The temperature felt like a blazing ninety degrees even though the temperature was only eighty-eight degrees because of the humidity of the recent rains. The constant shelter of the trees gave a grateful shield to the addition of the sun’s heat that would probably have made the journey even more unbearable. The heat was not as bad as the humidity, it made it a little hard to breathe but it was alright. There was a small crunch of grass underfoot as a small group of people walked through the Taurai woods. They seemed to be on a little worn path deep inside the woods.

One of the travelers was a young girl, wearing dark clothes walked slowly as she analyzed the area quickly, her brown eyes shined in the light siffting through the leaves as she watched the area. “Yes...It is this direction. I am certain the item is in the Shrine of the Earth Spirits.” she said as she pointed in the direction ahead. “We should arrive there in about five more minuets, Master.” She said to the others as she continued on towards a small one story building. On the outside were stone pillars with ivy crawling up them. Different types of plants were growing around it as the building stood alone in the clearing. She rolled up her sleeves as she prepared for whatever was inside that Shrine. “According to the information I gathered it should be hidden inside in some sort of urn or vase-like thing.” She said to her companion as she looked at the wooden door considering the threats that might be within.

Anticipation. That's the perfect way to describe what Valafar felt as he trekked through the forest with his loyal aide, Arelia, by his side. Not too the point where it would turn into impatience, as impatience leads to foolhardy choices what would get you killed, but it was more of an excited awareness. This was the best lead he has gotten in a long time, and it was thanks to young Arelia. Such a splendid lass... already showing her potential...

They've been in the Taurai Woods for nearly half a day, finding their way to the Shrine of the Earth Spirits. The weather was sweltering, even under the shade of the trees that surrounded them, but as much as he hated hot weather, the prize was well worth it, that was for certain. In due time, Arelia leaded them to the front of the small-looking shrine. Its wooden doors, walls, and pillars were covered with ivy and moss, making it appear like it was a part of the woods.

Arelia stood in front of the doors with her sleeves rolled up, ready to oppose the shrine as if it was an opponent, stating that the item they sought may be in an urn or vase-like object. Valafar placed a gentle hand on her shoulder before saying, "Just by first glance I can tell this sanctum is not what it appears. Keep this lesson in mind to all matters, things and people, young Arelia."

His hand slid off her shoulder as the demon stepped forward onto a stone step that immediately sunk before a knock was heard and a wooden spear shot from a pillar at a high velocity aiming straight for the white-haired man. It was easily caught by Valafar before it could strike him and he threw it to the side before turning back to Arelia, a handsome smile on his face, "See? Be sure to step cautiously, I'm sure that wasn't the only trap." He then opened the door into the shrine as it made a loud creaking sound from the weathered wood, "Let us continue, shall we?"

Arelia was not certain of what exactly was in there, she just knew a piece of some sort of ancient item was in there. And that item was desperately wanted by her master. And if he wanted it, she would give her life to help him obtain it. Valafar had been quiet the entire time they had been walking, but she could still sense his presence as he walked behind her. She had led them finally to this place. There would be obvious dangers but she knew they could not equal anything she had been through in the slums of Lomedor.

She looked out the corner of her eye as Valafar walked towards her and placed his hand on her shoulder. "Just by first glance I can tell this sanctum is not what it appears. Keep this lesson in mind to all matters, things and people, young Arelia." He said. She looked at him as his hand slid off of her shoulder and he walked up to the shrine. He stepped upon the first step and it sank immediately into the ground from his weight. She took a step as a spear shot from one of the pillars as the step sank. Valafar turned and caught it easily. Throwing it to the side he looked at her, "See? Be sure to step cautiously, I'm sure that wasn't the only trap." He said as she nodded to him and he opened the door. "Let us continue, shall we?" he said.

She nodded and carefully walking up the steps testing them each before she walked up them. None of them moved and no traps were there. Whoever made this place thought that the trap at the door would stop someone, but she was probably certain that they had more inside the shrine then outside, after all, it was guarding something important. Something that she knew they would obtain no matter what.

Upon entering she noticed that it was actually two stories tall, not the one story she had perceived it to be on the outside. It felt like a mausoleum, it was silent like the dead rested even though there were no coffins or crypts to speak of. A single line of torches lined the first floor every three feet. In the back corner on the right was a stairway facing the wall on the next floor. The ceiling had three chandeliers that lit the room fully every ten feet. The floor was gleaming, most likely it was cleaned in the last hour or so, she could see a set of footprints in the moisture on the ground heading towar“So there is at least one person here besides us.” ds the stairs. She whispered silently to Valafar. Stepping inside she heard some sort of scraping sound, it was faint but she heard it easily. Drawing her dagger she leaned back as an arrow flew in front of her. Turning she saw someone jump from behind a pillar that supported the ceiling. “HALT!” he said. The man had brown hair and stood about a few inches taller than Valafar. His eyes narrowed behind a drawn bow. “This is a sacred area; you do not have permission or worth to enter. The first arrow was a warning. Leave now before you are killed” Arelia looked at Valafar and drew her dagger, waiting on his command for an action. The man looked at Valafar, “Your kind is not allowed. LEAVE! NOW!” he barked.

Valafar allowed Arelia to move ahead of him, intending to test her abilities even further. He has initiated these tests many times in the past several weeks, curious to see how the fared in accepting the power he had granted her. Although a learning curve was present, she was very well-endowed, but the tests will not end until she has fully accepted and mastered her newfound potency.

As his accomplice dwelt into the shrine, the demon took a gander at the insides, and it was a magnificent place. Roots and tree trunks lined the walls along with lit torches, the ceiling held hanging chandeliers and was partially covered with strands of ivy. The large room was relatively clean for an ancient shrine, and this caught Valafar's attention. His suspicions were confirmed as Arelia motioned toward damp footprints on the floor, giving a whispered warning that they may not be alone.

They took barely a step before an arrow darted past, Arelia and Valafar noticing a figure that jumped from a support pillar, giving his warnings to leave or face the consequences of refusal. What surprised Valafar was the stranger's ability to identify that he was a demon, therefore concluded that this was no ordinary man, but perhaps a monk or a priest of some kind, but it spelled trouble.

The demon sighed, pushing his glasses up to have a closer look at the man, "I'm sorry, but your commands are in vain, good sir." He turned to his accomplice, "You may kill him, Arelia." Yet another test administered by Valafar, as Arelia's involvement was not needed, for the demon can easily kill the stranger. But this man was obviously no grunt, so perhaps he'd be a match for the young assassin? Unlikely, but it was worth a try.

Arelia definately could tell that this man was a preist of Earth, or at least Nature by the look of his garbed preist clothes. His bow was already drawn with an arrow that seemed to have some kind of red tip on it. She did not know ranged weapons well but she knew that in any case this man was going out. She would kill him, or her master would, but this man was not walking out of this shrine ever again. She watched in silence as the man pulled the bow tighter waiting for them to turn around...or attack.

Valafar pushed up his glasses with a sigh, a common line of when he was really tired of people getting in the way or thinking they were strong when they were really just all talk. "I'm sorry, but your commands are in vain, good sir." he said, she turned to look at him as he looked at her. She could already tell what was going through his mind and what would happen. Valafar had already sealed this mans fate, "You may kill him, Arelia." Valafar ordered. Arelia turned back to the man and closing her eyes to get a feel of the place took two steps towards the preist. "I am ordering you..." the man began before Arelia broke in. "Just shut it. I don't listen to some simpleton's orders..." she said spinning her dagger in her hand. "You don't order me around. My loyalty is with Lord Valafar. And Lord Valafar alone." she said opening her eyes.

The man stepped back, the look in Arelia's eyes seemed to be one of bloodlust, she felt the shadows in her heart break free. She ran towards the man as he let the arrow go. She dodged quickly and continued her assault. Her eyes darkened as the power of shadows once again flew freely in her body. "Allow me to show you the power I was given." she said as she felt the power of strength flow through her. The man grabbed for an arrow in his quiver but Arelia was already on him. She took her dagger and tried to stab him. He moved too quickly though and she got him in his arm as he blocked his heart. Moving to grab her wrist he looked in her eyes. "Filthy DEMON!" he spat as he tried to throw her off but she grabbed his cloak and held tightly. "WHA? LET GO!" he shouted as the preist moved to try and shake her off. Using her right leg she kicked the top of his foot. A satisfying small crack was heard as he winced in pain letting her go. She knew she cracked the small bone that helped him stand. He would not be able to run, let alone walk if at all.

Taking out her dagger from the mans arm she smirked at the man as he got up off the ground. Her eyes were impassible, almost as if she was deviod of any sympathy or mercy. The man struggled to get up as his arm bleeded proufusely at the wound she made. He tossed his bow to the ground, it was useless, just as his arm now was. "Vile demon...How dare you manipulate the mind of someone so young!" he said as he drew a katana from his side and with one hand ran towards Valafar. "Now I know why I never went to ANY temples." Arelia said as she ran towards the man and flanked him, two yards away from Valafar the man jolted as Arelia put her dagger in his heart. The man dropped his sword and fell backwards, blood dripped on the no longer clean floor. "How...Could you control someone's mind like that?" the man coughed. "Simple...I am not controled. I am in this on my own will." she said pulling out her dagger. "You must break free child, he will kill you if you remain his mind slave." he said. She rolled her eyes, "Obviously that attack destroyed your hearing as well." she muttered as she took a clean corner of his clothes and wiped her blade off. "I am starting to get the hang of this strengthen thing." she said standing up.

It was a brilliant display shown by Arelia. The priest stood no chance from the moment Valafar gave the order to kill; her bloodlust was magnificent, much like his own when he was young so many centuries ago, and it was enough to kill anything without remorse. In a sense... he was... proud.

As Arelia finished off the pitiful priest, his remarks of the demon's "control" over the young girl made him grin widely. Valafar knelt down beside the near-death man, grabbing his brown hair tightly to make him listen through the pain he was experiencing, "Listen well, priest. Arelia serves under me by her own free will because she did not want to grovel before the ones in this world who take life for granted. Know that I gave her a choice, and she chose power."

The priest turned his head to just barely look into Valafar's wicked red eyes, his face expressing anger, denial, hatred, all in one setting, "You..." Was all he could say before going limp. Valafar tossed him aside, standing straight while wiping his hands off, "Pathetic worm."

Turning towards Arelia, his charming smile returned, "I must say that was well done, my dear. But we are not done yet, our 'collectible' is still to be found. Perhaps we should proceed to the upper level?"

His hand waved towards himself, signaling for his accomplice to follow. He took his steps up to the next level, noticing that this shrine had no windows, only torches and candles. This only meant that the entire structure is covered by vines, trees, and other plant life, so there was no telling how big the shrine really was.

The sound of a click was heard underneath Valafar's feet, and there was no time to react as a spear shot from within the stairwell itself, impaling the demon through his shoulder. He grunted slightly, favoring his shoulder as the wound started flaring up in a white fire, "Well... that's no good." His legs carried him up to the top of the stairs before his knees dropped like a couple of stones as his body fell into weakness. This was no normal spear, it was imbued with holy magic, and it hurt as if all of heaven and hell were unleashed onto the wound.

As his concentration wore thin, his human guise began to fade as his true demonic form was hardly starting to show; his teeth became more sharp and jagged, his eyes became fiery red orbs and his skin was starting to char and chip away. He turned away from Arelia as he spoke in a broken sentence, his charming, gentlemanly voice now gone, replaced by a deep, fiendish tone, "Do not... look... young Arelia... I... do not wish... for you to see me in... such a state."

His hand reached to his back, grabbing the spear before breaking it in half, then grabbed the other end and forcefully pulled it out of his shoulder, howling an inhuman cry of pain as the spear dropped to the floor. The wound began to mend itself, but very slowly, and his features started to revert back to human form, his body, however, was still severely sapped from the holy magic. His mannerly voice returned as he spoke again, "Go on ahead, Arelia. I will follow you shortly when I recuperate."

Arelia watched as Valafar walked over to the preist, she wiped her mouth as she felt it bleed a little. She watched as Valafar pulled the preist close to him. "Listen well, priest. Arelia serves under me by her own free will because she did not want to grovel before the ones in this world who take life for granted. Know that I gave her a choice, and she chose power." The preist was obviously in denial because he still would not believe as Valafar tossed him aside.

She looked at the man limp on the ground his eyes staring at them, "Pathetic worm." he said as she nodded in agreement. Wether either of them realized it or not was uncertian but it was definately observable that Valafars' attitude and reaction towards the people of this world were rubbing off on Arelia. She had already grown bitter towards anyone other than her master and she never treated anyone but him with respect. He turned towards her and smiled, "I must say that was well done, my dear. But we are not done yet, our 'collectible' is still to be found. Perhaps we should proceed to the upper level?" he said. She nodded and walked on, "As you wish."

She followed Valafar up the stairs, halfway up she heard a click, almost instintaniously there was a spear shooting out from the stairwell. Barely missing Arelia's cheek it impacted Valafar in the shoulder. "MASTER!" she cried as the wound was engulfed in white flames. "Well... that's no good." he said. Grunting he carried himself to the top of the stairs before his legs fell from underneith him.

She walked towards him, he seemed in terrible pain as she moved slowly towards him. Suddenly turning away from her she was about to reach for the spear, "Let me..." she began before he spoke interupting her in a strange dark voice, "Do not... look... young Arelia... I... do not wish... for you to see me in... such a state." he commanded.

Nodding she turned away and shut her eyes. She heard the snap of the spear and then an inhuman cry that made her very body quiver in fear and sent a cold chill throughout her body. Hearing his gasps she turned to look upon him once more. "Go on ahead, Arelia. I will follow you shortly when I recuperate." he said as he motioned for her to continue. Nodding she walked on ever alert to the areas around her she needed to be aware of her surroundings or she would be taken as well.

She held her dagger waiting for a moments notice to attack. Suddenly she whirlled around adn threw the dagger. It landed an inch above Valafar's head as a clang was heard. The hild of the dagger blocked a katana as Arelia drew her spineslicer and attacked. The man weilding it looked at her amazed that she saw his attack and drew a small dagger as she clanged it together. "YOU!?"they said in unison as they backed off each other. The man drew back his katana as Arelia stepped in front of Valafar pulling her dagger out of the wall. The man stared at her in disbelief as Arelia held both her blades at the ready. The man blinked then moved to touch her shoulder, "Arelia? Is that really..." he said before she hit him away. "Don't come near me...Don't you come near either of us!" she snapped as the man looked at her, "Come on Arelia stop with these games. He is a demon, you have to see that." She shook her head. "And what if he is? You think I care. Your supposed to be dead." the man looked at her angry. She was different than before, more dark then light. And the man behind her had to be the blame for it.

The shoulder burned with pain as Valafar held it with his hand. It would take more than a day to fully recover from this attack, maybe even weeks or months, for holy power was his bane, it was the only power that he truly feared, and it was the same power that imprisoned him under the earth for so many centuries before he was freed...

His eyes followed Arelia as she walked into the depths of the shrine, obviously being weary of her surroundings so she wouldn't end up like himself, or worse. And it came with no warning, as Arelia threw a dagger near Valafar's head, sticking into the wall he was resting against, and almost immediately a katana appeared from seemingly nowhere, striking the dagger with a loud CLANG! Due to his weakened state, the demon was completely caught off guard by a priest... but this one... was different in some way. He was not dressed the same as the previous one... perhaps the head priest?

Arelia swiftly came to her master's aid, clashing daggers with the man before they instantly recognized one another and disengaged from each other with Arelia standing between Valafar and the "priest". The man knew her name and tried to make some kind of personal connection, but she refused to give in, even after the man revealed that he was a demon. And it occurred to him that Valafar never truly told Arelia what he was ever since they initially met. Perhaps it was assumed she already knew, but the fact remained.

Valafar emitted a weak laugh as he struggled to stand, his red eyes meeting with the eyes of the unidentified man, his voice in a frail tone as he spoke, "It's apparent you two know each other from past circumstances. But sir, please make note, that this is not the same girl you once knew. She is under my wing now, she is a woman of darkness." His attention shifted to Arelia, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Please explain who this man is Arelia, I'm curious to know." Especially concerning the part where he's suppose to be dead.

Arelia stood her ground as she watched the man in front of her. The blood pulsing in her veins began to boil as memories of the past flooded her mind. She knew this man well; she would never forget the scar he had on his cheek, for she was the one to put it there. The man was wearing the same garbage clothes he was wearing when he was up in the mountains where he had found her. But comparing that life to the life in Lomedor, she would take the streets of Lomedor any day. If she had her way she would forget those memories forever. Even if it meant leaving a gaping hole in her memory she would not care. She took a familiar stance, mocking him in how he trained her. He clenched his teeth. “You can’t tell me you do not realize he is a demon Arelia. You must see how the power of the spear imbued with a holy stone has impacted him. He almost turned into his true form.” He said as Arelia tried to block out his voice from her mind, to forget him and his connection to her.

Behind her she could hear Valafars struggled breathing, he was getting better but it would be a while before he was fully one hundred percent himself. She thought about it, he had seemed different when the spear hit him but that was not important, she had sworn her life to him, and because of that she was bound to protect and serve him no matter what even if he was a demon. She heard movement and Valafars' familiar laugh. Though it was weak it still held its mocking tone. She could feel him struggling to stand as he got up. ‘Master Valafar. You’re not ready for battle.’ she thought as she glanced towards her demonic master for a moment. "It's apparent you two know each other from past circumstances. But sir, please make note, that this is not the same girl you once knew. She is under my wing now; she is a woman of darkness." Valafar said. The elderly samurai warrior gripped his katana tightly as he stared angrily at Valafar, denial in his eyes but also a look of knowing. “Tell me demon...What spell did you use to corrupt her mind into following you? Or was it an empty promise made to her for some service to you?” he asked then gave a grin of contempt and valor, “Because whatever it is I will cleanse her of it and free her from your control!” he said.

Arelia was getting really ticked at this mans words, “This time when I kill you I’ll cut out your throat so you can’t talk. Your words are nothing but noise in my ears and mind. Your memory is nothing but a time I want to forget.” She said as she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Please explain who this man is Arelia, I'm curious to know." She gave a smirk as she slid her shoulder from under his hand and stepped towards the man to prepare for a fight. “In all honesty, Master Valafar, this man is someone who I would enjoy forgetting. He was my former sensei in the arts of a samurai...” she said trailing off for a moment as she felt the strength from the dark power Valafar gave her grow once more. She focused it so it would strengthen her enough so she could kill him this time. “...And is now the bane of my existence. Everything I once was is what he represents. And I had killed him in his sleep a long time ago. I guess I missed his heart, But I won’t miss this time sensei. That you can count on.” She said.

He looked at her and then at Valafar. “So demon...Your name is Valafar? Good. A true samurai never truly finds victory in a battle where his opponent has no identity. I will enjoy ridding the world of your filth, and freeing Arelia.” He said. She gave a glance to Valafar with a smirk. “This guy is in deep denial, I attempted to kill him way before I met you.” She said as she leapt towards him trying to attack. The man dodged as Arelia watched through the corner of her eye, “MASTER! There is someone on your right!” she shouted as she turned to try and get to him but the katana of her master sliced into her back. She fell to the ground as crimson blood flowed down her back. “Arelia, stay where you are!” he commanded as another lowly priest drew a dagger and went for Valafar. Her old sensei went to help but she stabbed his leg with her dagger. He fell as she tried to scramble to her feet to help her master. She quickly moved as the dagger glowed with a holy aura and stabbed Arelia in the back as she lept in between them, falling onto the demon as the priest pulled his dagger out. She winced in pain at the burning aura of the holy energy. "You...All of you here will die..." she gasped as she swung her dagger behind her slashing the man in the throat. She was quick and strong, but she was human, and she would take as much as she could. But a young girl was not that much against people who were trained in the holy arts.

“MASTER! There is someone on your right!” Arelia screamed, and another priest caught Valafar off-guard, armed with a holy knife. He tried to reach for his weapon to defend but the pain in his shoulder was too unbearable, and the priest came down upon him to strike him, but Arelia jumped in the way of the attack to protect her master, the knife digging deep into her back as the demon held her in his arms, the shock of pain could be seen in her gray eyes.

"Arelia..." Was all he could say, but it was with... emotion. It was probably the first time in his ancient life that he felt... grief. He was confused, his face expressed it, for he was a demon, a heartless being, how could he feel for just a... a human? It made no sense.

"You...All of you here will die..." She said in a gasp. And Valafar gently laid her down on the shrine floor which immediately started to form a pool of blood, his hand stroked her cheek softly as a small sign of affection, but unseen by the samurai and priest, black shadowy tendrils whipped from his hand and absorbed themselves into Arelia's body, and began to heal her heavily wounded back.

Valafar slowly stood up to face the two men, his eyes blazing with fire and anger, showing off his jagged, sharp demonic teeth, his voice now as monstrous as ever, "You'll pay for this, you cretins. You'll pay with your blood." His scimitar was now unsheathed, held in his blood-covered hand as its pristine design glimmered in the faint light that surrounded them. He wasn't at his full potential, and he can only fight against two trained men for so long while in his current state, but it was hopefully for enough time so Arelia could become fully healed.

"You brought this upon Arelia yourself, vile demon. You are to blame."

"She chose this path on her own free will. I simply gave her the opportunity, something you could've never given her." In a hasty motion, Valafar leaped at the two men, slashing at a wide arc with his scimitar, but they both dodged, the priest lunged at him with the dagger, but the demon's leg had a longer reach, kicking him away as the samurai attacked, but the scimitar blocked the katana in a fierce clash, the two blades locking together in a test of strength. The demonic strength of Valafar was overpowering that of the samurai's until he kicked the demon in the gut, making him lose his balance before the katana slashed him horizontally across the chest, fire in place of blood spewing from the gash, the grip on the scimitar lost as it dropped to the ground.

Grasping his chest, Valafar saw the priest coming to finish him off, shouting in a victory howl, "Begone, demon!" In a quick second, the demon uttered, "Thup." And snapped his fingers, a fiery whip of many thongs manifested in his hand in an instant, and his hand flicked towards the priest, the whip striking him in a vertical motion, the burning lash searing his clothes and skin from his waist up to his chin. The priest was paralyzed with pain and screamed in horror as his knees buckled, the knife dropping to the floor with a loud rattle.

The samurai retaliated for his ally, chopping down at Valafar but the demon moved in time, snapping his whip as a counterattack, the katana blocked the blow and the samurai sped into close proximity of Valafar so the demon could not attack with his whip, and with his sword gone, it was an easy attack as he plunged the katana into Valafar's gut, his eyes turning wide as the blade pierced through his body, flames bursting from both sides.

The sword slowly slid out from Valafar's body, red hot from the inferno that was the demon's insides, and he went to his knees. The samurai pointed the weapon at Valafar as he spoke, "Prepare to meet your end, foul monster." The demon's head looked up at him, and began laughing in a sadistic way, "Such a fool."

Arelia felt the pain grow as she slid off of the priests’ dagger and into the arms of Valafar. She looked up at him and collapsed as the pain grew tenser. "Arelia..." she heard him say as he guided her down to the ground. She tried to fight back and get up to protect him but the pain was too strong for her to move. Wincing in pain she looked up at him as he slowly stroked her cheek, but something about this touch seemed different than when he would put his hand on her head or touch her shoulder as a form of acceptance of a task she completed. She saw dark tendrils flow from his hand and absorb into her skin. She felt them move to the injuries on her back, the holy energy was quickly numbed as she faded into darkness.

The numb feelings of unconsciousness soon absorbed her mind as she drifted off; she felt her back slowly heal to where there was just a small red sore line where the katana was thrust and no wound where the dagger struck. She felt her heart slowly beat a new rhythm as she flew in and out of consciousness. "You brought this upon Arelia yourself, vile demon. You are to blame." She heard the samurai say as she fell back into the darkness. ‘Demon...Master Valafar is a demon?’ she thought as the darkness seemed to shift every which way matching her thoughts. ‘So what...I pledged my...life...to serve him.’ She thought as her mind drifted back to the day they first met. He had changed her life that day and she swore her life to be his slave. And since that day she had fought only for Valafar. She obeyed no one else, and those who thought she was weak did not last long. But the strength of her master was greater than she was, “Valafar...” she whispered, unheard by anyone as she felt the darkness and rage in her heart grow. ‘That’s how I control it...’ she thought as she focused on the darkness making it stronger and pulsing it through her body.

Arelia turned her head as she saw Valafar fighting her old sensei. The demon tried to attack but the Samurai stabbed him through with his Katana. Fire flew from the wound on both sides and she could feel the heat. ‘No...I will not allow it to end this way.’ She thought. Silently she pushed herself up unseen by the two men fighting. "Prepare to meet your end, foul monster." The samurai said as he pointed his katana at Valafar. The demonic master only laughed. "Such a fool." He said. “Give my regards to the underworld demons.” He said about to finish it when a whisper came from behind him, “Tell the demons yourself.” he heard. Turning he saw Arelia bracing herself against the pillar gasping for air, her dagger balanced in her hand. One look in her eyes and the samurai knew her soul was now tainted with darkness. “I am sorry Arelia. Maybe in death you will be free of this demon.” He said as he ran towards her. She simply looked at him as he thrust for her heart but she kicked off onto the side as the katana struck the wooden pillar sticking itself into it. He tried to pull it out as Arelia clutched his head. “Ancient Drow proverb: Demons and Rogues know nothing save silence. It appears Samurai know this as well.” She said as she slit his throat. Arterial spray flew everywhere as the samurai fell to the ground. Picking up Valafar’s scimitar she gasped for air as she moved to him. “Here. Let me help you get up.” She said holding out her hand if he would take her assistance. She knew he was one to hate people touching him but if he wished to walk alone she would not press him.

His knees felt glued to the ground, his powers greatly diminished, unable to move at all. Even though he was devoid of energy, he was very lucky the foolish samurai did not bless his katana with holy magic, as that might have been the end of Valafar. The wound that was made by the katana closed slowly by his regeneration, his chest heaving from drawing in heavy breaths. He couldn't see Arelia and the samurai, but he knew she had killed him, and it was most satisfying, despite the pain ravaging his body.

"Here. Let me help you get up." His accomplice said, also breathing heavily, holding out her hand for support, her other hand holding his scimitar.

"Arelia..." He whispered to himself. Such a magnificent girl this was, and yet so young. He'd normally never take such help, but he took her hand anyway, her soft touch sprouting life in his legs as he stood, his red eyes looking down into her brown irises with a weak smile on his face, "Thank you... and, I'm sorry." Never has he spoken an apology before in his whole ancient life, but why start now? "I should have told you. I am a demon."

He gently grabbed his scimitar and sheathed it, unable to look into her eyes again, "You're too precious, Arelia. I no longer think of you as a slave, but as a partner." Were demons even capable to feel? "I want you to know that I..." Or even... care? They grew a bond, yes, but that meant almost nothing. A simple person could create a bond to a tree in a field. But this was something else, something more... something Valafar didn't want to touch because it wasn't like him and his demonic personality.

He found himself stuck to say anything else, and in his pause, instead of continuing his sentence, he walked passed Arelia to where the samurai fell. Taking the katana that was still stuck in the wooden pillar, he examined it, noticing indentations all around the hilt. It almost looks like a key, Valafar thought. Turning around to face his accomplice, he showed the sword to her, "Look at this. Very similar to how a key is designed. But what does it go to?" He knew that it was a very awkward subject change, but it was necessary.