"Shon Lin!" A servant quickly makes his way into the room, looking for the princess he has vowed his life to protecting. "Your highness! Where are you?" He quickly passes the curtains into the room, not noticing the dark figure standing behind them, leaning on a staff while watching the commotion.
Shon Lin stands on the balcony of her room, watching the lights in the horizon from the intense magic being used in the war. She is almost stunned by its potential that it's actually.... beautiful. As she hears the calls of her servant, she glances back, not answering as she returns her gaze back to the sky, the reds and oranges flickering off of her dark eyes.
"Your highness. Your parents are requesting for you to move to a safer place. The battle is moving closer to the palace."
"Hei..."
"Yes?"
"Is it true that we're following the dragons up against beings only told of in legends? That their magic is that much more powerful than ours?" Her voice remains as soft as ever.
"I'm afraid so, your highness."
With a sigh, Shon Lin pulls herself away from the balcony and turns to walk through her room, still not noticing the shadowed figure watching her and Hei. She walks past him, her posture regal and proud, her steps reflecting her sadness of leaving everything she grew up with behind.
After the door closes, the priest brushes aside the curtain and steps out. He smiles, his eyes remaining closed, and his purple hair falling just past his shoulders. He laughs almost playfully while looking out to the balcony, out to the horizon, then vanishing without a trace.
Shon Lin. The sole child of the king and queen of the Buranos Empire, and the heir to the throne. Her name spans across the world as she prepares to be raised to rule a kingdom powerful enough to rival that of Saillune.
"What can you tell me of the events of the war?"
The man's footsteps are silent while he quickly makes his way through the courtyard of the palace of the Buranos Empire. He has come in search of one thing, a replacement for the general Zelas so coldly murdered. His eyes have been set on one who is emotionally and mentally strong this time, having lost one who was physically strong. His sister, Zelas, always toyed with others, rather than used power. In fact, her single servant she recently acquired was only a trickster priest, nothing more. That has changed, though. The man now has much more power, since he holds the power that was given to Zelas to distribute to two.
Shalien's black hair flashes past his face while he glances up to the windows of the palace, searching for the princess's room. Shon Lin is renown in the surrounding kingdoms for her cunning intellect and startling beauty. She would be perfect for the replacement. He skids to a stop as he senses a certain priest in his area.
"Damn you, Zelas. Why must you feed on my prey like this?!"
"Why don't you ask her yourself, Shalien?" Speaks a calm voice from behind him.
"Xelloss... This is my area. Step out now."
"I'm afraid I can't do that. I'm only following orders..."
Shalien closes his eyes, keeping his anger in check. He has a temper to rival that of the Chaos Dragon's, but he believes in keeping his cool to recieve what he wants. "And those are?"
"...a secret, dear Deep Sea. If you want to know, ask Zelas herself, just as I said before." Xelloss winks before he vanishes.
With a grumble under his breath, Shalien looks back up to the palace, noticing movement on one of the balconies. He smiles, putting the last encounter in the back of his mind before making his way to his destination, his pace having picked up. The same thought runs through his head while he keeps his eyes forward. "Shelias will be my greatest follower yet."
Shalien. The Deep Sea Dolphin. One of the Five Lords ruling under Ruby Eye Shabranigdo. He holds a grudge against the Lord Zelas Metallium, his sister, both of whom are the youngest of the five. His hand in the war is quite unlike the others, where he prefers to step into the battles himself, rather than have servants do most of the work for him.
"The Ryuzoku have proven themselves to be a nuisance, while the humans have chosen to side along with them. Mother, why don't I start a game amongst my people, to see who can prove to be the most powerful, and take them down. They'll enjoy that one a lot."
While tossing her curly, blonde hair off of her shoulder, Zelas leans back in her seat, thinking silently to herself as to what she ordered Xelloss. She could not possibly allow Shalien to best her. Not even once. She must prevent this at all costs! Crossing a leg over the other, she sighs, waiting.
"My Lord."
"What have you discovered, Xelloss?" She opens her eyes, looking at the priest who stands before her.
"I have discovered that Shalien is after the servitude of Shon Lin, heir to the Buranos throne."
"I know who she is, Xelloss." Zelas takes a drag off the pipe she holds delicately between her long, thin fingers.
"He seems almost detirmined not to let you get in the way this time. Funny, isn't it?" He laughs, still not opening his eyes. Zelas remains silent, thinking to herself. She looks up at her priest suddenly.
"Xelloss, do not allow him to find her. Keep her from his grasp, and protect her from him. We'll have some better use for her later."
"Are you planning anything special with her other than that?" He smiles.
"I do not know yet. Let me think on it. Now go, we don't have much time."
"Yes, my Lord."
With those words, he vanishes from her sight. She smiles, bringing the pipe to her lips again, while tapping her foot impatiently. She is confident of her new priest, knowing that he should be able to carry out this order.
Zelas Metallium. The Beastmaster. She resides at Wolf Pack Island, and seems to have made that her home and base. She controls the beasts of the world. Zelas seems to rely on trust, trickery, and games to accomplish her goals, rather than the abrupt violence and slavery of some of the other Mazoku.
"This will not stop the competition between the Mazoku. It will only increase it. Are you sure that this is wise, Lei Magnus?"
With a laugh, a young boy smiles up to a woman selling loaves of bread. He stands in one of the many markets of Saillune, eyeing all the things on sale, just as a young child should. His curiousity is obvious in his wide eyes and merry laughter. Many people believe that he is unaware of the war outside by his light heartedness.
"Thank you, lady!" He takes the loaf after handing her a coin and he bows to her before running off, his laughter returning. While running through the market, he calmly watches each human in their daily lives. He's thankful to have the guise of a young boy. It's easier to control others with it. In fact, no one would expect a child to be Phibrizo, the Hellmaster.
"Look out!" Phibrizo suddenly snaps his eyes to the left, but is unable to jump out of the way as someone collides him. With a loud cry, he crashes to the ground on his side. He sits up slowly, looking around to find who charged into him. He stops as he sees a young woman, about 18 years of age sitting up as well. Quickly she apologizes to him, bowing before she runs off. She has long black hair pulled into a ponytail, wearing white robes and a sheathed dagger at her side. She appears to be a priestess of some kind, though she seems familiar to the boy who is silently watching her. Phibrizo quickly stands up and brushes off his clothes.
"It seems that the people are beginning to panic because of the war. Maybe the Ryuzoku have finally arrived here. The kingdom is under the control of Suiryuuoh after all." Phibrizo glares before he turns around, pulling the voice's owner into the alleyway with him, not noticing the group of people quickly following the girl's path.
"Brieze! Don't do that!" The young lord reprimands his priest, annoyance clearly taking over his young voice. Brieze just stands there without apologizing or responding. Phibrizo looks back out to the street. "She looked of royalty, possibly a servant of the High Priest. This could lead to interesting things, and with the right keys and people, I can easily make Saillune mine. Find her again, and quickly. Get Philos to assist you."
"Yes, my Lord." Brieze bows to the child before melting into the shadows around them and vanishing. Phibrizo steps out to the street, looking in the direction the girl was running to. "So..." The child thinks. "She's heading to the palace." He smiles, laughter on the edge of his voice while he calmly makes his way to his new destination, taking a bite from the loaf of bread he bought earlier.
The Hellmaster, Phibrizo. Possibly the most manipulative Lord of the five, due to his appearance as an eleven year old boy. Also quite perhaps the most powerful as well, due to his control over the astral plane and the dead souls of the humans. He falls into the woodwork, normally being forgotten until he strikes.
"Yes, it is, Mother. I am most sure of it. There will always be competition between those holding ruling power, and I wish to play off it. IN the meanwhile, the balance of the humans and the Ryuzoku is beginning to overthrow ours. Will you be so kind as to lend us your hand for a small time?"
Maryuuoh Gaav, the Chaos Dragon stands opposite to a young woman wearing ornate and regal armor, her violet hair falling before her eyes, keeping them hidden to the Mazoku. He has his sword drawn, while she has a simple mace drawn, set carefully in the palm of her hand. Silence holds between the two while the remain in the standoff, knowing that one's slip up could result in the their downfall.
"Fall back now!" The knight finally calls out. She lowers her mace to her side, glaring up at the taller, and visibly older man before her. "You are not wanted here! Ceipheed holds power to this land, and any follower of Shabranidgo who threatens us will be destroyed quickly and mercilessly!"
Gaav laughs in response. "Foolish child. By your appearance, you appear to have been raised to be his knight only recently. Step aside, I have business past here."
The girl stands there, watching the man silently. She looks up, her red-brown eyes reflecting the anger in her voice. "Cilpheed commands this! Leave now, or else you will die in obscurity!"
"Dear child," The red haired man laughs again. "You have been raised only recently, so I doubt that you fully understand your power at this time." He throws his free hand as a gust of energy blasts toward the girl, throwing her aside. "Thank you. Now please, remain where you are; out of my way." Gaav walks past her to continue on his way to accomplish his personal mission.
The Chaos Dragon. The Lord most renown for his wild, rampant temper. He is the only Lord who chooses a weapon above his power, though many do not realize that his blade is actually enchanted.
The Knight of Ceipheed. A young woman unknown to both humans and Mazoku. Her name is only known to the god she serves, Ceipheed, the king of the Ryuzoku.
"I understand, Lei Magnus. Balance is at upmost importance in this war. Very well then, you shall see the hand of the Lord of Nightmares during the war itself. Go now. You must finish your portion of the bargain as soon as possible."