Above Aidan's body, two figures take shape. One is Aidan, the other looks like humanoid fire. The Fire lashes out, but Aidan dodges and slams his fist into it's 'back'.
"You.. gave.. up. Get out of this body!"
"I didn't give up, I tricked you. Fire needs fuel to stay lit, and I took all the fuel away...."
She shoots a positive energy arrow towards Aidan, to keep him alive while the two spirits fight over his body.
"Thanks Lynora. Do me a favor will you? Shoot the Fire."
The fire at the end of the Flame's hands expands and begin spin while a stream of silver light forms a long-curved blade in Aidan's hand. Sparks, both red and silver, fly as fire and blade strike out.
She shoots a positive energy arrow towards Aidan, to keep him alive while the two spirits fight over his body."Thanks Lynora. Do me a favor will you? Shoot the Fire."
The fire at the end of the Flame's hands expands and begin spin while a stream of silver light forms a long-curved blade in Aidan's hand. Sparks, both red and silver, fly as fire and blade strike out.
"Very well, if you think that will help."
She lets a positive energy arrow fly at the Flame.
A song of Life and Water echoes through the barren landscape, given Aidan strength as mist swirls around the fighting spirits.
She lets a positive energy arrow fly at the Flame.
The arrow strikes true, and the Flame flares angrily, doubling in size and swinging it's firestars wildly. But somethings different now, it's bigger and attacking erratically, but it's body seems less dense and the sword wounds don't close as quickly, if they do at all.
"I thought so."
Aidan disappears, and the flames roar in victory. Until, that is, one of the 'arms' fall off. Aidan stands behind it, smiling and holding his blade calmly in front of him.
"Lynora, keep shooting."
He adopts a fighting stance, and readies his spirit form or the Flames next attack...
"You got it," she said, firing off arrows at the Flame as fast as she could shoot them.
Unable to assist with more positive energy attacks, CH waits. The spirit blade in his hand glows red with each hit upon the flame.
A song of Life and Water echoes through the barren landscape, given Aidan strength as mist swirls around the fighting spirits.
E7 conjures the purifying mists that he used to battle the flame damage in the Grove. It joins with the Bard's mist.
Arielle peeks out at the battle from behind her parents. When she sees the tree emperor adding more mist, she decides to try something. She blows gently, sending a gentle wind to help keep the mist around the flames. She watched nervously, afraid that she might have overdone it. Again. But she had really tried to only use just the littlest bit of power.
With the mists and positive energy arrows slowing it down and making it bigger, it isn't long before the Flame can't even get close to Aidan and it becomes almost see-through. Leaping back, Aidan drops into a crouching stance, and disappears as he strikes.
A large hole appears in the Flame's 'torso', and Aidan reappears sheathing his blade. After a moment the Flame collapses and fades away.
Aidan slowly becomes tiny motes of light and floats over to settle in his body. He sits up wearily, holding a bright red ember in his hand.
"That... was interesting. And exhauting."
He falls back down, glancing at the barren land and frowning.
"This place has no heart. It's fire hasn't been lit."
With the mists and positive energy arrows slowing it down and making it bigger, it isn't long before the Flame can't even get close to Aidan and it becomes almost see-through. Leaping back, Aidan drops into a crouching stance, and disappears as he strikes.
A large hole appears in the Flame's 'torso', and Aidan reappears sheathing his blade. After a moment the Flame collapses and fades away.
Aidan slowly becomes tiny motes of light and floats over to settle in his body. He sits up wearily, holding a bright red ember in his hand.
"That... was interesting. And exhausting."
He falls back down, glancing at the barren land and frowning.
"This place has no heart. It's fire hasn't been lit."
"No, it doesn't. It awaits a spark, an ember. And an architect."
"What type of world shall it be?"
Not fully aware of what E7 means, Aidan thinks a moment.
"A peaceful one, under the protection of that blazing moon up there." He says as he point up toward the sky. The moon does indeed seem to be ablaze with silver flame.
Aidan holds up the hand containing the ember.
"The Black has gone from this spark, the only Champion Magic I still have. Put it in the core of this world for me will you?"
"What am I laying on?" He heaves his body off the ground long enough to pull a large seed out from under his back. His eyes widen and begin water.
"Thank you Yggdrasil.. for everything."
Not fully aware of what E7 means, Aidan thinks a moment.
"A peaceful one, under the protection of that blazing moon up there." He says as he point up toward the sky. The moon does indeed seem to be ablaze with silver flame.
Aidan holds up the hand containing the ember.
"The Black has gone from this spark, the only Champion Magic I still have. Put it in the core of this world for me will you?"
E7 gestures and the ground splits, revealing a deep cavern, its bottom beyond sight. He seems reluctant to touch the spark.
"Your touch and yours alone shall shape this place. Place the spark there. Give this land life."
"Oh. Okay."
He holds the ember above the ravine, then drops it in.
"Oh. Okay."
He holds the ember above the ravine, then drops it in.
The ember falls out of sight without a sound. E7 closes the gap. As the ground closes it begins to ripple. The land around them fades and they find themselves once more in the Grove.
Aidan looks at his hands, now empty.
"The Seed is gone. So is the Fire."
His eyes droop slightly as he struggles to stand.
"I think I'll wait until he is a bit more clear-headed and rested before I ask him how he did it.."
Sneaking away, Kaelar goes to confront the Servants.
"The Grove is safe now, the Flame put to good use. You may leave now."
Aidan looks at his hands, now empty.
"The Seed is gone. So is the Fire."
His eyes droop slightly as he struggles to stand.
CH runs forward to catch Aidan before he falls.
"It's always rough when the power leaves you."
LJ will provide a healing spell to ease his exhaustion.
"That should help a little, but it's no substitute for sleep. You did well, Aidan."
CH runs forward to catch Aidan before he falls.
"It's always rough when the power leaves you."
"It was never mine, not really. How could... I fight like that?"
LJ will provide a healing spell to ease his exhaustion.
"That should help a little, but it's no substitute for sleep. You did well, Aidan."
"Thanks Lynora."
"It was never mine, not really. How could... fight like that?"CH runs forward to catch Aidan before he falls.
"It's always rough when the power leaves you."
"It never is. Power uses people. It never truly submits to them."
"What do you mean? As spirits?"
"What do you mean? As spirits?"
"I used a sword to cut a hole in fire. I moved so fast I couldn't see myself. I made a sword out light... and now I'm so tired."
"What do you mean? As spirits?""I used a sword to cut a hole in fire. I moved so fast I couldn't see myself. I made a sword out light... and now I'm so tired."
"You used a lot of your own strength to fight. It's natural that you'd be tired. Especially after becoming used to being able to rely on the strength of fire. It's...hard sometimes, transitioning back to what you would have been," she added with a small grimace that she quickly turned back into a smile. "But there's no need to worry about any of that. You'll have plenty of time to figure out what your new limits and capabilities are."
"What do you mean? As spirits?""I used a sword to cut a hole in fire. I moved so fast I couldn't see myself. I made a sword out light... and now I'm so tired."
"That I do not know. You called upon something deep within yourself."
"We have orders to make certain that Aidan, Champion of Flame, is no more. Emphasis on the 'Champion' bit: if you can remove that, then we shall leave you in peace. Those are Kobold Cleaver's exact orders."
"If you are implying that I am lying, leave now. He is a Champion no more, and thus a problem to you only if you attack him. And then you'll have to deal with all of us. He gave up the Champion's Spark to give life, and I won't have you ruining his victory over the Flame. Leave now of your own free will, or I will turn your own blood against you."
He starts to walk back through the mist then stops and turns to look at them.
"Tell Kobold Cleaver I will not tolerate acts like this much longer."
The mist begins to swirl around him, completely obscuring him from veiw.
"That's a promise..."
"That didn't go well. Seems KC is really set on knowing if Aidan is still a Champion. What do you think he will do if he scries for the Flame and finds it growing?"
"That didn't go well. Seems KC is really set on knowing if Aidan is still a Champion. What do you think he will do if he scries for the Flame and finds it growing?"
"Search for the location, and find a world in the process of birth. Could be a bit shaky if they visit it."
"That didn't go well. Seems KC is really set on knowing if Aidan is still a Champion. What do you think he will do if he scries for the Flame and finds it growing?""Search for the location, and find a world in the process of birth. Could be a bit shaky if they visit it."
"I.. won't let them.. hurt it."
Suddenly, this area of the Grover is cast into shadow. There is a breath of absolute cold, and a box of ice forms around Aidan, trapping him. Frost flies lower.
"I heard that the Tsar was once again loose. Are these rumors true?"
Suddenly, this area of the Grover is cast into shadow. There is a breath of absolute cold, and a box of ice forms around Aidan, trapping him. Frost flies lower.
"I heard that the Tsar was once again loose. Are these rumors true?"
"Let the boy go before I have to free him."
"Let the boy go before I have to free him."Suddenly, this area of the Grover is cast into shadow. There is a breath of absolute cold, and a box of ice forms around Aidan, trapping him. Frost flies lower.
"I heard that the Tsar was once again loose. Are these rumors true?"
"I am sorry, but I cannot trust the word of another Champion. I have heard disturbing news recently, you see. I want the word of one I am certain will not lie."
"I am sorry, but I cannot trust the word of another Champion. I have heard disturbing news recently, you see. I want the word of one I am certain will not lie.""Let the boy go before I have to free him."Suddenly, this area of the Grover is cast into shadow. There is a breath of absolute cold, and a box of ice forms around Aidan, trapping him. Frost flies lower.
"I heard that the Tsar was once again loose. Are these rumors true?"
"I can truthfully say I am not lying. In fact, I am standing, but that isn't the point. He is not a threat to anyone in his current state, and will only be a danger to those who wish him harm after he recovers."
"I am sorry, but I cannot trust the word of another Champion. I have heard disturbing news recently, you see. I want the word of one I am certain will not lie.""Let the boy go before I have to free him."Suddenly, this area of the Grover is cast into shadow. There is a breath of absolute cold, and a box of ice forms around Aidan, trapping him. Frost flies lower.
"I heard that the Tsar was once again loose. Are these rumors true?"
"You should know, Frost, that the 'Tsar', in its many forms, will always find a way to be free. Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth will not be constrained by the likes of us."
"If they boy were the Fire Champion your ice would not hold him."
"Let him go."
"I am sorry, but I cannot trust the word of another Champion. I have heard disturbing news recently, you see. I want the word of one I am certain will not lie.""Let the boy go before I have to free him."Suddenly, this area of the Grover is cast into shadow. There is a breath of absolute cold, and a box of ice forms around Aidan, trapping him. Frost flies lower.
"I heard that the Tsar was once again loose. Are these rumors true?""You should know, Frost, that the 'Tsar', in its many forms, will always find a way to be free. Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth will not be constrained by the likes of us."
"If they boy were the Fire Champion your ice would not hold him."
"Let him go."
He sighs. "Very well. Just a precaution." The ice vanishes. "You can never be too careful. I heard Kobold Cleaver speaking to his men about the Tsar, and had to make certain that you were not in peril. The ice, by the way, may very well have held him. I had it enchanted against heat." He looks irritated, and turns to the Bard. "And this one? He is safe? He is a champion as well."
"The only evil Champion was the Tsar. Don't forget that only moments ago I was willing to fight you to free Aidan."
"Yhough I suppose KC may be an Evil Champion now..."
"The only evil Champion was the Tsar. Don't forget that only moments ago I was willing to fight you to free Aidan."
He shakes his head.
"I have heard studies. Have you ever heard of an Elemental Champion who lived past the danger? No. They all died. Champions aren't meant to live. they're meant to fight."
"The only evil Champion was the Tsar. Don't forget that only moments ago I was willing to fight you to free Aidan."
He shakes his head.
"I have heard studies. Have you ever heard of an Elemental Champion who lived past the danger? No. They all died. Champions aren't meant to live. they're meant to fight."
"And there is still danger, as there will always be. I have lived to long to die because I am a Champion. I've seen so much, in this world and in the Stream. I may die one day, but it won't be because some Servant decided to study a few examples."
"And just because the original Champion may have been fighters-to-the-death, it doesn't mean I am."
"The only evil Champion was the Tsar. Don't forget that only moments ago I was willing to fight you to free Aidan."
He shakes his head.
"I have heard studies. Have you ever heard of an Elemental Champion who lived past the danger? No. They all died. Champions aren't meant to live. they're meant to fight.""And there is still danger, as there will always be. I have lived to long to die because I am a Champion. I've seen so much, in this world and in the Stream. I may die one day, but it won't be because some Servant decided to study a few examples."
"And just because the original Champion may have been fighters-to-the-death, it doesn't mean I am."
"Oh really? Champions are called when there is imbalance. Now there is not. All Champions, even Kobold Cleaver, are at risk."
"Oh really? Champions are called when there is imbalance. Now there is not. All Champions, even Kobold Cleaver, are at risk.""The only evil Champion was the Tsar. Don't forget that only moments ago I was willing to fight you to free Aidan."
He shakes his head.
"I have heard studies. Have you ever heard of an Elemental Champion who lived past the danger? No. They all died. Champions aren't meant to live. they're meant to fight.""And there is still danger, as there will always be. I have lived to long to die because I am a Champion. I've seen so much, in this world and in the Stream. I may die one day, but it won't be because some Servant decided to study a few examples."
"And just because the original Champion may have been fighters-to-the-death, it doesn't mean I am."
"Perhaps there is imbalance somewhere else? Perhaps the location of it should be the focus?"
"Light..Dark. Life...Destruction. Imbalance knows many forms."
He shrugs. "I know not. But if ever there comes a time when there is no imbalance, as I believe has happened, the Champions may all feel the consequences. They aren't supposed to live this long."
He shrugs. "I know not. But if ever there comes a time when there is no imbalance, as I believe has happened, the Champions may all feel the consequences. They aren't supposed to live this long."
"Or maybe they are, and none till now have managed to live long enough to realize it."