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[Cal Hurst]

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Vaen set off to find Marcus Stanim after learning that he was at Poet's garden the night before causing trouble to some of his friends. His right fist clenched around his katana, holding his shield in his left, he set off on Pyren to head towards the town where both Marcus and Vaen grew up together: Minoc.

Entering Minoc, Vaen found nothing out of the ordinary. The sun was shining down on the green grass, which seemed to be recently watered. Perhaps rain had just passed by. The people in the streets were happy. Vaen glanced around a bit, but taking note that Marcus was not here. Vaen headed north to the mountains near Minoc, hoping to perhaps find Marcus there.

***

Marcus sat on the mountains, glancing over the water with a smile over his face. His thoughts drifted to last night when he and Sabrae talked in the Garden, intent on disturbing a young couple at a table near them. Their discussions about torture and death did just that. An aura of fear could be sensed from the table, and Marcus loved every bit of it.

Marcus turned around to look over the field, where he saw something riding towards him. Without getting a clear look at the object, he knew exactly what it was, and exactly why he was here. Marcus smiled, and tapped his kryss with his fingers.

***
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[Cal Hurst]

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"Hello there, Vaen!"

"Cut it Marcus. What do you think you're doing?"

"Vaen! That's no way to talk to your best friend..."

"My best friend died years ago..." Vaen said softly.

"You killed your best friend years ago, Vaen. He didn't just die."

Vaen couldn't speak, he didn't know what to say. What could he say? Marcus was right. Vaen did kill him years ago. But it was in self defense. Even so, Marcus died because of Vaen.

"What's the matter," Marcus said, "nothing to say?"

Vaen shook his head. "You aren't the same person..."

"Vaen," Marcus started, "You are still my best friend."

Vaen looked up at him, a bit confused.

"I may have died, Vaen, but you're still like a brother to me." And eerie smile came over Marcus's face. Vaen didn't know what to think. "Come, Vaen. Come closer."

Vaen shook his head, gripping his blade tighter. Marcus shook his head at him, and lifted his hands in the air, revealing no weapons being sheathed around his waist. Vaen sighed, and sheathed his weapons, then walked over to Marcus, standing beside him. "What is it, Marcus?"

"Look." Marcus pointed to the horizon. Vaen tried to see what he was pointing at, but failed to see.

"I don't see anything..."

"Then step a bit closer."

Vaen stepped forward a bit, looking down the edge of the cliff. He looked back at Marcus, who hasn't moved. He then looked out to the horizon. "I still don't see any..." Vaen heard something, and he turned around. Marcus was charging for him, Vaen quickly doged out of the way. Marcus stopped short of the cliff and turned to Vaen. Marcus reached into the sleeve of his shroud and grabbed his kryss. He ran over to Vaen and quickly thrusted the kryss at Vaen. Vaen rolled out of the way and quickly made it to his feet, staring at Marcus.

"You bastard..." Vaen said, quickly grabbing for his katana. Vaen and Marcus walked circles, staring at eachother, their blades drawn. Marcus charged forward, thrusting the kryss at Vaen but Vaen dodged out of the way, slashing his katana down at the back of Marcus's arm, gashing it. Marcus groaned aloud. Vaen grabbed at Marcus's kryss and tossed it away, and then kicked Marcus to the ground.

"Gahh.... Vaen..." Marcus said, seemingly in a lot of pain. "Please..."

Vaen glanced down at him and sighed.

"Vaen... please..." Marcus said, pleading.

Vaen sheathed his katana and reached down to help Marcus. Clasping hands, Marcus pulled himself up and smiled to himself. He then whispered, "I'll see you in hell, Vaen." Vaen, slightly confused, looked into Marcus' eyes. Marcus quickly pulled a dagger from his other sleeve and thrusted it into Vaen's side, penetrating his armor and skin. Vaen's eyes widened, and Vaen fell to the ground. Vaen's vision faded, and soon after, everything was black.
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[Cal Hurst]

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Vaen slowly opened his eyes, groaning loudly. He looked around, and he wasn't ontop of the mountain anymore. He wasn't anywhere near Minoc. He was back at Legion Island. Around him was Firal, Talen, and Sergat. His father, brother, and uncle, respectively.

Vaen looked down at his side which has been bandaged, though the bandages used are blood red. But the bleeding seems to have been stopped.

"Vaen..." Talen said, "what happened?"

Vaen rested his head back against the pillow. He sighed. "Marcus..."

"Vaen.." Sergat said, "You cannot take such quests on your own. Your strength does master his, but you know you won't let yourself come to harm him seriously. He may have caused the demise of people you love, but your own nature repels any actions that involve truely harming him."

Vaen nodded, groaning again, looking down.

"And don't worry about the wound," Sergat said, "it seems as though Marcus' nature, although not as strong as yours, repels similar actions. Whatever he used to penetrate your skin had no poisons, and it wasn't pushed too far in."

Vaen closed his eyes again, sighing. "How much longer must I rest here?"

"You shouldn't leave this island for the remainer of the day," Firal said, "But tomorrow, I can't stop you from doing what you do. Just don't participate in anything too strenuous on the body. You hear me?"

"Yes, father..." Vaen sighed, glancing around.

"We'll let you rest," Talen said, "and just let us know if you need anything."

Vaen nodded, but then spoke up. "Sergat, I need you to inform Valatin and Rachel... and... Natalya." Sergat nodded. The three men then left the room, and Vaen was left to himself. He closed his eyes, and slowly drifted to sleep, thinking about the troubles he's encountered today, and what exactly he will do next time.
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