Ashes of Time - A Beginning

[Vaine]

Timestamp: Flashback AV

He lay naked. Naked on the floor and with two strong black eyes. He was Akalak. He was young, he was lithe, he was holding something between his palms that scalded even the hair from both muscular arms. It was a real head.. A severed skull who's tongue stuck out it's mouth and eyes lifted to see the Ukalas. It's features looked just like him.

Standing slowly, the present rolled away but continued to stare. He stumbled along the severity of wooden pillars, falling into the slanted stone of streets, his hair wrought and tumbling over blue skin. He wept. Not like a man holding back tears, nor like a boy in pain. He wept from the heart, cursing the ground and the sky above. Pushing onlookers away, the moon grazed him like an arrow, for there was no rise to the sun. There was only dark night, stars and unflinching reality. The reality of his closest friend and nephew gone. Flooding anger, hope that when waking he'd find his blood kin there and laughing at an innocent morning jest.

"Who did this....."

Silence answered and in violent anger the young Akalak tried to blindly kick through the doors of the Sovereign's house, drunk, mad and holding the dripping head of his family.

"WHO. - Who would do this..."

Naked still the Akalak nearly killed anything that moved to help, swinging his dagger while stumbling against each step. Eyes pleading in terror and twisted in immortal disbelief.

He whispered, slurring words in pain.

"Whhooo."

[Coatl]

Nevar Chivan had heard from the gaurds that a fellow Akalak carrying the head of a fallen was coming foreward in a saddened berserk like rage. The Akalak race was a race of great compassion and honor. THe thought of a fellow Akalak suffering so hurt him deeply. He had told the gaurds to let their 'brother' come through, so this was how Vaine was able to get near the front steps of the estate.

The Leader of Riverfall watched Vaine stumble and fall upon the steps, swinging his Lakan at thin air, and still holding the head of his cousin. Nevar and Vaine had never formally met, but Nevar knew all there was to know about the living Akalak and the dead Akalak. It was his position, given to him by his father, which was passed down father to first born as ordered by Wysar.

Tears welled up in the leaders eyes. A moment such as this could end with the death of not one, but two Akalak. It was the unfortunate aspect of having two souls jockeying for control of one body. Without the discipline of Wysar, the emotions from this battle could drive an Akalak insane. Nevar did not want to see Vaine mentally kill himself. Even the dark half taking control of Vaine's body was a far better option than a mental conflict which led to death. Vaine did not know this, but if the two halves fought and one killed the other, both souls died. They were bound to each other like parallel planes of existance.

Tears still in his eyes, Nevar stepped towards the fallen Akalak. Nothing was in his hands and they were outstretched like a mother might call to her son, "Try to ease your pain my brother. Do not let the rage destroy you inside. I do not know how, but we will work through this and find your nephew's killer. Maintain yourself with the discipline Wysar gave you."

There was more that he could have said, but he knew Vaine still needed to work through his anger and get it off his chest. If Vaine let him, Nevar would come and sit on the steps placing his arms around the young warrior. If there was any hint of aggression, Nevar would pause a few feet away and watch Vaine. If Vaine attempted to use the Lakan on Nevar, five arrows from the wall gaurds would pierce his body. Nevar did not want to see this happen.