Death and Immortallity

[Heartborne]

They’re coming in, Kiern thought to himself, I wondered how long it‘d take. Kiern Valdeimir was slouching against the trunk of a tree by the campfire he had built not an hour ago. With his chin on his chest he appeared to be dozing, but he was wide awake and listening to the three men approaching his camp in the dark, one of them rather quietly and from the opposite direction of the other two. Old trick, he smiled slightly to himself, two to distract from the front, one to kill from behind, my goods split three ways when the dirty work is done. The smile became a cold grin. Sorry boys, this ain’ t your game. He lifted his head just then and looked straight at the two men just coming into the firelight. One of the men was shorter and thinner than the other, but somehow appeared the more important of the two. Each had a sword visible, though the thin man looked less at ease with the thin curved blade at his side than the larger man looked with the broadsword at his. The two men halted their approach, and stood there awkwardly for a moment when he said not a word of greeting. “Forgive us sir, but we seem to have lost our way in these woods,” said the shorter and thinner of the two men. “We cannot hope to find the road again in this dark,” he continued when he got no response, “would you accept a couple of strangers into your camp just for tonight?” Kiern still said nothing, but simply nodded to the opposite side of the fire from which he sat. “Bless you sir,” said the thin man as he and his companion stepped forward as if to take their seats by the fire. But the moment he said “bless you sir” there was a rustle of the brush behind the tree Kiern was slouching against and in a blink all three men sprung into action. Or rather, all four men. Kiern leapt up and whirled to face the fourth man who had disturbed the bushes behind him in the last second. The man’s broadsword was already in motion, a vicious swing that would have decapitated him had he remained seated, but Kiern had been ready. As he leapt up from the tree trunk he bent his upper body down and spun going just under the man’s swing and caught his wrist. As he straightened up he twisted and jerked the man’s arm, dislocating the shoulder and ramming the body into his solid back, cracking the man’s ribs and loosening his grip on the sword. As that man’s limp body fell behind him, Kiern had just enough time to rip the sword from his hand and roll out of the way of the other two men who were upon him by this time, though the whole thing happened in but a matter of seconds. The two men rushed him as he rolled up into a crouch, but they were caught off guard when he sprang up from the crouch at them like a wildcat. As he leapt up and forward he spun in the air, blade swinging for both of his opponents. As he corkscrewed up he uncorked both bottles, and as the bodies and the heads of the would-be robbers thumped onto the ground separate from each other they bled their red wine upon the forest floor. Kiern stood still for but an instant, crouched as he landed, bloodied blade outstretched behind him in one arm, his other arm held out in front of him. Then he straightened, lowered his arms to his sides, and looked down into the terrified eyes of the man he’d left on the ground with a cracked ribcage and a ruined arm. The broken man stared back up at him in a mixture of shock, fear, and hate. Kiern’s right arm remained at his side holding the sword, but he slowly lifted his left hand up until his palm--held as if to catch a ball--faced the man on the ground. He snapped his hand closed and man on the ground convulsed once and was still, and a light glow surrounded Kiern’s hand. The last of his attackers was dead, his life resting in Kiern’s closed fist. Slowly he opened his hand and let the light dissolve into nothing. Turning to the fire, he waved his hand downward and the flames dwindled into nothing. He stood alone and silent in the darkness for a moment. “I’ll keep walking tonight,” he said to himself quietly. With that he strode off through the woods towards the main road, but with the bloody broad-bladed sword still in his hand.

[Shiningami]

The sound of clashing swords and the screams of pain reached the resting ears of the single Elven assassin in this world. Silver eyes slivered open, just open enough to observe where the sounds were coming from and what exactly was in that direction. A small black bird puffed it's feathers out and peeped quietly. "Quiet Mi. Something tonight is not right. What poor soul do you think is being robbed of his things and life tonight?" Again the bird peeped, but it held a sad ring as the sound trailed off into the darkness around them.

The elven assassin floated down from her perch in the tree, her ears trained on the sounds. After a moment of trying to decide if she should investigate, she shrugged, and bounded off into the forest. As she ran, everything seemed like a blur, but after only a few seconds, the noises were louder, and one second later, she was watching the event unravel. It seemed to her that the attackers had become the victims. She watched in amusment as the new-attacker narrowly missed dieing himself, but managed to kill off each of his attackers.

One thing she had never seen a human do before, was his necromancy trick. Her silver eyes squinted in distrust as she watched him literally squish the soul from that bandit. As cool as that can be, people with those type of powrs are not good people. 'If this is a real human...how can he do that? What type of creature is he?'

'I don't know...maybe we should talk to him and find out what he is doing in our forest.' That was the bird. She had followed and landed on the elfs shoulder, and was now watching the man with the bloody broadsword stalk away from the scene. Mi puffed her feathers in aggravation. [/i]'I thought that we were going to actually get sleep tonight!'[/i]

[/i]'Heh. You know btter, Mi. My damned curiousity. I just can't help but knowing everything.'[/i] The Elf chuckled lightly as she stepped out from behind the bushes and silently followed the man, her pure white hair flowing behind her, and despite the dieing embers in the fire, she was almost invisable as she stalked. She followed him for a little while, just long enough to determine if he was going to attempt and harm her if she were to show herself. Mi and herself, currently, were 20 feet behind him, but using one of the easiest elven tricks, they were undetectable.

'How long do we have to follow this guy? I want to sleep.' Complained Mi.

'Well, if you are getting too tired. We'll talk to him now.'

'No! That's not....'

But it was too late. The elf had already sped ahead of the man and had taken the elven spell off of her. She was on the right side of him when she spoke. "So. What brings you to my forest?"

'.....what I meant. Why do you never listen to me?'

'Because you don't speak fast enough.'

[Heartborne]

Startled by the abrupt appearance of someone before him, Kiern immediately fell into a combat stance and took a step back from the women who had somehow just appeared out of nowhere.

[/i]'Shit! Where'd she come from?'[i/] He paused a moment to assess the figure in front of him. [/i]'Hmm, nice looking girl, though there seems to be more to this woman than a nice form. There is something..dangerous about her.'[i/]

"Wanderlust," He replied, and lowered the point of his sword.

As he spoke he cast his mind out to the spirit world--an ability he was proud of--to get a "look," so to speak, of her being. He was shocked by the strength and power of her. [/i] 'She's got to be one of the most powerful people I've seen! And I don't think she's as young as she looks.'[i/]

Eyeing her with a new wariness, and asked, "May I inquire as to who's forest I am passing through, Milady?"

[Shiningami]

Smiling, she uncrossed her arms and set one on her hip, one hand out holding her bird. "Well, this is Mi. She's my only companion." When she started to feel something 'checking her out', she blocked it immedietly, without a hint of what she was doing on her face or in her motions. "I'm Noel Silvers. So. Where have you wandered from? Everybody has to have a beginning."


(Sorry, couldn't think of anything else x.x)

[Heartborne]

When she blocked his viewing of her he was surprised once more, though he made no sign of it this time.

"Kiern Valdeimir," he said with a nod of his head, "I am from the North. I've come south seeking knowledge of the world outside my home and for adventures to test and expand my skills."

"So far I've seen little besides small farms, small animals, and small bandit groups," he said with a shrug. "That is, before I was waylaid by a beautiful lady with a bird on her wrist demanding to know things about me," he added with a grin.

"And why are you in this forest, may I ask?"

[Shiningami]

Giving a sly smile at the compliment, she said "That's a bold statement, but thank you. Anyway, I've been here for a long time...I've been searching for somebody..." Mi chirped and mentally reminded Noel why they were talking to this guy.

"But, before I get into that....What did you do back there to that last guy? That's Necromancy, isn't it?"

[Heartborne]

Kiern's face became stoic. "You saw that?" 'How long has she been watching me?... After a moments pause he replied, "Yes, that was Necromancy. The simple fact of what I did was to tear that man's life energy from his body. Do you find that..distasteful? Most people do, either that or it frightens them to no end. It's just another tool of the trade to me though, albeit one that I seem to have a Gift for...most of my magical powers just come to me randomly at need, but Necromancy is my strongest area. It's in my blood."

Realizing that he was starting to ramble out his life to this stranger, he shifted his stance awkwardly and asked, "You said you were looking for someone? May I ask who? That is, unless you have some problem with me now that you know I am a Necromancer."

[Shiningami]

"I don't have a problem with you. I just find it odd that a human has Necromancing gifts...I thought only demi-gods, elves, and other beings of that sort had those gifts. And the person I'm looking for, is my brother. He disappeared many many years ago, and most believe him to be dead...but then again, most believe me to be dead as well!" Noel shrugged. "I don't think he's gone, I still feel him, I just can't tell where he is."

'You shouldn't be telling this necromancer thing all about your brother!' Mi chirped angrily at Noel, then glared at Keirn through her tiny blue eyes.

'Hey. He might be able to help. I don't like the sound of him being a human necromancer...humans are too reckless with any gifts the Gods bestow upon them...but he doesn't have that aura around him, does he?'

'Why are you asking me? I'm not the Elf here.'

'True. So stop complaining.' With that Mi stopped chattering and thrust her head under her wing in a fluttering fit.

"Don't mind her. And I've been watching you since I heard the first sword strike that tree. I was only a couple miles away, anybody could have heard that noise." Noel winked.

[Heartborne]

"Only a mile or two?" He said raising an eyebrow somewhat incredeously. "Those dainty feet move you along pretty quick like if you were that far off. As for my powers, it's in my blood, has been for generations on my mother's side." He looked at the bird when it glared at him saying, "I'm happy to hear that you don't have a problem with me, but your bird certainly seems to. Not that I find that surprising, plenty of animals I've met have sensed my powers and not liked it one bit."

Kiern began to walk again, and motioned for her to fall in beside him. "Are you an Elf?" He asked suddenly as they began to walk. "Forgive me for the abruptness of such a question, but I've only ever heard of and read of Elves, and you seem to fit the descriptions I've had."

[Shiningami]

Noel smiled at this. "Of course I'm an Elf." SHe pulled her hair back to reveal her pointed ears. "I noticed you checking me out, at least I hope that that was you. If not, I've got a problem on my hands." She continued to smile, "No, Mi doesn't like the fact that I'm talking to you despite you being a human necromancer. She doesn't mind the Necromancing part, because I can do that, but she thinks its horrible for a human to have the powers....mainly because we've seen so many humans use the gifts for evil and they have taken them so irresponsibily...it's rather horrid."

[Heartborne]

"Wow, I never really thought I'd meet one of your kind," Kiern said. "I always thought that the Elves were too aloof, too disdainful or pompeous to consort with humans anymore. And yeah, that was me checking you out. You blocked my view pretty quick and effective like though. Most people never even notice."

"So, what do you do to make your way in this world anyway? I mean, me, I'm an adventurer, mercenary, and sorcerer, but what does a powerful Elf like you do to make your way on your search for your brother? I ask this not just out of curiousity, but also..well...if your quest is not too urgent, I was hoping I might learn a few things from you. Or even if your quest is urgent, my hand can kill and heal, and I would aide you in return for teaching."

Kiern could hardly believe himself for his audaciousness. Making such a request of such a powerful figure, and an Elf no less! He knew that the myths and tales he'd heard of Elves were likely at least somewhat inaccurate, but what if she found a 'reckless human' with his powers too dangerous to let live freely in 'her forest'? 'She could waste me, I saw the sheer strength of her power. I know I don't have the power to challenge such a foe if she decides things against me.'

At least her pretty smile was reassuring. "At least then you could keep an eye on me to make sure I don't become 'reckless'," He added, returning her smile hopefully.

[Shiningami]

"Well, glad to meet you. Most people don't come across Elvish people anymore...mostly because you humans tried to wipe us out a few times, along wtih betrayels." She shrugged. "I don't hold much hatred against humanfolk...just the ones that believe themselves to have killed elves. And the reason why I was able to sense you looking at my powers and such, is because it comes second nature to us, since we have a lot of natural power in us, we can sense when somebody is looking to see how much. More of a defense thing, but if you put your mind to it, even humans can learn to use their hidden powers."

"So, what do you do to make your way in this world anyway? I mean, me, I'm an adventurer, mercenary, and sorcerer, but what does a powerful Elf like you do to make your way on your search for your brother? I ask this not just out of curiousity, but also..well...if your quest is not too urgent, I was hoping I might learn a few things from you. Or even if your quest is urgent, my hand can kill and heal, and I would aide you in return for teaching."

Mi immedietly woke up and started chirping angrily at Kiern, buzzing and darting at his head. Noel quickly shot a hand out as she went into a nose dive to ping his head. She grabbed Mi and set her inside a little pocket on her belt. "Sorry about that. She doesn't like other people much. Doesn't have much of a liking to men in particular...not even my own brother!" Noel laughed, a beautiful thing to hear, like notes being played off of the most wonderfully crafted instrument. "I don't really know how urgent my quest for him is...I've been searching for more than a couple thousand years. I'm afraid he's been captured by the invading army...well...they were invading. When I was little. I haven't seen him since he left for war...But, anyway, I would love the company, and I've never taught anybody before, so I hope I teach you right. Oh, and if Mi starts talking in your head...block her out. She may be a small bird, but she packs a punch." Noel winked.

[Heartborne]

Kiern ducked swiftly to avoid being hit by the small bird, but Noel's sure hand snatched Mi out of the air before impact occurred. "Feisty critter," he noted, eying the pocket holding the bird. "Talk in my head, huh? Hmm, that's something I'd like to learn myself. Is that something you could teach me? But let's keep moving for now. Where should we head to, my Lady Noel?"

[Shiningami]

"To be quite honest, I don't really know where I am going. I just go where my heart leads me." Noel shrugged. "I don't suppose you know where the Black Heart is, or what it is? That name has bene stuck in my head for a while, and I can't help but think that my brother is sending it to me. He always was the best telepathic around." Noel started walking alongside Kiern lost in her thoughts. She held a hand over the pocket that Mi resided in.

'What in the world do you think you are doing you stupid drooling bag of fat! I have half a mind to get out of this pocket and send you on your way you filthy being.' Mi thew her thoughts into Kiern's mind, hurling insults at him and threatening to take over his 'puny-sub-being mind'.

[Heartborne]

Kiern's mind roared savagely at the voice in his head, hoping that he would be sending his message back at the sender.

"I don't suppose you know where the Black Heart is, or what it is? That name has bene stuck in my head for a while, and I can't help but think that my brother is sending it to me. He always was the best telepathic around."

At the mention of the name Black Heart, Kiern stopped dead in his tracks and faced Noel. "Black Heart?" He said after a short pause in which his face had turned stony cold. Slowly black tattoos of jagged & twisting thorns crept across his face and hands, the only exposed parts of his body, & his voice became soft yet violent, like the sound of a blade slowly being drawn as he spoke again, "Aye, I know of a Black Heart, as some have named him....whether he is who you are seeking, I know not." Kiern's knuckles whitened on the hilt of the blade in his hand & he looked away as he muttered under his breath, "I am not yet ready to face him, but I pray I will be soon..."

[Shiningami]

Noel was taken aback by his last comment, and her eyes flashed in disbelief. "You? Take on Blackehearte? You don't know who he really is...do you?"

She went to sit on the ground, and cool green grass appeared right where should would sit. And as she sat, it was so fluid, that it looked as if she were melting to the ground. "Let me tell you something. You may know already, but I will let you in on the Elven version, known as the truth of History..."

In a singsong voice, she painted the picture in Kierns mind of the way things were long ago...

"Over 300 years ago, the 7 Gods and Godesses lived in Peace among each other, each with their own race to care for. Their were the Cat people(Kitians),with thier Goddess Kitmanna; The bird people(Fritans) with their Goddess Frit; The dwarven race(Biornons((BORN-ons)), with their God Biorn; The giant race(Gligtens) with their God Gligt; the Dragon race(Dragonians) with their Goddess Saphira; the Human race with their God Domnial; and finally the Elven race with our Goddess, Arja.

The entire world reigned together in harmony and peace. There were no wars, very little crime, and each country was open to any and all people. There was free trade for everyone, and help could be found any where you looked if you needed it. Yes, it was a time of prosperity...but not all was well with the Gods and Goddesses...The Human God, Domnial, wanted to be the head God, not Arja. So, when the sixth son, of the sixth son, of the sixth son was born to a small village family, Domnial granted this child ultimate power in Darkenesse. But, the child being but one day old, refused his offer for immortality...and so he took half of the Darkenesse he had granted. Seeing Domnial take gifts away from a small babe, Arja grew angry, and was going to revoke Domnials immortality, but because of the tremendous Darkenesse that he had just taken, Domnial was more powerful at that moment than the top Goddess, and he killed her with a most powerfull darke spell. As our Goddess lay dying, my Grandfather, the King of the Elven people, tried to bring her back, but to no avail. So upon the true death of our most beloved Goddess, my people shut our countries walls to every race. We enchanted our land so you could walk through it, and not know where you were walking.

So, without a Goddess to lead our people, we turned to the King, and he took great care of us...but soon he died, and my father was King. Almost the moment in which he was crowned, that horrid babe, declared war.

It had been 29 years since our Goddess was killed. And in those 29 years, that human had grown in power, and he had found a way to remove our enchant and hide spell. By the time he was 17 he had taken over the entire Human country. We know, we watched his efforts to take over the other countries around him. And of course we went to the aid of those countries, since we had no war with them, and that man fell. And by the time he was 26, he had found the place where we were hidden, for you cannot disenchant something if you know not where it is hidden from your eye. And at 28 he had disenchanted us, and on his 29th birthday, he delcared war.

I was only 10 at that time, but my brother was twice my age, and him being the Prince...he was forced to go out into war. But because he did not want to leave me, he went later with the second plontoon of warriors. And in this war, we had no help from countries we had helped. That man, who become known as Blackehearte, sent a tag for my brother...and when he became tagged...that man kidnapped my brother...from the very middle of the plontoon. I have not seen him since..."

"So you see why that if I had been a different Elf, you wouldn't be alive right now." As she finished her tale, her eyes grew dim with sadness and longing to see her brother again.

[Heartborne]

Kiern was silent for a moment, hesitant to break the silence and thoughts of the elf. So, he thought, there is a lot more to Blackheart than I realized.

"Where do you think the Blackhearte is now?" He asked. "I know you say he is far too powerful for me to take on now, but I seek to gain power enough to slay him....for personal reasons, but now also to avenge your brother. Together we can destroy him. Even a god can be killed," he flinched inside as he realized what he'd just said. Idiot. Don't speak to an elf about a god's death.

He waited for a response, expecting the elf to lash out at him, or at least her damned parakeet.

[Shiningami]

Noel sighed as Mi flew out of the pouch, beak aimed at Kierns eye. She shot a hand out and faster than an arrow, Noel caught Mi and brought her back to her shoulder and put a freeze spell on her. "Mi. Leave him alone. I won't unfreeze you until you promise." Mi gave a few pissed off chirps and screeches in protest. Noel sighed once more and blocked her mind from going to Kirens. She had an idea that Mi had already gotten into his mind. "You know, you can block her out. Picture a sturdy wall around your brain, and it will keep most people out, depending on how strong you and they are."

She was silent for a little while longer. "I don't know where he is. I've spent the last couple years hunting him down. Just through thoughts and dreams sent from my brother...it seems like they are slowly draining him...and if they do what I think they are, soon Blackhearte will be as powerful, if not more, as a God."

[Heartborne]

"What do you think Blackhearte is doing to your brother? Some sort of essence absorbing magic on your brother to steal the immortallity and power of an elf?" Kiern asked. "I know a little of such things...it can come in handy."

Almost in an afterthought, he decided to erect a barrier around his mind as Noel had instructed, though he did decide to add his own bent to it. In his mind's eye he pictured his thoughts and inner being surrounded by sphere of brilliant white-hot flame. Let's see if this roasts that acorn sized chicken in her pocket the next time it barges it's thoughts in, he thought to himself with a grin as he looked in her direction.

Dang....if she wasn't some elven princess....He didn't finish the thought. Focus. Focus. You couldn't even woo a human girl, & you don't have time for it anyway.

Pulling a small whetstone from his pocket he began to run it along the edge of his newly acquired sword, as much to sharpen it as to keep himself occupied while he awaited a response from the elven woman.

[Shiningami]

"That was my first guess, but spells and enchantments like those only take a couple hours, if not minutes...my brother has been sending me thoughts and dreams for years and years now...just whenever I get close, it's like I walk into a portal and am thrown even farther off." She sighed heavily, recollecting how frusterating her entire journey thus far as been. "No...I think he's waiting, waiting for me to find my brother, then he has two elves to drain power from...either that or he's waiting until the black moon."

She cast a sidelong glance at his sword. "That is a handsome blade. Where did you aquire that?" she asked with piqued curiousity, it looked extremely like the one her brother had been given before the war...