Prelude to Ruin (OPEN)

[xiahtic4]

Bare feet crunched gravel on the barren land as a flurry of black feathers littered the ground. The Archipelago was just as she remembered, full of life, full of people, bustling with activity. Yet it is also full to the brim of things that she could use; lies, desire, power, the thirst for wealth. The time sorceress knew that she could not venture on this feat alone, not until she could gather enough resources to restore her full power. Not until she could assure herself that she wouldn't make the same mistakes again.

Ultimecia knew that she was a fool, going against those 'warriors' on her own, she was drunk with power and ultimately handed herself her timely defeat by creating a mistake fate had bound her to make. This second chance, though proved to be a catalyst for her return; back in this world where everything started. She stood in the middle of the desert, Galbadia seem to have so much of these little sandboxes, her destination just a short mile away. She reveled at the feel of the sand on her flesh, having been stuck in the endless void of the war of the gods, the foreign feel of a real world making her lips curl. How positively amusing to see this world warped in an endless time and space, just like the one she was whisked away to. But then thanks to those 'warriors of light' and the naive buffoons she was forced to work with just to appease their 'God', she had to clear out of the place before the idiots destroyed themselves. One way or another, her powers led her back here, and it greatly weakened the Witch, but at least she is back where she needs to.

The fight, as well, let her see other worlds; worlds from which the other beings in that war came from and it immensely interested her. What if she could stretch her powers and compress all the worlds in the universe, all the universes in creation and everything else in between? The thought of having everything in the palm of her hands made Ultimecia chuckle in her own musings, reigning in her thoughts before they became too dark.

"Best not to get ahead of ourselves; everything will work out in due time." She spoke to no one in particular and began to walk towards her destination, the rift in space she created in front of her letting her reach the place in a short while, standing on the edge of the cliff and overlooking the sea.

The Island Closest to Hell, aptly named for something so close to something so destructive. During her ventures in the different worlds, the rift is something she knew that is always present, even in this world. After getting back, Ultimecia's sole goal is to find where in her world the rift could be opened, and her studies led her here.

"My my, someone came to play?" The Sorceress turned around, her brow arching gracefully as a smirk played on her lips, looking at the ground before her. Black substance like tar began to appear from the ground, slowly moving up to form shapes of globules and ending in a creature that is neither frightening nor comforting. It was a different energy, she decided, and whether it be friend or foe, she had no use for them.

The Creatures, though, thought otherwise and either they're plain foolish or just a tad wrong in the head, they deemed it wise to come at her and attack. The Time Witch lazily put up her hand, dark energy forming on her palms and shaping itself into arrows, a flick of her wrist sending them towards her enemies, hitting each and every one of the five creatures straight to their chest, making them stagger, stunned before dissolving back into the globular mass and disappearing.

"Interesting." She purred, moving forward and inspecting the place from whence they came, her coat ruffling from the breeze, sending a few feathers from her folded wings dancing in the air, "Where did they come from?" From the moment she stood back in these lands and smelled the air, she knew something had changed. There was a force enveloping the whole land and the appearance of these strange creatures just proved her point. Ultimecia stood up, sensing another presence nearby, a delicious prospect to test out her newfound ideas.

[gabranth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,460,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/312d3ig.png); padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #202020;] "They're called the Heartless." If Ultimecia turned around, indeed she would notice the presence which was not afraid of hers either; the slight clinking of a Judge Magister's armor was not the one of an assassin's. Behind him, Ultimecia could see his small airship, parked off far in the distance. As he walked towards her confidently, his cloak would billow out behind him from the strong ocean breeze, the black and red insignia of his Empire emblazoned like a pirate's flag blown away from the sea extending from his shoulder. A strong splash of an wave made an ocean spray out from behind him, but he seemed unphazed or maybe even untouched by the airbourne droplets. He finally came to a stop before the trickster he saw before him, a strong grib on his combined swallowsword in his right hand becoming even more tighter. "They are the embodiment of darkness, and the darkness in a person's heart wretched and stolen from their bodies." he explained in his Old English tongue, and his tone of voice matched that as well. He stared intimidatingly with a souless expression from within the dark gaze of the shadows underneath his helmet's visor, as much as one could not show expression from underneath such a cruel mask. Did he recognize the witch from their time stolen away by the god of discord? Or more likely, did he not retain his memories from their time together, and he was now glancing at her because he was sizing her up not as a ally, but a potential enemy? It was hard to say, and even harder to read his poker face donned underneath a knight's helmet. "They are nothing more than hounds," he unpaused to continue, turning in his step, continuing that confident march of his around Ultimecia like a hound circling his prey - no matter how big and intimidating this prey could be. "Like how one follows the emotions of their wretched hearts, these creatures are nothing more than their shadow, and follow their sated dark impulses of making more of their number, attacking anyone who gets in their path and stealing he hearts of those who they have brought savagely down. They feast, they multiply... and like a unholy scourge, they fester. They are a blight upon the worlds since their connection to one another, and while they seem to be under the command by a single man of their kind in human form, those marked by his emblem remain unchecked and unbridled as those who are not that carry no heart of their own." he added, remembering his unpleasent run-in with the Seeker of Darkness. He tilted his head, not having regarded Ultimecia in his sights, until now. "And most of all, they seek out the hearts of those who also dare try to control and command them. Unbeknownst to them, the Heartless will always find a way to ensnare the heart of their master should they steep themselves deeper and deeper into the darkness, and should one misguide their step..." He stabbed one end of his swallowblade into the sandy earth, to demonstrate his point. Why was he telling the sorceress this? Only time would tell what was really going on beneath the helm of the executioner...

[/size][/td][/tr][/table]

tags Ultimecia, open credits rinne

[/center]

[xiahtic4]

"Heartless?" Ultimecia spoke, her eyes glinting with malice as she stood confidently, a clawed hand sitting on her hip as she regarded the newcomer with interest. How odd was it that the man seemed so familiar, yet so much like a stranger. Was he also one of the pawns of the 'God' that she served an untimely war with? Nevertheless, the Witch shrugged it off, having not bothered with such memories as they no longer serve her purpose. She spotted a vessel behind him, maybe another kind like the Ragnarok only more olden, much like those ships from whence the Gardens were based off from. She remained silent, listening to his explanation of the creatures and each word fascinated her. Ultimecia let her gaze sweep over Gabranth from head to toe, sizing up the Judge Magister with her piercing orbs, taking note of his armor and cape as well as the sizeable weapon he was palming. The Sorceress is not in the mood to fight, although she is not beyond the idea if the man made a misstep. But it would all be revealed in due time.

Delicious, quite delicious indeed. Ultimecia found herself liking these creatures more and more, but them serving a fixed master would be an issue. She is not one to underestimate her opponent, as she learned her lesson not once but twice, but she also took care not to overestimate them. If what this man says is the truth, then if she finds these being's 'master' then maybe, just maybe she could put them in a better use.

But what is the master of these creatures using them for?

"You know an awful lot about these creatures more than you're letting on."She purred, her voice a silky venom against her tongue. Maybe this man would prove useful as an ally too, among other beings she'd find her way. Ultimecia followed his circling with her gaze, slowly turning to his direction everytime he gets too far from her peripheral vision, cautious yet relaxed enough to see if ever he would be foolish enough to strike her, "Then again, I don't suppose you're from this world, are you?" Her questions came out in an almost bored tone, as with others, quickly losing interest without the promise of information. She figured she'd have to listen to what he has to say anyway if she meant to harness this power for her own.

With this new energy that surrounded these Heartless, she knows she could have unparalleled means to complete her task. But she has much to learn, far too much for her tastes, and this man might be a key to her enlightenment, until at least she exhausts his usefulness and is nearing his expiration.

Existence only needs one person to reign it in after all.

[gabranth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,460,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/312d3ig.png); padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #202020;] The Judge Magister had come to a stop as he dug the end of Highway Star into the loose sand underfoot, having a firm grasp on the other end of the sword is was connected to called Highway Star. With a twist, he pulled the large swallowblade out of the earth, and slowly rotated it to rest by his side. A shadowy gaze continued to look at this sorceress, who he could only fathom had a sizeable amount of dark powers herself. What about this craven witch had the judge magister landed for, and to what purpose? If she did have dark powers, why even bother with the time to land his airship and speak to her of Heartless? Only time would tell. "I've told you all I know, believing otherwise and that is but a tribulation of your own." he brushed the enchantress off. He could tell she was already getting greedy with finding out this new information, but that is all that she would get. Did the Judge Magister know more, or was he telling the truth? Perhaps she would find out in due time. He looked away from her, turning his back on her as he stepped out the full length of the cliif to it's peak, unafraid that she would strike him down and force information out of him when he had been so forthcoming with discarding what he had already spoken. She ask him another question, but he was not reluctant to answer this one. "No, I am not, but that is none of your concern. I can only gather you are from this world, as you have no airship of your own to travel bethwixt the Lanes Between." He continued to look out at the spraying mist of ocean before him... cold, harsh, unrelenting. Much like the Heartless.... just as deep as the everlasting darkness. "The Heartless grasp the darkness of the heart of the world to connect to these Lanes Between. An irony, they are... some lack hearts, others are pure darkness, and yet they hunt the worlds out to seek both to mindlessly make more of their feral, brutal pack. Callous, savage, unyielding creatures. One must ask a stranger such as yourself... in one's pursuit of ultimate wisdom and power, are you different from these wretched Heartless?" It was then that he turned around to face Ultimecia, just to make sure she was still there, but also addressing her a question of her alignment.

[/size][/td][/tr][/table]

tags Ultimecia, open credits rinne

[/center]

[xiahtic4]

The Witch followed him with her eyes, the cruel smile never fading from her lips. Indeed this man knew more than he was letting on, and she would get information one way or another. Perhaps, as a man, the Knight would succumb to carnal desire, or maybe she needed to promise him power for his own. He said he told her all he knew but Ultimecia seriously doubted the conniving lad.

Whatever method she would use, she guarantees that she will get what she want.

He stood at the edge of the cliff, making the sorceress cross her arms over her chest, regarding him silently as he spoke. She took the time to study his weapon, his armor, wondering how much force it would take to pierce him with her claws, or strike the metal with her magic. Ways of torturing him for information began to form inside the Sorceress' mind and she closed her eyes to clear her mind of them. It wouldn't do well to hurt someone who'd given her so much to work on in such a short span of time. Whether or not he intended to have her take interest in the Heartless' issue, or just to warn him of it like those pratty noble heroes she encountered, Ultimecia would still find a way to harness their power.

Then he spoke of the Lanes Between, an intrigued eyebrow shot up from the witch. Another means to travel between the worlds? Or is this a path to an alternate dimension she had yet discovered? She moved forward, a mere breadth away from him as he continued to look into the sea, the mist of sea-spray finding its way onto her coat's fur lining, creating beads of salty dew on the strands of the fur's hair.

"Ultimate pursuit of power and wisdom, you say?" Her voice came as a whisper as he turned around, the witch raising a clawed hand to trace the markings on his visor, her eyes staring at the spaces on the helm that should cover his own, her lips barely moving as she purred, "My, aren't we getting over our heads in this?" A chilling cackle bubbled from her throat, the silky sound a major contrast with the fiery darkness that clouded her eyes, Ultimecia taking care not to take the primal desire to crush him then and there take over her; she needed him, and that's all that kept him alive, "To answer your question, stranger, merely looking at me would suffice. Do you think I am a mere pawn just as those 'Heartless' are?" She tapped the helm's cheek thrice before sauntering away, her back turned to him walking a few feet forward before shaking her head, "I do have a heart, like you do, albeit it is wrapped in darkness." She continued, "But then I ask you a question myself; why are you here? Do you have a greater purpose in life?" She turned back, looking at him then at the ship behind him, licking her lips discreetly before giving a graceful shrug, "I have been looking for a way to...broaden my knowledge, and this world is too small and too, unsatisfying for my needs, perhaps it will do you good to help me cross the borders to this, Lanes Between, and in turn, I will help you attain whatever you wanted to have."

This is it, the deciding moment. Of course she could just strike him down and take this ship but her powers as of the moment were still recovering. If the Knight disagreed then she would just go her own way and find the means to travel to this Lanes. Of course it'll save her the trouble if he decides to take her along and the power that she sensed from him will be useful indeed.

Maybe it's time to take on a new Sorceress Knight.

"What do you say...stranger? Or perhaps you could give me the pleasure of knowing your name?"

[gabranth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,460,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/312d3ig.png); padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #202020;] The cold, heartless wind of this ocean surrounding this isle closest to hell kept howling, kept blowing into the chilling cold steel of the armor that that Gabranth's suit. But nothing could match that steely gaze of the witch upon his form, eyes piercing through him colder than the coldest steel could ever be. From under darkened visor masking his face did her watch her cautiously, only imagining what she could be coniving and scheming in that dark mind of hers. Better yet, what powers did she have to put those thoughts to any good use, or manipulation did she have to put those thoughts into actions? Nothing that the Judge could ever be tempted or swayed by in her ultimate favor, if anything was to come from this dark meeting, then Gabranth would ultimately obtain his mission to get what he thought was just in the mind donned beneath the twisted judge's helmet. As he turned around to face her, sensing her movement closer to him, the moment she raised her hands to trace over his helmet he batted it away harshly with a flick of his metal gauntlet. He was ultimately glad he had not let his guard down and taken his helmet off, and if the wretch was to deal with him she would soon some to learn all of her feminine charm would be wasted on him while he focused heavily on the dutiful task at hand. "Hands off me, woman. Do not think but for a moment your charms can beguile me. I am not to be trifled with." That professional yet annoyed tone in his voice was also directed to the comment that followed after, swatting her hand away from him again before she walked away. "The question was not about control, as appearences can be vastly deceiving. Thine point was should your goals align with the darkness and that of the heartless, in contrast to the light and their feeble heroes." he remarked, watching her back now. He ignored her first question; she had moved on, and it was of no relevance nor signifigance to her at the moment what his goals were. If it were really that important to her, she would ask again, and he severely doubted that. Instead, came the offer he would provide a means of transportation to her in exchange for that want, but it would come on his terms. "All I ask is that you align your campaign with mine, and of your loyalty for what is to come. I have already established a alliance of darkened hearts like ourselves, which you will meet given time and will mention me by name, and I will call upon you in a moment of my chosing at any given time. For I am the Judge Magister, Gabranth. And now, your name, as it is only expected after one has given their rank and title of one that they should stand next to in the battlefields of war." It wasn't a question; more a demand.

[/size][/td][/tr][/table]

tags Ultimecia, open credits rinne

[/center]

[xiahtic4]

The Witch's lips curled up into an unforgiving smile, keeping the distance this time after her advances were so rudely shoved away. How dare he touch her so threateningly? How dare he slap her hand away like she was some child caught stealing candies? She fought the warring thoughts in her head as she kept a charming face, although her eyes mirrored the black fury in her heart. This man should ever so consider himself happy she needed something from him.

The Sorceress Knight option does not stand anymore; she would not bestow power upon someone so dangerous, and so strict with his goals. He would ruin him if she was not careful, which is why she decided to play along.

"How sad, for a man such as yourself to never experience the solace found with a woman." She purred a light chuckle punctuating her sentence, an arm around her waist and the other on top of it, "Then again, I don't suppose that is too much of a bargain, but I am not your handmaiden, Judge Gabranth." She hissed, her smile slowly tinting with malice. The Sorceress turned around, her back to him, chuckling under her breath. This man is insane to ever think that he, a mere human, could be on par with someone her caliber. Maybe if he would strike her now, he would have a chance but just he wait until her powers regain. She will crush him like a little bug.

Ultimecia noted that he didn't answer her first question, yet she had no more interest to pry. A person as drab as this man wouldn't have an interesting plot anyway, nor something of significance to go after. She stopped herself mid-thought, there it was, that underestimation. Again she turned, this time facing him and nodding slowly, inclining her head to the side and disappearing in a cloud of feathers and smoke, appearing beside him, her gaze tuned to the ocean and a flurry of feathers raining around them, "Very well, your offer is all I could count on right now, but don't ever think for a second that you can just use me freely." She walked towards the cliff, mirroring his earlier action, watching as the sea foam gurgled beneath at the jagged rocks, the winds carrying jets of water to where she stands, "You can call me Ultimecia."

[gabranth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,460,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/312d3ig.png); padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #202020;] Desolate was this land, this earth. Even on the pinaccle of the ocean, the gray waves seemed to hold no life; only death crashing against the barren, sharp cliffs. Judge Gabranth had seen more of this world as he had flown over it, but this part of the world seemed to descend into anarchy the closer it got to this spit of land. It was easier for his to reflect upon the land than have to do the same to this vile woman he had spotted here and chosen to colaborate with now. He could have simply chosen to fly off and away from this world, but perhaps this was a necessary evil. A snicker echoed from his helmet at her sinister words. She had been hurt by his gesture refusing her bewitching touch, and it showed in her disappointed comments. "Nor do I believe you are the last woman in this sea of stars, and do not begin to fool me with the notion that you represent the embodiment of your gender. You are hardly my type of woman, but that certainly is no business of your own." he snapped back coldly. The only woman Gabranth had in his life was his mother, who had passed away while his brother fled to the arms of a nation not of their own, and even were she alive this day the worlds were even more dangerous than every before for her. There had not been another woman since as his heart closed himself off since his brother's betrayal to those he sought loyalty to, and there would not be another woman since that could withstand the raw hatred within his heart. Were there ever such a woman, he would not rest until the worlds and the powerful individuals within were secure, but even then with the constant battles of Light and Darkness the only true peace... was death. As she disappeared and reappeared near the ocean, the Magister's guess had indeed been correct and her words were true, she was no mere powerless handmaiden. "So, you are a wielder of magicks. No, I believe you now to be a trickster, but unless you wish to test your enchantments against my might now, then it is settled and our alliance has been sealed. Better not to underestimate the many Lights of heroes who seek to wipe out our kind." he reaffirmed the idea of their treaty. He gestured his hand towards his airship. "When you are ready, your next destination of my choosing awaits, but know any attempt against me I will not hesitate to strike you down." He did not know what the next destination would be, as he was currently exploring the worlds, but he would memorize the route back here should he have need of this enchantress's world.

[/size][/td][/tr][/table]

tags Ultimecia, open credits rinne

[/center]

[xiahtic4]

Ultimecia scoffed; clearly this man is over his own head. She turned around, the waves clashing on the cliff behind her as her dark eyes crinkled in that sinister smile, mirth absent on them only to be clouded by hate. She hated the man and his guts to talk her down, yet she needed him, and it was the only thing keeping him safe, "Don't be so foolish to think that you could strike me down, boy." She purred her last word, testing to see if it would agitate the Judge Magister before chuckling, "I don't know where you come from or what your customs are in there but I warn you, do not start a fight with me." It was a fair warning, she thought, as she knew as all humans, this man is foolish. Foolish enough to take on something they don't understand. But seeing as he agreed with the alliance, the sorceress took a step forward, "I will do my best to...aid, you if you do your best to aid me too." Her eyes traveled back to the ship then to Gabranth, "These worlds, what do you aim to accomplish by jumping among them? How do you plan me to aid you?"

It was a question she wanted him to answer, not planning to be used like a mindless pawn and thrown aside. If all else fails perchance she could take the ship herself? Surely her powers would surpass his once she recovered but she must be sure what this man is planning. Even if he's human, innate powers must reside within him to give him such confidence, "Perhaps your goals are entwined in mine, I work better if I am interested in what I am doing." And it was not entirely a lie.

She took another step forward, her gaze towards the man but her mind flitting to the events of the past. She wondered if she should leave this world without settling the score with those SeeDs, but she figured she must have an ample amount of power to dispose of them this time. Rinoa, it would seem, inherited much of the other Sorceresses powers and it was partially her fault too; she knew she couldn't take on the budding Sorceress without back-up and, if Gabranth is as strong as he says. He also mentioned something about meeting other people with the same intentions as us, and that made an eyebrow raise on her face with intrigued, "And you trust these people? How do you know that they won't stab you in your sleep." Ultimecia let a playful smirk appear on her lips, "We have, by no means, no noble intentions...have you gone on a journey with them before?"

She is silent for a moment, just waiting the Judge's response. She knew the man is shrewd but is he shrewd enough for her mind games. She knew he would be hard to crack but small lesions would lead to big holes if he's not careful. Ultimecia decided that it would be fun to toy with this human. This human full of hate.

[gabranth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,460,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/312d3ig.png); padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #202020;] (OOC: Sorry about the wait; staff/RL work got in the way. If Cloud isn't going to crash the thread anytime soon, shall we finish up?) Too long the Knight Magister had been on this world, and along with the witch he was starting to get a bit restless. Soon enough his plan would unfold, but it was time to move along and take action. He would deposit this wretch somewhere on another world and keep comminications with her, but that would be it, and even if she did not keep up her end of the bargain his plan would still remain unhindered. He could only hope that this alliance of convenience would hold, for now. "And do not fool yourself that your powers of trickery can best me." he answered coldly back, marching back away to his airship. Any attempts to rile him with words washed over him with no effect, and did not answer her warning. He could strike her down at a moment's notice with little effort, but there was nothing to gain at riling a new ally. At her curiousity, he cut her off. "Silence. This is a union of convenience; we will aid each other in battle, that is all you need to know. I am doing the extra service of transporting you to the stars in addition to fighting at your request, so my word is the one that we'll be trusting." He had stopped in his tracks to answer her, but this was before she had blackmailed him with the threat she would lose interest, but his back remained to her. "Is simply wiping out our enemies not enough to suffice? I want them all wiped out, every last one of them, those that oppose my Empire." And this, also, was the sincere truth. Hatred was what drove him, and now he was back in the world, that hatred fueled his bloodlust for revenge. Vanye was dead, but there still remained threats out there that only he within the dark could deal with. She continued to probe, and his helmet turned side-on to eye her behind him, out of his periperal vision. "I trust them as much as I trust you. But they have goals aligned with our own, to face those that would destroy the dark. I would but merely ask you the same question; for me I would slumber if but for to keep but an eye open. If we are to succeed, we all have our uses, and united we accomplish a much greater threat than we do alone." He left out any answer he had gone on a journey with them before, as he had not, and it was rather irrelivant. But he offered one final idea to the sorceress. "By all means, if you think you can do better on your own, I am welcome to leave you here on this pitiful rock you call a world." he scoffed.

[/size][/td][/tr][/table]

tags Ultimecia, open credits rinne

[/center]

[xiahtic4]

It started as a bubble of snickers from her throat before it pushed up in a mild peal of laughter. How amusing this man turned out to be, she did not know how much. With a passive wave of her clawed hand she smirked at the man, biting her lip at a retort that threatened to come out, not wanting to rile him any further. A facade of ignorance washed over the masked knight, but surely she was getting to him enough to incite a response. Languidly she walked a few steps, watching him as he gestured at the ship, her lips settling in that menacing smirk and taking one step forward, "An alliance of convenience, you say. That sounds good, yet foreboding."

She followed him, watching the hovering piece of transportation resting just beside the cliff. Would it really do what this man said it would? For her to reach the other worlds would be good enough, and even if he did turn against her, what could a mere mortal do? The time to travel the realms would give her enough time to recuperate, that she is sure and then what. Where should she start her journey?

That, she decided, she would let Gabranth decide.

"Where do you plan to head to, then, Judge Gabranth?" She purred, now close enough to touch the ship. The metal felt cool to touch, as pliant as its owner and that's not saying much. She wondered how long would it take for Gabranth to crack, and what would it be like to see him crack? She licked her lips at the delicious thought but put it aside, priorities come first, don't they?

"By all means, let us leave this place. I had enough of it to last a lifetime...for now." She replied at his last words, stepping aside to see how the contraption would work and how it would accommodate them both. Once more she is taking a gamble, but it's not like it's the first time. The man looked sturdy enough to act as a crutch but like all crutches, he is destined to break, it is just a matter of question of how long he could stand.

She put destroying his precious Empire on her list.

[gabranth]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,460,true][atrb=style, background: url(http://i56.tinypic.com/312d3ig.png); padding: 5px; text-align: justify; color: #202020;] A peel of laughter escaped her throat, a rather unattractive and callous one, but the Judge Magister remained unfazed. Glancing back at her, with his back to her, he stared at her with the cold, lifeless stare from under the Judge's helm. It formed into a menacing smirk, upon those cold lifeless-looking lips, and she looked like she was holding something back. Most likely another cutting remark to attempt to faze the dark knight, but even if it did, he would restain himself with the calmest of demeanor to hold himself back from ending her life... yet. It would be most satisfying to see if she could laugh and smile that amusement of hers if her elegant, swan like neck was severed and decapitated her head from her body. But not just yet. She could prove to be a valuable ally, or asset at the very least if she intended to betray him for her own agenda at some point. He made no remark to defend her thoughts of the alliance of convenience, as that was no fault of his own she was thinking those thoughts. Instead, he asked him another question. "To the next world beyond this one. This sea of stars is new to me, but very doubtless we will find our enemies very soon, unless you have a set destination in mind." Maybe she knew where her enemies lay within the sea of stars, and killing them to satisfy her lingering doubts of his loyalty may satisfy her. She was willing to be rid of this world, so there lay nothing of value here. Which told him she either lay value in herself, her plans, or both. And this, the Judge Magister could tell she was one to control all those she would see fit beneath her heels, because having talked to her had begun to stir at those hazy memories fogged within his mind. He remembered the cycles, the god Chaos that summoned them, and this woman as he watched from within the void he had both escaped and been cast prisoner into. He remembered she was a sorceress that could control time, but that she also had an enemy, who's names escaped him now but they were mere mortals. Just like himself, and if mere mortals could strike her down, then what was a god to a non-believer such as himself? He would not let her know he lay any value in any particular person in the Empire, nor that she knew where this world was his Empire lay; and even if she did, should he get the slightest hint she would turn against him his plans already lay in place for this mere mortal man to achieved what he desired above all else. Once Ultimecia was on board, conveniently safe for the time being, the Judge Magister's small ship the Pandemonium would zip up and into the deep reaches of space. Gabranth has left and the thread has ended.

[/size][/td][/tr][/table]

tags Ultimecia, open credits rinne

[/center]