Welcome to Gaia! ::

DISPOSE OF ME!? This ***** is ******* LUCKY Xashowd's here! Laguna shouted in her mind, infuriated by the response. She only held back her words for Xashowd's sake, but this "Asterael" being just went on her "To Die" list.

Xashowd, on the other hand, was more concerned for his friend than she was. It seems the upcoming conflict had attracted the attention of a balance keeper...But how much should he tell her? The war between gods is certainly something she should know about...but what if she tries to exterminate all the followers of Nyx? I'm on that roster of my own free will, which would make me a target... Xashowd sighed, sensing a battle may very well occur in his Closet. Still, it was best if he told her the truth. He just wouldn't say which side he was on...if she asked, however...

"There's a conflict brewing between two ancient deities of this world, the goddess Gaia and the imprisoned Nyx. A battle of such magnitude may be what is causing the imbalance, and thus what drew you here." Xashowd explained. He was wary of Asterael, though not just because he might have to fight her. The last time someone had claimed to be working towards balance, they'd turned out to be a psycho with a god complex who wanted dominion over everything. Naturally, Xashowd was concerned Asterael might be another Seraphos. He noticed Laguna's face was contorted into a furious rage, barely held at bay. "I would appreciate it if you didn't try to kill Laguna. I have a feeling it wouldn't end well for anyone." He added, hoping it might calm Laguna down.

Both of them were surprised at her next words. Is she...Reading our Minds!? they thought simultaneously, looking at one another. A being who could read their minds was a major threat. Xashowd decided that nothing he said would help the situation. If she was reading their minds, she already knew about his affiliation. Asterael was a wild card, whatever she deemed a threat to balance would be a target. And Xashowd figured that both of them looked like targets.

Not Good.

Laguna's surprise only lasted for a few moments, replaced once more by rage...this time more calculated. So she can read our minds...Which means that she can hear everything I'm thinking...Well hell. Guess I'd better stop thinking. "Simple, Miss Invasion-of-Privacy. Xashowd and I are masters of our elements. And we don't back down from a fight without a very good reason. If you intend to destroy us, you'll find we won't go easy." She stated, whipping out her daggers. She lept back to an empty wall, assuming a fighting stance. With the Element of Water for long range, along with her weapons for close range, Laguna could fight the entity on two fronts. She also had Xashowd with her, and he could do the same. She just hoped he wasn't going to hold back because it was his room.

...Meanwhile, a man ran through the halls, sensing the arrival he'd anticipated. Darxian just hoped he wasn't too late.

*Xashowd's 6'2", Laguna's 5'5", and Darxian's 6'3". And no problem!*

Xashowd took in the situation. It seemed she'd only heard Laguna's mind, which meant his own secret was safe. She said she did not wish to "dispose" of them if she didn't have to, though the last five words were often subjective in nature, which made Xashowd uneasy. Asterael also called herself Death... Does that mean she's a Reaper? They do often act as balance keepers. Xashowd thought, though given how often he and Darxian had been wrong about other beings since they came here, he didn't put much stock in the idea, merely filing it away as a possible source of info. "Are you certain you have no intention to harm us? I'd feel better with a more concrete statement." Xashowd inquired.

Laguna looked over at Xashowd as he spoke, then looked back at the entity who called itself Death. So she heard my thoughts because I was shouting? You'd think she'd learn to turn off the telepathy if she's as powerful as she claims. She thought. Xashowd appeared to be trying to confirm Asterael's supposed unwillingness to harm them, but Laguna wasn't so sure of the other woman's true intentions. She'd come to stop a great imbalance, which was not this war of which Xashowd spoke based on her tone. Perhaps the Angel of Death had sensed what she had done on nearby worlds and was merely pursuing the source. An Angel of any kind would perceive multiple deaths as an imbalance, regardless of how foul the beings she had killed were. Well, most were foul...a few had just tried to get in her way, and had paid the price. As this was Xashowd's room, she let him take the lead in this situation, but Laguna had a feeling that if not today, she'd be fighting Asterael sometime in the future. That is, if Darxian didn't find her first...

The man in question reached Xashowd's door. He found that for some reason he couldn't warp inside through the Earth. Xashowd must've gotten some kind of defense mechanism. As he reached the door, his Soul Dagger began to pulsate with a white glow. There was someone else in there...someone with a large amount of energy. He bent down and put his fingers on the ground, trying to sense the vibrations from inside the room. Three...So Xashowd, Laguna, and one other. They appeared to be only standing right now, but the vibrations told him one was in a fighting pose, which meant battle could break out at any time. He decided to wait a few more moments, see what would happen. No sense barging in when he could get caught in the crossfire.

*You're welcome. If it's any consolation, Laguna used to be shorter. Her original height was around 4'8"*

Xashowd relaxed, though her mention of "other three" piqued his interest. What other three does she mean? Three Angels? Wait... He recalled she called herself Death. It clicked in a moment, his eyes filled with a mixture of awe and terror. Is she...is she one of the Four Horsemen!? It would explain everything... He backed away from Asterael slowly, unsure of whether or not he should ask. Granted, she'd said "Sword" and not "Scythe", but still...the mere possibility scared him.

Laguna, on the other hand, just scoffed. "Well, you've been judgmental, barged in out of nowhere, and threatened to kill me. You'll have to excuse the fact that I don't trust you as far as I could shove my daggers in you." She stated. She would've said "as far as I can throw you", but with her skills and abilities she could hurl pretty far. Her daggers were shorter. Laguna's nose twitched, smelling something near the open door. Something familiar...****. He's here. Just can't leave me alone... With Darxian past that door, there was no way she could let down her guard. She trained her eyes on the door, Asterael no longer mattered. The entity was a potential threat, and one that ticked her off immensely, but she knew Darxian to be a true threat, and they had history. He took priority.

Darxian listened in from his spot on the wall outside the door. The mysterious being was a woman, and sounded strong. Her words confirmed what his dagger had sensed a few hours ago, that Laguna was indeed here. He was cautious, realizing that with the door open, Laguna would likely pick up his scent. She'd be on edge, and with her promise to kill him next they met still on the table, it would be reckless to head inside. Not to mention the other woman was an unknown factor. She would likely get dragged into the fight, and while he would appreciate the help in dealing with Laguna, it was just as likely she would turn on him. And not knowing who she was or her powers, it was best to hang back.

*Oh? Now you have me curious as to what she is...*

Laguna heard Asterael's words, but considered them an afterthought. Aside from noticing Darxian near the door, her words mattered little. "...It's complicated." She muttered. Her focus was on the door. The moment she saw movement from it, she would strike. And her freedom would be secure.

Xashowd, on the other hand, heard Asterael's words more clearly. A Judge of one's Soul, one who calls herself Death, one of four...if she isn't a Horseman, then I have no idea what she could be... He stopped backing up, taking a more resolved stance. How this being could remain so calm throughout all of this...He had to know. "Just one thing...What are you?" He asked, a small portion of his fear reflected in his voice.

Darxian heard every word. The unknown entity also knew he was here, which meant Xashowd would soon know as well. He pulled out his Soul Dagger. One way or another, he'd have to go in soon. It wasn't good to let all this tension remain in the air, the old game of "Who makes the first move?" one he didn't care for. With his other hand he pulled out a spare Kunai he kept at all times. Assassin's Rule #8: If a distraction isn't present, create one.

Xashowd visibly relaxed after her explanation. So she's a Reaper, not one of the Horsemen...That's good to know. He thought, though the fact that she literally could not die was a tad disturbing. If Laguna had fought her, then Asterael would be victorious no matter what happened. One who cannot die is one who cannot be defeated...unless Laguna was able to incapacitate her or something. That was hard to do to a Reaper, though. Still, if her role was to guide the Dead, why was she here investigating an imbalance? Wasn't that outside of her purview? "Very...but if you're task is guiding the Dead, why are you looking into an imbalance?" He inquired, echoing his thoughts.

Laguna's reaction to the information was different. Her curiosity was piqued at Xashowd's question, but what she heard both angered and frightened her. She...cannot...die!? What the hell is she, a living Soul or something? Well **** that! Just because she can't die doesn't mean I couldn't hack a few limbs off if I got the chance, or knock her out with a firm blow to her skull...right? Laguna rarely second guessed her actions these days, but this new information worried her. Maybe she and Xashowd wouldn't have beaten her...The thought only made her angrier. It wasn't in her nature to just accept defeat. To hell with impossible odds! If this ***** EVER tries to come for my soul, I'm not going to hold back one bit! We'll find out just how much punishment that form of hers can take...every physical form has its limits. Even if she can't die, there's a limit somewhere... She thought, resolving herself. She turned her attention back to the door, focusing once more upon the man just outside...A man she knew could die.

Darxian was about to hurl the Kunai in, but paused. The entity was a Reaper of some kind, the last of a supposedly ancient race he'd never heard of. What was a Reaper doing here? Had Laguna killed again, and the Reapers themselves sent an envoy to end her once and for all? He couldn't let that happen. He still needed to reason with her...as hopeless as it seemed, he'd spent too much time training her, getting to know her...Assassin's Rule #2: Never get involved with anyone. He remembered it as his thoughts whirled. Well, too late now...He put away the Kunai and pulled out an amulet he kept with him, one he saved only for certain circumstances. He'd dealt with Demons that could not be physically killed before, and wanting to be prepared for any similar encounters, Darxian had procured it from a hard to find shop. Made out of Void Crystal, it was capable of binding any entity, so long as their soul was placed inside. He looked at his Soul Dagger, a weapon designed to drain the energy and souls of those who were injured by it. He only needed a scratch for it to drain energy, but he needed a full stab to drain a Soul. He waited a while longer, wanting to be absolutely sure the being wouldn't harm Laguna.

Even if this entity couldn't die, it could be contained.

Xashowd put his hand to his chin, thinking over the information. So wait...she's not a Reaper in service to Death, but Death itself? Must be something big to draw Death out of hiding. He thought. From what he'd been told, Death was a caretaker of deceased Souls, putting them through reincarnation and healing any wounds before the next life. He'd never actually met Death before, but if that were true it was a full-time job, one Death only left under extreme circumstances. Xashowd glanced over at Laguna, fixated upon the open door. Darxian, who he guessed was just outside, had told him she'd gone on a killing spree in other worlds. Then again, a criminal known as Racai did the same thing, and had killed far more and for a much longer period of time. If Laguna was what had drawn Death out, what had she done that was different? It warranted consideration... "And what do you believe is causing the imbalance, if it's not the upcoming war?" Xashowd inquired.

Laguna, however, din't know what to make of the new information. Waitwaitwaitwaitwait...So this nutcase actually IS Death? How the **** Does that even work? I thought Death was an existential force that just existed, not a sentient being! The mere possibility that this woman was death itself infuriated her even more. Was Death itself trying to stop her, deny her freedom? After all she had suffered at the hands of those who used her? It's just one thing after another...Why!? WHY CAN'T THE WORLD JUST LEAVE ME THE **** ALONE!!! I've had enough of Suffering!!! I've had it!!! "Grrrr....I'VE HAAAAD IIIIIIIT!!!!!" Laguna screamed as she snapped, raising her arms in the air. Her wings began to glow bright blue as all of the energy she kept contained rose to the surface, her survival instincts kicking in. She took some of the water molecules in the room and used them to shut the door, creating a wall of water which she froze to keep the door from opening. That would take care of Darxian. She then whirled toward Death, her face contorted in fury. "Tell me...Will even you deny me my freedom!? After everything I've suffered!?" Laguna demanded to know. If Death itself had come for her, then there was no point running. She would fight.

As Xashowd looked upon the scene that unfolded, he got scared. Laguna had gone into a full rage, here in his home. But what she said...after what he'd heard from Darxian, she had been dealt a bad hand in life. Part of him knew she had a right to be angry...the rest of him was more concerned that all of this going on in his closet. It would be destroyed if these two fought. And no matter the circumstances he could not let that happen. He would not lose his home.

Darxian swore as the door slammed shut, putting the amulet back in his pocket. Death itself was here!? Even his Soul Dagger couldn't contain a Primordial Force, let alone the amulet. He kicked at the door, which barely budged. He noticed small slivers of ice peering through the cracks. Damn, she froze the door shut. She's gone berserk...not good. He realized he'd have to apologize to Xashowd later, and help him fix things up. Darxian focused on the earth around him, putting his recent training to use. He created a sphere of earth from the ground to his right, and launched it at the door. Cracks appeared at the impact, but the door itself did not fall. He kept hurling the boulder at the door, intending on knocking it down. He would not give up on Laguna, and he would not let her shut him out. He just hoped the situation inside didn't escalate any further.

"If If IF! For an entity that supposedly knows everything, you sure don't know what the **** you're after!" Laguna shouted. Clearly Death didn't know what it was after, or she would've attacked someone by now. The whole situation was only confusing her, which angered her further. She was going to make another comment when Xashowd stepped between the two.

"That's enough! If the two of you are going to have it out, I suggest you take it elsewhere. This is my home, and I won't have it destroyed because of a situation that we don't even know all the details for." He stated in a calm, yet stern tone. He had to admit Laguna had a point, though. Either Death didn't know what it was after...or simply did not wish to divulge the information. He hoped it wasn't the latter, as it would cause the situation to escalate even further. He glanced at the door, covered in ice. There was a dull thudding sound coming from the other side, like something was trying to break down the door. Cracks were forming all over the ice, and with every thud more appeared. It wouldn't be long before Darxian busted in...at least, Xashowd hoped it was Darxian.

While slamming the boulder against the door, Darxian tried to listen in on the conversation. He didn't get much, but it sounded like Death was reprimanding Laguna, while Xashowd was attempting to diffuse the situation. He looked at his progress. Just a few more minutes and he'd be inside. Best thing to do was knock Laguna out once he got inside, the boulder would help with that. It was crude, but Laguna was a demoness now, she could take a hit. As for Xashowd and Death...Well, he just hoped that once Laguna was unconscious, they could discuss the situation calmly. With more information, he'd be able to find a solution to all their problems.