enemy get muddled up by time, loyalty, and ideology. Situations and people change. That's why it's important that you never begrudge your enemy on the battlefield; they have their reasons, just like you have yours."

Sand stares at her.

"Though yes, I agree that it's unlikely you will ever fight us. Just saying, just because some people are nice to you doesn't mean they can't also be your enemy. After all, they're just...people. Don't assume that good people won't have a legitimate reason to fight you." Footprints adds.

Sand keeps staring at her. "We were both born at the same time, you know. Just today. How are you older?"

[Marvelous Miscreant]

Footprint's words unnerved Aox. Even people he considered friendly could be his enemy. If that was true, was there anyone he could really trust? Aox ruminated on this in silence as they walked.

As he thought, Aox pulled a small thin metal wire out of his bag. He used it to dig any stray sand grains out of the crevices of his robotic hand.