Damsel in Distress }{ Hero or Bad Guy?

[Talwyn]

As Cordana told him about the lab, Talwyns face turned red and he coughed. "Ahum... was there a stylistic image of a red dragon on the floor of the entrance? If yes... my apologies. I know the lab in question because I was the one that destroyed it. I was there two years ago when Anexar contacted me telepathically. He told me there were thieves inside and that it was to dangerous to let them get anything. So rather then risking them getting anything at all, I was told to level the place to the ground. Back then I was still bound by my oath so I didn't question the order..."

Tal went silent for a bit and started digging in his memory. He had helped Anexar find a magical item... but what was its name again. Suddenly remembering he turned to Cordana again. "From what I know, Anexar's goal is to summon a demon lord named Zorursth'du to this world. To do that, he needed an item known as The Emerald of the Analai. I found it and gave it to Anexar. He used it to open the portal to this world. I managed to close it before Zorursth'du had fully materialized in this world by destroying the item. You seem to know a lot about these things, but can Zorursth'du be summoned to our world without that magical item?"

As he said that, Tal seemed troubled. Whatever he had seen or done on that day had left its marks...

[cordana]

When Talwyn told her he was responsible for the destruction of the lab she was in Cordana raised an eyebrow. "Really? That was you? What a small world we live in." She finished her first fish and started on her second. "Don't worry. you didn't hurt me then. I shielded myself from the debris and I blasted my way trough the ruins after." The dark elf shook her shoulders.

Then when Cordana heard the name Zorusth'du she stopped eating for a moment. If it was true then Talwyn might have saved thousands of lives that moment. Cordana was glad to hear that the emerald was destroyed but then she sighed. "The best thing about demons is that they aren't picky about how you summon them." Cordana grabbed a twig and she twirled it around with her fingers.

"This twig, for example, could even summon him, as long as it has enough magical energy to support the doorway." She threw the twig away; "The item doesn't matter. The magical energies does. Luckily items with enough energy to support a summon like Zorusth'du are extremely rare."

[Talwyn]

Talwyn sighed upon hearing Cordana's explanation. "I had hoped I had put a permanent end to his mad scheme. Anexar's 'gift' to me is the only reason I survived that day... funny isn't it? The one experiment to bind a pawn to him caused his plans to fail."

He fell silent again, reliving memories he had buried away deeply hoping to never recounting them. Burying them once again he stared at Cordana, a question in his eyes with a hesitant look on his face. "So... now that you have heard my tale, it is only fair I get to hear yours don't you think? Given the way you look, it is bound to be at least as interesting as mine."

[cordana]

Cordana wasn't planning to give to much info of herself to Talwyn, not that she had any problems with her history but she thought you could better learn from your past instead of sulking about it. "Let's see." Cordana started.

"It has been a while so my memories are a bit rusty. I was once a magister in my dark elf clan. When I was a hundered and twenty, I think, I got banished because I was investigating demon magic." She was rubbing her chin trying to remember the details. An elf might have allot of knowledge and wisdom but that doesn't mean their memory is infinite. "

Since then I have been living in the wilds. I kept experimenting with fel energies until I attracted some "unwanted" company. A demon, which..." Her hands glided across the piece of cloth that covered her carved out eyes. "... gave me this right before I banished him. Not that I am blind. The demon did something which allows me to see magic itself. It's perfect to track demons, no matter in which form they are hiding."

Then Cordana looked at her clawed hands. "Then I started to fight demons with their own weapons and protect the other civilians from them. Sadly the use of demonic energies results in this." She gestured towards her body. " I have no problems with it though. It's a small price to pay, to gain power to protect others." She looked at Talwyn. "That's me in a nutshell. Is there anything else you'd like to know?"

[Talwyn]

"Heh... you elves can take everything so casually. Yeah I got the power I wanted and yes I used it to protect others. But I never asked to look like this. All I get when people see how I look is cold, sometimes even hostile, stares. The sooner I can find a way to become a normal human once again the better."

Before Cordana could respond to him however, he stood up and walked off towards the river. When he reached the shore, he picked up a pebble lying at his feet and tossed it in such a way that it bounced of the surface of the water twice before finally sinking. Sitting down, he stared at his reflection in the water. Grabbing yet another pebble, he tossed it at his reflection while muttering a curse. How anyone could not mind looking like some sort of monster was beyond him.

After sulking for a bit he made himself snap out of it. It would get him nowhere, and he to get back to Cordana before she would decide to leave. It seemed she had been around for quite awhile so maybe she would know something that could be useful in his quest to become human once more. So, he got up while muttering one more curse aimed at Anexar and walked back to the campfire.

"Well, I told you my story so you know all I want is to change myself back. You said you where a magister so I assume that means there was some sort of academy where you lived. Do you know anything that might help me? Or might any of your former colleagues be able to help?"

[cordana]

The fact that Talwyn got changed seemed to be something which he had allot of trouble with to accept. Cordana to knew how it felt to be judged, looked down upon and getting hostile treatments from other people. Bu Cordana didn't had any trouble accepting her methemorposis, partly because she was much older and knew it wasn't so important and partly because it was purely voluntarily.

When Talwyn stood up and walked away the elf let him be for a moment. The past emotions were, obviously, to much to bear as he didn't got over his past yet. While waiting for the man to return Cordana finished her last fish.

Eventually her companion returned and asked an, expected question. "Yes, I used to study and work in an academy but sadly I got banished. So that would be the last thing I could use for aid. But perhaps I could contact one of my colleagues that are in the field and which I am still contacting. Perhaps when you are lucky one of them had stumbled upon an old ruin. If not I still have two ideas of were to go then. It is still a guess then."

[Talwyn]

When Cordana told him she might have a few options he could turn to, Tal's face became full of determination. One look at the sky however, showed that it was nearing nightfall causing Talwyn to, just barely, hold his desire to leave immediately in check. "How soon can you contact them?" He asked instead.

Taking his scabbard from his belt, he sat down with his back to a tree. Even after closing his eyes, he still held the scabbard in his hands. Obviously he had learned to sleep in such a way that he could immediately grab his sword if the need was there. After only a few minutes, he was asleep. Still, from the way his ears continued to perk at every little sound, it was obvious that he would not be caught off guard even during his sleep. Also, this night he slept restless. Constantly twisting and turning and even some mumbling, though it was so soft that in order to hear what he was saying, one would have to place his ears next to his mouth.

When morning came, he woke when the first rays of light touched his face. Getting up, he stretched his sore muscles and placed his scabbard back on his belt. Walking over to the river he scanned it for fish. Using a quick incantation that called upon the power of Sylpheed, the air spirit, he managed to blast several fish out of the water without causing any exterior damage while still instantly killing them due to the speed with which they hit the ground. Normally, he'd do it the old fashioned way. But now, thanks to Cordana, he was just to impatient.

Walking back to the little camp, he threw the fish on the ground and wandered off again to find some firewood. After he had found enough, he quickly made a fire and placed the fish on the sticks again. Staring at the fish, it was almost as if he was urging them to roast faster.

[cordana]

Cordana was rubbing her chin while thinking. "I'm not sure how I should contact them. It's best we sleep the night over it, I guess." Through the years of her banishment Cordana still kept some contact with a couple of her former colleagues.

Night soon fell and Cordana observed how Talwyn slowly fell asleep. The dark elf didn't need sleep as she relied on something different. Slowly she took the flask from her belt and placed it against her lips. The black liquid poured down her throat and she felt a sudden boost of energy. The fel magic streamed through her body and a blissfull feeling spread itself.

Suddenly Cordana had an idea. From another of her packs on her belt she took a black crystal, a scrying crystal. It was out of use for some time and the dark elf would need practise before she could use it perfectly again.

The sun had risen and Talwyn woke up. Cordana was still sitting in the same position as she was last evening. "Good morning." She said at the man. Then Talwyn started to fish but on a more impatient way and with the use of magic. "You should be carefull. The abuse of magic will eventualy take it's cost on you. Especially with shaman magic. If the elements think you are just using them, they will eventually stop listening." Cordana stood up, her ligs were a bit stiff.

[Talwyn]

Tal laughed at Cordana's warning. "If that were the case, they would have denied Anexar the use of their power long ago. And I have seen him channel spells that no ordinary person can withstand. So I highly doubt they'll get angry with me for those few occasions that border on "abuse" of their power."

Impatient as he was, he checked if the fish in front of him was done, but placed it back disappointed by the fact he had to wait a bit longer. He started drawing in the sand with his finger, almost like an impatient child. It was obvious he wanted to ask Cordana how and when she could contact her former colleagues once more, but didn't because he didn't want to sound impatient. Grabbing the fish again, he checked once more to see if it was done. This time it was barely done and could have done with another minute above the fire, but he started eating anyway.

After finishing the fish, he could no longer hold back his impatience. "So, did you think of a way to contact those colleagues of yours?"

[cordana]

Cordana started to frown at Talwyn's reply. "Anexar is more of a demonologist then an elementalist. He doesn't lend the power of nature, he enslaves it." The dark elf stood up and sat a bit closer to the fire. The glow of the flames gave her face an otherwordly look. "He'll get his just reward, eventually."

While waiting Cordana noticed that Talwyn got even more impatient. She was quite reluctant to eat fish again but she had no other choice. Next morning she would hunt for food. Then she grabbed the black crystal. "I'll be able to contact them with this. But leave the use of it to me, when you aren't used to the use of arcane magic your own selfconsiuosnexx will be absorbed into it."

[Talwyn]

Tal grabbed the crystal when Cordana showed it to him and he studied it thoroughly while absentmindedly assuring Cordana he was just looking. Since he had started his studies on shamanic magic with Anexar he had gained in interest in anything magical. This, combined with the many hidden labs full of ancient books, and the many ruins and libraries he had visited after turning against Anexar had left him with quite a lot of knowledge... for a 20 year old human anyway. Besides, while he was content with the use of "just" his shamanic magic, he did figure that in order to change back to a normal human, he might need knowledge on different fields as well.

Handing the crystal back he looked at Cordana. "I might be young, especially considering you are an elf, but I am well aware of the dangers the use of arcane magic present. Even before turning against Anexar I have read countless of books and studied a lot of different ancient texts. I learned a thing or two that way and I shall continue to increase my knowledge in whatever magic field I can." He quickly raised his hand to silence Cordana before she could throw a warning at him. "However, just because I have the knowledge, doesn't mean I have the ability for some and I am content with 'merely' commanding the forces of nature. I shall continue to look at whatever field I can however, it might present me with a way to achieve my one goal."

Having said that, he looked at the ground, hesitated slightly and then told something that would probably make even Cordana nervous. "... Also, you are underestimating Anexar. He is not a demonologist. When I started to serve him, about three to four years ago, he used only shamanic magic. I later learned Anexar had no problems with white magic either... Shortly before he betrayed our contract, I learned just what he is capable of. That man has knowledge about every kind of magic available... and knows how to use it as well."

[cordana]

When Talwyn grabbed the crystal Cordana wanted to stop him. The young man assured to her he was just looking but that didn't make her feel more relieved. "Be careful with that." She still said. "It is my last one." Inside the dark elf was wondering how much the man could know about magical artifacts. Not as much as her of course, but he seemed to know more than the average human on his age.

When the dark elf could hold the crystal in her clawed hands once more she was glad, at least she was sure it was safe now. Talwyn then started talking about his knowledge about magic, she just listened at first but then Cordana wanted to say something but Talwyn's hand prevented her. The elf let the human speak until he was completely finished.

"Knowledge is the silent death of the inexperienced." Cordana said after a moment of silent. "It is a saying used on the Magister Academy. It comes with a story." The dark elf said. "A farmer, suffering from drought, couldn't feed his family. When in the village drinking away his sorrows a magister entered. The farmer asked the magister to let it rain on his field so he can feed his family."

Cordana paused for a moment and seemed to be drawing something in the sand. "The magister refused because if he would help the farmer then everyone else would come to him and in a day his entire magical essence would disappear. The farmer said nothing and waited at the bar. When the magister left the inn, the farmer followed him, killed the man and stole the books the magister was carrying."

While telling the tale Cordana kept drawing. It seemed to e a simple line with other lines sprouting out of it. Dark elvish runes were written next to the lines. "The farmer practiced the spells in the books for months and just at the point his family would starve the farmer summoned rain. Instead of simple rain he got a heavy storm. The farmer hid in the shed, on the highest level, where the water couldn't reach him. When the storm died, his entire field was filled with crops, as far as the eye could see!" Cordana laid down the stick she was drawing with.

"Filled with euphoria the farmer went to his house, but he found it flooded. Inside, after struggling through gallons of water, he found his family trapped in the basement and drowned." A moment of silence fell afterwards. then the dark elf spoke again. "Consider it your first unofficial lesson from your unofficial arcane teacher."

"And about Anexar being a demonologist. I was talking about the way he harnesses magic, not the "type" he used." The word "type" was spoken out with a tone of amusement. "An elementalist loans his powers from the elements around him, his power varies from his environment. A cleric offers his prayers to the divine spirit he serves, his powers varies from the spirit he revers. But a demonologist surrenders his soul to a demon so that demon will grant him power from anything he wants but still in the limit of the demon's power." Cordana paused a moment, waiting till everything got trough Talwyn but continued before she could be interrupted. "That's why I was after Anexar. His powers are far to great to serve a common demon, now I know it is from Zorusth'du."

[Talwyn]

Tal nodded at the story about the farmer. "Thanks for the lesson, though I have heard the story before. Well, not exactly the same of course, but it carried the same meaning. But I assure you, I have intention of using anything other than what I understand. My premature death due to the use of something I hadn't studied enough would make my quest to become normal again a bit difficult, wouldn't you agree?" He actually gave a small grin at the last part. Still, while he was making a joke about it, it was obvious he knew and understood the risks Cordana tried to alert him to.

He listened with interest to Cordana's words about the ways of harnessing magic, though his face darkened at the mention of Zorusth'du. It was obvious this was a name he wanted to forget. Instead of dwelling on it however, he merely looked at Cordana with the impatient look he had before. "So? Can you try and contact that colleague of yours right away? If possible I want to get a few miles closer to whatever our destination is."

[cordana]

Cordana knew Talwyn was impatient and decided not to test his patience any longer. She grabbed the black crystal and slowly let her arcane energy pulse trough the crystal. How long it took, Cordana didn't know as to her it just appeared as mere seconds. But eventually she got a reply.

"I have found someone." Cordana said while slowly standing up. "His name is Avar, an old magister. I knew him when I was teaching on the academy." She looked around till she pointed towards a direction. "He resides in a small village called Ascelia, not to far from here." The dark elf picked up her sword and waited for the human to get ready.

[Talwyn]

While to Cordana it only seemed like mere seconds, for Talwyn it seemed more like hours. He was that impatient. The moment she told him she found someone his impatience was washed away, and determination filled his face, only to be flushed away at the mere mention of the towns name. Gone was the determination, the eagerness to go. It had been replaced by doubt and hesitance. His face had turned pale, and his breathing stopped.

Upon realizing this, he forced himself to calm down and got up. With forced cheerfulness and faked impatience that couldn't even fool himself he walked passed Cordana as he told her they should get going then.