A Dreary Welcome [Open]

[bellatrixzentrid]

Bellatrix didn't know where they were. All she knew was that the two of them were in some land or island they had never ventured in before. The two had remained together, which was more important than anything in all the worlds. But while they remained together, they could scout more ground apart. So Bella had gone one way while Vidar went another, though she never strayed out of earshot. She had come to this place with a longbow strapped to her back, and a dagger sheathed at her thigh. She pulled out her long bow just in case it was needed. If anything else, she could use what magic she knew to protect herself. It wasn't long into her journey she ventured toward a hole in a cliff by the looks of it. Upon further inspection, it wasn't a hole at all, but a door kicked far in. After a moment of hesitation she walked to the door in peered in. The sight made her skin turn cold.

"What happened here?" she wondered aloud, looking around the den-like home that was littered and trashed and covered in dust for the three years it had remained so. It looked like a Paladin attack on a Magus home, a sight she was all too familiar with, though it never kept her stomach from turning. With a deep breath she took a step deeper into the dark abandoned house. No one had been to this place in ages; it was practically ruined beyond repair. Bella could tell it had once been a homey place, but all those indications were gone and for a long time with the sight of the inch of dust that covered everything. The sight disgusted Bella to her very core. Had she not been a stronger woman she would have thrown up then and there; she was at least glad Vidar was nearby.

[alarica]

All of these trees were a few branches off from Alarica setting them aflame. She was tired of looking at ruddy trees not knowing where she was heading. With her sword she cut through the brush hearing distinct cries of pain. She ignored these sounds and passed them off as her own imagination. The only thing keeping her from going insane was the small hope she would stumble back into Tabluna or wake up from this horrible nightmare.

“If I have to look at another tree I’m—“ Alarica cut herself off as she approached what looked to be a cave. When she was only a few feet away, Alarica could see a door hanging from its hinges. It was a house. From the looks of it the place was abandoned, so no harm in searching the home for supplies. Perhaps she could find a few things to sell whenever she reached a village.

In the doorway Alarica saw she was not alone. There was a woman standing inside the house. The sight of her made Alarica crack and evil grin. She immediately recognized the style of clothing, Tablunian. Drawing in a quick breath she exhaled and spoke precisely and coolly. Her sword still drawn but the tip was pointed toward the ground.

“Do my eyes deceive me, or am I looking at a Tablunian? More specifically a Magus per chance?”

[bellatrixzentrid]

The sound of a voice caused Bella to spin around, knocking an arrow and aiming it square between the Paladin's eyes, though she never shot. Hatred surged through Bella as she realized this abomination immediately for what she was. At least she had the smarts to hold her tongue or she would have come back with a rather nasty retort that would have surely gotten her turned to cinders right where she stood. Bella, in spite of being a rather proud individual, also had the intelligence not to boast of her magic. If this Paladin was like any other God-forsaken Paladin in the worlds, she would kill her even quicker. She remembered Shadow's words to her not long ago: don't shun who you are. But don't be stupid and get killed either. She sincerely wished he was with her right now. And calling him was out of the question.

"Tablunian, yes," she said softly, never once lowering her bow. There was no way she could lie about that part. But Bella had absolutely no hope of winning while inside this cavern. This fight, if it began, was almost all in the Paladin's favor. So she had to hold in her spunk until she was at more favorable grounds. "Yet I don't know much about 'Magus.' My brother was the one trained heavily that sort of magic back home. My mum showed me how to use weapons. She was an expert and showed me everything she knew." That's it, Bella told herself, don't full out lie or she'll know. But don't tell the full truth either. Skim the truth and you'll be safe. At least she was thankful Paladins weren't mind readers.

"And you?" she asked, already knowing the answer. "You're obviously Tablunian, judging by your clothes and knowing of the place." She nodded at the stranger's staff. "You must be a Paladin." She held in any sort of disgust that would have normally been held in the word. She had to keep calm until she was out of this deserted house. "Must be nice, being able to do whatever you want to whoever you want, from a hypothetical standpoint, of course." Bella tried to keep her cool, but she knew it wouldn't be too long before she lost it and said something that got her into huge trouble.

[alarica]

Alarica didn't flinch as an arrow was directed at her, she let out a scoff her sword tip still hitting the ground. Even if she had suspected this girl to be a magus back in Tabluna she would have attacked her on the spot. However, this place wasn't Tabluna that much she was sure of. And if Alarica wanted to get back she would need to know how this Tablunian arrived here. She could be the key to getting back, and Alarica wasn't so stupid as to kill her one shot of returning.

"Back in Tabluna I could kill you for being associated with a Magus in anyway." she paused for a second. "I do not care to hear your life story either so do not bore me with the details. I care not what your mother has taught you."

The corner's of Alarica's mouth turned upward in a sadistic type of scowl. On anyone else it might have been a smile but not on her. The girl was a magus, Alarica was sure of it now. Hypothetical my ass. She thought. Alarica went about this carefully, she did after all have an arrow aimed at her head. One wrong move and she would never return home, and worse of all she would lose to a Magus.

"You are a very sharp girl. I am a Paladin. But you misunderstand, the High Paladn is doing a great justice to a great injustice. Freeing our world of the evil of the Magus. It is not just the will of the High Paladin, he is doing it on behalf of the Spirits Above. Cleansing Tabluna so that it might one day be at peace." Not exactly the best choice of topic or words. Alarica was never good at holding her tongue.

"If I had any intension of killing you I would have done so before announcing my presence. And I am sure you would have shot me with that arrow by now if you truly wanted me dead. Now, why don't you be a good girl and lower your weapon?"Alarica wanted nothing more than to just kill this Magus and add another notch in her staff, but the situation would need to be assessed and questions answered first.

[bellatrixzentrid]

"Well, we're not in Tabluna if you haven't noticed," Bella replied. "And besides, I'm not associated with my brother anymore." Well, that was kind of true. She didn't know where her brother was so she couldn't really be associated with him. She wasn't about to discuss what was and wasn't an injustice with this Paladin while she was trapped here. And her calling Bella a 'good girl'?! Bella almost let go of the arrow from her mild temper. Bella wasn't a 'good girl.' There was only one who she allowed herself to associate with that word, and that was Shadow.

"Let me out of the house first," she replied carefully, not lowering her arrow, "then I won't feel so much like a cornered animal with the need to protect myself." Bella didn't know why a fight between them had not started yet, but she was still counting her heartbeats. Each heartbeat meant she was still alive. Meant she still had time for Vidar to show up, which she hoped was soon. Bella could stay alive, but she couldn't beat a Paladin on her own, especially a crazy deranged psychopath one as this one seemed. Even if the Paladin did let her out, she couldn't get away, nor could she lower her weapon. Either this Paladin was toying with her or she wanted something from her. Either way Bella couldn't let her guard down.

[alarica]

Alarica scoffed at the girl at the condescending tone she caught in her voice. If the she was sure that this would not fire the arrow the second Alarica moved an inch she would have taken the tongue from her mouth with her hands. Instead her eyes narrowed, "I have noticed. I believe I would know my home when I see it. I know the trees of Tabluna and these trees are foreign." she paused for a second the same flat expression on her face but with more venom in her voice, "Just like I know a Magus when I see it."

Alarica snorted her grip tightening on the sword and her open hand twitching slightly. Her finger tips rubbing together itching to preform magic on this filthy misuser of magic that stood across from her. She didn't shift her feet and kept her eyes focused hard on the girl's face. "Let us not lie to ourselves." she spoke in a hushed tone. "You are a Magus and I am a Paladin. We both know how this dance goes." Alarica took a slow step back and then another not raising her sword or hand at the girl. She made her way outside not turning her back one or even her head to glance behind.

"Perhaps I killed him." Alarica suddenly muttered. "Your brother. I have killed many a Magus back in Tabluna, perhaps you are no longer associated with him because he is dead. Nothing more than a pile of meat by my hand." Her face held no smile cruel or otherwise. It was serious and even deadly. "I'll ask you again Magus. Lower your weapon, we wouldn't want an accident to happen now would we? I wouldn't want to accidentally kill you. That is something left to be planned."

[bellatrixzentrid]

'Alright,' Bella thought to herself, thinking as quickly as she could without becoming panicked. Staying strong was the key to surviving against a Paladin. 'Let's pretend for a second this won't end in disaster. Shadow has good instincts, he'll come. All I have to do is keep her talking long enough so that I stay alive or give her what she wants so she'll leave me alone. Which is highly unlikely. Paladin's kill Magus. As clear as two plus two.' No way was this Paladin going to let her live once she got what she wanted. Bella followed her slowly out the door, her eyes always on the Paladin though still quite mindful of her footing. One wrong move and she could kiss ever seeing Vidar or Tabluna again good-bye.

Everything seemed much more open once she was outside, thankfully. She definitely didn't feel as suffocated or trapped. But Bella still had to keep her guard up, no matter what. Slowly she lowered the bow so that the string was still pulled back, but no longer aimed at the Paladin, just an inch in front of her feet. "Trust me, I know you didn't kill him," she replied. She had a gut feeling inside her that told her he was still alive, one she knew wouldn't disappear until he actually was dead. She took a deep breath. "Now cut the theatrics. What are you wasting your time talking to me for if you obviously don't care about Tablunians who aren't Paladins. Magus or not." She still wasn't giving in to the Magus bit. As long as Bella kept that up, she had a better chance of surviving.

[alarica]

Alarica smiled cruelly inwardly at the Magus. She didn’t let it show on her face though, only a straight serious expression stayed there. The corner of her mouth twitched as she was growing increasingly annoyed with the young magus. She tilted her head back slightly her fingers itching to cast magic all the more.

“Regardless if I killed him or not in life, I probably dreamed of killing him as I have done for every single Magus in Tabluna. And I would love nothing more than to finish you here and now but if it hadn’t escaped your pretty blonde head in the short amount of time you’ve been pointing that sword at me, we’re a long way from home. All I want is to go back there to take my place beside the High Paladin.”

Alarica was going to regret what was to come out her mouth next but sadly it was the truth at the moment. She balled her fingers into a tight fist. Her other hand gripped the sword tighter still her flesh cutting into the hilt.

“Even as powerful of a Paladin as I am I do not know how I ended up here. A snake of a Magus like yourself must have caused it. You are the reason I am here and you will tell me how to get back to Tabluna. Do this and I won’t kill you, yet.”

[bellatrixzentrid]

Bella didn’t like the look the Paladin was giving her. It very much reminded her of a lioness stalking a gazelle for its next prey. And she was the prey. She wished Shadow would hurry up and get here. She would have felt much more comfortable with him at her side. No doubt this Paladin could strip her clean of her skin if the fight turned to one of magic.

This Paladin had to be kidding. She wanted Bella to take her back to Tabluna? And she was being blamed for suddenly ending up in a completely different world? That practically teetered Bella’s anger over the edge. She momentarily wondered to herself why she had lowered her bow and hadn’t shot this filth excuse for a being yet. All Paladins were the same, and Bella had a very good feeling that even if she was able to take this woman back to Tabluna, she’d be dead as soon as they got back.

“You’re out of luck,” Bella told her, taking a step back and slightly raising her bow so it pointed at the Paladin’s heart. “I don’t know how I got here. I don’t know how you got here. And I certainly have no idea of how to get back. So find your own way and let me be.” She sidestepped again drawing back her string in defense, knowing that her answer more than likely wasn’t good enough for the Paladin to consider sparing her life.

[alarica]

Alarica’s lip slowly curled up in a snarl. She wondered what she was doing wasting her time on this pathetic excuse for a person. Back in Tabluna Alarica would have killed this Magus ten times over now. She hated being lied to. And in Alarica’s mind, this bitch was lying through and through. She had been the reason Alarica was here and was now standing in her way. It was conspiracy to bring all of the Paladins here. Cruel. Vindictive. Alarica wouldn’t stand for it. She wouldn’t leave the High Paladin back in Tabluna to suffer to these wretched Magus any longer.

Alarica’s free hand twitched. Her mind flashed back to Tabluna and all of the previous Magus’ she had killed. It made her smile. Then her mind filled with the memory of Jadian, and that wench Evelyn. Her jaw quivered as she recalled looking her husband. Her eyes hardened. Magus had only caused heartache in her life and they brought nothing but despair upon her and everyone she knew. They didn’t deserve to live. And if she couldn’t have Evelyn Alarica would have this one standing in front of her. She would kill this Magus and cut that pretty blonde hair from her head as a reward. Yes. Alarica would find a way back to Tabluna to take revenge for Jadian, but for now she would settle for this one.


Her hand tingled and there was a slight pressure in her temples. Alarica smacked her lips and tilted her head slightly chuckling at the sight of the arrow pointed at her heart. “I hope you do not think I will go down that easily.” Her hand began to glow with a yellow light. “Magus. Since you are so keen to lie to me I have no choice but to destroy you. Then again I was planning on doing this anyway. You have merely sped up the decision. I will find my own way back, but you will be coming with me. In pieces.”

Alarica raised her hand in front of her and shot a bolt of lightning at the Magus, a crazed thirsty look in her eye as she did so.

[bellatrixzentrid]

Bellatrix knew she was in trouble from the moment the Paladin's lips began to twitch into a snarl. She took several steps backward, never letting her eyes leave the crazed woman, and raised her bow once again in defense. She wasn't about to go down without a fight, and it seemed no matter how much Bella might have tried to convince her otherwise, she was going to die anyway. What was the harm in using magic now, especially in defense. There was one problem: this Paladin was much more powerful than she, and Bella could tell that just by looking at her, just by how crazed her eyes were as she stared Bella down. She needed Shadow, and who knew how far away he was right now. Stupid, stupid, stupid... she shouldn't have wandered off.

Bella's mind tried to figure out some way to send a message to Vidar without gaining the attention of the Paladin. Any sort of magic, used by her earthly powers would not only take up a large amount of her energy, but that would be a dead giveaway that she was not alone. A telepathic link would have been nice, if she knew how to do one and if it were even possible. The last thing Bella wanted was the Paladin to know she had another that could easily overtake her. It was the only way for her to be defeated.

Before she could think of any other possible way out of this situation, the Magus was talking again, well more monologuing. That was the one thing that really annoyed Bella about Paladins, other than them trying to kill anyone different than them--they always felt the need to give huge speeches about how they were all powerful and going to kill you. Stupid Paladins. If they spent the time they took monologuing and put it to actions, they might accomplish something. It wasn't a happy thought but it was true. Bella knew after the monologue would come the actual fight. So as soon as she was done with her speech, Bella let the arrow fly at the Paladin, aiming right between her eyes.

This action didn't give her much of a chance to block the magic attack. She was able to get a barrier up, strong enough to keep the major effects from killing her, but the force of the blow threw her backward. Bellatrix went toppling to the ground, rolling over before getting back up again, this time knocking two arrows and aiming for the Paladin's heart. Her muscles were sore and she knew she'd have to be more careful if she were going to stay alive. Hopefully the sound of the blast of lighting hitting her barrier was loud enough to call Shadow's attention. If it wasn't, hopefully her calling him. She couldn't risk a possible surprise attack. "VIDAR!" Please, she prayed, please, hear me.