Dante's eyes went cold. He circled the woman in an almost predatory manner. "Because no matter how much I hate you, it will not bring her back. Because while I would love nothing more than to hurt you, I made a promise long ago...and you aren't worth breaking it. Because I will not be burdened with the poison of a grudge." His eyes softened. "And because anything I could say or do will never match what you have no doubt said or done to yourself. Believe me, I know the torture one can inflict on oneself without the world seeing. And because we all carry enough burdens in this world without someone adding to it. The world is harsh...cold. We don't need more hatred. Hatred is what created all this. And I refuse to add to it." Dante started back to the path. "I almost killed myself because of this, you know. But in that moment, I realized something. Blood does not redeem blood. It simply begets more pain...redemption requires...more."
"I..." she stammered, choking back tears as she heaved in deep breaths, "you are special... I... I'm truly sorry..." She ran quickly to his side and placed her hand on his shoulder, making him stop for just a moment, "I wish you nothing but success on your path to redemption. I can only aspire to be... to be... as courageous and strong as you." She sobbed in her heartache, releasing his shoulder slowly as her fingers slid down his arm as though she didn't want to let go, "goodbye..."
She shook her head, "and you'd be surprised at what I'm capable of. No, I think it's best if I stay far away from you... unless it's to save you from a beast that would have no qualms about eating you."
She offered her hand out to Dante. It wasn't the most affectionate gesture, or the most personal one, and while the accendo around her was begging for something more, the act was still symbolic, "thank you Dante... I do believe fate brought us together for a reason and it will once again."
"We'll have to see. Until then." Dante said with a nod. He shook the young woman's hand gently, trying to alleviate the burden she do doubt felt. With a small smile, he continued along the path.
The light adept found his heart beating quickly. Though the circumstances seemed surreal, he found himself liberated by his epiphany. The heartache would never leave but the suffering was on its way out and he hoped that he could help the mysterious girl accomplish the same thing.
This time, the markings hadn't changed. He silently cursed himself for not thinking of asking the girl to help him interpret the deeper meanings of the map. He had already read the story woven into the accendo of the artifact but there was no telling what insight the mind of another light adept would offer. Thankfully, he was still travelling in the correct direction.
Silently, he wondered what the creature was that nearly devoured him. Whatever it was, it seemed as though it could draw accendo to itself and its sheer size was daunting. There were so many unanswered questions that lingered in Dante's mind, as if he had stepped into a completely new world; reborn with a hunger for knowledge and a desire to find himself anew.
Fascinating...all of it, fascinating. Dante walked, noting the brush getting thicker...fewer and fewer people had made it as far as he had been going...
As if cued by his thoughts, the light adept heard the growingly familiar whirring sound. Again, the accendo was being drawn to a central location, only this time it was much much closer.
Accendo had a funny way of not working when you needed it to the most. Dante found this out the hard way.
The whirring became louder as Dante felt and saw the accendo drift past him, leaving his surroundings devoid of the natural force and his attempt at rendering himself invisible futile. Dante had never felt more exposed; able to be seen by any potential predator and lacing the accendo required to save himself.
Cursing again silently, Dante took every pain to make his movement silent. If he couldn't conceal himself, he could at least be aware of his surroundings.
His silent creeping was quickly dwarfed by the sound of wood splitting and trees tumbling to the ground not far away. It seems whatever was tunnelling through the ground had emerged from beneath him, though he could not see where it had gone.
"****! Crapcrapcrapcrap!" Dante shouted, abandoning all pretense for stealth, looking desperately for any pocket of accendo he could find to defend himself.
No accendo came and while he was looking for it, he sensed that whatever it was shooting out of the ground was looking for him. Dante looked around wildly, only to find that the dust had settled and the forest was now eerily quite, aside from his frantic running.
The light adept moved quickly, though he was quickly approaching an area where the trees were becoming more dense. Scrambling for his life had caused Dante to go far off the path where the foliage was becoming an increasingly large hindrance.
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
Feeling lighter, Dante continued his journey, taking a quick look at the odd scroll again.
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
Oh well...if i see her again, i'll have to ask. he mused as he forged onwards.
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
OOC: Better?
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
Fascinating...all of it, fascinating. Dante walked, noting the brush getting thicker...fewer and fewer people had made it as far as he had been going...
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
OOC: Did it snow by you as much as it did by me?!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
Dante silently cursed, as he rendered himself invisible, trying to get away from the source of the noise.
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
The whirring became louder as Dante felt and saw the accendo drift past him, leaving his surroundings devoid of the natural force and his attempt at rendering himself invisible futile. Dante had never felt more exposed; able to be seen by any potential predator and lacing the accendo required to save himself.
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!
[Left Play Designs][Coffeehouse][DeviantArt]
Winner MTGS Weekly Sig/Banner Contest
Weeks: 37/85/87/94/135/159/160/226
The creator of Maro's Magic 8-Ball!