Chapter Seven
Monoliths

I had stepped out of my sheltered town and all the wonders I had imaged and longed to see I had yet to regard. Instead all that I had found in this world was an eternity of horrors. It was a sentence I had thought moments before, and now as I stood in the moonlight I thought it again. How cruel this world could be to all those dwelling in it. But I was quick to retract that statement, for I was developing into my own, a person with no sympathy for others.

"A young Mortal walked to Uschtenheim in the presence of the Paladin." I watched as the figure that had walked from the shadows spoke. His voice beheld no hint of emotion.

A male, as tall as he was slender, a predator in all sense of the words, for I saw the essence that smouldered within his eyes, it seemed to glow and radiate his true sense of being. And his whole movements seemed to be woven to the silky threads of the shadows, whilst his appearance remained crafted of the moonlight. A child of darkness in all accounts, and yet he deeply paid the price for his unnatural looks and his dark gift.

It was beauty, but not beauty of such like that in a flower, or a painted picture, or a pretty Mortal female. Instead this was beauty of a fierce nature, the beauty of a hunter, and of course the beauty of the night. This was indeed a Vampire, the first one I was to ever see.

It was as he approached that he gazed at me in an unseeing fashion, as if to attempt to figure me out. To him I was, to many I am, like a puzzle that stands to be solved. More perhaps I am a puzzle piece waiting to be placed in my final position so that the bigger one may be solved within itself.

I could already understand what it was he thought, what sort of Mortal parent allowed a child to wonder like this? An act of carelessness on such a night, for when the moon is full not only does the wolf howl, but even more so a Vampire's strength is increased.

Yet such a scene was not to make me timid, each time I was growing stronger, and I could feel it and They acknowledged it. Times at home left harsh scars upon me, indenting my own life. From such I would learn, and I would not shy away, not anymore, and I would allow my power to extend.

"The Paladin will return soon." I replied calmly with a hint of warning that lingered deep in my voice. I spoke and such surprised him; I could see the sudden abruptness of my tone register with his hearing, and the amount of surprise that flickered through his eyes. Such a child, his mind registered the thought implied more by 'why does she not tremble like the others do?'

"Indeed." He stepped forwards. The curiosity he beheld was radiant, and deep inside I wondered whether he had fed recently or whether we were the carriers of the blood he was eyeing up and desired deeply. Not only this but I found myself comparing him to the threads of tales I had heard. He did not look the Monster that had been described, but maybe in such tales they had been highlighting more so the Monster that lurked skin deep. My father was the perfect example of such, normal looking man but cross him and he had an unnatural temper.

He was still walking towards us; and Ariel's breathing increased and I could almost feel her fear exude upon me.
"Stay far from us Vampire…" I warned, acknowledging the creature for what he truly was, hunter of lives, and drinker of blood… parasite to our world… With such words the wind stirred about us, more so I could feel my concentration fix itself upon the point of where I could protect us if it was so needed. And yet I sensed that Ariel was holding me back in the way that was derived from her, denying me from calling upon Those who had protected me before.

As the situation stemmed and uprooted itself, and he carried on his approach I became aware that They too had a great dislike for this creature, and the Vampiric race in particular. In the stirring of the winds I heard Their calls, deep vocals mixed with those of a piercing shrill.

Again I continued to talk using my words as such as my weapons, and harsh words they have proven to be at times. "We are not easy pickings for such of your kind. The Paladin will return soon." I extended my emphasis on the word 'soon', yet in honesty I was not exactly sure when Malek would return. Nevertheless, if I could scare this creature off with such an eluding thought then I held hope that Malek would come.

Regardless, such seemed to have no sway upon him, or at least one he was not going to allow others to see. "I fear him not." A relaxed reply was made with a hint of satisfaction.

My own replies came back in almost challenging responses. Inside, maybe this was the influence my father had had upon me. Indeed the malice of the seed, handcrafted demon, sculptured seraph that was, for in my unseen innocence it was then that it became broken.

"You are lying. Every Vampire fears Malek because they know what he can do to them, what he will do to you if he sees you. What makes you so different from the others?" I made sure that my replies came as calm as his. In situations as tense as this one it is best that you remain composed and make sure the one opposed to you knows of such as well.

When he was not far from us he laughed and came close, looking down upon me, posing as an ominous threat. And inside I felt a great remoteness fall upon me. It was almost like something cold had touched my soul, and looming over me was this great, big apparition. Pitch black in essence the whole structure of such was suffocating and I was certain I would drown within it if I did not fight.

"You are not like the others," he perceived, yet the words made no sense, and for a moment it seemed as if I was standing within a large stone hallway, bare, cold and desolate. I was completely alone apart from this dark shadow that threatened to consume me at any given moment. His words stood as some forecast within me, 'not like the others…' And what did he mean of such?

I opened my eyes to dispel this vision of loneliness and seclusion. Perhaps it was Ariel's grip upon my arm, which tightened that made me do so.

"Fear stands far from you."
"I have nothing to fear." Firmly stated, and yet he could see through this. The Vampire knew that there was something that I did fear, peeling back the layers to what my trepidation was.

"Oh child." The Vampire's eyes softened for a moment in an uncharacteristic manner, words spoken like how it is a parent addresses a fond child, as they highlight that with age they knew better and otherwise. And beneath, locked below I saw many untold tales reflected deep and struggling to escape through the windows of what was left of his soul.

I saw a soul within him, deeply mattered and tangled upon hopes that had long been denied. What fowl creature had poisoned him, unleashing bitter venom that had waylaid his essence so that his body encased and trapped his spirit? Here was a body that should have long been rotting.

"Everyone fears something, you as much as the others." His announcement of such was a contradiction upon his own terms, not only that but his tone had switched to a harsh one once more, harsh and demeaning. But his contradiction was hitherto an echo of my own sense of being.

I was uncertain of that statement and even more uncertain of his mannerism. Inside I felt as if this situation was slipping from me, like I was loosing control. Perhaps that is what he wanted, for whilst I remained determined I was not vulnerable. And yet if he caught be off guard he would be able to peel those challenging layers back, and then I would be defenceless and exposed. Maybe this was how he hunted his prey.

The anger in me was soon to rise regardless, as I took in his words stating that I feared something, and even more unsettling, it was as if he could see this 'fear'. The newly fledged confidence of myself found this aspect insulting, what made him think that I feared anything? He was beginning to try my patience now, how dare he presume! Even though I understood that yes, he was right. Of course I feared like everyone else did, but fear had to be overcome, and not to be acknowledged, not if one wanted to remain in control. Alas, the feeling progressed within me that conceivably I should teach such a creature a lesson or two.

"Azimuth." Ariel's grip on my arm tightened once more as she sensed my annoyances heighten. "Azimuth, do not." She remained in control despite her fear, and my grip upon Them was tightened. Like eager steeds upon their reigns They pulled, attempting to break free, and yet somehow she managed to hold sway upon Them despite the situation we faced.

Now his eyes became fixed upon her as if he had not seen Ariel standing next to me before now.

"Worry not Ariel." I added through gritted teeth. "He cannot harm us."
"Ariel?" I could almost see a snarl escaped his lips. She had shied away when I had spoken her name, and now he had heard it. He knew her not by appearance, but he did know her by name. And in me stating such she was revealed to him, it was his reaction and the flicker of acknowledgment that his eyes gave which told me such. It would seem he knew of her, or at least he had heard her name. Vampire in the presence of Circle members, this situation surely was going to be quick to fall out of control.

"Balance… Guardian…" He glanced at me, his eyes now ignited with a fierce streak. "And you?"
"Azimuth, Guardian to the Pillar of Dimension."
"The Circle?" He spat in the gesture of malice. "Patrons to the rape of this world."
Next to me Ariel stuttered for the words burnt her, her beloved Circle being insulted by a creature such as this. Yet in my eyes that insult remained to be a petty one.

My own response was just as turbulent, gripped tight in my hands was that dagger, although I had never been trained in the arts of fighting so I doubted whether I could defend myself as such. And Those that watched over me Ariel still allowed me not to call forth, so there was only us to depend upon, very well…

"You wish to kill us Monster? Do you wish to slaughter us both?" The atmosphere was intense as I hissed those words. Why ask him so if he was just to strike us down? Nonetheless, perhaps I could daunt him from such an attack. More so perhaps Ariel could flee, although I doubted whether she would get far. Despite her powers she has always remained fragile, it is what Nupraptor loved about her. She possessed the great flow of all within her hands… and yet she still remained delicate.

The Vampire looked at me and scoffed. "Merely children…" He muttered in an undertone, what held him back now? The whole contemplation of what he should do no doubt, and what would any other Vampire do? What about the 'great' Vorador? I saw the creature's name flicker through the depths of his mind, indeed, what would he do?

A situation arose like the Phoenix from fire, Circle members right in front of him. Children at that, just children, not quite as skilled as the older members, surely they remained to be an easy kill. But we were just children, and such proved to be his downfall.

Moments of silence, neither of us moving, him because he was confronted with this situation and us because we dared not. It was after the requiem of such speechless times that he spoke.

"Monster? What rights do you have to regard me as such? A Monster in your eyes I am, but your eyes remain blinded."
In such I blinked. Blinded said he who walked in the binds and netting of night.
He snorted in disgust, of us and of himself. "So young are you that your bodies offer little blood."

The Vampire went to turn, as if to pull himself reluctantly from this scene, what he was doing… was that right? Yes we were children, but we would grow and develop and in adulthood we would oppose a threat to those of his kind.

"Perhaps not all of my kind would not stay their hands, I know for certain that my own Sire would not. But know this, whilst you remain children then you are protected, but only from myself."
A noble statement, one that was sealed by his own blood as Malek's weapon pierced his chest.

The climax of the situation unravelled quickly. A meeting between me and the first Vampire I was to see ended in the creature's own destruction. And no questions were asked and no words were spoken, it simply happened as most things do.

I cannot glorify this death scene for there was no glorification of such, simply his eyes closed and silence echoed heavily. No one would morn his death for he had known nothing but loneliness and loneliness had been his companion and lover. Yet what of the Sire he had spoken of? Did Vampiric parents mourn the loss of their children of darkness? I was not sure and I did not ask, for who was there to tell me of such, besides, what did I know? What did I care? For I came from a Sire who offered me no love, and instead exchanged the care that should have been received from him with nothing but torment and pain. If my father, being the monster of such, was like this then were Vampiric fathers worse?

Malek had austerely come, like I had warned he would, and yet neither Ariel nor me had seen him approach and the Vampire certainly had not sensed him. But there he was, and now he stood, retrieving his weapon without another thought, and this Vampire's life had been spent.

As I watched Malek take hold of the body I imagined that I could see the Vampire's soul make a spill for the afterlife, but such thoughts brought me no comfort. And so what did I think of this act of brutality? I was not sure. At first the Vampire had posed nothing but a threat to us, and yet the Vampire had been in retreat when Malek had struck.

What was I thinking? Surely it mattered not whether the Vampire was about to strike us or not, for the fact remained that he had been a Vampire and they have no rights to this world. And yet I am besieged to offer truth to this matter. I admired them simply. I admired Vampires for what they were, the hunters of life that they became, and no questions were asked. And yet at the same time, I found myself despising them, despising them because they remained a threat to me and more so Them.

Ariel remained next to me, statue like and unmoving. I regarded her and noticed how pale she had become, pale and cold and frightened. The reality of that moment was all too apparent on her face; she was fully aware what 'could' have happened. More so she was terrified of the thoughts of what could have been if that Vampire had been Vorador. Thoughts of our predecessors downfall haunted her constantly, of that I knew. In truth Ariel was terrified of Vorador even though she had never been in his presence. But his shadow, his destruction of part of the Circle remained an ominous threat, one that lingered. And Balance understood with clarity that she was the perfect target, Balance… the one who bonded us all.

It was shortly afterwards that the other hunters appeared and escorted us to the watch post whilst Malek continued his task. He had destroyed the Vampire but he needed to satisfy himself more. That side of him was forever apparent in the issue of Vampires. And it was a bloodthirsty side, almost as bloodthirsty as the creatures themselves. The body he left on display, it was not only a threat and warning to other Vampires but also a symbolic gesture to Malek's own comrades that were, a gesture to show of past times, times he had not forgotten.

As bloody as such was, Malek held his duty firm. To purify those tainted remained his life's work, what life remained within him. His fanatical attitude eventually consumed him. As times passed it became more then a 'duty' and instead stemmed into nothing more then an obsession. And yet, one Vampire still remained far from him.

It was Mortanius who I noticed first when we approached the watch post, perhaps in his mind he demanded me to. One thing was certain though, I was beginning to loose any confidence I had built up in those last few moments. The reason? The reason remained intact. I had left against Mortanius' wishes, and I had put Ariel in danger in spite of myself. The consequences of such I feared more then I had feared that Vampire and it was only now that I was aware of my act of foolishness.

It seemed that memories of what my father would do in such circumstances, and even in circumstances for none other then but being present, was beginning to resurface. But for such, Mortanius' face remained grave. "Ariel, Azimuth." He gave me a stern gaze and swiftly clamped his hand firmly upon my shoulder, pushing me forwards as his cloak billowed out behind him.

He cleared the hut that posed as a shelter for those on watch, the very same place where it had been that Ariel and me had sat at the beginning of this night, condemning everyone outside without a word until it was just he and I who remained.

He shut the door quietly and inside I trembled, for I had seen times like this before. How calmly my father would enter a room, gently and quietly as if it was he who was silence itself… And then his face would darken, like a shadow passing over the moon.

The confidence inside me continued to crumble away, slipping out of my hands like droplets of water. I was in the presence of the Guardian of Death and I had defied him.

My reaction had developed into one of quickness from a young age; one develops such when an environment you grow up in remains ill omened. And backwards I stumbled, my eyes not leaving him as by the doorway he stood.

When Mortanius approached I only withdrew quicker, backing rapidly into one of the feeble wooden chairs, knocking it to the floor. The sound as it hit the ground sharpened the atmosphere, which already remained heavy and foreboding, not only that but such edged its way up my spine making the nerves in me already take flight.

As a child I had no pride, the waif that was I was spared not such an element, yet it mattered not. For if I had had pride at that moment it would have only broken away like my confidence had. Such a result only allowed fear to remain. Fear because I acknowledged Mortanius' power, I knew what he could do to any who went against him, and what of me? Merely a child just like that Vampire had said.

Father's words and past diatribe was clear in my mind. A worthless child was I, unimportant Azimuth, and even my name seemed to be too grand for a being as I.

It was natural for me to raise my hands to my face… I had always done that in hope of blocking any oncoming blow, not that it had ever worked. And now this seemed such a silly gesture, for who could block an advance on Death's own anger?

In standing I awaited such. I awaited a result that would show me the answer that I expected, that everyone else were just like my father. And that everyone acted like that around be because I deserved it. I had to have deserved it, for what other reason would a father despise his own child? Did I not deserve it all?

In self-pity I nearly choked upon my now weakened attitude, how selfish of me in my moment of snivelling, how selfish of me to forget the way he had treated mother? Had she deserved that as well? I suspected not, and yet I knew he blamed her for the birth of me. So not only had I made my father despise me but I made my mother suffer as well. That is what he had reduced me to, a flinching wretch with nothing but self-loathing, and now someone who trembled in Mortanius' shadow. In such I awaited the repercussion of my actions.

The swipe I would have expected off my father never came, nor did the raised voice, nor the insults and the disgust and hatred that would be so apparent in fathers voice. There was nothing in the way of that, which only made me even wearier, for if nothing of such happened what else was he planning to do?

Quietly he removed my hands from my face, whilst his own visage remained composed. "Azimuth," said Death. "It is for your safety that I asked you to stay here."
"I know…" In suddenness I recoiled again, having spoken out I expected at least to be told off; for that was something else I would have never done at home. Nevertheless, all he did was raise a finger to his lips and bay me silence.

"You left, against my preference, and in doing so you put yourself in danger."
In nodding I excepted what he said was true, for it was, in another Vampire's presence we might not have been so blessed, especially with Ariel being so reluctant to allowing me to have full sway.

"Not only that but you put Ariel in danger, such cannot be allowed to happen."
Yes, I knew this, I had already been aware of such.
"It is important that in the future you follow my wishes, for your own benefit and the safety of the Circle."
"I understand Mortanius."

In retort he lifted a hand towards my forehead, pushing back the hair and looking upon the third eye. I did not flinch or get annoyed for him doing so for I knew that he would not be someone to react with hatred. Reasons because as I watched what seemed to be emptiness in the expression of his face I saw something deep within. It was as if he understood what I had been through, to know what it is like to be alone, to be an outcast, to be different…

"Stay safe, Azimuth." The strands of hair fell into place once more. He got up from his crouched position and silently left.

An experience such as that left me with some conclusions, ones that would offer certain solace at times when I needed such. Mortanius provided me with the answers, that not all people were like my father, and that I… I was no longer alone.

The task to whatever Malek and Mortanius had been asked to abet was now finalized, and our only way was now forwards. The journey to this watch post had very much hindered our travel, but it was not that much of a waste of time. For from such, answers are answered, questions are questioned, and more of both elements are developed. In such movement I had seen a selection of towns, the prettiness of Uschtenheim, and the shadow that still lingered there in an essence that suggested it would never leave. Not only that but the forever sadness that wound its way throughout the streets.

From there the watch post, and Ariel's distant warning of Vampires including Vorador, then, my own encounter with one of darkness. Assumptions of such suggested that Nosgoth remained a turbulent land, one that remained restless, and one that stretched throughout the dimensions. The great unrest that had settled suggested that a storm was beginning to stir, and yet it did not hint upon the time that it would be released.

Rain poured upon us in an unruly manner. It was a morning of mist, created by the current of warmth and mixed with the aftermath of chill, and the skies had opened allowing the tears of the heavens to fall.

Ariel sneezed and pulled the hood of her cloak up further over her face, I did the same with the cloak that I had been provided with. It helped keep the warmth within us, but did not an awful lot in the onslaught of rain that we were witnesses to. Yet no one complained, not even Malek who I looked upon and wondered whether he would rust in such weather, but no one seemed to worry, or mentioned not anyway.

The landscape had changed around us, shifting slowly to accommodate the habitat of others, and in interest I watched it. The pace of our walk remained steady, whilst next to me Ariel continued to chatter in words that were associated with the place that she called 'home', and which she was eager to point out was now my home as well. At first I was not sure what she was talking about, but then as I listened more I understood that she was talking about the Pillars.

Never before had I seen them, but from her descriptions I found myself only eager to see and to touch such if I was so allowed. My mind was fixed entirely on the point of destination that I never even considered where it was we were going afterwards. Maybe because Ariel fondly referred to it as her 'home' that I expected to see a quaint home of such residing there. Not knowing that Ariel's reference of 'home' was purely a symbolic one at that.

As some time passed I became partly restless, restless of the walking and even more restless of the rain. The way it damped my clothes and made them stick to me creating nothing but discomfort.

"How far now?" I pushed the question forwards as I removed some of the wet strands of hair that had clung to my face.
For a moment Ariel was silent, as if to listen to something and then she replied cheerfully, "'Tis not far Azimuth, and then you shall see."
And indeed I would.

It seemed like some miracle, the landscape that was crafted before us, like someone had handcrafted it lovingly. I had never seen such a lush and green terrain, the utmost atmosphere of lushness, which was only enhanced by the rain. And yet I was soon to forget of the cold and wetness of my clothes. Before long this landscape would only captivate me more in an overwhelming manner, and Ariel's expression upon her face only told me of such.

As the trees began to part, before my eyes in columns of white that swiftly reached out to the heavens, was the result of my journey. It was no wonder that I gasped in awe. In suddenness I picked up my pace, changing my walk into nothing short of a run, running forwards and leaving the others behind as they held back, unaware and not paying attention to anything else around be but the structures, the obelisks which graced the land before me.

And as I continued forwards I half expecting these structures to either move away in a tormenting manner or just disappear completely. I felt too overwhelmed to believe that this was indeed real. Such beauty I had never beheld before. It was one of those emotional moments that creates a lump within your throat, where it is you want to cry for no apparent reason known to you.

Of course my own emotion came from the feeling of 'hope' that lit up inside of me. In a life of darkness I had finally found the point of exit and escaped. Those past days since I had left 'home' had seemed almost fleeting, and I had expected to wake up any moment and discover it had been all a dream. But I had not, and here I was… It was all reality, and I was here.

It is now that the zenith of this journey was to be brought forth, and it is here that I really became Azimuth of Dimension.

The scene seemed striking, wholesome, untainted and innocent, and the falling rain made it even more so. I became to understand what Ariel had spoken about; the sound the Pillars seemed to emit, indeed, a kind of 'hum'. In remembering our conversation back at one of the taverns we had stayed in, I laughed.

Inside I felt as if I was being called forth, as if someone or something was pulling me forwards, propelling me to towards these structures. I stepped closer.

It was like I was alone, stepping forwards and upon the foundation that these immense structures grouped around. The feeling inside was consuming, the constant echoes of sound and of frequency I felt and heard within my mind.

"Energy." I whispered hovering in front of one Pillar. "Nature…" I stated in front of another as it was I darted unevenly in my own joy from structure to structure, and then "Death." as I stood before what was Mortanius' Pillar. I knew where each one was positioned and what each one stood for, and as each name was whispered an echo of that whisper was released inside my mind. Each one I approached and looked upon seemed to draw upon something within me, and from that emotion I found a calm radiate.

However, inside me something seemed unnatural and uneven. The sound the Pillars emanated was one of beauty and harmony, and yet distantly two remained 'off key', and it was like Ariel had stated. One of these Pillars, one of them that remained out of harmony seemed to beckon me. In revelation nervousness fell heavily upon me, standing here in such a glorifying pure scene I could not help but expect something terrible to happen, and the Pillar was still calling.

I stepped back and stood within the centre to look upon all of them for a moment, attempting to pinpoint the one that beckoned me. And like sunlight piercing through the mists of morning that linger upon the warm currents of the ground, so it was I found my Pillar.

Without hesitation I approached it, unsure of whether there was anything I needed to do, or whether anything would happen. But it seemed anything and everything I did do just came naturally, like something else was instructing me and leading the way, and I was no longer in fear.

Although the rain still fell it was a much lighter shower. In the wetness of such, before the Pillar of Dimension I knelt, as if to pay homage to a great monarch I had served since the beginning of my life. With out stretched hands I touched part of the Pillar's surface. From contact the coldness of its surface wound into me, fixating the sound and being it radiated to the essence of my very own life, echoing around every heartbeat and breath of myself, creating another utmost flow of equilibrium. Whilst behind me, within the centre, I felt Ariel embrace such.

It was the acceptance. I had offered myself freely to the Pillar of Dimension and in return it had accepted that offer, binding me to its structure, entwining my soul to its own, and we were one. For once in my life I felt complete, absolute, whole.

"I am Azimuth." I announced, suddenly breaking the calmness of the humid atmosphere that had fallen as calmness often does within watchful situations like this. And my voice, I noticed that the vocals had almost changed, they seemed not like a child's. Instead they were powerful and proud.

"Of course you are." There was a voice behind me and I turned, getting to my feet suddenly to face whomever it was who had just spoken, for I did not recognize this voice. It certainly was not feminine, and it was neither the vocals of Mortanius or Malek.

Thinking of them I now looked for the ones who had travelled with me, not taking much notice of the one who stood in front of me and who had spoken out, interrupting me in my own completeness.

I was quick to spot them. Ariel still stood centralized, she had discarded her cloak, which now lay upon the floor, and embraced the refreshing rain that still fell, and watched me intently. Mortanius stood near by having also taken off his cloak; his garbs of Guardianship were now seen. Not only that but I became more aware that truly the one who represented Death did look very much like death, whilst near by was Malek who was forever in our service.

Close to them there were four silhouettes that began to move forwards in union, stepping out of the ground fog that lingered. This veil of mist almost seemed to be their own mysterious curtain to hide behind which was then pulled back as I had arrived. Such an entrance gave them nothing but a truly powerful aura that grasped at them in an un-shy manner. This aura increased as they walked forwards, joining both Mortanius and Malek, with Ariel who stood in front of them. The approach of them and the appearance of the situation might have seemed of one of intimidation but something inside me fulfilled me in a gracious manner. There was nothing to fear for I was one of them. More importantly we were whole, and together.

"Azimuth, child of glass, fractured, broken by the one who should have protected you, Guardian to the Pillar of Dimension. Feel welcome amongst us child, allow your damaged soul to heal and embrace what is yours."

I turned my attention to the one who had rudely interrupted my moment of joining with my Pillar and gave him the fierce look I had given Mortanius on the night he had come to my fathers home, one that remained fierce and yet cautious towards him.

Yet my cautious nature towards Mortanius had began to fade. I would still not attempt to cross him, or anger him, no I would not dream of doing such as a child. For my respect for him was one of greatness, not only that but I was grateful towards him for the release he had brought me, and fondness for his watchfulness over me within our journey and afterwards, let alone protection from those I needed protecting from. Still, as I gazed at the figure that stood in front of me I did not think that I would have the same regard for him as I did the Death Guardian. It was a distant omen and something that lay darkly in the back of my mind. I would tolerate him, but I would never like him.

Unexpectedly and without permission, this figure with outstretched hands pushed back the now soaked hair that covered my deformity, the third eye. With sudden hatred bore inside me I snarled in warning, and noticed that Mortanius had stepped quickly forwards, stepping out of line with the others as if he expected something to happen.

This figure rested a hand under my chin and tilted my head sideways, whilst spite and unfamiliarity burnt through me.

"Perfect." he announced with satisfaction.

At such one of my hands came up quickly and clamped the wrist of his hand tightly. With a glare I returned his own gaze, allowing him to see the emotion and the fire in my eyes burn deep.

"Perfect…" I whispered, repeating his words as if to satisfy myself. "Indeed I am, Moebius."