Mina-san, domo arigatou.

First off, an apology to everyone who's been waiting , I'm actually in the army and that doesn't leave me much time to do writing; but 'll do what i can So please keep watching this spot.

To Blue Trillium:

Thanks for the encouragement. ) Vox's part in Albel's ceremony is something I cooked up. He wouldn't do anything truly outrageous to try and harm him (i think... ;). But he very likely could have influenced him into acting weirdly or such.

To Raven The Dark Angel :

Thanks for pointing that out, I work harder to keep such mistakes out. The Scourge feels like an arrogant blade to me. For it to see everything else as beneath him was something that came naturally.

To Lucrecia LeVrai:

sweatdrop Uh, others just have their preferences, wahaha... I try not to disappoint you

Disclaimer: Star Ocean 3 and all characters are owned by Square-Enix and Tri Star. Wish they were mine though...

Chapter 2: To Train a Pawn

"But mi'lord, you can't see him like this! Hes still recoveri-"

"Woman," the word emerged in a growl, "do not get in my way."

The maid's face turned pale and she shrank from the Duke, a whimper barely escaping her lips.

The door slammed open as Duke Vox kicked it open. In a corner a young man… no… boy… a one-armed boy, broken in spirit sat in a wooden chair in a corner. Dull eyes open, yet not seeing the world, from the window in front of which he sat.

"…And just how long are you going to mop around, Nox."

Albel Nox, formerly of the Dragon Brigade, sat unmoving in his chair; appearing not to have registered the Duke's words.

"How long are you going to stay like this? Now more than ever, when Airyglyph needs you to be strong, you despair and waste away," Vox glared at Albel, "I thought you were stronger than that."

As if finally registering his presence, Albel's head inclined towards him, albeit slightly, "…Leave me alone…Don't come here to gloat…"

"Gloat? As if I could be bothered about you. I'm here to kick your sorry ass back into the world! Airyglyph has spent far too much on you to let your body go to waste," the Duke took a deep breath, preparing himself for the storm that would surely engulf him.

"Your father would have been ashamed of you."

With cat-like grace, Albel leapt from the chair. Hazel eyes flashing with fury as he struck the Duke. Vox flew out of the doorway, crashing in a suit of armour; scattering it and the cowering maids outside the door. Albel stood in the doorway, a feral rage in his eyes, his body trembled as he suppressed the urge to rip the maggot in front of him apart.

"…Do not speak of him…worm…"

Vox stood, wiping a trickle of blood from his mouth, "That was the best you could give Albel? Your time spent in Aquaria has made you weak." He grinned as he threw caution to the wind, "He should be ashamed of himself too, for what he made you to be."

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It would be a warm day in an Airyglyphian winter if anything was to happen. The tower guard shuffled along their prescribed routes, periodically checking the ballistae in their areas. It was just an hour till the next shift change, Sergeant Criid thought, just one more bloody hour and he could retire to hot food and a warm bed.

Just another day in castle Airyglyph.

The stone wall above the battlements exploded outwards, raining rock and debris on the stunned guards. Screaming bloody murder, the armoured soldiers ran for their lives; some flinging themselves down to the training ground below in desperation.

Out of the dust cloud, an armoured figure flipped backwards, landing gracefully on the rock-strewn battlements.

"! Lord Vox?" Criid was stunned. The Duke was fighting? In the castle! And someone had him on his back foot? Who in the world could be strong enough to force the Duke to fight defensively? …Wait a minute, he thought, theres one but… nah it couldn't be…

Albel flew out of the hole, eager for blood.

…then again it could…

Criid slapped his helmeted forehead, a long suffering look on his face. "They just couldn't wait another hour…"

It was going to be a long day…

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Vox brought up his longsword into a guard position as Albel leapt down at him. Sidestepping, he deflected Albel's katana to the stone floor of the battlements with a downward slash. His eyes filled with bloodlust, Albel swung his katana in an upward-diagonal cut that would have cleaved the Duke in half had he not jumped back.

Yet still its tip grazed the chestplate, flinging sparks into his face. Vox looked down at the damage done to his armour and cursed. Despite the weakness of the attack, a furrow was carved deeply in the armour.

And it was only a graze, If he had hit me with full force…

He only got that far before Albel was on him again. Darting left and right, the katana weaved a pattern of death in its slashes and cuts.

Albel was better than Vox in terms of speed, the latter in power. The Duke batted aside Nox's blade and lunged in with a quick stab to the latter's chest. The lilth noble deftly ducked to his left. Rising just as quickly, his katana slashed ahead, eager to take off Vox's forearm.

With a twist of a wrist, Vox released the longsword, its tip falling first to lodge upright in the stone. Withdrawing his arm just before the bloodthirsty blade, he spun, adding to his already considerable momentum as his armoured left foot reverse kicked into Albel's chest.

Slamming into the rock wall, Albel spat out a wad of blood. Barely controlled hatred blazed in his eyes, 'sha qi' liberally bled out of him. The Airyglyphian soldiers around them went pale as they encountered the aura, the weaker ones kneeled over and greeted the remains of their breakfast.

Only Vox remained unaffected as he strode to his sword, his glazed lingered over it for a moment before snapping back to Albel... and his surroundings.

And he grinned.

Shouting the Duke's name, Albel charged, intent to end the maggot's life.

One last strike.

A small rock flew out, clipping the katana's tsuba. Althought light, it was enough to knock the blade out of position to drift to Albel's right..

That, however, was enough.

Finally grasping the longsword, Vox swung downwards with all his force. Connecting mightly with the katana, the shock and vibration numbed Albel's fingers and the blade flew over the battlements.

Its not over yet, boy.

An armoured shoulder smashed into Albel's already bruised chest. Unable to keep his balance, he landed on his back. Swinging lazily, the tip of the longsword landed at Albel's throat.

The victor smiled. Coldly. "You still have a lot to learn, boy." His words dripped with contempt.

Albel's face was a curious mix. Shock, anger, anguish and finally resignation. His eyes clouded over as he looked away.

"...Kill me..."

Vox raised an eyebrow, "And why should I?"

"...I assualted you... Thats all the reason you need to kill me."

" 'Self-defence'? You have got to be kidding me. Frankly I rather you hang around a little longer." Vox smirked.

"Just kill me and be done with it already!" Albel snarled up at the laughing duke.

Laughter drifted over the battlements as the Duke sheathed his sword. The soldiers looked on in amazement. Not only was he not going to kill Albel, he was going to keep his weapon in front of Albel's face!

"...The kingdom still has need for a worm like you. Get stronger before you try something like that again."

"Dammit Vox! If you don't kill me here i'll tear you apart with my own bare hands!"

"With your sole remaining one? I think not. And frankly i've wasted enough time dealing with you. As you know, I don't like defeating weaklings."

A icy spear drove through Albel's heart as those words struck home. He covered his eyes with his arm as Vox returned inside the castle. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he lay on the stone.

"RRRAAAWWWRRR!"

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"Mi'lord, was that wise?" Demetiro asked as he walked behind his Captain.

"Albel? We need him to get out of his slump. The new Black Brigade will need a Captain. Despite my misgivings, he's still one of the best sword fighters around."

"But... He'll be out for your blood now mi'lord..."

Vox's eyes narrowed as he smiled, "And he'll never win. For all his vaunted skills he is still a pawn. And we do not need weak pawns."

To Be Continued...

Hope that wasn't too bad.

FYI: "sha qi" is killing aura.