Re: Kylie (Courage Wolf)
All hell broke loose as Amara bit the bullet for Kylie, surging the Assassin with energy that set everything back into motion, the magic of the temple rising like a tide before crashing and breaking harmlessly around Kylie rather then holding her in limbo.
As Maria launched herself forward to force Kylie back to herself, she found herself very confused, and in danger as Kylie split, like something had torn the woman down the middle into two different versions of what was certainly Not the human she knew.
Standing to her left and holding one sword, was the platinum haired woman she'd seen transfixed, wind surging around her as the sky above darkened, flashing with an ocean storm that was now surging and building to a forte as energies long held in check inside the Assassin were given fresh and powerful new life. There was murder in those eyes. And to her right was an eagerly smiling Kylie holding the other blade, her eyes a blazing gold and her hair an earthy brown. There wasn't murder, but the joy of combat blazing there, both regarding her before Maria leapt back into action as the Kylie that smelled of Storms and Wind turned her blade up, Maria moving to parry immediately before the other was on her other side, both forcing her back.
Maria truly had to show her own skill now, as while Kylie had never mastered a long blade, she was fighting Kylie awakened to her true self, both side of her soul manifested into physical being and the combat that whirled now in the sparring yard would be a thing of legend. Maria was tapping reserves she hadn't touched in a long while as both women, stinking of elemental energy and refusing to let up forced her to truly fight her. The raven queen had let go of Chesire, both watching, Chesire smiling widely and chanting over Amara to ease the task of the angel, and the Raven Queen looking like she'd been punched in the gut. What have you done... she lamented, as the Storm went high while The Earth struck low at Maria, the Vryloka having to parry the top blow before leaping back and rolling away, the Storm flanking hard left and the Earth rushing forward.
This unnatural state of being didn't last however as the two souls that were Kylie couldn't maintain this state without more ambient power to draw on, and indeed as both girls came in towards Maria for what would certainly be a finishing blow, they both slammed back together into Kylie as she Truly was.
Maria parried one blow, and then the next, both swords turned aside as the assassin spun in the air, her now white hair flaring around her face as she turned, her eyes a shocking silver and the storm above them deepening, roiling, boiling in the sky. Lightning arced down towards the assassin, or rather, where she was now, as Maria's return blow was dodged not with grace, but with a teleport that left her standing 10 feet away, the lightning splashing harshly around Kylie... but harmlessly, if anything the assassin absorbing a good portion of it and arcing with energy herself, the electricity rolling along her blades. But now Maria was on the offensive, abusing the fact that Kylie was not as skilled as she was by using her katana to ruthless efficiency, forcing Kylie back with blows that would truly injure her if she hadn't had both swords to counter with. But the strength Kylie was returning the blows with was far above a humans, now on par with the half vampires and the electricity arcing along the blades and into Maria's katana was causing her to falter, to miss blows, giving Kylie more chance to come back at her despite the difference in skill.
Faster it all whirled, Maria pushing harder and harder, sliding into the superhuman heritage that was hers to own to pressure Kylie, only to have Kylie match that speed and more as she ported around the Priestess, forcing her now to ward off spinning, tempest like blows of her own, the assassin always spinning, always moving, putting both blades to use as each blow brought a pivot and a second to match it. Another bolt of lightning from the storm above seperated them, and Kylie literally drew in a matching bolt from the sky and inhaled it, her body glowing now with blue and silver lines where her leather armor didn't cover it. But it was clear who was the better swordsman, Kylie's leather showed shallow cuts and there was a line on her cheek, thin and bleeding. Maria was unscratched, at least by blades.
Do it girl. Wake up. Chesire breathed, the Raven Queen moving to act only to have Lloth and Sehanine appear in front of her. She is our chosen. You have no right. Sehanine said, Lloth nodding and barring her path, the Raven Queen looking at them both before a large, blonde, bearded man wearing half plate and holding a massive axe set a hand on her shoulder. Do not insult this combat further. She is being born. Baptised in fire, awakened in combat. I too will not allow further meddling in her life from you. She is awake. She is no longer mortal. She is beyond your control. he said, those his eyes were sad.
Kylie was meanwhile flying back at Maria, who in a move no one expected, dropped her blade, and grabbed Kylie's wrist, throwing her hard into the ground by flipping her and pinning her, howling in pain herself now as the electrical current the Assassin had picked up tried to throw her off. But it was pointless. Maria would not let her go, refused to let her go. And slowly, finally, the current faded, the sky cleared, and Kylie blinked, confused, groggy, but alive. Feeling frighteningly, powerfully alive.
The various gods, who only Amara would see, except for Chesire, nodded at the conclusion as Kylie became whole again. leaving one by one, Lloth and Sehanine smiling at Kylie from their place until the Raven Queen left her in peace, no longer able to affect her life while Chesire moved to help Amara rise, and then stood over the pair. There she is. There's the beautiful creature I helped create. But, there's one last thing to address isn't there. she said, reaching down to place her hand on Kylie's chest, and then drawing it back, a large leatherbound tome rising from Kylie's body as wisps of smoke only to settle in Chesire's hand. So much trouble for this. But it kept you alive, held your souls in stasis. It was the last act of your brother you know. Imprinting his last thoughts and wishes here, simply to protect you. You were never meant to be seperated from eachother like you were. But even in death he guarded you. Let him rest Kylie, even if you were at fault for his death, you know he'd never want it to hurt you like this. Assassin's Die, that's simply their fate. But you're not an assassin anymore are you dear. You were human when you were conceived but I meddled with you and your brother. Made you more. You have so much to do in this world and you would need time to do it. My last experiment, the last act of true power. To bind your body and soul to the power of the elements around us. she said, Kylie listening, still reeling from the battle, and Maria likewise incapacitated. Giselle was standing to the side, not interfering, but she strode forward now and slapped the halfling hard enough to send her reeling to the ground, fuming above her.
What have you done to my Kylie! she shouted, drawing her hand back for another blow, Amara intercepting her and shaking her head as Chesire rose and finished what she was saying.
Kylie and her Brother were both Stillbirths. They would have died then and there if I hadn't interfered. Which is why the Raven Queen is so keen to keep them from growing. They were never meant to be alive like this. Kylie is more Atronach then Human, more construct then mortal. But she's still Kylie, she's still the woman you love. Isn't that all that matters? I had no grandiose plans or plots. Only to see if I could create life where there was none in a way no one had yet to do. And I succeeded. A victory over my successor she never anticipated, a game she could never win. Kylie needed her brother more then any of you understand. Their souls were bound to one another by the process, when he died, her soul split, magically, to compensate for his loss and wreaked havoc on her mind. her moods. and her psyche. This all has made her whole. She could have lived a human life, died as a human, but she'd have been broken, unable to accept happiness, unable to move on. Now her natures have been rejoined as her body forces it with it's awakening. Rejoice, I've given you and your children immortality. Freedom to live here with you forever. And this damnedable book? Well... see the Amaranthine seek this. Chesire said, turning it to ash in seconds. She is Free. See who she always was. Chesire said, staying firmly focused on the here and now as Kylie rose, bringing Maria with her.
She stripped off her armor, inspecting her own body. Fine silver lines whirled and whorled down her limbs, pulsing with that same silver and blue light and her eyes and hair stayed silver and white. She was in tune with her elements, those of her more combative nature, but seeing Giselle softened her features and her eyes shifted to gold, glowing again with her love. Soon enough the power faded leaving Kylie as she normally was, save her silver hair and her eyes seemed to have naturally adopted a likewise moonlight tint to them instead of their usual hazel.
I'll leave this to you all. I. Want a cup of tea. Amara my fine host, shall we make a cup? let everyone... digest this? Chesire said, smiling and heading towards the temple, the Angel flailing after the strange shaman halfling in a panic.
