Lord Havok

Transitions (Part 1)

Az waited for a few seconds for the effects of the recall to wear off. He placed the rune-book back into his pack and, out of force of habit double-checked his gear quickly. His hands did all of this seemingly of their own accord, his attention, and most if not all of his senses were focused on his surroundings. He was on the southern tip of the Island of Makoto-Jima, literally, for he could hear and smell the sea, not more then four feet behind him. He even believed he could feel the salt spray hitting him where he stood. At the thought of the salt getting on his armor he briskly started to walk across the road to the large three story building that was, for the time being?, the 13th's HQ. After assessing that all was as it should be with the base, Az took a moment to visually inspect the surronding buildings.

Az was quite familiar with Zento, he had spent much of his youth here, learning the art of Bushido. From where he stood he could hear the bustle of the city. If there was any truth to the rumors he had heard they may shortly be withdrawing from this building, and from Zento itself. He smiled to himself at the thought of Wraith being in trouble, the two did not get along well at all. Wraith referred to Az as "the silent one" and Az referred to Wraith as "The Sneak".

As he was standing there, outside the door to the building, Az realized he was just prolonging the inevitable. He had been sent to Magicina to assist in it's defense and now he must inform Lord Havok that he had failed, that the city was almost completely destroyed.

He took a moment to close his eyes and relax, he quickly went through some simple breathing exercises that helped him relax and find his center. Feeling much better he removed his shoes and entered the building.

The previous tenants had run a tavern on this floor. Lord Havok had not changed much since moving in, so the bar and all the furniture remained as it had been. There was a small kitchen in the back, a small eating area in front of the kitchen, and a large, horseshoe shaped, bar taking up the central part of the room with small tables and stools around the perimeter of it.

Az walked past the large fish tank that sat on the west side of the bar itself, past the fireplace and mongbat-bat dart-board, and made his way up the stairs to the second floor.

He found Lord Havok in one of the rooms at the front of the building. Walking through the door Az's eyes were drawn to the amazing view of the sea directly in front of him, it was a nice view from here, but it was truly amazing from the third floor, he began to realize that he would miss this place, though he'd only been in it once or twice in the two weeks that they'd had it.

Drawing his eyes away from the view Az took in the room, and it's occupants. Lord Havok sat at a small writing table with a huge book open in front of him, at the moment he seemed to be heavily concentrating on his writing.

Az was a little surprised, Lord Havok almost always wore his plate-mail armor or at the very least his robe, but at the moment he was simply dressed in a comfortable looking dark red Hakama and a pair of black Tattsuke-Hakama. Az also noted that Lord Havok did not have the Vampiric Embrace spell enacted, "Strange Indeed" he thought to himself.

Sprawled across a couch on the other side of the room was Wraith, The Sneak, dressed all in black, a fancy shirt and matching pants, boots, and cape. Az looked at Wraith's boots with disdain. "Ah, Silent One, does my foot wear disturb you?....has it offended you, "O" Great Samurai" Wraith joyful inquired while flipping a knife in the air and catching it.

"Offend me? No Sneak........I was just concerned that the "Rightful Owners" of this building may be offended, when They return to reclaim it." Az winked at Wraith as he finished saying this, and thoroughly enjoyed watching Wraith's face go pale as he nervously glanced at Lord Havok, while at the same time almost impaling himself on the dagger he had been tossing.

"Enough" Havok said from where he was writing. He lightly sprinkled some sand over the wet ink and then turned on his stool to face Az. "Warlord, give me your report on the battle waging in Magicina".

Az stood straight, bowed slightly, then began "Magicina is destroyed sir, there is very little left....the docks and the parliament building are about all that remain, M'lord."

Out of the corner of his eye Az noticed the shocked look on Wraith's face, but if Lord Havok was surprised he did not show it. "Tell me Az, how did this come about so suddenly, just a few days ago Lady Oni and I were in Magicina and there seemed to be very little damage to the buildings."

Az cleared his throat "The Defenders have done an amazing job sir,defending Magicina that is, until the light demons appeared." Az paused here to replay the images in his own mind " I don't know why it happened sir, but people started luring the light demons into or near the buildings, they then provoked the demons to unleash their hellish powers, which quickly damaged and then totally destroyed all of the buildings. Many people then carried off the rubble of the buildings.....for what reason I can not surmise."

"All of the defenders did this? led demons around the buildings?" Havok asked. "No Sir, it started with a few and many tried to stop them, we tried to continue the attack on these light demons, but...." Az shook his head and gazed at the floor "the Heroes defending the city could not be everywhere at once, "he all but whispered" many were still fighting in the woods and were unaware of what was happening in the city." Az paused again.

"Go on Az. what is it you are not telling me?" Havok asked him. Az tore his gaze from the floor and looked at Lord Havok, anger now burning in his eyes "Sir, I miss spoke about not knowing the reason. It seems that most of them did it for simple greed, these light and void demons sometimes have strange magical weapons on them." Wraith snickered where he sat "Greed? in this day and age? you MUST be joking my dear, naive, silent one." Wraith rolled his eyes as a large smile spread across his face.

Az turned towards Wraith, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sheathed sword,"Careful Sneak, you may be hard to find most times, but in a small room like this I don't think even you could hide from this blade."

Wraith raised his eyebrows and ran his hand down over the bottom half of his face, the smile disappearing like the sun going behind some clouds. Now resting his chin in the palm of his hand Wraith's gaze met Az's, "point taken mate" he said, while slowly nodding towards Az.

"The two of you will stop wasting my time, and get back to the business at hand." Havok stated as he rose from his seat. "I must go change, you both have five minutes to meet me downstairs. We have some business to attend to in Cove."

Az stepped in front of Lord Havok before he could leave the room "What of the Demons M'lord?" Havok had drawn himself up to his full height, a dangerous glimmer in his eyes, preparing to reprimand Az for blocking his path but after examining his Warlord for a moment he seemed to relax and then placed his hands on Az's shoulders "After this business in Cove you may return to Magicina and continue to fight the "good" fight......I may even find some time to assist you, how does that sound?"

In response Az simply bowed and stepped aside as Lord Havok walked swiftly past him and into a room across the hall. Wraith walked past Az shaking his head and with an amused gleam in his eye, but he wisely decided to remain silent. Az spent the five minutes restocking his supplies and grabbing a bite to eat. He then met the other two on the road out front.

Lord Havok was now wearing his customary plate-mail armor covered by his robe, Wraith was in his usual leather gear, and both were now armed.

"You both have a rune for Cove in your rune-books?" Havok inquired and they both nodded "very well, we meet at the bank and then we shall meet with the mercenary......and conclude are business with him." and again they both nodded, then all three men removed their rune-books from their packs and triggered their various spells to travel to Cove.

(to be continued....)