Completed [Bronze Woods] Where art thou, Master? (Azcadelia)

[Fubuki Kouri]

85th of Spring, 18th of Bell, 513 AV M-master... w-where are you? A translucent figure of a little girl could be seen sitting on top of a rock in the clearing. The clearing that housed so many memories for the little girl since she came to this city. Where... are you? Where?! It was in this clearing that Kouri, the ghost girl, stashed her belongings in a hollow hole near a high tree branch. It was in this clearing that her master and beloved father figure, Cyrus Blackfire, used to train his Reimancy and swordsmanship... and it was also in this clearing that she first met Azcadelia Rosan, Cyrus' friend and comrade. However, something had been wrong in the past weeks. Cyrus didn't came to visit her and when Kouri tried to search for him in Syliras City, she couldn't find any information on his whereabouts. Even the squires of whom Cyrus were part of didn't know where Cyrus had gone for the past weeks. The last time Kouri saw him was when they were going on an expedition to hunt the Pirate Captain Braten in the Suvan Sea together with the Svefras. This is not right, something must have happened; Cyrus couldn't have just disappeared like that, it just didn't make sense... How could he possibly disappear without ever telling Kouri, Madame Azcadelia, Sir Kise, and the knights anything? "WHERE?!! WHERE ARE YOU?!!" Kouri shouted at the top of her ethereal lungs, she couldn't take it anymore, she missed him. Cyrus was the first people who truly loved her since she and her parents died, he was also the one who gave her meaning and goal in her unlife. He's the force that kept Kouri going, she devoted all of her ethereal being to him and how could he just disappeared without a trace?! This is cruel... absolutely cruel... "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!" Kouri shook her head wildly and wailed a banshee-like scream, startling forest animals and birds. "Ha.... ha... hahaha... HAHAHAHA!!! This... this is not happening! This must be a dream... yes! A dream... just a cruel petching nightmare!! HAHAHA!!! I will wake up soon... and then... and then Master will be with me... he will always be with me, HE WILL NEVER LEAVE ME!! NEVEEEEEEEEER!!!!" With that declaration, Kouri stood up and blinked all around places, venting her frustation. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!" She let out another blood-curling scream as she blinked to her treasure hole, and picked up one of her daggers. "Haaaah.... hehehehe... perhaps... you... you..." Kouri talked to no one in particular, her crimson red eyes were in the shape of reptilian-slits and her hair had lost its ribbons and were spread out behind her, chaotically swaying in the air. "ALL OF YOUUUUU!!! YOU PETCHING ANIMALS!! YOU MUST BE THE ONE WHO HIDE HIM!! DIEEEE!!! DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!!!" Kouri vent her anger and frustation at the forest animals. This was completely illogical and absurd but Kouri's insane mind justified her every actions. "Kill you... yeeeessss! I WILL KILL YOU! EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. YOU!! HAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" 3 Bells Later, 21st of Bell, Somewhere in the Woods "Hahaha! DIE!" *Stab* "DIE!" *STAB!* "DIEEEE!!" *CRUNCH!* "Haaa... haa..." Kouri looked down on the dying wolf in front of her, its body full of stab marks as she delivered the killing blow by stabbing its eye. "Kuhuhuhu.... Hahaha..." Behind the insane specter lies a thick trail of various bloody animal corpses. A testament of the massacre by this twisted mockery of a little girl. Kouri didn't even bother to look behind her and realized what she had done. Violently pulling her cold iron dagger from the wolf's left eye, its fresh crimson blood immediately pouring from its ravaged eye socket. "HAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! MASTER! I'LL FIND YOU SOON!!!" In her insane mind, Kouri thought that Cyrus was swallowed by a monster so that's why she couldn't find him anywhere. If someone doesn't stop her, she would target the innocent people travelling at the Kabrin Road next... and it would only bring more tragedy and pain.

[Azcadelia]

Azcadelia Rosan

It had been a somber night for Azcadelia thus far. The events that led up until this time had been rather depressing. First, her spell backfired and almost engulfed herself; secondly she lost the ruby necklace that she had bought in the Bazaar when Shiress and she went shopping and lastly, her friend and mild love interest, Cyrus Blackfire, had disappeared and hadn't bothered to contact her. It had been nearly two fortnights since she had seen him last - during her meeting of his ethereal friend Fubuki.

After spending the night in Syliras' inn and tavern, The Rearing Stallion, she decided it best to leave for a walk in the Bronze Woods and possibly visit the fated clearing where she had met Cyrus.

Her slippers crunched on fallen and abandoned twigs that scattered throughout the forest floor without a tree to call their own. The whole day had been themed to be depressing and mellowing. Every room had been coloured that of a dark rainy day. Even the Stallion seemed to be very humbling and distant, contrasting from how it usually felt - its patrons greeting one another warmly and close.

Her mind wandered back to Cyrus as she stumbled through the woods slowly. The Stallion was were their first encounter led to then to her apartment. A night to surely remember and night that shant be forgotten so easily. He had brought light to her rather dull sexual exploits and made her actually smile genuinely. Everything she had said to him she had meant it and everything that she had felt for him was true. Her own instincts misguided her while she was around him; all of which she had never gotten the chance to show. He disappeared before she could. Cyrus didn't seek her out the same she had he and after using every source she had available to find his whereabouts none yielded fruit. Azcadelia had been caught up in a faint thought that she had once banished from her mind: the thought of a lover again. A true lover, one who would, eventually, shed their secrets to she and she would do to he. Now it was to be purged from her mind again. To shield herself from another heartbreak.

Heartbreak hadn't been easily received to her ever. It had always been concealed by some sort of doubt that made her believe that the person whom she was falling for hadn't actually the same about her. In fact this could be true for Cyrus. She hadn't truly gotten the vibe that he may had actually felt something for her. It may have been because of her demeanor and his ways of living that didn't allow him to show off such emotions in a more obvious way. Cyrus was indeed a secret but a secret that Azcadelia would have taken more than plenty of her time to crack. If it took years to even know his birthday she would've done it.

Azcadelia had come to the clearing by now and taken seat on the rock. It surprised her that she traveled through this forest often and often she left unscathed. No time to doubt her luck now, she thought as she listened to the calming sounds of the eerie night. The night felt omnious as if something terrible was to happen. If not terrible it would be something life changing. Just then her ears picked up the yelling of a girl. The word 'die' repeated many times over. But who would wish such a thing upon another in a time such as this. In a time of overall sorrow and disappointment. Then again, it wasn't hard to believe that someone was getting murdered in the woods at this point in time, at this point in her life. At the somber pinnacle of her existence. It was rather believable. Still it bothered her as the word called out again followed by a cruel laugh. Somehow though, the voice sounded familiar; almost as if it was someone that Azcadelia had known.

The pyromancer heaved herself up from the stone and slid her petite feet into her slippers. Shoving a stray strand of crimson hair behind her ear she took steps toward the shouting voice. After some time of travelling thought the woods slowly she came upon a gruesome sight. Fubuki, the ghost that she had seen with Cyrus more than a fortnight ago, was standing over the corpse of a wolf. An animal slayed by she and stabbed repeatedly - more than enough to kill it. "Fubuki," Azcadelia said carefully, to not provoked the crazed ghost, "what in the gods' name are you doing to this poor beast?"

[Fubuki Kouri]

"HAHAHA!! HEHEHEH!! ohoho... OOOOHOHOHOHOHOHO!!!" Kouri's insane giggling and laughter violently echoed in the forest. Her Soulmist swirling chaotically around herself and her reptilian-like eyes glowed dangerously crimson. "More... more! I will find mo- HEEEE?!!" Kouri heard a human voice calling out to her and quickly turned around to face Azcadelia. "Hahahahaha..." Her insane mind didn't even register the figure as a human female that she knew. She registered Azzy as something that could bleed and die. Kouri grinned wide from ear to ear literally as her cheeks ripped itself apart in two. Her face now looked more like a monster than a little girl. "Kihihihihihihi~" She floated up from the ground by a few inches and her dagger arched itself in a dangerous motion as it made a slashing motion to Azcadelia's body.

[Azcadelia]

Azcadelia Rosan

Azcadelia let out a gasp as the ethereal girl turned the blades on to her after letting out a cringe-worthy laugh. The ghost had clearly gone insane, or was on the brink of it, from losing her master and companion. It was understandable but this was just too far for Azcadelia - who has witnessed such insanity. Fubuki was in the early stages but had advanced quickly into an almost delusional state. This became apparent as she swung the blade through the air slashing towards Azcadelia.

"Fubuki," Azcadelia shouted out, stepping back quickly, "don't you recognize me! It's me, Azcadelia. Madame Azcadelia. The friend of Cyrus." Azcadelia was quick with her words as she dodged another wild throw. It seemed as if her words weren't breaking through the girl's insane barrier. If Azcadelia didn't break through she'd have to defend herself... unwillingly.

[Kisetukai]

Kise had been traveling in the woods by himself for quite some time now, and it didn't take a genius to understand, he was lost. More than lost, he was so lost, couldn't even find where to begin to be lost. He was wondering aimlessly through the woods, the strange part being however, was that he hadn't been attacked by any animals. No wolves, bears, monkeys, bugs, nothing... Nothing could harm him. Nothing was harming him. It seemed however that tonight, possibly as if they all had unanimously voted to migrate, there was a...

Lackage of beast.  

Kise shuddered to himself, for it was cold, well to him at least it was. And he wasn't dressed to participate in such cold whether, his body moving stiffly as he walked, his cloak hovering above the ground. He was dressed in his supreme outfit, not one of his best, but his most agile besides the cape. He had on all black, his new black cargo shorts and his long high top boxing shoes. He even had K's scythe for when they changed, today was nothing but honing skills. Along with a black tee shirt, he could feel the cool air repeated attack on his body. Possibly, there was a stronger force out there trying to tell him something. Possibly. But his main goal was to escape the woods.

The reason he was here was for training in the first place, hence his apparel, and he had lost track of time with night sneaking up on him. However he wasn't scared for this was something he was used to, but then again... These woods weren't the safest place. He continued to walk, his posture and unique stance, it was all his. Until he heard... Laughter? Why did he here laughter? And why did he he hear it at this time of the night? Screaming and shrieks... It was something. Something was going on.

Quickly running and rushing to the area, he made it in about a couple few chimes, following the sounds made by the culprit. What was it? This is what drove him to explore and find out. As he approached he noticed something vile and disgusting. Multiple carcasses laying on the ground, lying lifeless, it was horrid. Quickly sliding down to analyze the situation he quickly began to assess reality. The dead animals lead up to some beast, some beast that was horrifying, so hideous that Kise wanted to instantly run away and alert the knights. But he couldn't... Because what that beast was aiming at. It was a woman.

Her hair, although the light barely shined it, it glowed a nice warm red hue. She seemed to be in panic, dodging the beast's dagger, it wasn't a great situation. She was on... The defensive.

Kise sat behind a bush, watching quietly and confused as the woman evaded. It was a horrible sight, coated in a horrible situation, dipped in the sauce of a gut wrenching choice. Leave and go tell the knights? Sleep in a warm bed and be safe. Or...

Do what a future knight was supposed to do... Protect.  

He didn't know this woman, but it was an obligation. Not of the knights but of his heart, he couldn't just leave and know she was fighting some monster in the woods. Kise stood up slowly, taking in a deep sigh, and exhaling sharply. He walked out of the darkness and into the clearing, the crunching of sticks and pats of dirt amplifying his steps, as he stared down the beast. He spoke loud and proud, prepared to do what had to be done... As soon as he found out himself. 

His arms folded, he slid on his gaunlets, a studded on his right and teethed on his left. It was time, time to see what he could do to this monster. But first, battle cry and heroic speech. 

"Foul beast... You dare to disturb the peace. Even though this is the woods... You have done wrong. You are found guilty, on all accounts. I have announced your wrong doings making me your judge... I have found you guilty making me the jury... And in this case... I will be your demise. Making me the executioner!" He said going from a slight mumble to a loud yelling roar, he never truly thought of what he was going to say, but he thought that was ok for a first try. Slamming his fist together, his gaunlets and body were already warmed up for battle as he spoke outloud, staring at the monster but talking to the woman. 

"You would be wise to run... I will take over now. I you return to town... Inform the knights. Please..." Kise said softly as he awaited for her ok and to leave, putting up his fist ready to fight. Dropping his knees to a half crouch and beginning to sway, he noticed the woman had on slippers... If it came down to it, he may have had to carry her away. May... But for now.

He had this... Thing to deal with.

[Fubuki Kouri]

"Fuh... fuhaha... FUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" In her deranged state, Kouri obviously could not listen to any of Azzy's attempt to calm her down. The insane ghost kept slashing around her cold iron dagger at Azcadelia. She would not stop until her body is lying lifeless and full of gruesome stab marks. "Die... DIE... DIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIEDIE!!!" Kouri's shrill haunting voice was bordering on unintelligible as she kept screaming dooms and curses. "GRRRR!!!" The woman kept dodging, Kouri just acted on her twisted instinct and kept slashing and piercing with her cold iron dagger. ".......grrrrrrr...." Kouri let out a low growl as she spotted another prey entered the scene. In her normal state, Kouri would recognize the newcomer as Sir Kise, her strange friend with multiple personalities inside of him. Kouri would happily skipped and hugged him as she liked Kise; not including K or Shin though, and felt safe with him. But this was not Kouri, this was an insane angry ghost in the form of a little girl. Losing Cyrus, her master and morality chain, made Kouri succumbed to her ghostly impulses and went insane, just like most ghosts. ".........." Kouri murderously stared at Kise as her instinct told her that he was a bigger target and was easier to hit. Kouri didn't let him finish his dazzling heroic speech and blinked to behind him, materialized herself, and hugged his body really really tight. Both of her ethereal hands were pressing his eyes, her instinct told her to use her frost ghostly touch to stun Kise. The floating dagger quickly switched its target from Azzy to Kise and promptly launch itself to stab Kise's chest, specifically at his heart.

[Azcadelia]

Azcadelia Rosan

Azcadelia barely side-stepped another reckless swing of the dagger when she saw a dark skinned man appear from the brush nearby. To her startling surprise it was Ser Kise, the squire and knight to be. Thank the gods, she thought. She'd never thought she'd see Kise again and hoped not to but given the predicament she was pleased to see him. Her small joy sank when Kouri turned on him with dagger raised, ready to plunge it into the depths of the squire's heart. "Kise, step back!" she yelled, hoping her voice shrilled higher than Kouri's screaming of death.

There was no way Kouri would stop such nonsense by speech alone, force had to be taken, sadly. With heavy heart Azcadelia called upon the spirit of her mother to guide her in her casting. With a small incantation - mentioning of her mother - she pulled the earth from in front of Kise to turn it on the ethereal being. The ground groaned, as she Azcadelia, as it tore asunder from it's place that it has been for years. The twisted earth, now possessed by the Res of Azcadelia turned in on Kouri, hopefully engulfing the materialized ghost beneath it.

[Kisetukai]

Who the heck interrupts a heroic speech?!

Kise quickly lost control when he felt the chilling touch of... That beast. Was it a ghost? How did it do that?! Either way, it all happened oh so fast. As it blinked, he lost sight of it. "What the pe-" He was shocked to feel the touch of the beast behind him, as if it was embracing him playfully, but then he heard a flurry of sounds. One voice standing out, between the sick cackles of the monster it was that woman. "Telling him to dodge, watch out, or something. Either way he was confused, why would he trying to dodge, the beast had already grasped him. He decided that it was just natural for a woman to scream when someone was in trouble. Using his calf muscles, he manage a small hop or two, not making much of a true change. It was then he heard something whizz by, something like an arrow. It possibly could've been metallic, but he wouldn't know, not now at least. 

Suddenly, he was set free, somehow released from the chilling bonds. Quickly performing a small, and some what unnecessary, turn around summersault. He was confused to see what he was looking at, the earth literally moving, and breaking. What was going on? What was happening? Why was this-

It was that woman... Performing small incantations of some sort. A magic user? How was she doing that? Whatever! Keep it going! Somehow his summersault made him end up near her, on her right side a bit in front of her. Speaking without looking at her, he was still gasping for air a bit. "Thanks for your help mam... I promise I'll return the favor. Now if you can... Tell me what that thing is? And how can I beat it? Please I don't wanna put your life in danger." He was paying mostly attention to what the magic was doing and how it affected the beast.

 

[Fubuki Kouri]

"huhuhuh... heeehehehehe... HYAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Kouri maniacally laughed right beside Kise's right ear as the dagger headed for a fatal blow. "HAHA-GAH!!" Kouri was suddenly cut short when she felt something grabbing and dragging her down to the ground. Her surprise made her released her hold on Kise and her dagger missing and hit a tree bark. "GRRRRRRRRR!!! AAAAAAAAAGH!! GYAAAAAAAAAH!!" She screamed as tried to pull herself out of the ground to no avail, then her beastly instinct worked itself as Kouri suddenly flashed a malicious psychotic grin to both Azzy and Kise "Hehehehehe..." She unmaterialized herself and vanished from the ground where she was binded. "La la la la la~♪" The beautiful, yet eerie and psychotic humming of a song could be heard in the clearing. Kouri appeared near her dagger and began slowly cocking her head side to side as she sung a song with a voice that could drive lesser men mad with fear. One, two, I am coming for you... Three, four, gonna stab your eyes... Five, six, with my four daggers... Seven, eight, just go to sleep... Nine, ten, never wake again... In between her singing, Kouri picked up her dagger and launched it, this time targeting Azcadelia's right eye.

[Azcadelia]

Azcadelia Rosan

Azcadelia was slightly relieved when Kouri went down underneath the earthen defense. Her relief was cut short when Kouri dematerialized and vanished from beneath the earthen prison. A short song strung with the intent to kill was chimed from the insane ghost's mouth. Azcadelia's eyes followed the song until Kouri's dagger - that had been cast away into a nearby tree - was ripped from the bark by a materialized Kouri.

Kouri's wild eyes landed on Azcadelia and she gained towards her quickly. The ethereal being was crazed and insane and Azcadelia didn't know what to do. Never had she faced this predicament before and never did she want to again. Whenever it came her time to go she'd just go and hopefully be reincarnated into something resembling her past life.

Her mind turned back to Kouri, who was now mere inches away from the mage. The ghost's dagger was upturned in the air and bearing down towards Azcadelia's face, more specifically: her eye. In a small attempt to protect her face Azcadelia breathed out a small puff of flame, hopefully to take Kouri off guard and prevent the sure death of Azcadelia. If that wasn't to work then a swift jab to the rib cage would do it.