Cold Memories (Open)

[Zerax]

Zerax looked around. His body had already adjusted to the temperature, but this climate still had him confused. He stopped walking, his eyes scanning the horizon for any landmarks. The only noticeable landmark was what he had noticed previously, the massive city that was encased in the ice he was walking across. He was making progress, as the amount of people frozen below him had changed, but he felt like he was going no where. He stared at the people below him, his eyes not wanting to move away. The way they were frozen, the sudden ending of their existance, how helpless they were. It was all so... familiar. His thoughts returned to his their original path, and he continued to walk forward across the endless icefields. Zerax wished he at least knew were he was going, or had a map. He sighed, knowing that wishing would not make things happen. He continued to trek forward, his feet leaving footprints in the snow.

[Alex]

Revenge. It could eat you up inside. Kill you, if you let it. Fukari had it all; eyesight, humanity, serenity but as time went on in Utopia there was one thing she couldn't fully remove from her mind. One thing that would continue to tear away at her until she finally faced it. Ranko. All the damage she has done to her home, to Jherrazad, it was disgusting. How anyone could follow her was beyond Fukari's understanding of reason. Word has not yet reached the ears of the Blind Assassin that the Crimson Devil of Jherrazad was dead and that a new ruler took her place. Not that it would matter in the grand scheme of things. Someone had to pay for the blood spilled on that land.

Which is why she left Utopia and ventured into the Crystal Expanse to make her way to the desert. Her nose flared up however when she detected someone else nearby her position. Something of great power and even though she couldn't see his mystique she could feel it. Fukari's hand brushed over the hilt of her Katana but she chose not to sheath it, not until she knew for sure the unknown being was a threat and not just one of many other passerbys. Best way to do that was something she didn't like doing much. Communication.

"Lost, stranger?" Fukari asked once she was within earshot of the man.

[Zerax]

Zerax stopped on the spot, the sound of someone else freezing him in place. His head tilted, and he made out another figure. The person stood there in the snow as still as Zerax was standing. She was slightly tensed, but was otherwise not trying to convey she was on guard. Zerax didn't match her gaze, as she did not match his. His head reset to its forward position, and the blank look on his face showed no emotion. The words he spoke matched his face, showing no emotion in them, as he would not want to put her on edge.

"I am lost indeed. I do not know this landscape, and would like to know where humanity is in this world. I would also like to know more about this world, but if you do not have the time, I will be on my way."

This girl striked Zerax as a different version of himself. By the way she stood he could tell that she was one who had a goal in mind and the means to execute that goal. Zerax was the opposite. He was someone without a goal, with no knowledge of his location or the world he was in, and did not really know about the powers or abilities he possessed. He prayed that maybe she would be able to tell him more about this place so he could at least know what he needed to do after he reached humanity. His role in this world was exactly like the path he was walking. Aimless and endless.

[Alex]

"Humanity?"

There was a catch of bitterness in her tone as she uttered the word.

"Let me know when you find it."

She spat. Thinking very little of the people here. Whether it be Isafaro, Jherrazad, Aircano or Moon Valley they were all filled with people that disgusted the half-breed and proved to be no better than the demons and the outsiders most of them despised so much. Hallowton was the lesser of five evils thanks to being more evolved than the other nations.

"The place you're standing now is called the Crystal Expanse. The city below you was once a city named Kari. Behind me is a sector of the expanse melted and now home to Kari's refugees."

[Zerax]

From her tone and the spit which Zerax caught out of the corner of his eye, he could tell she did not think very highly of the people in this world. He had so many questions to ask, but she seemed to already be getting agitated. He turned to face towards her, but his eyes still stared blankly into the distance, like there was something behind her head. He just couldn't bring himself to actually look at her.

"I see. Your views of the inhabitants of this world seem to be very strong. Is that possibly because you have been treated poorly by them in the past? If you have such a strong hatred for these people, why do you journey across this 'Crystal Expanse'? I do not mean to try and pry this information out of you or agitate you in any way, I am just curious."

Zerax's eyes continued to stare as mental images started to form in his head. If the Crystal Expanse was snowing, then the melted bit of it must be a desert, as this much water would simply destroy all life....

Zerax's head pounded as visions rushed into his heads. He gasped for air, all the air in his lungs feeling like it had been pulled out of his chest. Visions of tall buildings formed in his head. It was a massive city, people minding their own business as the city bustled with activity. Suddenly, a black wave swept across the metropolis, the millions of humans being sucked under the wave, their lives being instantly extinguished.

Zerax's mind flipped back to his actual location. In the few seconds that had passed, he had fallen to his knees. He was breathing very heavily, and even though it was so cold, was sweating. The sweat would fall from his face and freeze as soon as it hit the ground, but did not make him feel any colder. He got back up and looked at the girl again. He slowly walked closer to her, stopping a few feet away. He felt a lot happier though, for some reason. While in the vision, it seems as if his mood had flipped from a neutral state to a happier mood.

"May I accompany you on your voyage? If there is anyway I could assist I would be happy to help. I have lost the majority of my memories, and have no idea what I am or where I am from. I figure that if I get to a town, there may be things to jog my memory."

[Alex]

"That's none of your concern..."

Fukari began to walk pass the man, she had an Empress to topple after all, but she came to yet another stop when her hearing detected the sudden gasp for air that the man was taking, signalling that something was wrong. She turned to face the man again using her superior hearing and advanced sense of smell to get a feel of what was going on but by that time he was speaking again, a more happy feel tone of a voice spoke with a request.

"I'm afraid this is a journey I must take alone. There is no luxury cruise where I'm going."

[Zerax]

I see. There is no luxury cruise through any part of life, but I wish you luck on your journey.

Zerax didn't have much to say after that, his mood changed back to how it was when he first started talking. He started to walk in the opposite direction that she was going, as he wanted to learn more about these refugees she had mentioned. He stopped a little bit after walking, however, and titled his head slightly so he could be heard a bit better.

If you need any help, with anything, I'm Zerax. I plan to make that name mean something, so I'm sure you can find me if you need me.

Zerax continued to walk forward, heading towards the melted area she had talked about. He was able to get a bit of information from her, just enough to continue his journey. Hopefully he would meet someone a little bit more open next time, but Zerax had a feeling that this meeting would mean something in due time.

[Alex]

The Blind Assassin's advanced hearing tracked the sound of Zerax's footsteps until they grew softer in the distance and before long even through her superior ears she would not be able to hear the treks of the demigod that has gone in the opposite direction to follow whatever fate had in store for him. Fukari knew not the motives of destiny, she was content with living one moment at a time and concerning herself with her goals at present. Right now the only thing on her mind was Ranko and what she must do once she returned to her old home in Jherrazad. Reaching into her jacket and pulling out a Claymore Mine, the Blind Assassin continued her walk allowing vengeance back into her soul. Never once looking back.

[Aminee Starlight]

((I hope you don't mind my posting here but since you're headed for the Kari's colony and I NPC them I thought I'd help advance this thread some.))

"Halt! Who goes there?" On the place where ice met gray desert (not to be confused with the Jherrazad desert) stood an aged man with shoulder-length gray hair tied up in a ponytail, yellow eyes like that of a feoline and dirty brown custom made clothes made of wool. A scar existed around his left eye as it appeared the aged man has been through hell and back and remained standing long after the fact.

"You will go no further until an answer is given, traveler."