Preparations for War

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*Aera materializes her grand hammer and swings it upwards into the monster's fist. It only servers to hold it back for a few seconds, so she leaps away, breathing a freezing gust at the fist as it slams into the ground, freezing it in place. Meanwhile, it brings its other fist down upon Lumyr's spirit soldiers. It easily shakes the ice off of its other hand and swings it at Ranmaru.*

=====

Ace: <I-I'm fine.>

*He points at the smoke and red light up ahead.*

Ace: <Is that them?>

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

Regent Kelvin: <Where they are going? Are you mad?>

Kelphy: <U-Uncle...>

*Kelvin sighs and smiles awkwardly.*

Regent Kelvin: <My apologies. Regent Diana of Vinia reported a similar sighting on her way back to Vinia. Alto, I'm going to gather a small squad to go investigate this, and I would very much appreciate it if you'd be part of it.>

Rhea: <What do you want to explain us, Ryzell?>

"Very well Regent Kelvin" Alto says. "Lead the way"

Ryzell casts a glance at Rhea and Kelphy that tells them he's waiting for a private moment.

---

Ranmaru cuts himself free from the tree and lands avoiding the strike.

*Lumyr jumps up onto a tree branch and surrounds himself in purple.*

Lumyr: <Do I really want to do this...?>

*While Lumyr sits there pondering, the missile Winston launched before shoots down from the sky, coming at the monster from behind.*

=====

Kasa: <Do you know any other group of people that could cause THAT much damage so fast?>

Lunsai:< Come on, we need to find out what's going on. Running in there blindly will only hinder all of us.>

*Lunsai starts off towards the red light*

Lunsai: <Say close you two.>

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*The explosion pushes the monster forward. It supports its body on its arms and leaps forward, ramming everything in its way.*

=====

Ace: <(S-She's bossy.)>

*He follows Lunsai.*

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

*They walk out.*

=====

*Kelvin leads Alto a ways down the hallway.*

Kelvin: <I'm sending messenger albratrosses to inform Vinia and Caleonis of this. I expect them to ask to be part of this expedition, but I'm assigning you to choose one of your partners to join the squad.>

"I'll bring with whom ever you think I should"

---

Ryzell waits until they leave before turning to Rhea, "I'm going to need to borrow your energy... just a little. I don't want to risk bringing all seven flames into existence without having enough energy to contain them."

*Lumyr jumps on its back as it bashes through everything, stabbing it with his sword.*

=====

Kasa: <You sure we should keep going? It isn't too late to turn back, you know. We could get in trouble.>

*Lunsai turns back to Kasa and Ace*

Lunsai:< Do you think I'm deaf?>

*Lunsai stares directly at Kasa*

Lunsai:< I'm not going back now. And nether are you. I don't need you turning us in.>

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*Enfuriated over being needled, the gorilla creature clenches its fists and red energy emanates from its body.*

=====

*Four huge dark tigers covered in mud, each with six horse legs, come running from all around and surround them. Strangely, their movements make no sounds whatsoever.*

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

Rhea: <What do you mean?>

=====

Kelvin: <Very well then. Go prepare, and you may meet back with your friends until further notice.>

*Lumyr summons 4 more soldiers. 3 of them jump off its back immediately to attack the tigers while the 4th remains with Lumyr to help with continuing to stab it.*

=====

Kasa: <Right, I'll keep that in mind.>

*Lunsai grabs both Ace and Kasa and leaps back*

"Remember when I said I could use my spirits to harvest energy? I need to do that" Ryzell says.

---

"As you wish"

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*None of that happens because there are no tigers, and the gorilla is still releasing energy to damage Lumyr. Aera jumps near one of the monster's feet and freezes it, while Olympe emerges from the back of the monster's head, a scythe of darkness appearing in her hand that she swings at its head. Crone steps over to Ranmaru, watching with a smirk on his face.*

Crone: <She thinks she can escape.>

*Sure enough, not too far, Allina is running like hell away from the fight site.*

=====

*Two of the gigantic tigers jump at them, and Ace runs underneath one of them, drawing a large sword out of his robe and stabbing into its body.*

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

Rhea: <Why do you need to harvest my energy?>

*Lumyr's flames start blazing intensely, trying to overpower its own strength. Winston is at the front of the monster, launching more of those missiles straight at its face.*

=====

*Kasa shakes off Lunsai's grip.*

Kasa: <Alright! This fast bastard's going down!>

*He draws the sword that was at his left hip and places it in his right hand. He slashes at the other tiger head on.*

"Because I lied about how weak I am right now. Using ANY magic has the potential to kill me."

---

Ranmaru smirks and gives chase.

Lunsai:<You idiots!>

*Lunsai reaches out with one hand at the tigers and clenches it into a fist, a focused expression on her face. A light aura of energy surrounds her body.*

Enkidu spun his staff before releasing a shaft of fire that would smash into the gorilla's stomach.

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*The aura of energy continues to grow stronger, finally blasting Lumyr off of the monster. It holds a hand right above Winston, causing all of the missiles to explode around himself at the cost of heavy damage to its hand. Aera and Olympe both leap at its other arm, swinging their weapons at it after Aera freezes a section of it, making an big ugly gash in it. As both of its hands are busy, it is unable to do much about Enkidu's attack, and though its energy aura reduces the damage inflicted, some of its stomach fur is set on fire.*

-----

*Allina looks back and sees Ranmaru, shrieking.*

Allina: <Go away, pervert!>

=====

*Both tigers are thrown off-course by the attacks. They land on either side of the group and their wounds immediately regenerate. They slash at Kasa and Ace, with the other two running towards Lunsai.*

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

*Rhea widens her eyes and holds out her hand to him.*

Kelphy: <Be careful.>

Ryzell takes her hand, "I only need a little bit for this. If things get dire later on however I'll need more" with that said blue flame sprites appear and encircle his arm and Rhea's before going inside her then popping back out and into Ryzell. The worst effect of this would be Rhea feeling a little light headed but otherwise fine.

Ryzell is now, however, able to stand and does so to brace Rhea against his body so she doesn't fall from being dizzy. "Thank you Rhea."

---

"Music to my ears girl" Ranmaru picks up the pace.

*He jumps back, landing on the ground, flames still blazing around him.*

Lumyr: <Then I'll have to try...>

*He concentrates all of the flames into a circle on his chest. Suddenly, black and dark purple arms shoot out of his chest and start clawing and grabbing at the monster with immense strength. Lumyr himself is sweating up a storm trying to do this.*

Lumyr: <Agh... this... hurts...>

=====

*Kasa dodges the slash and aims to run the tiger through.*

*The aura becomes almost blinding*

Lunsai:<Get out of the way!>

*Lunsai opens her eyes and her fist releasing a shockwave at the tigers*

Enkidu pointed his staff at the monstrosity and unleashed a stream of fire at the same spot, feeding more and more fire into the attack.

Black Swamp, Northern Leudella

*The fire keeps growing. With its chest and belly in flames, its back being ripped part, one of its arms being cut off and the other badly damaged, it's begginning to feel underwhelmed. It roars in panic as Crone steps forward, holding his hands out. White feathers swirl around him before shooting into different parts of the enemy's body and exploding. The gorilla starts losing balance, stumbling around in pain.*

-----

*Allina puts her palms together, growing wings, and takes flight, darting upwards while dodging tree branches and the like.*

=====

*The tiger is run through, and then divides in two tigers, so there are now five. Ace leaps into the air and stabs one down before landing. It also divides in two. The shockwave pushes the two tigers attacking Lunsai back. Roaring, they jump at her again.*

---

Royal Palace, Kingdom of Nymphe

*Rhea closes her eyes to try to regain balance, nodding.*

Kelphy: <What now?>

Lunsai:< IDIOTS! Let's not keep stabbing the tigers if they turn split into two when you do that!>

*Lunsai holds her arm and makes a fist again. She releases another shockwave*

Ryzell lets Rhea brace a little longer, till he's sure she can stand on her own, before walking a short distance. "Now I'll show you the true nature of my magic. Its important because there's a good chance Legel has gained access to it when he was controlling me." Ryzell holds his hands out. "Come to me, divine seven flames!"

Seven flames, one for each color of the rainbow, flickered and sparked into life around Ryzell. A red flame which crackled more like pure energy; an orange flame which behaved like normal fire and cast off heat; a yellow flame which radiated warmth like the sun; a green flame which looked wicked and cursed; a blue flame that looked like dancing spirits; a violet flame that took a vaguely skull like shape; and an indigo flame which seemed to suck in the light around it.

"These are the divine seven flames of my home world. The flame of protection, the flame of purity, the flame of light, the flame of spite, the flame of spirits, the flame of rebuke, and the flame of darkness. Each one of these flames is strong enough on its own that mastery of it qualifies one for sagehood. I am unique in that I have mastered several of the flames however I cannot properly use all seven. As you saw when we fought Kelphy I primarily use the blue spirit flame, the indigo darkness flame, and the orange purity flame. I have enough knowledge to use some techniques from the others but am by no means a master. However there are two other flames. I do not possess the qualifications to wield them however I can bring them forth."

He swirled his hands together and the flames combined forming a yinyang of flames. Two balls of fire, one black and white white, spun slowly in front of him.

"These are the white flame of life and the black flame of death. It is said who ever can gain control of both of these flames has the power to become god. I fear that Legel may be close to controlling these flames. However... I believe two people in the castle have the potential to use these flames themselves" when he said this he looked at Kelphy.

"That boy... Alto... I believe he can use the white flame. I don't know how or why but he has the spark inside him. Its dormant but its possible to awaken it. The same goes for the Regent, Kelvin. He has the black flame's spark inside him. You two also have the potential the master one of the divine seven flames. Rhea you could become a master of the yellow flame of light and Kelphy you have the potential to learn the power of the red flame of protection."

He could sense them starting to lose him so he made some clarifications, "Its best to not think of them as fire itself, merely, as concepts personified by flame. Which is why a water mage like yourself, Kelphy, could easily learn how to use the protection and warding magic associated with the red flame. Rhea, with the yellow flame you could take the floramancy aspect of your magic to the next level. As for the others... I'm not sure what can be done about Kelvin. He doesn't seem like the fighting type and finding the black flame in someone who isn't amoral is rare. Alto however... that's a paradox in of itself. The white flame is rarer still. From what I learned from the spirits associated with the blue flame the white flame is usually only manifested by young women with pure hearts." He paused.

"Though in actuality I too hold the qualifications for wielding both black and white flames... well... held at any rate. In order to become a holder of all seven divine flames, before I was completely taken over by Legel's magic, I sacrificed my ability to wield the life and death flames and most of my lifespan as a youkai in order to keep it away from Legel... oh but don't worry Rhea, that just means I'm basically a normal human and not... uh... basically immortal" he laughed sheepishly then coughed.

"Anyways I can begin training both of you right away in using the flames. I don't need to do anything complex so I don't require any more energy than what I have now" he smiled warmly.

Rhea has the qualifications to be a holder of the life flame herself. Even still... I have to wonder how that boy Alto came to also possess the qualifications. Heh... goes to show that I still have much to learn.

---

Alto got the chills all of a sudden. He began to gather up his unit to march to the falls.

---

Ranmaru acrobats his way up the branches, "That's dangerous you know!"