Yona's Exam on "Etiquette" (with Ruvel)

Exam Conditions:

So the time had finally come for the nineteen year old to meet Ruvel and take a chance that the meeting could go well or poorly. Johann had been a bit busy, ever since their huge showdown; that meeting in particular had gone very poorly. It sounded to her more like a requirement than an invitation when they had met, but by the end of it, Cirven had arrived and the fight had seemed partially a blur. She recalled Johann's teary face and inwardly winced. The fight had made her somewhat on edge and she hadn't really seen much of Cirven or Johann at all ever since. She found out that he knew about Chef Benvolio. For that matter, she wondered if Ruvel knew abut the Chef and his allergic reaction as well. Yona knew she had caused trouble, but had kept most of it on the low side in an effort to not get kicked out of the guild she had joined. She had doubted the guild would keep her involved for very long anyway. Though after the fight with Johann and his monster, she felt much more secure, much more interested in being part of it all.

There was the time she had demanded Cirven to force Ruvel to let her investigate her memory, the time time when she had dragged poor Kyran around (though with the intentions mostly to help him with retrieving the things Adalinda had stolen), the time she had lost her temper upon meeting Akryn and ended up skewering the guild leader with bamboo (luckily Cirven seemed to have forgiven her, considering he had taken her on a challenging mission), how she had harassed Haraka and ate his frozen medicinal fruit plants, the countless times that she had lied and used the guild name as an excuse for personal gain, and of course, even how she had started membership within the guild. All of these were riddled with mischief, trouble and pain. Yona wondered how much Ruvel knew of these things but based on how they met, she assumed he likely figured out most of these. She shook her green haired head, the shortened locks bouncing over her ears as she walked into the training grounds of Tolgalen. There was no way this was any more than a test of her ability, she thought to herself, considering she felt sudden and new power flowing inside of her, a sign of magical growth. Of course, Ruvel wouldn't want to punish her after such an enormous fight had gone down. Unless, he didn't know about it, though her sudden hair change might give something away.

If everything went well, perhaps Ruvel just wanted to congratulate her. Yona chuckled to herself and crossed her arms over her chest. She seriously doubted that one. The mage wore loose grey pants which allowed the breeze in the warm day to cool her legs, sturdy looking toe-covered sandals made of leather, a dark teal sleeveless halter top that showed off her pale skinned stomach, and just for good measure Yona wore the guild pin over the breast of her large knee length white coat. The coat was protective in nature, but in the day's heat, Yona was sweating. It had been a few days, but a magical salon had given her a good deal to fix her hair up since Johann had burned it off. The coat's color and the pin were only for showing Ruvel an attempt to follow guild dress code. Her short hair, still new, gave her an austere sort of look despite her relaxed and nonchalant stride and expression. Had Ruvel been where he said he would be, Yona would walk towards him, straightening her posture up, and give a slight wave of her hand. "Good morning, Ruvel," She greeted politely. And then she saw Ruvel, much much shorter than she remembered. She stopped in her tracks and then covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stifle a laugh. Was this little toddler... Ruvel?

WC: 670

It has been a little while since the task of going to the new base of Neo-Cor Torva with the other keepers and his adopted elder brother, much had happened there much he wish he could be unseen or forgotten but knew that this was far from being the case. Then again he had other issues he now faced on a day to day basis such as trying to get on chairs or getting a glass of water thanks to a time curse spell that one of the members seemed to have placed on not only him but the others he had been been with. Worst of all where he had gained a few summons a few that he had already had contracts with had been altered in age too, add that with his own weaknesses and summoning for him now was just down right deadly; still he had duties as a member of the guild and wouldn't allow anything interfere with them regardless. Cirven and his summons both worried for him and his health so it he had been told that until the spell that afflicted them was broken or wore off he would have to stay inside his bedroom. He tried to understand their reasoning given that he had been living on the streets so to speak since that horrible day, but they explained it as he was currently unable to hide if the worse should happen due to his magic being the way it was so gave in.

He still hated it however as he knew that room as where he went for when he was sick, he wasn't sick at current he was cursed. Waking at his usual time of four in the morning he went through his now normal check ups, washing, dressing checking on the swallows he seemed to have adopted, putting out a basin of water where they could bathe and food before heading into the headquarters and to the kitchen. He was always shoo'd out by the chefs and cooks mistaking him as a child, so now stood a the kitchen door allowing whichever summon stayed with him at that time to get him what he needed for breakfast. When this was done he moved to a spot that seemed to now be adopted as his corner where he could watch the sun rise through the windows at the right point he would eat and drink as was normal. When finished the summon would take the glass and bowl back into the kitchen allowing the staff to wash, before escorting Ruvel to the forest where he continued to train on his speed and reflexes; at current due to his age he could only do a fraction of the set course before he tired but still he pushed to go a little further each day.

Today it was Oykai's duty to be the guardian of their young summoner, like his sister he only knew the language he spoke one way but had been taught gestures that the other would know so he could try and communicate at least a little. Though tired the youth headed to the training grounds around six in the morning and sat in the middle of a clearing listening to the sounds around him, Oykai was lent against a tree, his head lowered his arms crossed his chest wondering why they where here. Within the next few hours the one he had been waiting for seemed to turn up, he heard the giggling but thought nothing about it. "Esaeu're hoqa." he said softly standing his dual coloured eyes looked to yona, Oykai made no movement right now "He said your late." he said in an almost bored manner "O haeq soz yaeza qae zes oqqaaiiaer, si yirt iq's oxaeuq qiza esaeu kaeq o chzzaer ir s'oq iz kyor'olus aem koppentotz aem yiz hertan; im esaeu intend qae edoes yoq iz. Niksq rael. esaeu're raeq khurzon qae, si yaeuhg kiwa esaeu ya hied aem esaeun prekitri xuq la'd xa sabbia ozz goes zae si'd noyabbi ztid iq zae la yor kaq yiz aewabbi oth gaera liy" he said with a gentle sigh looking saddened "A lot has come to my attention, I think it's about time you got a lesson in what is expected of members of this guild; if you intend to stay that is. Right now... you're not worthy to, I could give you the list of your crimes but we'd be here all day so I'd rather skip it so we can get this over and done with." he said to her translating word for word

"K'aoza xona ir zith si mi raeq tirir yiz qae xa sansiss xuq qae zota esaeu xaqqabbi, qae dnaeqayq aeun saeza. yaeza la yona maen. zae la gaer'q haeza oth xa sunq aerya zaena. Esaeu xnaeuksq za qae gae yiz oth zae s'oq iz qae yaeza iz esaeun mouhq ohaera" he rubbed his arm clear that he was uncomfortable with this course of action but things had now been set in motion, there was no turning back. "He says: Please bare in mind I'm not doing this to be malicious but to make you better, to protect our home. those we care for. so we don't lose and be hurt once more. You brought me to do this and so what is to come is your fault alone." the summon continued telling her so she knew what was being said with that they would wait to see how the other would react to everything being said to them.

Word Count: 927

Yona stopped laughing for a moment and touched her shortened hair, still unused to it. Ruvel sat in the center of the clearing and a strange male leaned against a tree nearby. Without either of them turning about to greet her, the toddler made a garbled response in an unknown language and the male began to translate it seemed what was being said. She was late? Her brain was still a bit foggy with what happened and her concern for Johann, whom she hadn't seen since, was growing day by day. She had had her hair burned off, her legs broken, and a gash through her back so deep it had been only magical healing that pulled her back from death's grasp. And here, Ruvel was concerned with timing? How late was she anyway, she thought looking up to the sky and then shrugging. Clearly this was not the issue to dwell on and by the sound of it, it wasn't about to be pleasant.

Ruvel spoke again, standing, rubbing his arm, sighing. He looked almost sad and Yona was surprised that she felt concern for him. Ruvel was someone she had spent very little time with and knew nearly nothing about. She knew his love for the rules, his love for expensive cups, his loyalty to the guild, and his shortness. She knew he could somehow enter and destroy her mind. Past that, nothing. This was an odd situation for her to be in; Yona looking down across the clearing at a small forlorn child. She was reminded of her compassion despite feeling little more than nervous and hesitant around Ruvel. Part of her wanted to approach and console him, but if this toddler was still somehow her VP, Yona thought it might cross some professional line. Her eyes had softened as she gazed at him.

As the speaker for Ruvel continued, sounding bored, his words had a serious edge to them. Yona frowned and pointed a finger at him, not at Ruvel, though he was the one translating she addressed them both but didn't dare raise a rude finger at her VP. "Not worthy to stay? My list of crimes? Are you kidding me!" She threw her hands up in the air and laughed, and laughed hard. She wrapped her hands around her stomach and cackled a bit. "I fought and I fought until death nearly took me to prove myself to Johann and you think I am not worthy to stay! Should I have died instead? Was that a test straight from you, Ruvel, and did I fail?" Yona gave the toddler a piercing look, noting that he might look like a little kid but he still had the eloquence and intelligence to be her VP. "And what do you mean by my crimes? I pulled a vengeful prank on a grown man, who is completely fine by the way, and I already apologized for crossing that line. It was wrong. You don't think having both my legs broken and my spine nearly ripped out was enough punishment for that?"

Yona shook her head frustrated. "I don't think you are doing this with malicious intention, but clearly when you got shrunk down to baby-size you lost some natural understanding of appropriate responses in social situations. I am worthy. What more could I have done to prove it to you? I passed Cirven's test with the bandits, and I passed Johann's --you know.." Her eyes looked clouded over for a second. She didn't even know where Johann was or if he was okay. The last time she saw him he had tears running down his face and she thought Cirven was going to execute him. She swallowed hard and took a hard 'come and get me' stance, glancing at the translator. "Am I supposed to fight you or something? Cause there is no way, I am going to hit a little kid." Her tone was belligerent, hiding her true emotions in the matter. She felt betrayed, not understanding what her crimes could be, or why she would be punished twice. Yona had taken responsibility, to both Cirven and Johann just a few days ago.

Most of all, after everything that had happened she felt afraid that Ruvel was going to simply kick her out of the guild. Away from her newest though few companions, and away from her mentor Johann, without even saying farewell. She disguised the fear and concern with a layer of anger, just as she had always done.

WC: 1422

Ruvel remained stood where he was watching Yona's every movement though his eyes where turned off at the side, this wasn't him and he hated that he had to do it but at the same time to much had happened that now couldn't be ignored. He was aware that that the chef issue had been taken care of and so that was one less thing he himself had to worry about, still there was still a lot the wayward teen had a lot still to answer for. As she began to tall the male who was still lent against the tree turned his head towards the green haired youth, his hoodie still covering his eyes "You realise he doesn't understand a single word you are saying and I can't translate a single word your saying back to him." his voice wasn't in anyway aggressive towards her, it was more a feeling that she was more of an annoyance to him than anything else. It was now he moved to stand up straight seeing her aggression towards him and her pointing a finger made him sigh. "Look, you wanna die keep pointing that thing at me, I won't wait for your scroll to be sent to me." he warned his tone unchanging towards her as he took a step towards her showing he was far from joking around with her on the manner. He didn't like the living all that much as they in his opinion were all self-centred, arrogant fools believing that they could either make a difference or that the universe somehow revolved around them.

With a single quick movement he was standing in front of her his hood raised from his eyes the souls of the dead seen within them. "Let me tell you something little Yona girl, death comes to all and it isn't always on swift wings, sometimes it is slow and agonising." the tone of his voice and aura would make it seem almost as if the where in the frozen glaciers in the middle of winter but there was something more to it, something almost malicious and unnerving within it. "He doesn't joke and he isn't the type to send others to do harm when he himself finds it so hard to do it, so do the living a favour and wise up. You know nothing of him and here you are trying to judge and make accusations... it's time for that to stop." just by his tone it was easy to see he wasn't fooling around on matters, he would honestly would reap her without a second thought and not lose sleep over it. "And as for worthy... you aren't the one who decides this little Yona girl. You lost the right to be worthy of breath when you experimented on an innocent village." his voice low as he spoke "You will never reach the place your father rests on your current path, we have a cold, dark and torturous place waiting for you when your time comes." he said pulling back a dark smile on his face as he now moved back quickly to where he had been lent against the tree.

Oykai then remembered part of what she said and shook his head "If you where to fight me little girl you'd be reaped at the end of it, don't waste either of our times." with that being said he once again lent against the tree. Ruvel on the other hand had become nervous when she started laughing at him, he had no idea why she had done so and wanted to cry but he knew that wasn't an option and so took a deep breath to calm himself before standing his ground. "Si oz raeq aluin qae nazaewa esaeu mnaez aeun saeza, si oz going qae qaokh esaeu, di'morad yaeza liy umbren. Yaeza oq za liy awabbiesyirdh esaeu sowa, xayouza im esaeu gaer'q si lizz tizz esaeu." his voice quiet and calm as he spoke, Oykai listened to his words carefully "Bold statement." he said before his head turned back to Yona "He says: I am not aluin to remove you from our home, I am going to teach you, actions come with consequence. Come at me with everything you have, because if you don't I will kill you." he said in a matter of fact way "Oh and little Yona girl, I'd take him seriously if he says such a thing." his showed he wasn't playing around.

Word count: 748
Total Word Count: 1,675

"You won't wait for my scroll? Do I want to die? The hell is that supposed to mean?" Yona retorted, her stance stiffening even further. She moved her finger down, clenching her fists, heeding the male's warning. She took deep heavy breaths, her power feeling like it would explode out of her fingers and toes and eyes, boring holes through the male so clearly threatening her. In a motion so quick, it was likely teleportation, Yona was face to face with the souls of the dead through the eyes of the male. Of course, she didn't really know what she was looking at. Another time, she might have thought they were beautiful, intriguing, and have asked about them. Today she wanted to stab them out with her bare hands for the way he kept calling her 'little Yona girl'. It was clear that it was him talking not translating and she was itching to let out her pent up emotions. His speaking of reaping made it a little more clear, though of what his role was she was still unsure.

"Swift wings... slow and agonizing... we all fricking die one way or another, dungsucking harpy," Yona growled close to under her breath, but not quite. He accused her of judging Ruvel but her limited experience with Ruvel was unhelpful in this situation. He was strict with rules, but in a fair way towards everyone it seemed, and he liked to play mind games if he thought his life was in danger. Sure it was fair, but Yona didn't know him well enough to trust the words of this random male summon of his on whether or not the kid enjoyed causing harm or not. He said she had lost the right to be worthy of breath for that awful experiment that fell through. If it had worked, Yona could have found so many cures. Harm was not the intention, she just realized too late that she wasn't strong or smart enough to coerce an evil wizard or put a whole village back to normal. She inwardly grimaced, it was not a fond memory of her's either.

So here it was, Ruvel was going to teach her a lesson that actions came with consequences. It got her wondering when Cirven and Sol were going to do the same thing as it seemed the VPs were just taking turns threatening her life. She liked Johann and Cirven enough, but enough to trust them to not kill her? Her heart raced and she narrowed her eyes on Ruvel. There was no doubt in her mind that Cirven had condoned this either, the bastard. "Fine. I'll give you everything I have first, and then maybe I deal with him," Yona said, her hands releasing the pent up anger in one sudden burst. It was probably just talk but she didn't want him to think his threats had fallen on deaf ears... she took them very seriously. Both of her arms raised and then lowered in a swift course of action.

Assuming nothing prevented her before this point from doing so, it was her move to cast her Sundew Mire and fill the clearing with thick sticky rain. It obscured vision to an extent, and was hard to move in. Plus, Yona would be content to at least soak that jerk leaning on the tree in this sticky hard-to-clean rain. Let him squirm, she grinned to herself, though once again it was an acceptance of the punishment to come and a hiding of her true emotions. It seemed what she really felt and thought didn't matter, it was a simple logical black and white game here. Yona had wronged the guild somehow, and so deserved this, regardless of intentions or current mind states.

WC: 2040

Spells:
Sundew Mire

Oykai rolled his eyes to her words he couldn't believe that someone could be so damn stupid, but then he guessed it couldn't be helped as his line of work wasn't something the living ever knew about even when they died. "Let me give you a lesson in reaper life shall I little Yona girl." he said in a frustrated tone "It'll put you a step above the rest I guess.." he shrugged at this comment "Demiari and I are Reapers... you are smart enough to know what a reaper is right? Or do I need to talk to you as if you are my summoners age?" he asked his tone somewhat mocking tone. "Reapers like my sister and I are given scrolls with a name, a time of death and a method of death, it is our task to take their life and take the soul to the angel of death where they are judged. Then we take them to the place they spend their afterlife, occasionally some fall through the cracks and soul reapers like myself are sent to find then and fulfil the task the reaper who blundered the job didn't do." he explained his eyes closing "There are times that reapers go rogue or take a life without having said scroll, of course there are consequences for such actions but for you I'd take my father's wrath." he said calmly his eyes closing once more as he allowed her to take in everything he said.

He had noted the body language and chuckled a little "Aw, I strike a nerve little Yona girl." he said finding how she was acting amusing, it almost made his current task worth it. "Here's a tip little Yona girl, leave your anger and frustration out of a fight. Don't and you're time speeds up to see one like me." he said bringing up his hood a little "Those angry and frustrated make stupid and often costly mistakes that affect not only them but those around them." to him it was that simple, everything was black and white, there was no room for grey as far as he was concerned. He brought down his hood over his eyes as he opened them and sighed "You really are a naive child aren't you little Yona girl... fine, I will continue your education." he said with a sigh, he couldn't argue with the fact that death was something that met everyone, he himself had said it but there where things she didn't seem to understand "Little Yona girl, lets take your family. Your mother died peacefully, it was gentle and swift... your father and little brother died in agony, it was drawn out. Yes, death meets everyone and eventually even I will have to go through an other cycle of existence doing this same task..." his eyes closing his head moving to touch the tree behind before he opened his eyes looking to the sky "It matters to us, we're the ones that witness their last moments... we see some of the most terrible moments in a person's life. You have no right to act as you do, I get you lost everything but..." his head moved to look towards his small summoner "There are people who are younger and have have had it far worse, yet they are still good and pure people..." he said his head moving back to yona "So grow up and get a clue, you're not the only one with pain, that's felt suffering." with that he went silent once more.

"Oh, before I forget... I have a message from my cousins Shindara and Amuul. They want me to let you know that our summoner can't get into a persons head, the day you met him he was struggling to stay alive calling my little sister Korvin who was still finalising their contract with each other. They done as they done to you to protect him, if it had dragged it out any further my twin would have had to reap him." he said wanting to clear up an apparent misconception that the green hair woman had had, one that ticked off the twin princes of the void. "And little Yona girl, had you spent even a little time getting to know him, you'd already know this. My summoner is a pacifist and only fights if he sees no other option, so stop making assumptions and jumping to conclusions without knowing." he said coldly before finally going silently above his head what almost appeared like an umbrella preventing the spell affecting him while the fight started.

Ruvel's eyes went around looking at the rain around him, there was nothing that he could do to stop it or it's affects. What he could do however was end this quickly so that they could get her to understand. He knew summoning was dangerous but still it was needed. "Kiyoshi..." he whispered his hands going forward as a small bone china teapot with a bamboo handle appeared in his hands, the rain instantly stopping as a head popped out of the top looking at Yona a hand popping out at waving to her, before the small lung dragon seemed to vanish inside the teapot once more. Ruvel remained unmoving from his spot waiting for Yona to make her next move, it was clear that the youth was in for the long game right now, he just hoped he could get her to understand before his health deteriorated to the point that he needed his medicine and a month of sleep.

Word Count: 929
Total Word Count: 2,604

She set her jaw as the rain came down around them. It felt like normal rain to her and appeared to do little in the clearing at all before vanishing all together. So much for setting the stage to help her own self out a little, it was just a waste of magic unless something was aimed and fired for her. It appeared like Ruvel was not going to do much. With her jaw squared, Yona listened to the male. She listened to his explanation of his role, of what reapers do. It might have been condescending but he actually gave her many pieces of possibly valuable or certainly necessary information: he has a sister, Ruvel was a summoner, his summons had acted to attack her without Ruvel telling them to likely, and more that Ruvel didn't like to fight. She wasn't so sure about the last piece, but Ruvel still had done nothing despite his threat to kill Yona if she didn't give her all in a fight.

Yona had heard too his amusement but said nothing. She was trying harder and harder to steel herself against him. His advice to keep her emotions under wraps wasn't the first time she had heard it. Yona had already been working at this from the mission with Cirven and the faeries and the fight with Johann. Yona had been actively pushing her emotions down and inward. The emotions which had always given her the drive, focus, and power to survive and win was now the thing holding her back and bringing her down it would seem. The plant mage closed her eyes when he went into detail on the death of her brother and father. Yona knew firsthand that they had died in agony and she saw them regularly enough in her dreams and waking nightmares. Yona had heard the laughter of the evil man who had killed them so many times just a mention of their death could bring the sound echoing through her mind. Her eyes started to water, just for a second. She didn't know where it came from but in facing Johann, she had seen and heard her brother's voice. Maybe she was just crazy. But the fact was, she could still hear what he said. "Sister, get up!" It drove her forward and she swallowed hard. "I didn't catch your name," Yona replied to the male softly, her head tilting down as she exhaled. Fighting the emotions was the opposite of what she really wanted, but seeing the tea pot in Ruvel's hands suddenly pop open made her remember just what was at risk.

Either way, she was being forced to fight. The small creature inside poked out and perhaps, was that a wave? How could Yona fight a four year old kid? How could Yona fight a VP again? The last one was something she had barely survived and that along was what told her to take a VP's threats regarding her state of living very seriously. "This whole time you guys have been trying to get me to find a place of calm, to control my temper. Do you think that I don't know? And all this time you have been trying to get me to stop fighting," She spread up her right hand upwards in front of her and from a green glowing haze she drew out a many-petaled white flower and then crushed it in her hand, feeling an increase to her magical power, "And now you expect me to just fight all of you VPs on command." The woman seemed suddenly mature and serious, blocking out all emotion, trying to maintain a version of herself where she was untouchable, where she survived. "Get up, sister!" said the voice inside of her again.

If he had given his name, she would address the male specifically by using it. "No more talking, please. I am resigned and I must concentrate." She regretted her frustrated outbursts already, but what was she supposed to do? Every time she felt safe and every time she thought she was about to get a fresh start, two times in a row so far, it turned out there was only more proving to be done. Now she was accepting of this and gave herself a small smile as she thought, I'll prove it, over and over if I have to. I am not a threat to this guild, to the people in it, and I deserve to be here. Surely, Ruvel will see this in me and let me stay another day. Her left hand lifted swiftly in a backhand motion, drawing three enormous and sharp spikes of bamboo from the ground, aimed for the child and his tea pot, two shoots aiming at an angle to burst through his body perfectly if he moved a few feet left or right, and one directly in the center if he remained still instead of dodging.

WC: 2868

Spells:
Sundew Mire
Jasmineae
Bamboo Rend

Ruvel stood holding the small fragile teapot in his hands, watching the interaction between Oykai and Yona. He was wondering what was being said but he knew that most of his summons only new the odd word of his language even if they understood it, he guessed this is what it must be like when adults spoke in front of children. He couldn't remember if this was the case before the facility, he only had one memory of the life before it and it was far from pleasant but fought hard to keep it. He needed to remember their faces, so they wouldn't become forgotten, so someone knew that they had once existed, so someone knew their lives, so someone knew of their passing. It hurt but he fought for that, Barthenz told him once that pain shows that you'd that you where still alive, it wasn't something to be feared or avoided but something that showed where you came from and that you where still on your journey. He guessed it was a warriors thing and though never understood it fully he guessed that it made sense on some level, he had gotten into trouble by a few of the other summons for saying such a thing to him but it eventually had simmered down to his point of view so nothing could be done about it.

Oykai tilted his head a little as he began to notice other things within his young summoners opponent that must have made him worry and so drew the concern of the reaper. "Little Yona girl, let me give you a bit more advice. Yes, I have told you to leave your anger and frustration outside a fight but your body language shows that you are holding this back which is dangerous." he said bringing out his hand creating an orb of spiritual energy. "This is a calm soul, balanced and maintained. Notice how everything as it should be." the orb started to darken and pulse "This is is an angry soul, unlike the other it isn't balanced or maintained and will eventually..." as he spoke it exploded and snuffed out "It kills itself with that anger." he said creating another orb that was dull "This represents a soul like yours, on the outside it seems like the first. Balanced, calm and maintained but it keeps it emotions bottled." slowly the orb got darker, pulsing and crackling with huge amounts of energy till it exploded then imploded and snuffed out. "This is what will happen with you, you need to find a balance with in your life so it doesn't affect in both life and death... because if a spirit snuffs out there's no coming back." he warned "And little Yona girl, you don't need to be dead to have your spirit snuff out." he said calmly "You need to find a way where you you can use that anger to your advantage or be constructive with it. I was the one who reaped your family so I understand your pain, but is the path of pain, anger, suffering and sorrow the one they would want for you?" he asked his voice tender and warm for a moment towards her before he once again went silent allowing her to take in what he was trying to get her to understand. He was surprised however when she asked about his name "Once you can control yourself ask me again, until then you are unworthy of knowing it." he said in his normal calm tone.

Oykai listened to her miniature tantrum and brought his hand to his head sighing "Again, he has no idea what you are saying and I can not translate to him so stop wasting oxygen." he said frustration heard in his otherwise calm voice "Yes, they have been trying to get you to control your temper because little Yona girl I've met toddlers that are better at it than you if I am quite frank." he said turning his head towards her once more "Yes, they want you to find your calm and yes you are getting better at it I'll admit but..." he trailed of for a moment "You have yet to find that calm when the world around you is storming, when your own emotions are storming and this is what is needed." he explained before looking to the sky gentle rain drops falling as if the heavens where crying "He isn't doing this to get you to stop fighting, after all he spent months of training with Cirven, Barthenz and Rasparov being told that it's unavoidable if you want to survive. He's doing this to get you to wise up, everything has an opposite and equal reaction this is how the balance of the universe works. Unlike Cirven, Sol and Johann who will come at you head on and well you've seen how that goes, he is more like a scalpel and requires a new way of thinking to fight against." he explained in the hopes to get through to her.

Again when the spiked bamboo roots came from the earth they vanished the small dragon's hear once more popping out the teapot and waving at Yona, before throwing his pearl on the floor the moment he did if Yona didn't get sixty meters away she would be immobilised for a short time. If this indeed happened Ruvel would walk over and place a finger at her head, her throat, her heart and any other number of places that could kill her both quickly and slowly. "Dos phuul elghinyrr" he'd say softly his words almost shaking as he went back to his original spot waiting for her to be able to move again. "He said: you're dead." Oykai said seeing if what he said about fighting Ruvel was far different from fighting a regular thug or one of the powerhouses of the guild. "My summoner has certain weaknesses so has had to find ways to compensate and as you can see he has very much done so. Stop thinking about him as you do the others because he's more a cause and effect kind of person rather than you better take me down before I get to you." he said covering his mouth as if he was getting bored.

Word count: 1,051
Total word count: 3,655

Yona heard the male explaining things and after awhile she started to partially tune him out. It wasn't because she didn't care, but only because she needed to concentrate. She heard what he said, taking it in like a sponge, but responding to him was just not on her agenda. So what if he didn't tell her his name, Yona would ask him again later. She was supposed to not let her emotions control her actions, but she wasn't supposed to suppress them either. She noted the glowing orbs and had absorbed his words in a grim manner. Then he asked her to request his name once she had controlled herself. Yona couldn't really surmise what that looked like or what it meant. She understood the summon in theory, but in the real world it just could not be applied. Think differently, she thought, her mental state a cynic, lose control, suppress emotion, don't bottle it up inside- too many mixed messages. And all this mental confusion and distraction hit a peak when she found that her bamboo shoots had barely broken the ground before vanishing once more.

Yona glowered at the little dragon poking out of the teapot and took a half step forward. How was Ruvel doing this? Somehow canceled two of her spells!? Yona still felt the large infux of magical power and considered perhaps that Ruvel could not end all of her spells, just some of them. In the process of moving towards Ruvel, she suddenly found that her legs had stopped. Her whole body had simply stopped. Yona looked around and saw a tiny shiny pearl on the ground besides Ruvel and pursed her lips. Had that been there before? As Ruvel slowly strode forwards, Yona's green eyes widened. Her legs wouldn't respond, and there Ruvel came for her. Step after step, reaching up a hand to touch her forehead, her throat, her chest, and her blood was pumping through her veins like a burst of energy. Still, her body would not move. "He said you're dead," came the voice of the male summon. After a few moments, Yona collected herself in time for her body to return to normal.

Yona sighed out loudly. She had thought Ruvel was going to kill her, as he said he would, but now she felt more confident to take some risks. No more fighting one play at a time from a safe distance, avoiding both fighting the VP and fighting a four year old. "All right, for real this time." Yona gave the ground a hard stomp, raising up her Aegis Brier in front of Ruvel, a shield usually used to protect now used to block the vision. Yona dropped swiftly to a knee. She touched the ground briefly as she pushed herself back up to her feet: a green glow from her hands indicating that she was casting a spell. The spell would hastily grow the plants from grass and flowers up to waist height, tall blades of grass, enormous colored wildflowers, and a few ferns in the area. Some tiny trees had also begun to grow, but being waist height looked no more than basic shrubs. With one of her hands she slipped a few seeds into her sleeve, careful to keep it hidden, using the grown plants as a resource.

And even then, Yona did not stop or stay still. Once on her feet, she moved swiftly backwards, aiming to get out of range of Ruvel's spells or summons, hoping that the shield had been enough to block his sight, block his summon's sight, and disrupt their next inconvenient canceling of a spell.


WC: 3470

Spells:
Sundew Mire- 2/5 cd
Jasmineae- 1/5 d, 0/5 cd
Bamboo Rend- 1/2 cd
Verdurous Growth- no cd

Oykai chuckled lightly from his spot near his young summoner, he could tell that summoning was taking it out of the de-aged youth, but he still remained standing as if he was completely unaffected. This was entertaining to him, it had been a long while since he seen such frustration from the living. "What's wrong little Yona girl? Unable to find your balance? Or is it that you are been bested by a toddler who is using a single spell to defeat you?" he mocked her crossing his arms a smug grin on his face though his eyes were covered by the hood of his clothing. "And little Yona girl, he is going extremely easy on you and already would have killed you once." he explained in a matter of fact way his arms folding over his chest. "Would you like me to have my cousins tell him to stop holding back? It would make this far less entertaining for me, but you would quickly learn that appearances are deceiving and can work to a persons advantage. Being the daughter of a well known botanist I thought you would understand this already though." he shrugged once more as it didn't really bother him one way or another.

Ruvel understood that all anyone seen him as was a weak and fragile teen that looked overly feminine, there was a few people that seen more in him than his outward appearance after all he gave off no magical essence. It made it hard for people to believe that he was in fact not only a mage but a high ranking one at that. He remained silent watching what Yona done next a smile on his face as the shield went up, it was true that he couldn't see what she was doing behind it but that meant little as her next spell was once again cancelled. Slowly he moved around the shield Kiyoshi's head once again popping out of the teapot as he breathed in only to release it in an arc straight ahead of him that would send Yona flying backwards for twenty meters if she didn't manage to avoid it in time. With all this done the teapot vanished. His hands lowered to his side and with a small subtle flick of his left hand that would likely go unnoticed a glowing seal of light would appear below Yona; if she couldn't get out of the seal in time she would find herself encased and immobilised by the light. Ruvel once again would walk forward and touch all vital points as he had before "Dos phuul elghinyrr" he said like he had the last time she was immobilised before heading back to his starting spot. Oykai covered his mouth laughing finding this hilarious "He said: You're dead." his voice showing this was amusing to him "You should get use to that phrase I think little Yona girl, perhaps you should wave the white flag and give in. To do this touch the centre of the forehead it was the universal symbol for surrender or submit where he was raised, so he'll understand what you mean." he said wondering what she would do next given she would have been killed for a second time by a toddler.

Word count: 546
Total word count: 4,201

To the Hisamori mage, her failed growth of the plants was both expected and disappointing. Yona knew that Ruvel was strong and smart, though she had hoped the shield in place would have blocked vision enough to prevent the cancellation of her spell. Just as unfortunate, the green haired female found that vision apparently had little to do with cancellation, and her hopes that it would help her were dashed. All the while, Oykai made his remarks, taunting and teasing her. He called her little Yona girl and she bristled. Yona tried to keep the distaste and annoyance inside as he announced that Ruvel was taking it easy on her. When he asked her if he should inform the summons that they didn't need to take it easy, Yona knew he was underestimating her. Sure, against someone of such power, someone of her level would be challenged to the point of near incapability. Yona knew that all of the odds were against her and no amount of magical power was going to do much against Ruvel. Still, to be taunted for that fact made her clench her jaw. "Just shut up," Yona demanded harshly, feeling her frustrations rising.

Her mind shouted at her to curse the impertinent summon out, to call him names, even to switch up her game and go after him instead of Ruvel. Still, that was the point. The summon had even told her that that was basically his whole game. And whether or not he found this meeting between the VP and the mage entertaining, he was purposefully trying to throw her off. He was purposefully trying to get her to go after him and ruin her test with Ruvel. With her expression squared, she blindly attempted to ignore Oykai to the best of her abilities. She watched as Ruvel stepped around her Aegis and the little dragon came out. Her feet still carried her backwards, her eyes glancing back to ensure she didn't stumble over anything every now and then, but once Yona saw the teapot lid open she was ready. Something was coming for her, it happened every damn time that lid opened. She frowned at the little dragon inside and saw the arc heading her way. She through herself to the side and stopped moving, pointing at the dragon and shouting, "Ha!" in surprised and victorious glee. Yona had avoided something!

The teapot vanished and Yona felt like she had completed a level, a phase, and was for a split second proud to have lasted more than a single minute with a VP. Then she noticed a glowing seal from the corner of her eye, half a second prior to the light encasing her body and freezing her up again. She felt her anger bubbling up inside as the toddler walked towards her and tapped her all over, pointing out that she would have been dead. How was she supposed to avoid a spell that fast, that efficient? As she was forced to deal with Oykai's mockery, Yona heard him imply that she could give up anytime. Just touch her forehead and submit. Being told she should, of course, only made her more fearless and more dedicated to sticking it out. Ruvel made his way back towards the shield and his original spot, stepping around it as Yona watched. As soon as the light vanished, Yona was ready. The second she felt his spell fade, she made her next move.

Unless, Ruvel was peeking around the Aegis from his original spot, he would likely not see Yona merely take a step forward and disappear. She cast Greenwalk with ease, through her physical contact with the plants at her feet, stepping through the herbage in order to teleport. Yona appeared directly behind Ruvel, or in front of him, depending which way he was facing. The second she did two things would occur. Simultaneously, from Yona's body she would expel hormones and begin a spell; far beyond human capability for scent, the chemical hormones called forth a swarm of fierce flying ants, with biting pincers to attack Ruvel. They might not hurt much, but they could certainly distract and would be hard to avoid as they rose upwards out of the ground in quick formation. The spell was enacted when she plucked a magenta colored flower from the air in a cloudy green glow of magical energy, blowing on the flower in Ruvel's direction.

With the Aegis brier on one side of Ruvel, this move might be hard to avoid, an essential wall to Yona's plan blocking a quick retreat backwards for the VP. The blooms toxins had to be inhaled and if they were, they would cause palpitations and problems for Ruvel's heart. The heart of a four year old might be more sensitive and Yona was of course concerned, but she had no time to listen to those concerns now. Ruvel said to give it her all, and that was what she was trying to do here. The air within 30m of the pair would be full of dark pink poison, possibly affecting Oykai if he was standing too close to Ruvel and Yona.

WC: 4331

Spells:
Sundew Mire- 3/5 cd
Jasmineae- 2/5 d, 0/5 cd
Bamboo Rend- 2/2 cd
Greenwalk- 0/2 cd
Mortal Oleander- 0/2 cd

It wasn't Oykai's intention to get under the flowery teens skin, the fact he was doing so and so easily showed him just what kind of spirit she had even without being a reaper. She was acting more like a petulant toddler, throwing a tantrum because things weren't going the way she wanted it to. She had to wonder what was going through her head, she was approaching his summoner as if he was just another member brawn over brains opponent; with his summoner this would never be the case and it was something she was clearly not catching on to. The weaknesses that everyone seen him with couldn't be removed with more training, with more equipment, due to this he needed to fight smart and keep the pace of the fight in his favour and not his opponents or it would quickly go bad. It was due to this he always had to keep a few steps ahead of his opponent so anticipated the possibility of what they were going to do. He done this by studying their tones, body language and what they had already done and where not always accurate he had gotten good at what many would could class as battle clairvoyance. To Ruvel however it was little more than an equation on the one he was fighting and given who he was trained by, he had to be get good at this kind of stuff and quickly or there would be consequences.

It had been drilled into Ruvel that where he could fail in training and there would be no fallout, it didn't work like that in the real world. That he could be put in a situation where he was the only thing between an opponent and people that would get killed if he fell, that he had to stand his ground and take out the enemy or stay alive long enough so that reinforcements could get there. With his constitution that always something that scared him, he didn't want to be the cause of people dying or places being destroyed because he wasn't strong enough. It drove him to improve to keep standing even past the point he should have fallen, these were things that 'normal' people took for advantage of, that he had to fight for. Still he acted as if he didn't have these weaknesses giving a false reading of just how he was as a person. The youth had often wondered if the company as a whole knew just how frail, sickly and weak he was would it change how they treated him, he didn't want or need that pity. Cirven had told him he had his own strength and where it was different from himself and the others that it gave him a speciality to what he was good at. He didn't know if it was told to make him feel more confident or if it was the truth but regardless, it had helped him understand he was more in it for the long game and that was far more dangerous than someone who was like a sledgehammer.

Oykai smirked quietly he knew that because he had mentioned that his summoner was taking it easy on her that she would believe that he was underestimating her. This just wasn't the case, he knew that Ruvel looked at everyone and everything as a potential threat. Not that he could blame him after what he had been through in his short life. Hearing her outburst made Oykai snicker a bit "Oh my, my little Yona girl, are you throwing another tantrum? It's not my fault that you decided to upset all the higher members of your guild." he said in a very matter of a fact way, this was still very amusing to him as was continuously heard in his otherwise calm tone. "Perhaps you shouldn't attack people, just a little advice." he said his soul filled eyes looking at her with amusement though she wouldn't be able to see it due to his hood. Oykai watched as Yona's spell last spell was cancelled, if she thought she was in hot water before she had seen nothing yet as the young Ruvel walked around the barrier she had made. Not long after he had Kiyoshi's head could be seen popping out from under the lid of the teapot once more, the death god watched as Yona managed to avoid the knock back ability of the small tea loving lung dragon. What she hadn't expected what was to happen next which had him chuckling "Checkmate for a second time." he openly mocked his arms uncrossing as he looked to her "How did you survive so long? really little Yona girl. He's weaker than if he was his actual size and he is defeating you like you were a bug beneath his shoe. Aren't you embarrassed or ashamed at that?" he said calmly again this was just a matter of fact in his mind.

Ruvel had already anticipated that Yona would be angry and if not that at least upset that every one of her attempts failed, especially since he proved he could have killed her twice by now. Due to this he activated an ability that would shroud his movements from the other for a short time at least while he decided what his next movements would be. As Yona had moved forward he had moved back around the shield and jamp to be sat atop of it a smile on his face as he watched her movements. He had to admit if he had been hit by those attacks they would have hurt beyond belief. "You missed little Yona girl, look atop your shield." he said pointing to the top, Ruvel would be smiling gently waving showing that she was still in the wrong mind set to deal with someone like Ruvel. The last spell nulling as he took on Kiyoshi's properties so he wouldn't be affected by the poison. "So close, yet so far little Yona girl." Oykai said a smirk on his face as he watched Ruvel jump down landing lightly in a crouch his hands always on Yona. "confn ekess ve o' vrak di edar" he spoke as an overgrown forsythia started to grow beside him "In translation what he just said was 'Come to me o' child of earth'" Oykai said knowing what was coming next given he was the one who had to relinquish said person for the contract to happen.

As the forsythia opened out came what could be described as an average eight year old boy standing 4'2" tall with short messy raven black hair and bright lime green eyes, wearing a forest green t-shirt with a leaf on it and tan shorts. "I believe you know this summon little Yona girl. I suggest you submit before things take a turn for the worst." he explained knowing that this reunion was going to be emotional for the spring green haired woman, more so as the young Sato move to tackle her to the ground "Big sister!" came from the happy youth as he hugged her tightly tears falling from his eyes.

Word count: 1,197
Total word count: 5,398

The plant mage breathed steadily, her emerald eyes narrowed on Ruvel seated on the top of her shield. Her frustration was growing and staying calm was a struggle. Her mind was on Johann, on the fight they had, on the monster within him that had nearly killed her. Her mind was on the taunts of Oykai, grating at her already frayed nerves, pushing at her buttons as she fought with all her strength to keep herself like stone. Focus, I need to concentrate, I can't give up. I need to prove that I belong, I need to prove that I am a part of this guild and that this place matters to me. Her brain felt like it was going to explode, her heart thumping slow in her chest, controlled only by Yona's persistent inner mantra. Breathe in, breathe out, let it in, let it go. Yona was determined not to lose it and this time didn't even respond with a glance to Oykai.

Ruvel leapt downward and landed in a crouch before Yona, and still, she was hesitant to try to take advantage of the child just before her. It seemed so wrong to her to fight a child, even though that was what she was supposed to be doing. She bent herself to touch the ground and pull out the Blade of Thorns from the ground, in sync with a strange sight. A beautiful bright yellow forsythia began to sprout and grow from the ground and just for a second, for a second was all that she would allow for, Yona felt a deep pang of sadness. The plant before her was home to her, her whole house surrounded by the bright yellow flowers, her mother and her brother's favorite. Her dad preferred hydrangea, magnolia, roses, but her mother and brother had always liked the tiny rows of yellow blooms, like miniature suns all lined up to remind visitors to be positive even on cloudy days. A tired and sad little smile crossed the young woman's face.

Oykai translated once more and Yona got to her feet slowly, taking a half step back, holding the green scimitar to the side with her right hand. When the plant began to open, Oykai gave a warning and Yona looked at him with annoyance. She had just about enough of his commentary. And then, he hit her. With the force of a solid tackle, Yona could barely keep her balance, stepping back a few paces to remain on her feet as small arms wrapped around her waist and a face buried itself into her abdomen. Her breathing faltered as the plant mage looked down, seeing the familiar dark haired boy, the wet green eyes that matched her own. When he cried out, "Big sister!" the nineteen year old felt sick to her stomach. She stood there stunned for a moment, her left hand coming around to hold him. "Sato, my Sato." She trembled, her legs starting to become jelly beneath her weight. She dropped her blade and fell to one knee, holding him tenderly to her chest, tightly and with gentleness, the way an older sister would.

"Sato, how I have missed you so," She whispered, "I love you, you know that right, I love you. I'm right here." She repeated it to the small boy, comforting him and herself, over and over. Her eyes stinging and wet, her throat closing up as she began to choke on a sob. She felt his arms, his warm breath, the damp place on her skin where his tears had left a mark. Then something inside of her finally broke apart. Like a volcano eruption, the collapse of stone, the thick of dark smog, the painful burn of sulfur in the air- Yona suddenly remembered. She remembered his screams and the smell of burning flesh. She remembered the laugh of the man in the shadow. She remembered that he was dead. The feel of his arms around her suddenly felt more like a noose, like a rope meant to hang her. Yona gently pried him off and pushed him aside, her eyes staring at Ruvel with an intensity unmatched. Had someone been able to show her a mirror, even Yona would have been afraid of herself. "You. You people," She spat, "You use him to hurt me. You used him the day I met you. Cirven used him to punish my temper. And you both think you can just fool around in my damn head," She lifted her Blade up and made a spinning gesture near her own head. She gave a dark half chuckle.

"And you play with me still now. You play with the memory of an innocent boy. You play as if his death was a game and replaying his death to me just amuses you, so much," She choked on the word death. "The hell is wrong with you?" Yona was blind, a thriving new power unveiled itself and she found a strength she hadn't known that she possessed. The green haired woman took a half step forward, refusing to look at Sato anymore. "He is gone, he is dead, and you play his death for me again and again. I wish I had died then, all right!" She shouted, her voice cracking under the pressure. Her magic simply started to pour out of her body in a green glow. "Kill me or leave me be! Stop! Just stop!"

She had so much to say, so much to convey, but words were at an end. Her typically green eyes had turned so dark green and her pupil had widened to much that her eyes looked nearly black. She dropped her blade unused for a second time, weaving her hands through motions, waving them, bending them, casting every spell at her fingertips, at her thoughts. First came her blightweave, a green glow looking to connect and envelop Ruvel, looking to taint his skin black and cause him pain and fear. Then came three more shoots of bamboo, all three aimed from different angles to shoot upwards through Ruvel's body. Yona curled her hands into fists and then extended her arms, shooting out a wave of piercing cactus needles in every direction. She had dropped the seed as well, and if it had been close enough to Ruvel, his physical health would have been sapped to give Yona restorative gain. Not that Yona knew or cared about restoring, or life, or anything past this moment.

Nobody would use her brother again. Nobody would torment her. Nobody would dare utter Sato's precious name or wave his face in her eyes again.  A fog like substance eased out of her pores in place of the chemical hormones, and all within the range of her puffball-based spell would hear the terrifying voices, echoes and screams which had haunted her. "You will not use him. You will not use him." Yona uttered again and again, as her magical strength began to waver. She fell to a knee and still she could not stop. She stomped her other foot on the ground before dropping to both knees, watching as a bright green glowing plant appeared beneath Ruvel, wherever he stood, wherever he had moved to. The bright plant dealt extremely painful burning and stinging sensations. Yona breathed hard, her face streaked with tears, not knowing when they had started. "Stop, stop," She trembled out loud, trying to stop her own self from unleashing more than she could take. Yona had reached her breaking point, her fragile mind already weary with worry for Johann could not take any more and it broke. She groaned, gritting her teeth from the pain of having the magical power sapped out of her body. Yona's eyes took in the sight of little Sato once more and then her agony reared back its ugly head again as she turned back on Ruvel.

"Scopolia," She said, fusing her voice with the power inside of her, using the last of her strength to issue a command that would be terribly hard to ignore for anyone of her own strength or lower, the same command which had gotten into Johann's head and had brought out his inner monster. The blame and the guilt she felt over that spilling into her own words now, the guilt from losing her brother and not being able to protect him back then. She couldn't bear the torture of Sato's illusory arms and illusory presence. "Just kill me. Please." Yona begged and then collapsed where she had been, her magical power lower than it had ever been, perhaps so low that it would not return.

WC: 4331+1441 = 5772

Spells:
Sundew Mire- 4/5 cd
Jasmineae- 3/5 d, 0/5 cd
Greenwalk- 1/2 cd
Mortal Oleander- 1/2 cd
Blightweave
Bamboo Rend
Nopalli Needles
Leech Seed
Puffball Cacophony
Young Dendrocnide
Scopolia

"You both are stubborn idiots." A childlike voice spoke out from near both of the combatants just before the spells could connect with Ruvel. A pillar of white fire swirled up around the four year old and protected him from the spells completely. The flames had erupted from out of nowhere and would definitely surprise the younger Vice President of the West Fiore Trading Company briefly as he realized who it was that had just prevented him from being hit. Inside of the flames the seven year old Cirven would appear from what seemed like out of nowhere behind Ruvel. His words being translated by Shindara in Ruvel's mind. "Didn't I teach you to dodge attacks thrown at you? Especially things that could be so lethal to you..!" Cirven spoke out in an annoyed tone. "You seriously are too stubborn for your own good and are lucky I was warned of what was going on. Don't punish them for wanting to protect you either or else I will make sure you are properly dealt punishment for doing something so stupid."

Outside of the spiral flaming pillar a clawed hand reached across the throat of Oykai from an adult Cirven. "Next time you let my little brother do something so idiotic and don't help him I will make sure to reap you myself. It doesn't matter who your sister is and what she means to me, who your father is or if I see you as family; I will make sure you are dealt a punishment fit for someone who hurts someone close to me." His voice was darker and his words had much more of a venom to them as he spoke, aiming to send his threat with all of the anger he could show. "I won't show you are sort of mercy either just like I was trained to do." He sighed heavily again with his eyes closed. "Stop blocking her from making her entrance also. It is just pissing me off more that you did that." With those last words the adult Cirven dispersed into magical energy.

A hand reached out and touched Yona causing her to feel a warmth on her shoulder before noticing the form of the seven year old Cirven standing next to her and her brother. There were white flames coming from the hands but they did not hurt her; they did quite the opposite and healed her of what wounds she had as well as allowed her to calm her mind and relax more. "Sorry about the form I'm in but I wanted you to be dealing with the real me over the fakes I sent to those two." He looked at her and smiled. "My adopted little brother was going to take all of her animosity and anger for what he had done and probably take on a wound or more that he could not sustain in his current form so I had to step in. He was going to be an idiot just to allow you to possibly kill him as a sort of revenge or way to get you to understand yourself more." Cirven let out a chuckle. "Right now a doppleganger of myself is in there chewing him out but I would have probably done the same for you though on a much different level within my capabilities. That guy is pretty selfless, by the way. He found out about your brother and quickly found a way of reviving him just for you even though he had to break some rules to do it. You could almost say this entire lesson was to see if you could handle seeing your brother again and having him back. This world is a nasty place so you need to be strong but also smart and focused to live in it. We all have shown you that you can do that and deserve to be here so I will be the one to say it as both Oykai and Rui as being chewed out by the other versions of myself; Congratulations, Yona Hisamori." His last words were followed by the flaming spiral to disperse and was when his adult doppleganger disappeared from around Oyaki.

Ruvel watched as the happy reunion happened between elder sister and younger brother, this is what he wanted to do, but needed to be sure she could look after him in such a horrible and dark world; all this while being able to keep her own anger and attitude in check. He may not have known exactly what Oykai had been saying to her the entire time, the fact that he was amused he knew it couldn't be anything good; she could have lashed out but she managed to keep her cool so it showed him that she had matured at least a little. The happiness came to a swift end when Yona believed that this was a cruel mind trick meant to torture her, he placed his hand out shaking them and his head hoping to get her to understand that he was real. Seeing and hearing her anger he lowered his hands turning his head, tears falling believing he had done something wrong trying to reunite the two. It was due to this he wouldn't fight her and was willing to take every hit that she threw out next, regardless of how fatal it was to him. To him this was his atonement for doing something so selfish. His head raised hearing his elder brother's voice turning to where it came from. He had no idea what his elder brother had just said to him at this point. He wasn't overly surprised to see him however given with his severe weakness thanks to the de-aging that he and the others had went through in their recent task. So all he could do was blink blankly until someone decided to give him a translation which wasn't happening at current. He wanted to let him know that he had no clue what he had just said but then it would end with the other being confused as well if he voiced it so for now remained quiet.

He was about to open his mouth to ask why the other was there when he was dragged out of harms way. It was then he heard Shindara's voice translating everything Cirven was now saying to him turning his head away, he felt like a failure on two fronts now small tears of light falling as he was told off for not using his training. "Ol zhahus p'wal Usstan zhahus aluin ulu plynn ilta kor jatha'la dalninuk." he said his hands gripping his sleeves "Usstan rytho'le ol whol zessai jivviim, Usstan ssinssrinil ulu xxizz sila mina ul'naus lu'inbal thryarus naubol jhal jiv'undus ulu ilta!" each time he spoke Cirven would gain the translation from one of the two twins, he didn't care about himself or what it would have meant if they hit him; he was more concerned about what he had done to Yona and his nature loving summon Sato. "Siyo, dos keer uns'aa ulu bautha ulu jiaol tluin jivviim a jalbol nindel doerrus ussta i'dol, yol sokoya mzilt rilbol zhah kylara ulu uns'aa rak'nes ditronw nin. Usstan xuat kyon bauth ka Usstan zhahus jivviim akntoa xor tois, Usstan ssinssrinil ilta ulu inbal loff'tarien jhal sila've er'griff jiv'undus." he said swiping his hand in front of him, it would have been the first time that the other would have seen conviction from the glowing youth again everything being translated for him as he fell to his knees crying. "Usstan zhal'la inbal della mina naut ulu tesso dos jalbol wun hyrr'olar, jhal Usstan kat talinth pholor nindel. L'xunor 'zil Usstan quarthen lu'nindel zhahus naut ulu ser jalbol dal dos ka aske'th ji nau sarn'elggar jillar nind della dos xuileb tluin aske'th ust." he said honestly looking to the ground as he moved to hug his knees tightly to his chest.

Oykai listened to everything that the lover of his twin sister had to say to both Ruvel and to himself, he didn't even move to prevent the others claw from going to his neck. He tipped his head a little so he could see Cirven from underneath the lip of his hood and smiled "Don't you think if foolish trying to threaten someone unable to truly die?" his voice calm as he kept direct eye contact "As for the turn of events, this was his call. He told me to hold my twin back and so I did and he was in no real harm as it is written into each of our contracts." he explained knowing that this was common knowledge to the young demon. "If that day comes, I will accept your challenge without a second thought, however, I will be playing for keeps.." he then moved in so his lips where near the others ear before he started speaking again "And I don't care whom you are to me, what you mean to my summon, my cousins or my sisters, I will reap you without a thinking twice." his voice as cold as death itself showing he wasn't playing around, he didn't take kindly to being threatened when he was merely doing as he was asked.

Oykai moved over to his young summoner after the quick exchange with the magical doppelganger, kneeling down next to him he wiped the tears away smiling. "You done well given your weakness, especially right now." he encouraged the youth before helping him up, he knew that Ruvel didn't understand a single word he had spoken but he would understand the kindness. It wasn't like the reaper to show tenderness but knew that right now it was needed. With Oykai's support Ruvel made his way over to Yona, Sato and Cirven on shaky legs. Though he swore he would never do it again bowed low to Yona though remained on his feed "Usstan kat ssinssrin ulu thry dos jiv'undus, Usstan ssinssrinil ulu belbau dos folbol nindel dos noamuth wun dosst dro lu'ji morfel natha t'zaraw xuil l'aphyon yah nindel phlyus dosst lotha dalninuk ji uk xal tlu yutsu'ulu dos. Dos kyorl Usstan h'ros morfeth natha n'corda xuil nindyn vel'uss ph'elghinyrr, Sato zhah dro 'zil verve 'zil udossta n'corda mire." he said in a small gentle voice, it was clear by the cracking of it he was trying to keep his emotions under control. Oykai helped him stand up and held his summoner in an embrace to ease him "He said: I didn't want to cause you pain, I wanted to give you something that you lost in your life and so made a deal with the death god that claimed your little brother so he may be returned to you. You see I can't make a contract with those who are dead, Sato is alive as long as our contract holds." the reaper said his voice unmoving showing he was nothing more than a translator. Oykai Looked at Yona "And little Yona girl, I don't give up those I reap easily so be grateful.." He brought down his hood so she would be able to see his soul filled eyes properly, he believed that right now she needed to see him fully as she spoke his next words. "Even if he doesn't believe in higher powers... he is a god of healing, life and light it's the only reason even after I released the spirit of Sato he could give him new life, without those abilities he would be a wandering spirit who would show his injuries." the reaper said trying to sooth the crying Ruvel the entire time.

Translations:

Word count: 1,244
Total word count: 6,642

Yona Hisamori's mind had broken, her wires all crossed and her anger and desperate grief taking a full form. She launched spell after spell until she felt sick and nearly lost consciousness. Cognizant of what she had done, how she had attacked the VP and how she had lost herself in the pain, she had pleaded for mercy, pleaded for death, pleading for a chance to really be able to be with her brother and not this conjured illusion. Yona lost her ability to think straight, she lost her ability to think nearly completely, acting as a feral animal, feeling and then striking out. Her green eyes took in the sight of Ruvel's lowered head and tears, unsure of what they were for, what they meant. She couldn't comprehend enough in this state to determine why the four year old might be crying now, of all times. Her normal brain would have figured it out much more easily.

A white fire spiraled around Ruvel's body as Yona collapsed to the ground, blocking or absorbing every attack she had launched, preventing her command spell from even reaching Ruvel's child ears. A boy about seven years old appeared besides her and Sato then, touching her shoulder and healing her with a similar white fire. In her wild uncontrolled state, she shot a fierce look up at him, not even registering who the face belonged to. And then with sudden ease, her mind was healed. The shattered puzzle was reorganized and structured, every thought and piece processed and set into place. Her face relaxed and recognition was apparent: this was a child version of her powerful guild leader. "Cirven," She breathed, her voice shaky and her mind, though distressed, no longer out of her ability to control. He explained to her what was going on in a slow calm voice and it was all the green haired woman could do just to nod. She felt and saw in his face then and her worries even about Johann were slipping away. She had launched everything in her arsenal in one go at Ruvel, something which she would have thought would have gotten her kicked from the guild. It turned out, Cirven was more merciful and understanding than Yona had believed.

As her guild leader offered an explanation for Ruvel going so far as to offer his own life to help her understand herself better, Yona looked downward. Sure, it was a bit messed up of how they got to this point in the first place, and offering her a blessing like restoring life to her brother in the middle of a 'give your all' fight test was a poor idea. But Yona couldn't help but start to feel something different, something she couldn't name towards Ruvel. And along with those feelings came guilt. Yona reached gingerly as she moved into a kneel to grab Sato's hand and then pulled him into her lap. She simply held him close without a word and Sato didn't make a sound either, simply holding her. "I passed?" Yona said confused. The green haired mage, looked up at Cirven and then glanced away, watching as the other two adult Cirven's vanished away. Oykai didn't look very happy but his face became strikingly gentle when he approached Ruvel, who stood there wringing his hands and crying.

Yona turned her eyes back down to Sato and her eyes welled up lightly, "So, you're really... you're really..?" Before she could get an answer Oykai and Ruvel approached Yona and Ruvel gave Yona a bow. In his child form, Yona couldn't help but blush brightly. She didn't deserve his respect, what she had done in response did not feel honorable, though she supposed in a state of complete brokenness perhaps she had merely done the best that she could to merely exist in the presence of such a possible torture. The idea of Sato as an illusion somehow seemed infinitely more likely than him really being there. Yona swallowed hard and held her brother tighter, looking Ruvel up and down with a face of complete reflection of how lost and broken down she felt. As Oykai translated and confirmed her question, that Sato was alive and plenty rules were broken in the giving him his life, Yona felt like all of time had stopped. All the years of her memories, her guilt, her pain, and all of the ways she had tried to deal with those emotions... all of the fighting, the violence, the killing even... all of the ways she had thrown herself into her revenge and had lost sight of her true self, had been something she was losing her grip on.

Who was she now? What did she desire now? Her eyes were blank as she realized that what gave her her motivation to live, fight, and improve herself was now lying there in her arms. Ruvel continued to cry and Yona didn't know what to do. There were no words that could reach the child, as she now realized that anything she would have wanted to say would fall short before a translation issue. There were no ways to give to Ruvel enough coin or enough apologies to ever equate her thankfulness. She knelt there for a moment, her lips parted as if she wanted to say something but simply had no words. In truth, the way she had been inducted into the guild and the way the VPs had always acted towards her had made Yona feel unwelcome, as if at any moment she would be kicked back to the streets where she came from or into a dark cell somewhere. She believed that nobody cared for her and this time, looking at little Ruvel and holding Sato in her arms, her whole life and more had been given back to her. There wasn't a single thought that argued the point anymore. This guild was where she belonged and these people were her family too now. Yona let Sato get to his feet and then she in turn, hoping that Ruvel would understand, knowing that at the least Cirven and Oykai would, moved from her kneel to press her forehead onto the ground in the lowest and most humble of bows.

"No more picking fights, experimenting on people, no more breaking the rules just because I can," Yona started. "I am sorry for directing my anger at those in this guild and those who run it. I understand now. Let me stay and I will spend the rest of my life proving that I am worthy. I hereby vow to give my life in service of those in this guild and forever I am yours to command. I will go wherever you ask me, I will do whatever it is you ask of me, and I will never doubt the compassion in your heart." Yona went quiet, expecting some recognition of her words because she wasn't going to take any of them back. This was the real allegiance she had owed them this whole time. She wasn't sure they would dub her the way royalty might have done or encourage some sort of palm-cutting ceremony to seal the deal. With the guild leader, the VP she had always been most at odds with, and the summon who had taunted her while she had done nothing but unleash her words upon him all present to bear witness, Yona simply waited; having no idea what the next step for her would be, in this moment or in her future.

WC: 5772+1258= 7030

The situation was an annoying one for the seven year old devil. His adopted little brother was too much of a glutton for punishment when it came to helping others that he felt he could save and the troubled woman they allowed into the guild had multiple problems come and go with the guild and its members which made this little test all the more dangerous. He was angered by how Ruvel went about giving Yona her brother back as it could have all been done without Ruvel taking such punishment from her if Ruvel just realized it. "There are worse things than death, brother. Things that would make you wish for death to take you away from this world. Plus, you know I have helped your sister reap before and would again." Cirven retorted to Oykai on his threat. "I just hope your cocky attitude isn't soured by words. It would ruin the fun it it ever were to happened. Either way, I'm dropping this conversation." He continued as he was floating in the air next to Yona. His aura gave off a dark killing intent before it dropped at the end of his comments to the male reaper.

He watched as Ruvel approached Yona and Sato and apologized to her for everything. The genuine feelings that Ruvel was feeling was shown on his face. What surprised the devil was that Oykai himself came to stand in front of Yona to say he gave up Sato for Ruvel to help her. He was not used to hearing that Oykai had any sort of heart and because of that looked at the reaper quizzically. He broke from his curious confusion and sent a message to Shindara telepathically to relay a message to Ruvel's mind. "Death, no matter whose life it is, only will ever bring sorrow and pain. Even to those who are the executioner. Her hands covered in your blood would have only helped to turn her into something worse. Remember that sacrifice like that will only bring on more pain and anguish." The message was sent through Shindara and translated so that Ruvel could understand it. He had to get it through to his younger brother on what he did wrong for any future situations.

Before he could speak out to anyone else around him, Yona dropped his head on the ground towards him and Ruvel where she promised things to them about how she would do better for them. The seven year old was fairly shocked to see the girl cast away her pride completely and bow down in such a way for them. It was a heart warming thing but Cirven was not the type who felt he deserved any bows and he knew Ruvel disliked bowing as such. He floated down to the ground near Yona and lightly grabbed her upper arm before he started to float upwards and pull her up from the ground so she was standing. "I already knew all of that." He spoke out as he helped her up to her feet. "You are a hard headed woman who was only looking for a home and we offered it to you with open arms even though we knew you could cause issues. You grew here faster than most others and showed us that you belonged here awhile ago now. You showed that you deserved to be here when we were in those woods saving those fairies, Little Yona Girl." He floated in front of her when she was up on her feet and continued speaking to her, ending his speech with a warm smile towards her. "So I guess I will say this-Welcome home, Yona and Sato."

The youth was standing there, he would let everything hit him if needed even if it cost his own demise, he had no idea what she was going through he couldn't remember ever having a loving family as much as he tried to remember. In honesty the more he tried to remember the one memory that he did have the quicker he seeemed to be losing it, it was something that he was beginning to fear but he knew there was really nothing he could do to stop it from happening. He had said his peace and now he had to listen carefully bit still the words weren't something he couldn't understand but by the looks of it the words Cirven was saying weren't meant for him as no translation came, he could only look on between the two males trying to figure out what was going on. Oykai could only roll his eyes under his hood as he heard Cirven's words "Death isn't a bad thing dear brother, in fact many find the escape euphoric especially in their suffering." he explained looking between Ruvel and Yona "They would have been better if death claimed them but here we are in continual suffering." he said calmly, he knew better than to seem angry right now with the mental state of Yona and how Ruvel would likely blame himself for for the argument between himself and Cirven when this just wasn't the case, but Ruvel at the best of times still had a mind as sharp as a tack but all the emotions of the age he currently depicted and he'd rather avoid wailing if he could.

He was surprised to hear that Demi was teaching him the tasks their cast done so it raised the question to him on wither she was planing on turning him from a demon to a deathless, it was something he would need to keep an eye on regardless as this could cause trouble for him and that was something he could just do without in all honesty. "You live as long as I have and have to give up things for other things and you are bound to end up with an attitude but you're right lets drop this conversation it is getting us nowhere." he said his voice seeming somewhere between bored and frustrated. Ruvel was feeling bad as it is but listened as a translation came through to him and looked up at Cirven knowing that if it had been Oykai it wouldn't have been seen there and then. The blonde haired youth looked down scratching at his guild symbol "L'ta laeuhgr'q sowa quarnus iaiae yoq, l'ta iz qae tith o dabbizaer. Usstan uthabbiedoth yaeuks yoq usstan laeuhg sowa aerja xnaeuksq sabbi zaena g'tilasi s'ar l'ta yoza qae sabbi senses oth realised s'oq l'ta sog gaera qae za omqabbi usstan xo'aus qae sahd sabbi. Usstan laer't qota zukh di'morad okoir liyaeuq alintha yaz ynaeuks mined." he said quietly "He said, She wouldn't have turned into that, she is to kind a person. I understand though that I would have only brought her more guilt when she came to her senses and realised what she had done to me after I tried to help her. I won't take such actions again without thinking them through first." Oykai translated to Cirven showing that he did understand what he done wrong in this instance.

Seeing what the green hair girl done next made Ruvel uncomfortable and it was seen in his face and posture more so as he moved behind Oykai holding onto his top almost as if afraid, such actions had meanings to him and he really didn't like the meaning this action meant "Little Yona girl, there's no need for that you'll make Ruvel more uncomfortable than he naturally is so would you please mind getting up?" Oykai said to her calmly before sighing "Welcome home little Yona girl." he finally said before his eyes went back to Ruvel "Lahyaeza saeza Yona" he said peeking from the side of Oykai "He said welcome home Yona" Sato said with a grin "Oh big sister, you should't do that action around him it means something very, very bad." he informed her smiling the entire time.

Word count: 711
Total Word count: 7,353