I WILL TAKE HIS PLACE!

Using her sheathed blade, she parted the crowd of nameless and meaningless mages of the guild. These few people were new to the ranks, and as far as the others figured, they were fodder. They were novices at best and held maybe a spell or two under their belt. They were all pawns in her scheme of things.

She had heard the commotion from the upper floor. She had been conversing with Shura, and it seemed as if he was taking a loss to himself. Whatever set him off balance was something Chi would have to stand in to fill for the time being.

"I won't say it again, MOVE!" She would take her sword and slap the broad end of it against a mage's face, meeting the man face to face. Her eyes would lock with his.

"Clear the quarters." she said, but it was not to the visitor, it was to the natives of the guild. They would mumble under their breath, only to leave the room obediently. Chi was far from being a guild leader, but that didn't stop people from listening to her. She had an aura that was odd compared to others.

She would lift her blade and rest it on her shoulder, tilting her head at the man. "Now, that was a waste." she would tell him, "You could be useful to me at least if you still had the crest, but no matter." She smiled, but she remained her distance from the man. A good half dozen meters from him, just enough to speak to a mysterious visitor.

"We'll get to formalities later. Why are you here and what makes you think we'll take you in anyways?" She would return to her erect posture, standing straight, "Give me a reason to even consider your request."

She stood fearless, and it was for the fire that burned in her heart. With him so close and within her reach, he felt undestructable .  

I WILL TAKE HIS PLACE!

She gave a light laugh. It was all she could really do. She was in position to baby sit mages upon their growth. If a man would come here and sear his flesh as an act of devotion than so be it. It wasn't her place to deny him the opportunity.

Phantom Lord was going to enter a new era. With two bloodlines intertwined, a new network of mages and power would soon rise to the top. Seeing as this man was so quick to throw away his past life, she had little to no interest in his motives. If he wished to use the hall to his benefit, then the name sake of his conquests would be enough to benefit the collective as a whole. Besides, Chi Lau had other matters to focus her attention on.

"I wish I was still as naive as you are now." she spoke without realizing what she had really said. "Well, that's good enough reason for me. The name is Chisu." With her name she'd give a smile, only to give a half turn after. "If you need anything, you best give me your real name so I can add you appropriately to the roster for the man upstairs."

There was always someone stronger than you. There was always someone who knew your weaknesses. You could never be the top of the world. Someone was always just a shade better than you were. It was how life was.

This man had over looked those little facts. But still, Chisu didn't care. It wasn't her business. She was in the game of quantity. Shura would be the one to judge quality.

I WILL TAKE HIS PLACE!

She gave out a sight giggle. It was fair, his reasoning that is. Everyone had their reason.

"If you don't trust me, then you can't expect anyone here to trust you." He seemed to follow her, as if she was supposed to give a tour. Perhaps he wanted more than just her words. Maybe it seemed too simple for him.

She would slowly make her way into the guild hall, wondering what to do with the man. She was not going to hold his hand and show him the place. Perhaps she should tell him that.

"You might as well explore the halls then. Chances are, if the doors locked, you shouldn't be opening it." And with that, she would turn and begin to walk down the hall. If he had more to say, then perhaps he would say it. If he had anything to request, then he would. She had to inform Shura of the man.

But would it be smart to even bring the man to him?

Maybe. Perhaps she would meet with him quickly, and should he be ready, he would take the man in conversation to find his true motives and needs for the guild.

After all, there was no point in turning him away now. The only question was if they were supposed to keep an eye on him.

I WILL TAKE HIS PLACE!

He was an impatient one. He would amuse her later, surely.

"I asked for a name. With no surname, I an only assume you failed to listen to what was said. Besides, I was going to get him for you, but if you're this impatient perhaps I will get him tomorrow." Chisu was much too tired to deal with a man of these sorts. If he couldn't wait a moment for a short exchange to fetch a man of real stature, then perhaps he was a waste of time.

There was no telling what guild he came from, but with the reactions of a war, rather than treason from the mages, she would assume that of a legal guild. Perhaps a Lamia Scale Mercenary seeking larger risk missions. She heard stories of things like that before, perhaps this man was no different.

But to be met with hostility would only lead to failure to cooperate. He was becoming a liability, and thus was a waste of her time. She was better off sleeping in than to deal with this. Perhaps she was better off letting him terrorize the others than to even consider trying to get him branded.

All in a days work.

I WILL TAKE HIS PLACE!

She had no right to talk to this newcomer the way she did. But with a heritage full of betrayals and her family massacred based on false promises, she was left with a rather bitchy attitude that came out without much effort.

She wanted to get Shura, not for his authority, but for the fact that she was new herself. She didn't feel as if she could welcome anyone properly. She wanted to do it correctly, and if anything failed, it would be on other, not her own head. That would be far too much responsibility.

As the second man would appear, Chi would smile at the mention of names. "If I had known she knew her, then I would have taken him without issue."

That much was true. She knew only of Bianca and Shura. Any other face was new to her, but she would trust her instincts for now. She would feel the man was ruthless and reckless, something she would steer clear from. She had no need to get caught up in chaos. That was more Shura's speed, and thus the reason she sought him.

"I'll be upstairs if you need me then." She'd walk away with a smile, amused by it. It always helped now and then to drop a name. If this man was friends with an existing member, then it made her life easier. Less for her to worry about. It was only her concern to meet the members of the guild. It seemed as if everyone only knew a few others.

They needed to come together.

B-Ranks.

Chisu held onto that bit of information. She was lower than them, as she already figured. But her power was brimming. But it wouldn't matter if she was ranks above. She was a supporter mage. She was focused on keeping everyone alive, rather than killing others.

But then as the conversation went on, she wondered what the proper process was. As they would turn to go down the hall, she would detour and follow not too far behind. She would hold her breath, peeking into the room. The day Shura gave her her own mark, she was tipsy and kept the memory in a haze. She reached up and felt the lower end of her neck, grazing the top of her own branding. Rather than a simple mark, she had it burned into her back with steel and fire. It was permanent, and it was as she requested.

"Last I heard, a guy named Shura was suppose to lead." She heard the words and immediately turned the other direction. She would make her way far from them, her footsteps heard, but nothing loud. She knew this guild had issues. That was going to be its downfall.

No one knew each other.

As far as they all knew, they were all the sole member of the guild.

She would open the door only to stand in the doorway. She would begin to let out a soft laugh as she leaned on the frame. She was growing to enjoy this guild.

"You're an unofficial guild master of a guild that doesn't even know who their allies are." She smiled a sinister grin. "So that's why you wanted to make a roster." She begun to laugh. He wanted her to take in account all of the faces and names. That would serve them both for the best. As one collected his own thoughts, the other would collect the rest.

"Then perhaps we should call a meeting,"

[/end?]

I WILL TAKE HIS PLACE!

"Miah, it was all he gave me."  she said, "Seemed a bit chaotic, arrogant, whichever. Take your pick. More your recklessness than my type. I was going to introduce him to you, but he got annoying and eventually this other man came to brand him." She said that word brand. She was probably the only one with the symbol burned into her flesh. She was not one to go with a simple stamping. She wanted Shura to seer her skin with his own flame. Something that would both symbolize her devotion to him, as well as something bigger.

"Came up here as soon as he brought up your name. I don't even think anyone really knows you exist." She would sigh with his following words. "I'll get us some food later. Probably from that cafe again."

She would take a step into the room, paying no mind to the man outside. If anyone was in the guildhall that shouldn't be, they should be taken care of.

"Les isn't that stupid." she would say, "Isn't that the point of having her join the knights? her job is to keep an eye out for us. Besides, I have my way of doing it, you have your way. Plus no one has gotten consumed without a full check. Anyone without the sign has been taken care of. No one with ours has even been touched,"

She would lean backwards to look down both ends of the hall. Just in case.

"You swear my family kills randomly. We work the same way the guild does, though instead of a brand, we have blood."

I WILL TAKE HIS PLACE!

"Another is on her way to the Temple." Chi would answer him with no hesitation. She had nothing to hide from him. Though the sound of the air moving was enough to unsettle her for a bit. She would twist her neck to spot a familiar face, only to smile at the sight of him. Perhaps she was wrong about him. Maybe he had some uses.

"Her magic is impure, just like Shrine maiden." Immediately the names were removed from the conversation, and replaced. Chi was stupid, but she wasn't foolish. "And like most people here, she strives for power."

She would listen to the second part of his words, only to reply with a nod and more brief silence. If the man wanted to speak, now would be the time. If not, she would continue. There was nothing to hide for the-

"I want to see you split a body open." she laughed. Her own figure creeped in the shadows of the room for two. Her eyes would stare into the space that Geno would remain and the both of them would smile at the thought of the old world. Nameless was just a spirit that lived in a relic. Geno lived in the mind of the man. But together, they became the team that Chisu and Shura wish they would attain.

"I'll see to is that they'll be ready for the first stop. Don't be surprised if I leave for a week." She would give a short chuckle. " . . . Maybe by then I'll have more names for you, Mr. Guildmaster."