The night had begun and Arelia was already set to go, her dark cape gave her a bit of disguise as the young child moved silently through the allys of lomedor to finally come to the outskirts of "Dark Lomedor" her own unique word for this dark side of town. Simply put it was, as she coined it, a dark and evil place. Any signs of anyone good would rise an alarm so she immediately kept her eyes peeled for any paladins or Lomedor Guards. Although any guards that were here would never be seen again. Arelia walked along the silent path of the rouge as she smiled. Today seemed like it would be a good day for some reason. Something special would happen today. If only she knew how special.

Outside the Pub she could hear crashing and brawling, another fight had begun. And as such she would be fond of people dropping things here and there. Which would bring her some food for today and maybe tomorrow. Suddenly she turned and noticed two men fighting outside. One was a pretty fancy guy, most likely one of the higher ups who wandered into the wrong part of town. The other was one of the norms here. A big thug who was dangerous and deadly. She stood out of his way, he did not mind your being there but get in his way and you die. He took out his sword and in one swoop killed the higher up. Arelia darted out of his way as he moved by her then turned to the dead man. She never really worried about the dead as she raided them. She ran to him and began siffting through his things trying to find something good. She was so into her work that she did not notice someone nearby was watching her as well.

Lómëdor... this city was magnificent, even to him, as much as he hates to admit it. The people, the architecture, the grandness of it all... it made him sick. How could such weak and pitiful beings erect such an amazing city. He wanted to destroy it all, but he knew he couldn't, at least not yet. He was only here for a "vacation," and perhaps something of interest might appease Valafar.

He liked to walk the streets of Drital Qu'ellar more than anywhere else in the city. It held more scum and villainy than half of Arda, his kind of place, and there was nearly no chance of anyone identifying what he really was, which was fine for him and maintaining his low profile. He nearly gave up his identity when he had to kill a guard just to enter the city. But the man was being a moron anyway.

His leather boots treaded through the blackened cobblestone streets, his loose, dark blue and gold noble outfit swaying slightly as his cape flapped behind him. He fixed his spectacles as he heard a tussle near the pub, his red eyes focusing on the action at hand, seeing a hulking thug battling with an aristocrat of some type. The fight was short as the thug easily overpowered the smaller man, instantly killing him. A smile crept across Valafar's face, always enjoying the death of lesser individuals, but his smile disappeared as a female child fixed herself to loot the dead man, Wretched girl.

"Don't you know how pathetic you look, child?" He did not know why he decided to talk to her, it simply spat out of his mouth.

Before she could reply, the hulking thug returned, pushing Valafar from behind, speaking in a booming voice, "Hey, noble, your kind aren't welcome here. Get lost."

Regaining his composure, Valafar turned and looked up at the much larger man, a charming smile revisited his face, "I'm sorry, sir, I'm speaking to this child. Please don't touch me again."

"I said..." The thug barely placed a hand on the white-haired man's shoulder before it was grabbed and crushed, the sound of every bone in his hand breaking echoed through the street. Valafar released the thug's hand, revealing it to be mangled and smashed, and kicked the man's knee, making it bend in the opposite fashion and bringing him down to the disguised demon's level. Before the man could yell in pain, Valafar covered his mouth to muffle the cries, "I warned you to not touch me, vermin." In a swift motion, he twisted his neck, silencing him for good.

He threw the limp body of the hoodlum into a dark alley like garbage, but not before snatching a few coin from his pocket, throwing it to the young thief, "Here, this is what you're looking for, correct?" He paused for a moment before adding on, "Tell me, is this really how you want to spend your life, as a leech?" Again, he didn't know why he even bothered asking. He usually killed such meaningless people to put them out of their misery. Perhaps he was curious to know of a beggars life, as he already knew the life of the spoiled from killing so many of them.

Arelia worked quickly as she sifted through the mans shirt finding some gold and a few worthwhile trinkets. She did not notice the man who came behind her. ""Don't you know how pathetic you look, child?" the man said to her. She turned around and was not able to say anything. She was slightly afraid of him, something evil and vile came off of him that scared her. "Hey, noble, your kind aren't welcome here. Get lost." a theif said to him. She slunk back but said nothing, there was something terrible about this man, she could feel it.

"I'm sorry, sir, I'm speaking to this child. Please don't touch me again." the man said. She got up and was about to take the man and get him out of there or warn him. "I said..." the theif shouted before the man grabbed and crushed his hand. Arelia held in a scream as she watched the stranger. "I warned you to not touch me, vermin." the man said then killed the theif. Arelia fell back as the man grabbed the theifs purse, she knew that the stranger could kill her easily, "Here, this is what you're looking for, correct?" he asked tossing the coins to her.

She watched him as she grabbed them and put them in a small pouch on her waist. "Thank you sir.." she said meekly before the man spoke up again. "Tell me, is this really how you want to spend your life, as a leech?" he asked. She paused. She knew the answer to that but had no clue why she wanted to pause to think. She deserved better than this life, but had no other way to get by. At least, at her age. She shook her head,"No...But, I don't know any other way. Everyone else here is deadly so I just follow them around and take what they do not. Its not much of a living but I know no other way" she said.

Fear vibrated from this girl's body, he could tell. From the centuries of roaming this world, killing people and destroying villages, he could practically smell such an emotion, and it excited him.

"No... but, I don't know any other way. Everyone else here is deadly so I just follow them around and take what they do not. Its not much of a living but I know no other way." The girl spoke with a sort of appetite in her voice, and this intrigued Valafar. It was true that the desire to kill this girl was absent within him, but another ambition formed in his mind: to test her.

"I see." The disguised demon said in response, his face blanketed with a handsome and charming smile, perhaps to try and calm her down, "Child, I learned a very, very long time ago that if you want something, you will take it, no matter how long it takes or how tedious it is. You must be strong and elaborate in this world, or be weak and miserable. It's about what you want and what you're prepared to do to get it." A finger pushed his spectacles up before looking into the Pub, noticing that it was moderately busy, but it didn't matter in any case.

Valafar turned back to the girl, walking up to her before placing a gentle hand on her shoulder, "I am willing to... help you; to help you gain anything that you crave, but you must prove yourself, first, child." He turned her body towards the pub, "I want you to go inside that tavern. Choose anyone to your liking... and kill him... or her, whichever you prefer, and take any valuables that you wish." He turned her facing his red eyes and smiling face, "If you don't do this task, you will share a fate similar to that rude thief earlier." His face grew more serious, "This is the first of many lessons, child: to kill or be killed. You do want to live, don't you?" His arm kindly invited her into the pub, awaiting her choice.

Belschazzar sat down in the pub, a small pile of bodies around him as he drank from a mug. Destruction was obvious here but it added a bit of intellegence to the entire theme of the pub. "Pitiful, Worthless beings." Belschazzar's demonic voice said as he poured the rest of the drink on the body of a man who layed in front of him. The man squirmed a bit and aroused Belschazzar's interest as he examined him closer. "So you survived? The pain must be tremendous." He gave an evil grin as one of his spikes entered into the man's wound, increasing the pain to the point that the man screamed with what little strength he had left. "I bet you want me to end the pain." Belschazzar said with a soft voice. "I am glad that I am not you." His voice returned to it's demonic sound as he continued to torture the man until he died from the pain.

He backed back into his chair as he raised his right hand that lied on the table. "More ale now!" He shouted. The normal murmur of the scum that inhabited the pub resumed. Thugs and mercenaries talking about ways to kill their enemies while a small brawl broke out here and there. Nobody bothered to move the bodies but somebody approached Belschazzar with a mug of ale. Belschazzar took the mug and pushed the man away with his boot, knocking him into a big thug that took him by the shirt and crushed his head, afterwhich he threw the body on the floor and took back to his drink. "Pathetic, miserable beings. Each dumber than the next." He said as he drank from the mug again.

His attention was caught when a man that resembled a noble stood at the door, a young girl could be seen as well. Belschazzar's mind squirmed with an evil idea as he tossed the mug at a man near the door. Belschazzar hit him right at a spot where he would notice the noble-like man. The man had a large sword and approached the noble with it drawn. "A noble huh? We don't like nobles to much, but they are great decorations." The man said before slashing at the 'noble' with his giant blade.

A glass shattered in the doorway near Valafar, but he did not flinch, nor paid any mind to whom threw the mug, however a brawny man, with an equally brawny sword, caught his attention as he decided to step out of the pub and up to the white-haired man, "A noble huh? We don't like nobles too much, but they are great decorations."

With a displeasing sigh, he merely looked at the man, "Another interruption? Hasn't anyone in this desolate district learned any manners?" The giant blade cleaved down, striking him in the shoulder and digging into his body for several inches. There was no blood, however, and Valafar did not wince. The attacking brute's face was in utter shock before he pulled the sword out, expecting to see flesh but instead it looked like searing magma before braids of shadow wrapped around the wound, mending it completely, "That... kind of hurt."

The hooligan attacked again out of sheer panic, and the demon simply caught the blade with his hand, "You didn't think I'd let you do that twice, did you?" His hand twisted, breaking the blade in half before stabbing it into the attacker's throat, blood pouring out of his mouth. Grabbing him by the collar, he tossed him into the same dark alley as his first victim.

He rolled and stretched his shoulder a little bit before he gently placed his hand on the child's shoulder once again, he voice sounded somewhat demanding yet fair,"I am waiting for your action, child."

Arelia looked solumn as she watched him, fear tearing at her. This man had pure evil running in him, and yet for some reason she did not fear for her life rather than fear his powers. "I see. Child, I learned a very, very long time ago that if you want something, you will take it, no matter how long it takes or how tedious it is. You must be strong and elaborate in this world, or be weak and miserable. It's about what you want and what you're prepared to do to get it." he said with a smile. He pushed up his glasses, What I want? I want to be stronger, but I can't do anything. she thought as he placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I am willing to... help you; to help you gain anything that you crave, but you must prove yourself, first, child." She was turned towards the pub. "I want you to go inside that tavern. Choose anyone to your liking... and kill him... or her, whichever you prefer, and take any valuables that you wish." She looked up at his red eyes. They gleamed with excitement for some reason. "If you don't do this task, you will share a fate similar to that rude thief earlier. This is the first of many lessons, child: to kill or be killed. You do want to live, don't you?" he said.

She walked in a few steps before someone else spoke up. "A noble huh? We don't like nobles too much, but they are great decorations." he said. The man then attacked Valafar but it made no real injuries and he killed the man easily. Valafar then turned to her, "I am waiting for your action, child." he said. She nodded meekly and walked in, ignored by most of the people. Moving to the shadows she looked at the crowd around her. Something in her heart seemed to twist as she watched them, something strange was connecting with her as she drew her dagger. These people were full of darkness, and it seemed to vibrate off of them and into her, making her want to kill someone even more. Being of small size she wanted to pick the easiest target, she wanted more but she was no fool. Noticing a man in the back with his back to the door drinking down mug after mug of Dragons blood bomb. He was probably new for the properties of it were known to topple anyone with a weak stomach. Mostly Dwarfs and Orcs drank it, anyone else stayed away. Which meant he was an easy target, and she could tell he was of noble blood trying to hide out in a rough part of town, perfect. Moving around the brawls she stood behind him. "Hic...Ah Hic...More ale-hic- please" he said. She moved towards him and in one quick motion covered his mouth, he struggled and tried to scream for help but she soon put her blade to his neck. "You should have never come here." she said in hi shear and moved it across his throat, the sound seemed to make her adrinaline rush, she could feel it cut into his skin and felt the blood pour out and cover her hand as she finished him. The warm crimson liquid felt strange on her skin as she took the mans life, but she did not stop there, to be sure he was dead she stabbed his heart as well.

She felt weird, different as he finaly left this world. She felt a thrill comming from within her, like she enjoyed killing this man. But she quickly replaced her dagger and dug in his belongings retreaving many valuables taht she hid and ran swiftly towards the door, her clothes and arms covered in the mans life blood. Gold coins and trinkets were doused in red as well as she looked up at Valafar awaiting his reply as she looked to see if anyone noticed. She looked at the man she had killed, it sank in that she did it but for some reason she was able to push away the guilt and remorse she felt and gave a soft childish smile.

There was something so satisfying about commanding a child, a symbol of innocence, to kill someone. She accomplished her objective without remorse or pity, but with cold-blooded ruthlessness. It was somewhat unexpected, thinking that perhaps she would back out, but Valafar was proven wrong... and he was pleased to be so wrong... very pleased.

The girl returned, covered in the blood of her victim, a strangely content smile spread across her face. This made the demon smile, then laugh with a sinister resonance, "It appears that you enjoyed that, child. I'm glad, for that was your first step towards gaining power. To kill without guilt is a wonderful quality, one that is not so easily gained, but you... you have shown yourself otherwise."

Valafar sensed that the girl's fears were now close to, or is, nonexistent. This was something he was hoping for, for if the girl overcame her feeling of dread, he can use her for something more... he was searching for someone as naive and controllable as this for many years, but found nobody with as much potential as her. She was most intriguing.

"If I may propose an offer to you, child." The charm in his voice was very apparent now, his smile as handsome as a young prince, "I would like you to be... an accomplice of mine. Someone who will assassinate, spy, and explore where I cannot. Your freedom would be somewhat absent, but in turn you will gain much, much more, I promise you that." Valafar's eyes looked upon the young woman, rubbing his hand over her shoulder and as he did so, a few tentacle-like wisps of shadow absorbed into her body, giving her a taste of what she could possess, "You may refuse my offer if you wish, and you will receive no penalty for doing so as you have passed your initial test, therefore no punishment will be issued to you by myself."

Stopping for a moment to think, he gave note, "I'm so sorry, after all this I still haven't introduced myself. That was quite rude of me." He bowed gracefully, "I am Valafar. What is your name, young lady?"

The man smiled at her as she looked up at him, "It appears that you enjoyed that, child. I'm glad, for that was your first step towards gaining power. To kill without guilt is a wonderful quality, one that is not so easily gained, but you... you have shown yourself otherwise." he said to her. She looked down at the gold and items she aquired in her very first kill. The blood was now cold on her arms and she gave a small shiver from it in the night air. She shut her eyes quickly to block a sneeze and she looked back at the man. He gave her a smile and spoke again, this time her voice was full of charm as if he was one of those "Prince Charmings" little girls hear in stories their parents told them. "If I may propose an offer to you, child. I would like you to be... an accomplice of mine. Someone who will assassinate, spy, and explore where I cannot. Your freedom would be somewhat absent, but in turn you will gain much, much more, I promise you that." he said.

She lowered her eyes back on the items she aquired, the blood on her arms and allowed her mind to drift back into the memories of her past. Growing up on her own was not easy, always being picked on and running for her life. Not a good thing really, and right now all she had to hold in her hands was well...What she had in her hands right now. Her thoughts were shortened as she felt the man rub her shoulder gently, a feeling she had never been able to feel before. She could feel her memories darken as she thought about her past and what she wanted, what he had asked her. She closed her eyes to think harder as whisps of dark tenticles came off of him and went into her. She felt the darkness call her, the strength she wanted she could have. But to give up her freedom, that was a small thing after all she was a slave to the streets, to fear, to the wants of life... being a slave to a stranger was no different. Think about it, when were you really free? The chance is here and now, don't be scared like you were. You killed that man to live, but now...now you can become stronger by this mans help. He is your key Arelia. Just take it and it will be yours! Accept it, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain. she thought, everyone on the streets said to get something you have to give something. Most people called it "The Alchemist's Law" but it was true."You may refuse my offer if you wish, and you will receive no penalty for doing so as you have passed your initial test, therefore no punishment will be issued to you by myself. I'm so sorry, after all this I still haven't introduced myself. That was quite rude of me." he said.

The man bowed gracefully and spoke up, "I am Valafar. What is your name, young lady?" he asked. She bowed her head, "I took the name Arelia." she answered. For that was the name she chose, if you asked her the very first memory from long ago would be the day she took her name. She looked at the dead man who was now on the floor as another toppled him off and took his seat. She knew the answer to Valafars question of joining him. She looked at him, "They say that in order to gain something something else must be lost. They call it the 'Alchemists Law'. I have nothing, and am nothing to this world and its people. But...all I really have besides what you see me holding now, so I will accept your offer Valafar." she said as she put the small items away and let her hands drop into the warmth of her ragged cloak.

(OOC: I hope you don't mind if I fix the grammar a little, Arelia.)

Arelia... such a tasteful name...

His red eyes looked upon the young girl as she was lost in thought. Valafar knew she didn't have much choice... she would either be a peon in these filthy streets, or become his servant for life, but in return gain anything she wanted. To him it was an easy choice, but he was not her, and he did not know how she felt about her current freedom.

"They say that in order to gain something something else must be lost. They call it the 'Alchemists Law'." He heard of this law, and it held some truth, but he didn't abide by it, he abided by his own rules, "I am nothing to this world and its people. And all I really have besides what you see me holding now is nothing... so I will accept your offer, Valafar."

This brought a eerily content smile upon Valafar's face, placing his hand on her head, starting to stroke her brown hair gently and the shadow wisps returned, running down her back like black water, and began consuming her body from toe to head as the demon said softly, "Do not be afraid."

The darkness swept up her body like a slow-moving curtain, rising up to her neck before absorbing itself into her body, and the blood-stained clothes were gone, replaced by a more suitable, darker attire, "From this moment on, I am your master, young Arelia. You will obey my will and my will alone and in turn you will no longer live a life of weakness and despair." Valafar stepped aside, extending one arm out, his smile very inviting, "Now, shall we begin our future together?"

Edit: (OOC: Arelia is allowed to substitute for Valafar in this topic from now on.)

Arelia finally gave into the sneeze she had been holding back. The night was cold and her clothes were not that warm, they barely even kept the wind out, her only true protection was her cloak. Valafar smiled as she looked up at him, it seemed kind of eerie but for some reason it did not really phase her like it would have five minuets ago when they first met and she was cowering over a corpse. One of the things that made her feel strange about him was his consistant showing of general courtesy and affection. Rubbing her shoulder, stroking her hair, she never felt anything like that before. Maybe that is why she wanted to be his slave of sorts. Not just the strength he promised but it was a ticket out of the pain and anguish of being here. As he placed his hand on her head he gently stroaked her hair, as he did so wisps of darkness once again returned as they moved across her neck and down her back. She froze as she felt the cold darkness flow throughout her body and then towards the ground, Valafar smiled, “Do not be afraid.” He said softly.

The darkness then swept up her body, covering her inch by inch as Arelia looked on, simply standing there waiting for it to stop she did little to resist or fight back but accepted it as well as her new fate. She closed her eyes as the darkness moved up her arms and finally rested itself upon her neck. ‘Freedom... Strange that to get it I would have to give it up forever. But now it does not matter. I will do what I can the best I can. I will not step down ever from this position I have taken.’ She thought as the darkness sank itself inside her skin. Her blood stained tattered clothes were now gone, in their place were darker, more stable and sutible clothes. She opened her eyes once again her eyes seemed darker this time, the decision was final and the pact was sealed. She was his slave until the end of her days in this life. She looked at her hands, the blood now gone as shadows seeped into her skin, she was ready to begin. "From this moment on, I am your master, young Arelia. You will obey my will and my will alone and in turn you will no longer live a life of weakness and despair." he said as she nodded her head to him as he extended his arm out, an inviting smile was on his face. "Now, shall we begin our future together?" he asked. She gave a slight bow to him, “Yes Master. And thank you.” She said and took a few steps as she waited for him to join her. From now on her life, her very existence would be for this man, and this man alone.

Belschazzar watched the two with great interest. To him they were begining to appear more than food but as possible allies. It was difficult for most people to even peak Belschazzar interest. One seemed to be of great power, and the other seemed like the perfect being to mold. He took a big swallow out of a new mug of ale before scanning the room for the next powerful being in the room. He noticed a gang of on edge monsters whom seemed ready to fight, but not Belschazzar. Belschazzar calculated how far they were and how much power he would have to apply to hit them just right. He quickly launched the mug at them and they took their interest into the two Belschazzar had taken an interest in. they stood and approached them with their axes drawn.

Arelia turned as she heard someone burst out the door, the monsters were orcs who seemed pretty agressive right now, but pretty weak as well from all the ale they had been drinking. They growled as they readied their axes to attack. She turned and looked at Valafar, with no doubt they might try going after him she turned back and drew her dagger. Smiling the first orc swung his axe at her, almost instantly she was out of the way. The orc turned to her just as she side stepped him and struck him in the back of his neck, her dagger pierced through his spine and she pulled it out as he fell. The second orc tried to sneak up on her but she heard him and moved out of the way, running towards him she thrust her dagger forwards as the slow moving monster tried to dodge, stabbing him in the heart she turned to the next one. Her heart was beating hard in her chest, she could feel the blood run as the thrill of killing grew in her mind. These creatures were weak and worthless to the world like she once was. The third orc soon fell to her blade as well.

The other three grinned as one kicked a barrel at her. It began to roll but she thrust her dagger into it stopping it easily. However it was a ruse to get the other one behind her. It slashed at her but her dagger met its ax easily, its eyes went wide as Arelia was easily able to block it. She narrowed her eyes as she kicked its stomach, it doubled over as she sliced its throat clean open. Picking up its ax she looked at the one who through the barrel. "Lets see how you like stuff being thrown at you" she said sending the axe spiraling towards the orc. The axe burrowed itself deep into the orc and he sprawled over crying out in pain. Turning to the last orc she smiled, "Lets see if you can do better" she said darkly as the orc gave a war cry and ran towards her she stepped aside and threw her dagger at the wall. Missing its target it embedded itself into the sign of the pub. She dodged the orcs attack as it orc backed her up under the sign. looking up she smirked, jumping onto the barrel and then the sign she swung herself forwards kicking the orc. It toppled back into a pile of wooden planks. The dagger came loose and she fell landing softly, gasping for air she looked at the battlefield. Valafar's smile seemed to have never left his face as he watched her.

Gasping for air she watched Valafar pleased at her work, her eyes were wide as she looked at the bodies. Something was wrong, it was a few moments when her heart slowed down that she realized it, there was no possible way she could have done this before. Something inside of her grew stronger, she would have never been able to take on orcs, even ones as weak as these were. She watched as Valafar walked to her, "You seem surprised. But you should not be. Isn't it obvious young Arelia?" he asked smiling. She looked at him, moving her hand over her heart as if the answer was there. Thinking hard she realized it, she was stronger. She did not really feel it but now she did, something inside of her was stronger, more powerful. She looked at him her eyes shined the answer, "The power I gave you made you stronger, better than you were as a leech on these streets, better than you could ever be on your own." He said putting his hand on her shoulder. "Now come, we have much to do," eh said. She nodded and quickly followed as the sun began to rise. She followed him as she thought, 'So, I have been given a gift? Then I shall use it to become stronger. He saved me from these streets so I owe him the fact that I will become stronger for whatever he needs me for. No matter what.'