Kyran smiled at Gaia's little joke. He liked her glasses. They were cute and enhanced one of his favorite parts of Gaia. His smile, stolen by memories, returned when Gaia began her tirade. When she poked his forehead, Kyran gently touched her wrist. Following the line of her arm, he was able to cup her cheek. It took a few stumbling steps to press his forehead against Gaia's. "I wish I could give you my memories, help you see why this is so hard for me, baby." His thumb caressed her cheek. He found that his sense of touch was more sensitive with his eyesight gone. The sensation made Kyran feel closer to Gaia then he probably was. "I trust you, my princess knight. You're one of the strongest people I know. Stronger than I am, that's for sure." Kyran rubbed his nose against Gaia's on a whim. "I wish I was strong enough not to have any doubts but every person I've trusted has stabbed me in the back. Show me the way, princess knight. Lead me out of my land of shadows and into your land of light." Kyran leaned forward, his lips slightly open. He was leaving the choice of a kiss up to Gaia. Once they kissed or Gaia rejected it, Kyran turned to the subject of the demons. "My demons don't follow my commands. Ahriman would simply go after blood and I'd be struggling to control him. Besides, I don't think our hosts much like my demons. One of them clearly didn't like the fact that I had them."
It was difficult ascending the mountain while heavily leaning on Gaia. Kyran nearly growled with frustration every time she had to pull away to defend him. He hated that he couldn't stand next to her to... well to fight as a pair. The thought was entirely foreign to Kyran but not altogether unwelcome. He'd always been alone. He always fought by himself even in a crowd. Now there was a want, a need for something more. Yet that something more couldn't come from just anybody. It had to come from Gaia. For Gaia, he'd be willing to risk sex. Kyran could only hope that she wouldn't be as cruel as Claudia.
The sound of stone scraping on stone signaled the end of their journey up the mountain. Kyran's sight had partially recovered, allowing him to see rough dark shapes. That allowed him to see the secret tunnel that the two Murifri Wafaiors had opened in the side of the mountain. Interesting. Maybe the climb to the very top could be circumvented. Once they were inside the tunnel, Kyran looped an arm about Gaia's waist. "Thank you." He murmured, kissing her cheek. "Not just for helping now but for giving a grumpy, antisocial man a chance at being in a relationship with you." Kyran paused wishing he could see her face better. "I hope... one day... we can be more." He didn't know what that more would be. Married? His only example of marriage was his parents whom he had no wish to emulate. Children together? That was wishful thinking after what Claudia and Mr. Tiwin had done. Living together? Kyran wasn't sure if that would be safe unless today paid off. All the negatives might have made others see the future in a dim light. For Kyran, however, so long as Gaia was beside him, the future was as bright as the sun.
The tunnel led into a large cavern that encompassed the heart of the mountain. It looked like a small city had been built about it. However, from the little Kyran could make out, there weren't too many people in the city. The cavern was almost eerily quiet. Their guides turned back towards them. "Part here. Applicant come with. You stay." The speaker indicated Gaia. Kyran shook his head. "No. Gaia comes with me. If this test requires, I stand on my own, fine. However, she'll be there to watch all of it. I want her to witness." Especially if he failed. While it was cruel, Kyran wanted Gaia to be the one to deal the final blow on his tainted body. The Murifri Wafaiors exchanged a look. Kyran couldn't actually see but he got the impression of a smile. One of them nodded and the other led the way. "First test: Test of Heart. Council test purity. Second test: Test of Magic. Magic test you once you reach." Kyran nodded, thought the explanation hadn't really explained anything. The Murifri Waraiors led them into a wide open chamber. Seven cloaked figures stood around the edge of the chamber.
"Welcome Applicant" Seven voices spoke as one. Kyran was pushed forward by one of their guides while the other pulled Gaia off to the side. Kyran stood still in the middle of chamber. The seven figures advanced upon him, their arms outstretched. He tensed for their touch. "Be judged. Pure of Heart or Dark of Mind. Be judged." The seven touched Kyran. A sensation similar to what Kyran had felt earlier invaded his body but seven times more powerful. He threw his head back, his mouth open in a silent scream. Black mist flowed from his entire body encompassing not only Kyran but the seven figures as well. The mist emits a a piercing shriek, swirling like a storm about the center of the chamber. There is no telling what is going on inside the mist whatsoever. Kyran felt like bugs were crawling through the entirety of his being, pulling apart every inch and leaving the pieces to hover. He felt his sense of identity disintegrate with each passing second. All the while, he heard the voice of seven but one.
"He is tainted by demon blood." Kyran felt them shifting through his early memories. He could see the bloody house that haunted his nightmares. The many tortures he'd suffered in his early years quickly followed. "He has paid for it through no fault of his own." The sensation lessened for a moment. Kyran took a deep breath preparing for the next assault. "There is blood on his hands, wrath in his heart, demons in his head. This one cannot be allowed to obtain our magic. Yet, he has a desire to be good, a need to do the right thing, and a drive to protect all those around him. These traits deem him worthy." The mists receded as the figures pulled their hands away from Kyran. He collapsed upon the ground while they returned to their original positions. "We deem this one worthy. Let him ascend to the next test. The Angel will judge him." All seven figures vanished in poofs of black smoke. Kyran could hear one of their guides mutter under his breath in their native tongue. He had a feeling he knew what the man was saying and he had to agree. Fucking witches.
Kyran got to his feet unsteadily. His sight had improved further after that grueling ordeal. Now he could see blurs of color instead of simply dark shapes. "I can only hope the second test isn't so harsh" Kyran grit out through his teeth. One of the guides laughed heartily. "Congrats. You only one make second test!" Kyran looked at the source of the voice in shock. He was the only one to pass that test? Impossible. There was no way he was the only one with the right traits to reach for this magic. One of the color blurs moved toward him. Kyran tensed but the man merely patted him on the back. "Let go to mountain pass." Kyran reached for Gaia's hand. He had a bad feeling about this supposed mountain pass.
It turned out his bad feeling was correct. The 'mountain pass' was little more than a sheer cliff climbing straight to the top of the mountain. They had to make a climb of just over 200 meters without any sort of climbing gear. Their guides weren't going to make the climb though. They weren't 'worthy' to look upon the angel. In addition, they couldn't use any sort of magic. The only magic that worked on the cliff or at the top of the mountain was the Salvator Alitis. Kyran looked over at Gaia. "I don't suppose you could carry me up there, princess knight?" He teased, though there was strain in his voice. The first test had taken more out of him then he had let on until just then. "Also mountain pass, my ass. More like the Cliffs of Insanity." He has very good arms. He didn't fall?! Inconceivable. That word. I do not think it means what you think it means. What were his demons babbling about now? Stupid creatures. You feel victim to one of the classic blunders. The most famous, is never get into a land war in Asia but only slightly less well known is this: Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line! Aha ha ha ha hahaha Aha haha haha... Kyran heard a crash inside his head as if Erebos had fallen into something. He shook his head slowly. "I will never understand the demons in my head. They are downright crazy" He looked up at the cliffs in front of him. "Shall we go, my princess knight?" Kyran turned and kissed Gaia quickly. Just in case they fell. There are five greatest kisses in the world and this one surpassed them all.
Kyran pulled away from Gaia and started his climb. Despite his honed body and passive magical increases to strength, his arms shook from the strain after only 50 meters. He had serious doubts about his ability to make it to the top. He looked around to see where Gaia was and how she was doing. The sight of her helped to bolster his failing spirit. Strength didn't exactly flood back into his body but he started focusing on the next lift. Then the next one. Then the next one. Before he knew it, they were some 500 meters in the air. Kyran could felt his eyesight clear up. Excitedly, Kyran looked up since he'd lagged behind Gaia right as the wind blew across the cliff face. With his newly restored sight, Kyran had gotten a eyeful of his girlfriend. His cheeks heated swiftly but he couldn't resist calling out. "Looks like my eyesight is back! I must say the view is great from down here, baby! There are some awesome ass-ets!" Kyran struggled to close the remaining 200 meters. His arms were shaking with every single movement. Hopefully the next trial wasn't going to be combat or anything requiring his arms. He didn't think he would be able to lift a pebble. The top of the cliff suddenly appeared in front of Kyran. He barely managed to grab the edge. As he did, his feet slipped out from under him. Kyran was hanging by his fingertips, his strength gone, his feet in midair. It looked like it would be the end of him.
Then a radiant figure reached down and pulled Kyran up. He was cradled in soft arms, his head pillowed against a voluptuous chest. It must be Gaia was where Kyran's mind immediately leapt to. Unfortunately that wasn't the case. As he weakly lifted his head, it became clear that the shining woman holding him was taller than Gaia. She had an ideal figure, alabaster skin and feathery wings hanging at her sides. He couldn't tell if she was wearing clothing or not. Kyran's skin began to crawl. He hated being in close proximity to people, especially a potentially naked strange female. "Madam? Could you please put me down?" "You are the applicant, are you not?" The woman had an angelic musical voice. It hurt Kyran's ears. "I am. However, I have a woman of my own and this is making me feel uncomfortable." The angel smiled down at him kindly and set him next to Gaia. "You have a good male there, Gaia Sabin but be careful with him." Kyran got an uncomfortable feeling that this angel knew everything about him. The angel turned on her heel, walking toward a sword place in the center of the plateau. The sword was ornate, with twined dragons their tails making the hilt and their heads twining near the final edge of the blade. Kyran politely turned his head to look at Gaia as the angel was indeed naked.
"What is the test, may I ask? And may I have your name?" Kyran asked inspecting Gaia's face. "My name is Eae, Kyran Dyer. Your second and final test to obtain Salvator Alitis is fighting me." Kyran's head snapped toward her. Was she serious? He couldn't use magic up here. She was nearly a god-like entity. Kyran took a deep breath. "If I don't want to fight you?" Eae smiled coldly, vanishing from where she stood. Kyran blinked before she appeared before him. Her foot connected with Kyran's shoulder and launched him across the plateau. The landing created a crater in the plateau, forcing Kyran to cough up blood. "Do not interfere, Gaia Sabin." Eae said softly. "Interference with this test will end in the death of Kyran Dyer."
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Total: 7,383
Last edited by Kyran on 20th September 2018, 7:10 pm; edited 1 time in total