[PAST] What it started..[Closed]

[Eternity]

The sun had begun it's long journey to setting, letting the cool wind of the night to come take over. The moon began to peek through the clearing clouds, as the grass moved in the melody of the wind. The village started to close up for the night; farmers bringing in their animals, storing their equipment. Families gathered in the main kitchen of the house, filling their stomachs with great warm foods. Lydia's family gathered in the living quarters where they spent most of their evenings together, sharing their days adventures. What was special about that time was her father was home on leave from the war, and her mother was ecstatic to have him for the short period of time they had. He missed a lot when he was out at war, even the things her little brother learned. Lydia loved her father dearly, as she hated seeing him leave them often. Though she knew he loved serving, she was honored to have such a great man for her father.

"Lydia, my dear how was your day?" Turning to face her father, she smiled brightly. Pulling her fingers through her long tresses of red hair, she took in a soft breath. "Well father it was good, minus the boys in the village giving me hell for wanting to follow your footsteps.." Looking down to her lap, she folded her hands tightly. Playing with her fingers, she would bring her blue hues to her father once more. A content smile rested on his rough features, as he glanced to her mother. "Honey, I think they are afraid of such a tough girl like you moving through the ranks of the military.." A laugh left his lips, as he looked back at her mother.

A laugh left Lydia's mouth too, mixing well with the others that echoed through the living area. Lydia loved watching her parents together, especially the way her father would look at her mother. He always held such love in his eyes for her, even as she worked and looked her worse. Someday she thought she would have that too, a special relationship with a person who would love her in return. Thoughts like that always brought her to the thought of her crush, Treyton a boy who would take over his fathers farm when the time called. Though she wanted nothing more than to join the ranks, she was more out for the adventures life held for her in the future. Standing from her seat on the couch, she would smile to her parents. "Excuse me, but I am going to hit the sack.." letting out a soft laugh, she would turn for the back hall of the house. Leading through the back, she would disappear to her room off to the left.

Closing her door quietly, she would stare forward to the window she had opened for the day. The breeze pushed through her window pushing the curtains back and forth, calling to her for the nights adventure. Locking her door, she would stay leaned against the door. Looking at her bed, she would just sigh. She had promised to meet Treyton at his fathers farm, as he wanted to spend the night watching the stars. He claimed he had something to tell her, but she was on edge wondering what it could possibly be. Pushing off the door of her room; she would shut out the lights, making her way to the window. Leaning out her opened window, she watched for other people to move in the village. It usually got quiet after everyone went in for the night, always gave her the advantage to sneak out. Lifting one of her legs up to the window seal, she would bend herself through the window. Sliding out far enough to pull her other leg through, she would drop quietly to the ground. Leaning back against the wall of the house, she stared forward to the woods ahead of her. She loved the woods; they were like another home to her, knowing them like she knew the back of her hand. Pushing off of the house, she would let her boot covered feet carry her into the woods. Disappearing into their natural camouflage, she would make her way to Treytons.

[Inception]

Blood covered his naked body, defiled and ruthlessly scarred in several nasty wounds that bled onto the soil beneath him. Masashi was on a dead course to nowhere, fast. There wasn't a single weapon he carried with him, and he was clearly devastated event by whatever had occurred. Somehow he was alive, though most wouldn't be able to tell beneath the thick layer of both dry and wet blood that coated his body. Every stumble brought him closer to the outer walls of the city, and it was then that he saw the leaping girl tossing and flipping through the woods. Masashi couldn't really make out what she looked like, but little did they know, they would meet alot more, that was if she could even see him... which was doubtable.

The moment he was visible by the almost sleeping guards, they immediately took offensive stance upon impulse. He appeared to be something of a legend, a stalking body of several pints of blood that continued to pour onto the ground behind him. How his heart pumped so much blood, Masashi would never seek to understand, but somehow his body was still running on its lowest settings, allowing for only slow steps ahead.

The guards actually had nothing to fear from Masashi. What they had to fear, was that which was behind him, several miles within the forest. Piercing ruby orbs looked down upon the walking body of Masashi. The man had only been used as bait, beaten by an army of the ominous force, and then tossed to act as nothing more than a piece of their plan to take yet more resources of a well developed village that seemed to be making it.

The ominous force was just surrounding the entire village, and so he hoped that wherever that young child was going, it wasn't too far from the main village itself. Otherwise... he already foresaw that disaster coming about... along with all of the other sacrifices. And speaking of sacrifices, two were made before Masashi had even entered the gates. The two guards standing just outside, were immediately struck by a myriad of arrows. They didn't have time to scream, but their bodies did end up doing all of those... nasty functions they do. Shit. Piss. Etcetera.

Two deaths already. Hundreds more to follow. It was beginning.

[Eternity]

As Lydia moved through the woods to the farm, she had no idea of what was coming towards her home village. Dodging fallen trees and other shrubs, she finally made it to the opening to a field. Slowing to a mere walk, she would be greeted by Treyton. Smiling big; he would take her hand, leading her towards the many stacks of hay bails. "So what are you going to tell me?" She was curious, especially more so as he led her towards the stacks. Treyton dropped her hand and began to climb the stacks of hay, it was something they did often together. They would spend hours upon hours laying on the stacks talking about their dreams, sharing secrets and other things with each other. Following him up the stacks, Lydia would lay down next to him staring up to the stars. Taking in a deep breath, she would turn her head to see his face. Treyton stared up to the sky, obviously thinking about what he wanted to share with his best friend. Finally he would meet her gaze with a smile "Oh Lydia a dream has come true..." She waited anxiously for him to tell her what had happened. "Today I was approached by a long time family friend of my fathers, he offered me an apprentice position with him.. I will finally be able to travel the world, to map it.. to navigate it.." Lydia just smiled at him listening to his great news, though a little bit her heart broke. "That is great news Treyton, I am happy for you.." Breaking in before she could say much more, Treyton's smile faded a bit. "The only deal is.. I leave tomorrow with him.."

Sitting up; Lydia stared at him, her smile completely fading. She couldn't believe that her long time best friend was leaving, and so soon. Treyton had sat up too, his face now sadden by the loss of his friends smile. "I am sorry Lydia, but you know how bad I wanted to do this.." Shaking her head lightly, she would give a slight smile. "I am sorry Trey, I don't mean to seem unhappy...You deserve to do great things.. " Slding to the edge of the stack, she would begin her descent to the ground. Landing with a soft thud on her feet, she would sigh softly. Trey had followed her, landing next to her. Grabbing her lightly by the arm, he would look into her eyes. "I promise to write to you everyday, even send you pictures of the places I visit. " Nodding her head, she offered a brighter smile. "Promise?" "PROMISE!" Trey shouted, then he would laugh. Laughing softly with him Lydia began to walk back towards the field, Treyton followed beside her. "Well I wish you well my friend, and may all go well.." Lydia stopped at the edge of the woods, turning to hug her friend tightly. The hug seemed to last for a moment, before she broke free to turn to the woods.

----

The village laid in a soft silence, only the animals made noise ever so often. The guards at the gate were long dead, as it rained arrows upon their heads. Their bodies laid slumped, giving way to the village without any warning of the war coming to them. Families laid in silence, many of them asleep for the night. Lydia's family were fast asleep in their beds, only the low glow of the fire place kept the family room lit. The ominous army crept into the village, taking out many more of the guards that patrolled the area. Only a small group of the military protected this village, as they never thought the war would come so far into the land. Wrong they were, and the enemy were closer than any of them knew.

They began to raid houses on the outer perimeter of the village, pulling people from their homes screaming. Some would fight back; only to be slaughtered in front of their families, in turn brought others out to see what was going on. Before any one could stop them, shops were burning to the ground. Fires raged up into the sky, being easily powered by the wood that built them. Children cried, while mothers pulled them close. Many of the men who were home on leave from the war tried to fight back, only to be taken out with such poor taste in war. They fought dirty, some even tortured the men by killing their loved ones in front of them.

[Inception]

There were no prisoners, there were none spared in the eyes of the walking embodiments of malice and undisputed bloodshed. Warm blood painted Masashi's body, the blood of the villagers that splattered and covered the village. Masashi's body heaved forward, and his arms slumped to his side, barely mobile. All of the dying people almost moved Masashi, almost caused him to abandon his life for the sake of saving those around him. But not quite. Instead he simply walked in his lowest state of being, barely trekking through while bodies were slung and ripped apart by thick hands which violated innocence and abused it violently.

Then a child ran up the road, arms swinging and cries clear. Barely of age to run, the child was caught by a marauder who slipped his hand around the boy's neck and lifted him upward. The machete by his side whipped around and prepared to cut clean through his body. Masashi wasn't able to move much, atleast not before. When the life of someone so young was about to end, he felt a mix of emotions. Parents and others dead, perhaps it was best for the young child to die and join them. However, that wouldn't be his fate, no.

Fingers would erupt from the other side of the maurauder's chest, and a arm soaked in enemy blood would be seen. The heart was clasped between his murderous fingertips, and the dull grey eyes of the killing raider grew pale before the body dropped upon his hand withdrawing itself. The young child fell as well, but didn't move. Too much shock, and he clearly understood it more than anyone. Now they both would simply stare at each other for several minutes, while the world around them crumbled. The foundation of everything they had seen was ending, yet there was nothing Masashi felt he could do. He had exhausted everything he was willing to give, and the boy knew that, when he finally picked up and took off into the woods, drenched in hot blood.

"Run fast, child."

The words were clearly wet, blood dripping from between his lips while the child disappeared into the darkness.

[Eternity]

Flames ripped through the view of the trees, while Lydia made her journey back home. Screams could be heard in the distance, which tipped her off that something was wrong. Taking off in a dead run, she pushed through the under brush of the woods. Dodging fallen limbs, and tripping over other pieces of foliage, she broke into the clearing near her home. Blood drenched the ground all around, people ran from who that took their lives. Lydia held a shocked look on her face, but quickly ducked back into the woods. Turning her eyes to her parents house, she kept thinking about how fast she could possibly run to the door. Would she be able to make it to her window, to make it back in to her family.

It didn't matter how she thought of ways to get back into the house, it was already too late for her family. Moments before she was in view of her house; men had entered the house, finding who they were looking for. Her father was a respected leader in the opposing army, and he was going to be killed along side with his family. The men marched her family out of the house, her father with mother in tow holding her baby brother tightly. The baby bellowed loudly, as her mother fought to control herself enough to comfort the baby. Lydia watched as they were lined up outside the house, as other men set it ablaze. Gasping, she threw her hands over her mouth tightly. Tears began to run down her face, as she fought the urge not to run out to her family.

The men laughed to each other, as they made rude comments to Lydia's father. They had brought out some of the medals he had earned from the war, and continued to mock him for what he did to get them. Her father stood their like a statue, though he kept looking back to his wife. A man came up behind her slowly sliding the blade of a sword through her and the baby, making sure that the military man watched them die first. Before he could react in revenge, another man came by slashing a massive blade to behead the war hero.

Lydia held her mouth still, as she screamed into her hands. Falling to her knees, she would gasp for air. A sickness fell over her quickly, as she reared herself back into the woods. Finding the trunk of the nearest tree, she vomited everything she had in her stomach. Wiping her mouth clean with the sleeve of her shirt, she pulled herself to her feet. Dashing back into the woods, she would find a place to hide from those who murdered her home village.

[Inception]

Though her body turned and she darted as fast as her agile legs could carry here, the towering raider appeared directly infront of her, someone she'd likely bumped into upon first sights. His body was littered with scars and bulging with ferocity, body only wearing torn pants that hardly made a noise among the whistling wind and angry fires. Upon appearance, he laughed, and the other marauders joined him while the one edged axe rose and cut a path from his side, downward to take her head off in a single powerful stroke that was meant to end her life. So quick, its fatality was assured were it to strike, yet it seemed luck was something that never stopped watching over Lydia's shoulder gracefully.

Meeting the wrist of the swinging arm was a knife that cut smoothly through the wrist bone and tore the hand from the arm in a single motion. Masashi's body sudden drew itself between them, and the knife twisted back and thrust into the very chest of the mastiff. Suffering was all both the attacker and the defender could feel, yet Masashi's will was clearly more powerful between the two. Despite having disarmed and killed the leader, blood gushed from his wounds and the faces around him in his eyes melted. His vision was fading. And so he fell to his knee while the raiders within the village observed their leader's death, and began running and riding to the scene.

"Get out of here. Now. Or you'll die."

Masashi's words gave Lydia no choice to argue. She was going to run because he said so, or she was going to die. Masashi was damaged almost beyond repair, blood dripping from every inch of his body and mixing with the blood of the deceased.

"GO!"

[Eternity]

Having turned so quickly, she found herself running straight into the man who had appeared behind her. Fear grew in her eyes, as she stared up at the man. Being a young lady at the age of 17, they would either kill her or take advantage. His laugh bellowed out, as the others began to gather around. Tears had dried down the sides of her cheeks, giving way for more to appear. Backing away, she found herself completely surrounded. The man rose a massive axe above her, slicing down to bring death upon her.

Closing her eyes tightly, she waited for her fate. Nothing happened, a sound of a blade ripping through the bone of the man's wrist was all she heard. Warm blood had gushed onto her clothing, as the man with the sword protected her. Saving her ass from death, he said only a few words.. Words that would hold a meaning to her forever.

Run! That's all she could hear, and she did. Her eyes stared at the bleeding man, as he fought to protect her. Turning she would move around those who would take on the man, as she found herself running a new path into the wooded area. Anger and fear drove her to keep running, to keep her going even though her body wanted nothing more than to give up.

"I have to keep going.." Only words that were whispered loud enough for her own ears to hear.

[Inception]

"Gosei Ryuu: Ryusen.."

The force which tore the earth asunder and ripped through those marauders coming to the leader's grave was truly ineffable. It possessed more power than any other ability he had used for such a basic principle and core move, yet it tore through their thick bodies without hesitance. A single two handed vertical slash upwards from the ground, and his body fell backwards directly by the leader, following the demise of a large majority of the raiders.

Yet they didn't stop. They kept coming and eventually closed around his location, wielding pikes and other bladed weapons towards him. Their faces were covered with anger and frustration, until one emerged from before them and bowed to Masashi. The one to his right looked at him, puzzled, but then did the same. They all did, they recognized Masashi as the killer of the berserker, the one they feared and followed underneath. They had admitted their defeat.

Masashi was hoisted upward by the raiders, lifted to his feet and carried into the village. The remaining villagers that were alive only stared as the hoisted the champion through and carried him into the square, where they would then request medical attention and the remaining villagers to help nurse him to health, and to patch him up. Of course they still intended to do what they had started, but Masashi now took priority for his bravery and actions.

Masashi had long since lost unconsciousness, but in the forest... a friend watched on. The running woman almost bumped into the man, but he had made his presence known by crashing his right foot into the branch beneath him before she could. A long midnight overcoat, and a river of hair from his crown, he was immensely beautiful. Aquamarine eyes stared at her, and he offered a hand for her to take.

"You seem troubled, can I help you?"

[Eternity]

Lydia's legs carried her fast through the forest, dodging anything and everything that laid in her path. Running in a panic kept her from crashing down into the forest, though she didn't see the man that suddenly stood out in front of her. The cracking of the branch under his foot caught her attention, bringing her to a halt right before running straight into him. Panting furiously, her eyes looked up to him. Staring into his eyes for what seemed like forever, she then looked to his extended hand. Hesitant to take his hand, she stared.

"Troubled?!" The word was angrily shouted.

She was angry, and frightened out of her wits. Her breathing was still heaving, as she just stood in front of the man. She almost expected him to strike at her, or try to harm her like the bastards that wiped out most of her village and her parents.

"How do you suppose you can help me?"

Keeping her eyes locked on the man, she would slow her breathing a bit. Her heart kept pumping her blood, as she waited for what would happen next. What more did it really matter? Taking his hand, she would keep her eyes locked. If he was offering her help, how did he think it would help her? Would he save her from what she just witnessed? The man who saved her, the killing of her family.. It would soon be blocked in her mind, constant reminders of what she will do for the future.

[Inception]

The gentle hand was taken, and soon Lydia lost all breath. His fist slammed into her stomach and knocked her unconscious, all wind leaving her body in a incomprehensible second. For her own good, he wouldn't want her to remain awake for the rest of the weary trudge...or to see the thousands of dead people laying upon the ground along the way back to a safer part of Astrum Noir.

Looking down upon the dying commotion within the village, his beautiful ocean eyes closed and his smile widened. Then his body was etched several hundred meters south, and it continued doing so until he was out of the area.

Then there was silence.

A day passes.

The man finds himself in the kitchen of a small wooden house laying atop of a large prairie in the middle of no where. Eggs are scrambled and bacon is also prepared for the unconscious visitor while he continues to ensure that everything is to Lydia's liking. The beginning of a new life is coming, and soon she's going to find that things will become difficult, challenging, but different for her new world. A new start, and a very new beginning.

[Eternity]

After taking the mans hand, everything went blurry. The breath was knocked out of her, as she gasped for the air around her. Her vision went real fast, and her body went limp as she dropped. Carried through the horror of the village, she would be literally swept away from the mess of what had happened that night. Lydia's dreams were of what had happened, turning into nightmares. Though she would never scream out in her sleep, she fought through them to awake. Waking to new and strange surroundings, she found herself very confused. The smell of eggs filled the air, as well as bacon. Sitting up slowly, her gut still somewhat aching from the blow she had taken. Wrapping her arm around her mid section, she blinked several times.

Looking around, she found herself sitting up on an old fashioned looking bed. She was in a very plain back bedroom, equipped with a bed; dresser and a chair that sat next to the door. Taking in a deep breath, she let her fingers of her left hand find their way through the loose long locks of red hair. Pulling her fingers through the tangles of her hair, she would blink a few more times. Memories of the man who she met in the woods flooded her mind, as well as anger from the blow she had taken from him. Throwing her legs over the edge of the bed, she would push off of the mattress with the palms of her hands. Shooting herself up to her feet, she would move to the door quickly. Ignoring the remnants of pain in her stomach, she grasped the handle of the door pulling the door open with some speed.

The aroma of the food hit her face in a stronger wave, as she trudged down the hallway towards the source of the smells. Passing through a sitting room, she found herself in the door way of a kitchen. Her hues stared at the man who looked oddly gorgeous, a look of anger filled her face.

"You honestly think that cooking breakfast for me will make up for you knocking the hell out of me?!"

Anger and bitterness filled her voice, as she crossed her arms over her chest lightly.

[Inception]

[ ]

"I was hoping it would."

The sarcasm was reinforced by a smile upon his flawless features, a smile that showed true kindness and begged for forgiveness. Breakfast was complete, the arcane stove was deactivated upon triggering the runes upon its top to seal and the breakfast was gathered and moved to the table slowly. A round table that was enough to seat no more than three to four people.

She didn't notice in the beginning, but he was shirtless. All he wore were pants from the night before, and socks he had bought in a market some time ago. What she'd also notice was that he was considerably conditioned and while not of body building muscle or even huge muscle, his body was well cut and defined with condensed strength. It was also the source of his speed and celerity.

"Ugh. I'm being rude again, I forgot to tell you who I am. My name is Tetsue, and yours is?"

He sat at the table then, waving a hand over the breakfast he had set for her. He himself wasn't planning to eat, but he didn't give any indication as to why. Leaning back in the chair he yawned and spoke once more, gently as he had been before.

"Please, sit and eat. I know you're hungry."

[Eternity]

Rolling her eyes lightly, she dropped her hands back to her sides. Watching him set the food at the table, then proceeded to have a seat. She did notice that he was wearing very little, but she was too busy being angry at him for hitting her. She fought the urge just to punch him, and moved to the table silently. Pulling the chair opposite to him out, and slid into the seat. Pulling her hands to rest in her lap, she just stared at him. The food did smell great, but she wasn't sure if she could trust him quite yet.

"My name is Lydia..."

Finally picking up the eating utensils, she began to take bites of the eggs that laid on the plate in front of her. Finishing them quite quickly, she brought her hands to rest in her lap once more. Reaching up with her hands she would pull the locks of her hair back over her shoulders to rest on her back, only shorter strands would fall forward into her face. Picking up the bacon, she would take a bite. Her eyes would come back to rest on him, as if trying to read him in some way.

"So why did you help me? You could have done to me what those bastards did to my home.. to my family..."

[Inception]

The silence between the two grew, and then his elbows found refuge on the table's rigid surface. Then a gentle sigh, and he released his response in a simple statement that would likely turn her life upside down.

"Your father was my mechanic, he built tools of war to battle the very evil that destroyed your village."

The silence returned, but it bore weight upon his shoulders and likely hers. His calm gaze looked outside to the horizon where the horses danced and galloped. If only life could be so peaceful in a way that he saw in nature's most basic creatures.

"The moment I saw smoke rising from the village, I came immediately. You have never seen me, but I have seen you."

Then his gaze moved back to observe her reaction.

[Eternity]

It was all beginning to make sense to her now, which brought her to her feet. Anger flushed through her eyes, as she realized the men who attacked her village was after her father. Slamming her hands down on the table top, the plate would bounce up a bit. Her eyes stared at him with such a look of anger, fighting back the urge to smack him. The man could have saved them long before, could have prevented the attack before it could happen.

"How dare you!"

Lydia shouted at him, filling the empty silence with her raging voice.

"You could have prevented such a mess, doesn't the military have good intelligence? Or were they too fucking lazy to get up off their asses to relay the intel?"

She was quite smart with the military stuff, as her father always taught her the discipline and history. He would have never done such a thing if she had never shown interest, but she thought of him as her hero. She wanted to pursue such greatness like him, now it definitely burned like an eternal flame in her heart. Pulling her hands from the table top, she would knock the chair over as she spun around to run towards the door of the house. Air, air was all she needed at the moment. Her face was red with anger, and her eyes burned with the threat of tears.