"Knowledge prevents learning! The more knowledge

one accumulates the more one is likely to oversee the

benefits of learning. Prejudice sets in, and you will find

yourself ignorant to the world around you. Keep your

mind open! We have neglected that and it led to our doom.

Do not let it lead to yours. Success is beyond our power.

We have knowledge but we refuse learning. We must strip

ourselves of the festering ways of the former leaders. Time to learn!"

Excerpts from the diary of the Hylden General Hil'do'vass.

So these were the ones. The nine original Pillar Guardians. Not only did he return to the right time but he also met exactly the ancients he wanted. One thing stud between him and the knowledge he needed. Their desire to murder him.

Kain frowned slightly. It is only polite then to state your name and purpose:

"I am Kain. I came here to…."

"Your demands will wait until we decide your fate." Said the baritone voice behind him.

Kain turned his head to look straight at the elda which only moments ago was about to crush his skull.

"I'm afraid my fate has been decided a long time ago, and by powers far more dangerous then yourselves"

"Mind your tongue intruder. The words you utter next might be your last" said a youthful voice as a sword tip found its way close to his neck. The eldar who wielded two blades was clearly hot tempered.

He looked at each of them. All beautiful creatures, their blue gray skins shining in the camber's light. Four males and four females. Each unique in their own way. They robes in which almost all were dressed were different and vividly colored. Only the balance guardian wore white.

His attention was quickly drawn back to Selene as she spoke:

"Until we know what to do with you we will take you to the Citadel."

That sounded good. The ancient citadel in the middle of the lake has the center of eldar rule, and more then that it held the elemental forges, and of course the true enemy.

"As our prisoner" she continued. "Bind him !"

His head turned in all directions. This was outrageous. He came here to rid Nosgoth of the curse that was the ancient god and now he was treated as a common prisoner. He, Kain, the ruler of Nosgoth. But what could he do? He did not risk another skirmish. He had to survive. He decided to do nothing and bide his time. When the opportunity would come he would brake free.

A red haired elda approached him. She concealed something in her hand. So young so beautiful. Her purple robes flowed about her voluptuous body at every step. Her movements were mesmerizing. She raised her left hand and placed it on his chest. Her mouth formed a slight smile. She retracted her hand. Kain felt dizzy, weak. He felt his knees give way. He steadied himself. His muscles fell into a strange relaxation. His hands did not obey any of his commands. He had control over his head.

"What sort of sorcery is this?"

The woman in purple robes spoke in a silky out worldly voice:

"It is a simple restrainer. It will allow you to walk and answer any of our questions. But nothing more."

The one called Nuruil gave him a strong bump as he exited the Chronoplast chamber. Kain made a few awkward steps before his feet found balance again. One by one the Guardians exited the Chamber. Selene picked up the Reaver using both her hands holding the enchanted blade like a the holy relic they always considered it to be. The two bladed guardian gave Kain a shove towards the door. He obeyed peacefully. Selene was the last to exit.

- - -

They went down the path that led down the mountain to the hills below. This forested area would come to be known in his time as Termogent forest, where the first human made vampire would dwell. He was in the middle with Selene behind him. They walked silently in a straight line.

Before departing the mountains all guardians equipped themselves with some sort of armor. But only one of them carried any kind of weapon. The elda which first attacked him, the one wielding two blades. He was the one leading the group. Clearly he was the Conflict Guardian. Kain could now get a better look at him. A tall strong elda with a wide back and a muscular torso. His long black hair that reached his waist was caught in a tight tail by use of a silver ring at the nape of his neck.

They were a silent procession. The air was still, and as they walked steadily through the trees not a sound was heard except for their footsteps.

Kain's ears picked up a barely audible shrill. He looked around and saw nothing. The conflict guardian stopped and drew the blades. All were in a fighting stance. They must have heard the sound as well.

They stood silent as the shrill became louder. Then something hit the first guardian's blade. A muffled explosion precluded a dense smoke that erupted from what must have been a projectile. Kain heard two more distinct shrills. One hit a tree to his left, the other someone at the end of the row.

Suddenly the whole area was covered in a dense grey green smoke that barely let any light through. Kain took a few awkward steps back and bumped into some one. As fast as the restraint on his chest allowed him he turned. In front of him was Selene clutching the Soul Reaver now covered by a white cloth.

"What's happening?" he asked.

"A Hylden attack party. We must find cover. Costa will deal with them."

His shock was indescribable. Hadn't the pillars been erected and the foul race banished?

"But the Hylden were sent to another dimension when the pillars were raised" he argued.

Selene grabbed his arm and pulled him to the left.

"I do not know how you know that, but yes they were banished." She put him up against a tree. "But a handful remained and continued the struggle. Although it seams futile they manage to make a lot of damage, and disappear after each attack."

They were still in the smoke. Kain heard sounds of clashing metal. Screams of pain and death echoed through the forest. Shouts in strange languages reached his ears. Costa, who must be the Conflict Guardian seamed to be doing a good job. His skill, as much as Kain could asses from their brief skirmish, was truly exceptional.

Just then a shadow crashed from one of the trees striking Selene in the back and pinning her to the ground. A silhouette was now distinguished standing on top of the first Balance Guardian. Kain could easily make out the Hylden's outline. He pushed his body into the tree. This Hylden warrior was going to kill him in a matter of seconds, and the restrain on his chest made it very difficult for him to defend himself. The warrior drew a shining sword from the belt. The slow speed of his actions told Kain that this creature had encountered prisoners like him before. He was sure of his victory and savored every moment. The Hylden raised the blade and brought it down hard targeting Kain's head. The latter ducked and rolled to the right at the last moment.

Kain cursed his restraints. But the effect he counted on was achieved. The Hylden had put so much force in his blow that his blade became imbedded in the tree. He now tried to yank it out, but with no success. Kain kept his balance on the soft earth of the forest. He through his body against the warrior hitting him hard with his left shoulder. The Hylden stumbled and fell on his back. Kain tried to smash the warrior's head with his metal boot. But to his surprise, the Hylden reacted quickly and grabbing the incoming heal, tossed Kain backwards, making him trip over Selene. She got up just after that. The Hylden was already on his feet. He jumped, and threw a kick at the first balance guardian knocking her down. He then went straight for the sword imbedded in the tree trunk.

Selene was getting up.

"Use the Reaver !" Kain whispered.

She looked at him in disbelief. Then at the cloth covered blade. She went for it, taking it in both her hands. She barely lifted the heavy blade to her eye level. If things went as Kain hoped he would be free again. The opportunity he was awaiting for. The Hylden turned to look at her. Kain distinguished his features in the clearing smoke. A male, but different from the skeletal wraiths he met as a fledgling in Meridian. This warrior was muscular and broad shouldered. A breastplate, greaves and armbands made up his amour. His face could be considered beautiful and youthful if it wasn't for all the scars that crisscrossed it. He smiled as he looked at Selene. He left the sword imbedded in the tree ant started walking towards her. He clearly knew what she was holding in her hands. The weapon of the enemy hero that was destined to fight the Hylden messiah.

The warrior came near her, as Selene took a few broad swings, setting her off balance. The Hylden grabbed her hands and threw a kick in her stomach that sent her flying near the place Kain was still laying in the earth. Curiously how easily she was defeated. She was suppose to be a vampire but clearly, her strength was no where near what it should be. And the Hylden was any human warrior. What was she feeding on? Anyway, his chance of freedom was here. As the warrior picked up the Soul Reaver, and Selene was getting up slowly, Kain whispered:

"Release me from these bonds!" she gazed at him in disbelief. "you know I'm a better fighter than you at this moment."

"It makes no difference, he has the Reaver. Any wounds would be healed instantly"

"Trust me! I can defeat him. Just get this thing off my chest."

She hesitated. Then with a deep intake of air she took the metal surrounded jewel that created his restraints, from his chest. Immediately Kain felt his life force pumped back into his body. The weakness was gone.

He jumped to his feet. The Hylden warrior came towards him taking a few swings at the air with the Reaver to get a feel for it. Then he tried to thrust it in Kains body. The vampire dodged to the left, clawing the hylden's face with his right hand, then followed with a punch to the back of the neck. The warrior stumbled towards a tree. He shook his head and turned.

Kain was ready. They circled each other. The Hylden crouched down. His eyes were focused on the vampire through the blood that now covered his face. He flung forward extending his hands which clutched the blade. Kain dogged the thrust to the left again, stepping back. The warrior turned and straitened his back. He Thrust the sword at the vampire again. Kain feinted to the left but quickly dodged to the right avoiding a mortal swing the Hylden made. Kain laughed. It felt good to fight again. His new body, despite lacking his former power, moved effortlessly like it had been his forever.

The Hylden turned to face the vampire. He growled. With a loud battle cry he began a flurry against Kain. The Scion of Balance avoided each swing, dodging under the blade and coming behind his enemy. He drove his fist hard into the hylden's lower back. His adversary screamed in pain, but quickly turned toward the vampire. Kain smiled. This fight must draw to a close. He would not be able to keep this up for much longer. He needed nourishment.

The Hylden feinted to the right but came thrusting the Reaver to the left. Kain opened his black wings, dodging the blade. The plumage effectively blinded his adversary. The vampire coiled his right arm around the hylden's thus immobilizing the enemy and his weapon. Now trapped, he growled. Kain laughed.

Selene was getting up and looking at the two at them standing side by side.

"Impressive, Kain! Now kill him"

Her voice sounded so appealing. Like it sang to his soul. He suddenly realized that his left hand was going to the hylden's neck. It was a move to strangle made without his volition. He ceased it instantly.

"What sorcery is that?"

"No sorcery, just special inflexions of my voice."

Kain frowned. He brought his right arm close to his body forcing the enemy's back to his own chest. The enemy groaned in pain as his forced hand then dropped the Reaver. With his free hand, he grabbed the hylden's jaw pulling slightly to reveal the neck. He would enjoy his meal. With his eyes fixed on Selene, Kain opened his mouth jus barely and sank his teeth slowly in his victims arteries. He shut his eyes. The blood poured into his mouth, hot and lush. It immersed his tongue, this warm nourishing liquid before it slipped down his throat. It gave him a feeling of dislocation. He felt no ground beneath his feet, no air around him. There was only him and his victim, shrouded from the world in their private night, warm and pleasurable. Heat spread through Kain's body, and reached his fingertips. He felt dizzy weak, empowered. His heart began pumping harder. He squeezed the hylden's body gently and then harder, to feel every part of his victim. It obeyed. No movement, no fear. Nothing but the exquisite pleasure that only a vampire could bestow. It was intoxicating, thrilling. He felt his mind drift off. The world was spinning all around him. Only the blood poured. Only this gentle fire that spread through him. He surrendered to the pleasure. It was orgasmic. Absolute abandonment.

Was it an hour or just seconds? Kain didn't know, nor did he care. The pleasure was still lingering in his body, but the sensation was gone. He opened his eyes and lifted his head, leaving the now dead hylden's body to drop like rags to the earthen forest floor. He looked at Selene. Her wide opened eyes formed a mute question that was on her mind.

"Does it shock you still to see feeding on blood?"

She reverted to her cold commanding appearance:

"It is a sacrilege to feed of another sentient being."

Kain bent over to pick up the Soul Reaver and put it on his back.

"Sacrilege?! It is the way to feed" Kain said raising his tone" Our way. It is about survival! Blood is Life ! "

She smiled coldly "You did not seam to be just surviving, just then. Why, you almost enjoyed it."

Kain drew closer to her. The first balance guardian was one head shorter than he, but her deep blue eyes seamed to see straight into his soul. He gazed at her loving face the tips of their noses almost touching.

"I did not enjoy it, I raveled in it. I abandoned my senses to its mesmerizing pleasures!"

"You are a vile creature ! " she replied venomously.

Kain laughed. He turned around heading for the tree behind him.

"Seeing the situation we find ourselves in, I don't think my nature is subject to scrutiny" he said grabbing the imbedded sword. With a powerful heap he yanked the blade out of the tree trunk. It was a normal length saber, with bony horns as the guard. Kain gave it a few swings as he turned towards Selene.

"It's one of ours. The Hylden must have taken it from one of the corpses during skirmishes" she said.

Kain went to her, stopping on the way to relive the dead of a belt and sheath.

"I think its time to get acquainted with one another, seeing that your friends have abandoned you."

It was true. The sounds of metal clashes and battles were long gone. The thick smoke almost dissipated, leaving behind a milky fog. Selene turned her head in both directions trying to pick up a sound. All was still. Kain handed her the blade and sheath. She received it looking curiously at the objects:

"I am no fighter."

"You will be ! You must be. You can not rely on magic to fend off troubles."

She looked long at him as she strapped the belt over her armor. She gave the blade a few swings to the feel of it. Selene held the blade at eyelevel parallel to her armor. She narrowed her eyes and put the left palm on the metal. A slow wave of light blue energies flowed from her hand, as her lips moved fast murmuring some kind of silent incantation. The blade began to glow and vibrate. After a minute it suddenly stopped. She gave the blade another few swings. It now had a ghostly sound to it. Kain raised one eyebrow.

There was a loud crack of wood. The two vampires looked up as a rain of leafs covered their faces. A lean Hylden warrior dropped to the ground, crouching then flinging his body against Kain knocking him into the tree. The fighter got up and turned to face the other vampire. He leaped into the air, drew a long silvery curved sword, then came down where Selene was standing. She rolled to the left avoiding the blow. Her sword lit up and a rush of energy went along the blade to materialize itself into a bluish bolt that went towards the Hylden. The latter blocked it with his blade. He screamed in pain dropping the blade. Selene spread her wings and with a power push she took to the air firing three more bolts at her enemy. He jumped left and back avoiding two of them but the third hit his right leg. He belched a scream falling to the ground. The Hylden tumbled forward three times escheating from another bolt, and picked up his blade. He got up on his feet. Selene landed next to him. Their swords clashed. The balance guardian launched a flurry against her enemy. They were not powerful, but the technique was impeccable. The Hylden fought hard to fend her off, not having time to reply with his own hits. He jumped back regaining his ground. His blade was defending his body.

The Hylden attacked with a strong stab, missing his target in by centimeters. She ducked to avoid the follow up swing. Selene got up on her feet and slashed with the blade, leaving a grave laceration on her enemy's left arm. He growled in pain, turned and launched a disparate flurry. She avoided each on, ducked and pushed forward knocking her opponent of balance. She regained her position raised the blade and brought it down on her enemy's sword hand. The hylden's blade and lower arm were on the forest floor. He looked at it in disbelief. The first balance guardian swung the blade now enveloped by light bluish energy at her adversary's head. It struck the body dealing a heavy discharge. The Hylden lay decapitated, his body blackened by the energy wave.

"I must say I am impressed by your performance." Said Kain while he was leaning against the tree, his arms folded across the chest. "I thought you said you weren't a fighter"

Selene sheeted the blade and walked towards him, her every step swinging her round hips:

"True. But that doesn't mean I was not taught who to fight. It is a must at the Imperial Court" she said smiling.

They were close together now, the tips of their noses almost touching.

"I believe you were right, Kain. It is time to get to know each other better"

Kain burst into a loud laughter.