Succession: Heir to the Empire

"Ah, Syrien. How good to see you. Strange that you haven't meet any of the heirs yet. You should get to know your future Master. And you may help out Heir Kegan," Baruti wheezed as he started to cough a little.

Brighe

"I'm going to leave as well. Heir Kegan is my responsibility as well." Brighe stated as she cut herself into the conversation. "I promise that I wont be a hindrance to you, Syrien."
------------------------
Katie/Rhys

"Bye C.C.!" Katie shouted as C.C.'s body faded away.

"Well there you go, I'm sure she heard that..." Rhys replied as he turned to look at Katie, who did the same in return.

"So why does everyone keep joking about you being a pervert?" Katie asked Rhys as she pulled a plate of food towards herself. Instead of answering immediately Rhys just stared down at his plate of food and picked at it before eventually looking up at Katie reluctantly.

"About three years back, there was a banquet in the castle. It was midsummer, a full moon out and all. For reasons I wont explain, being at that specific time and place, affected my inhibition and I was caught with with four different people that night. It was unpleasant the next morning because I barely remembered anything and everyone kept mocking me. I prefer not to talk about it or remember it if I can." Rhys explained in a cold manner, never breaking eye contact with Katie as he put emphasis on the last sentence.

"Oh, fun....." Katie replied as things became awkward again. "...So, see any good plays recently?"

"No, not really."

"Oh...." Katie replied before she silently gave up on trying to start a conversation with Rhys.
--------------------------------
Kegan

Kegan looked at Rein in concern before shaking has head as he decided not to press the issue. "Umm I figured we should see the gardens. They are supposed to be one of the most wondrous things of the city to see."

Rein

"Great, let's pay the bill and go!" Rein shouted enthusiastically. The waiter came by and gave the bill to the Heir.

Syrien, Caesar, Maul, Tsuba

"Very well, that is acceptable. Do any others wish to join?" the old Elf asked.

"Normally I would volunteer, but I used all my energy fighting the Elders. I was barely able to walk here as it was." Maul replied. Tsuba said something similar.

"Oh, I'd love to help." Caesar stated, rising up. Syrien gave the Humage a questioning glance but said nothing.

C.C.

"Hello, Susanna."

C.C appeared beyond the young girl, who still seemed to be at the fake Katie's grave. She knew it was foolish talking to her now, but the Mage wanted to try anyway.

Kegan

After the bill arrived Kegan quickly paid it, adding a rather large tip along with it. "Well that should satisfy them. Lets go."
-------------------------------------------------
Carlisle

"I'd like to go as well, you never know, he might be injured when we arrive." Carlisle requested as he looked over at Caesar, feeling uncomfortable with the fact that the Humage seemingly wanted to help.
--------------------------------------------------
]Susanna

"C.C. ?" Susanna whispered in surprise as she looked up to see her old friend. "W-what are you doing here?" She added, this time anger seeping into her voice as she stood up.

Rein

Rein nodded and followed Kegan out of the restuarant.

Syrien

"Very well, your presence will be welcomed. Lord Baruti, do we have your permission to go?" Syrien asked one last time to be sure. Until the next leader of the Gaborian Empire was chosen, Baruti was the highest ranking member in control, and the Empire's temporary leader. Until he had a new master, Syrien was to serve Baruti. Baruti himself hadn't asked for him to, but Syrien appointed him to serve the powerful magic user until the contest was over. Syrien wanted his permission one last time until they left.

C.C.

"I had heard what happened to Katie. I'm...sorry, Susanna. I wish I had been able to help, but I was elsewhere at the time. I am truly sorry. If I could bring her back again, I would."

C.C. hated lying to Susanna, but it needed to be done. It wasn't likely Susanna would believe her that Katie was still alive, and Caesar might catch wind of what she said. However, C.C. did want to salvage their relationship in some way if possible.

"Permission, granted," Baruti told him as he watched the slave in interest. He'd have to make sure to have Syrien brief him on that actions of the Heirs. That would prove most useful, indeed.

Brighe

"Well then lets go." BRighe stated with a hint of urgency after she walked across the room towards the Doctor and the Other Elf who seemed to be leading the mission.
----------------------------
Kegan

"Now then, I believe the Gardens should be somewhere in that general direction..." Kegan guessed aloud after they walked out of the restaurant. "It should be a nice sight." He stated excitedly before crossing the street with Rein.
----------------------------
Susanna

"Don't lie to me C.C. . I know where you were while Katie was dying, I know that you had a part in it."

Syrien

"Very well. Everyone, please gather around me. I can take us directly to the Imperial City. From there we'll have to trace Heir Kegan's trail of magic." Syrien ordered. Caesar got up from his chair and walked over to the Elf, and unnatural grin affixed to his face. Syrien was still worried about the mad Humage, but he would accept all the help he could get. Rein was in danger as well, and he could not let anything happen to her.

C.C.

"I...don't know what you're talking about." C.C. denied weakly. She hated this, she hated this situation with every fiber of her being. But she had no other choice. Susanna could not learn the truth, unless Katie's safety was guaranteed.

Rein

"Great, I can't wait to see it!" Rein shouted with enthusiasm.

Clara

Clara stayed quiet for a few more seconds until she was sure that the others had departed, "Well that certainly changes the mood of everything." She stated in a cheery manner. "Umm, can I have another, non-deadly, glass of wine." She asked one of the Servants who was holding the dead rebels body.
-------------------------
Kegan

"Me neither. I belive that we'll both be amazed with it." Kegan exclaimed as he began walk down the slim pathway that ran between two large buildings with Rein.
-------------------------
Susanna

Susanna grew visibly angered as she noticed C.C.'s pause in responding as she caught the Mage's lie. "Don't lie to me, did you not just hear that request of mine? You had a hand in my Cousin's death, even after we both put our trust in you and no one else, you still aided the man that very likely raped, and certainly killed, Katie."

"Well, is everyone ready?" Nebi asked as he approached the others. He was bored and he was ready to do something.

C.C.

C.C. sighed. "Susanna you do not know the entire story, believe me."

Syrien, Caesar

Once everyone was ready Syrien transported them to the center of the capital. Once the group was there Syrien started to try and locate Kegan and Rein.

Rein

Rein nodded and followed Kegan.

Susanna

"Why did you call me Katie?" Susanna asked quickly, leaping onto the odd error in C.C.'s reply.
------------------------------
Carlisle/Brighe

"So... Where should we go?" Brighe asked Syrien quickly after arriving in the district as Carlisle kept an eye on Caesar, not wanting the Humage to leave the group at this point.
-------------------------------
Kegan

"Well...here we are." Kegan stated the obvious in awe as they turned a corner to see the magical gardens that Kegan had been looking forward to seeing all night.

The area seemed to be more colorful then the rest of the world, more lively in a sense. Streams floated around throughout the air, fish swimming in them as though nothing was wrong. Music played as well, though the source of it could not be seen. And the plants themselves...well they were magnificent, the fruit growing off of them surely must have been delicious Kegan guessed even though he was not familiar with them.

But as he slowly calmed down, remember where he was and what he was doing, the Heir turned to look at Rein with a smile on his face. "So...what do you think?"

((Hm, just now noticed that mistake I made.))

C.C.

"Sorry, it was a slip of the tongue. After being alive for so long, I sometimes mix up names. I meant to say your name instead. As I was saying, there is more to this than you know, Susanna." C.C. explained.

Syrien and Caesar

Syrien withdrew a folded piece of paper from his robes, and whispered a quick spell. The paper took the form of a small bird and flew away.

"A useful little spell I learned in the Far Eastern Lands. It can track anyone I wish, so long as I give my tool their name. Now, we must follow that bird to find Kegan." Syrien quickly explained. The elf took off after the magically made creature.

Caesar followed after the slave.

Rein

"It's beautiful Kegan! I've never seen anything like this before in my life!" Rein gasped, staring in amazement.

"Indeed, it is."

A person, previously unseen, seemed into view in front of the two. Several other men and women also stepped out, including their Kaleesh waiter.

"Greetings, Heir Kegan. I am Hazuki, and these are my friends from the Rebellion. You should know why we've come."

Susanna

"Such as?" Susanna asked in reply, still visibly angry and uneasy with C.C. .
-------------------------------
Kegan

Kegan frowned as he looked at the rebels who were finally revealing themselves. "Of course... Just make sure that you allow my friend here to leave unharmed and I wont try and fight you." Kegan replied as he tried not to show just how weak he was at the moment.
-------------------------------
Brighe/Carlisle

"Good." Brighe replied before running after the slave, the Doctor right behind her.

C.C.

"I wish I can tell you, but I can't. Not yet. Just know that things are not always as they appear, Susanna. Be weary of Caesar, too. Even if he helped you, it would be wise not to get close to him." C.C. advised. The more distant Susanna was from that madman, the better. The Mage did not want any harm to come to Susanna.

Rein and Hazuki

"I'm afraid I can't promise that. We can have no witnesses, however much it pains me to kill one of my own. Now, boys..." Hazuki trailed off as she saw a bird flew over and land on Kegan's head. It vanished in an instant. Syrien and Caesar ran into the area shortly afterwards.

Kegan/Carlisle/Brighe

"Well I'm s-" Kegan started to reply before quickly shutting up as he saw a bird fly towards him, only for it to land on his head and disappear. "...Syrien!" The Half-Elf shouted as he saw Rein's (adoptive) Father arrive with Caesar, Carlisle, and Brighe right behind him.
--------------------------------
Susanna

"How convenient." Susanna muttered bitterly as C.C. tried to warn her about Caesar. As she processed everything that C.C. had just said Susanna simply looked at the Mage before turning around and walking away as she decided not to continue the conversation anymore.

Caesar, Syrien, Hazuki, Rein

Hazuki and her comrades went into defensive positions once they saw the new arrivals. Syrien calmly stepped forward.

"So Hazuki, we meet once more. I am not surprised to see you leading the attack. You should know that your allies in the castle failed in their attempted poisoning of the other Heirs. I plead that you all surrender peacefully. I do not wish to come to violence, if possible." Syrien stated calmly. Hazuki sneered at him.

"I'll surrender as soon as you show some emotions. Now, attack! Kill the Heirs!" Hazuki cried. The rebels swarmed toward the others.

C.C.

C.C. gave Susanna's retreating form a sad look before disappearing, teleporting back to Rhy's estate.

Kegan/Carlisle/Brighe

"How does Syrien know these people, Rein?" Kegan asked as he took a step back towards her, his hand raising up to cover Rein as though it would somehow protect her from the Rebels targeting them.

Meanwhile, Brighe rushed towards her Nephew, attacking the Rebels as Carlisle merely stood in place and wondered what he should do.

Nebi sighed as he unsheathed his sword and beheaded a rebel that tried to attack him on his own. He muttered, "Poor buggers... Anyone want to keep score?"

Caesar, Rein, Hazuki, and Syrien

"Don't ask me, I've never seen that woman before in my life." Rein said, making sure to stay well out of the fighting zone. She hoped Syrien would be ok.

Caesar laughed manically as he mowed down two rebels with a burst of fire. More rebels came from the shadows to engage the heirs, and three went after Caesar. Hazuki, meanwhile, attacked Syrien and Brighe, sending shots of lightning at them.

Kegan/Brighe

"Well I guess we'll just have to ask him when this is all over." Kegan asked as walls began to rise out of the earth, surrounding and protecting Kegan and Rein from the rebels just a few yards away.

Meanwhile, a few hundred feet away, Brighe rose from the ground with a look of tired satisfaction resting on her face. Now that Kegan was safe, she could fight easily without having to worry about what might happen to her Nephew.

As a lightning bolt flew past her right side, Brighe realized that Hazuki would be a challenge for her to fight. Thank the Spirits that Syrien was there to help she realized as she dodged another bolt and landed beside the other Elf.
-/-/-
Carlisle

"Of course they're..." Carlisle let his sentence drift off into heavy breathing as he ran towards Caesar so as to help the psychotic Heir fight off the mob that was trying to surround him.

Nebi frowned as he crossed swords with another attacker before before stabbing him in the stomach. He wasn't taking any joy in this. He knew what was driving these people. He even met a few that shared their ideals. It just frustrated him that they weren't giving any of the Heirs a chance.

Caesar, Hazuki, Rein, Syrien

Syrien easily dodged the bolts Hazuki sent his way. "Do not say I didn't warn you, Hazuki."

Syrien extended one hand forward calmly. A blue surge of energy streamed forth, heading straight to the rebel. Hazuki got out of the way as fast as she could, barely escaping alive. An explosion was heard in the distance as the energy collided with something. Hazuki snarled and opened a summoning portal. A great winged beast came out of it, and rushed toward Syrien and Brighe, opening a large, fanged mouth.

Caesar, meanwhile, was having the time of his life, slaughtering the rebels. Caesar drew a dagger and stabbed a rebel in the heart, and slashed another one in the face.

Carlisle/Brighe

"O 'n aruthr Briddo , arwyrain , a dreiddio 'r asgre chan hynny a would gwna ni amhara." Brighe quickly chanted as she touched the ground once again. A green flash of light appeared for a second before spikes rose out of the earth, rushing towards the beast's underbelly.

Meanwhile Carlisle was fighting just a few yards from where Caesar was. Though, unlike Caesar, Carlisle wasn't actually killing anyone. Instead the young Heir was simply forcing his targets to pass out and fall where they stood. Unfortunately, this process was slightly slower then simply draining them of their energy and allowing them to disintegrate, and it cost more energy to do it since Carlisle was not gaining any power or energy. He was beginning to tire.
------------------------
Kegan

"Are you ok, Rein?" Kegan asked as he tried to ignore the loud explosions and screams coming from outside. It was currently pitch black inside the small shielded room that Brighe had made around them, and this fact, combined with the noise, made everything feel much more disturbing and worrying then Kegan thought anything could.

Syrien, Hazuko, Rein, Caesar

The spikes pierced the underbelly of the beast, quickly putting an end to its life. However, the beast proved to be a mere distraction. While the beast had been charging, Hazuki had taken her chance to go teleport behind the two, and was now about to ram a sword through Syrien's back. The Elf side-stepped the attack in the nick of time, and delivered a kick to the back of Hazuki's head. The Humage tumbled to the ground, but quickly got back up. Hazuki sent a stream of fire toward the Elf, while Syrien sent a jet of water back. The two magical blasts met, and the two opponents struggled to overcome the attack of the other.

Caesar still fought against the hordes of rebels, cutting one down after the other. Noticing what Carlisle was doing, Caesar snarled and fought his way to the doctor. Once he was close enough, the mad Humage raised a hand and quickly chanted a spell. All the terrorists Carlisle had rendered unconscious had their life-force sucked from them and were put into Caesar.

"It's killed or be killed, boy! You must show no mercy to your enemies!'

A rebel behind Caesar charged, sword held high. Caesar whirled around and easily stabbed the shocked rebel in the heart. The Humage took his sword and cut another foe in half.

"I-I'm fine..." Rein answered. Truthfully, she was scared out of her mind. She wished she knew what was going on outside. Was Syrien safe?