Naryuu lay in the snow, far from the immediate concerns and strategic thoughts that had been consuming him. Here, alone with the silent fall of snowflakes, he allowed himself a moment of pure, unguarded joy. His arms swept through the fresh powder, carving snow angels—a stark contrast to his usual guarded demeanor. The cold, crisp air filled his lungs, reminding him of a simpler time, a time long past.

A genuine smile softened his features as he reminisced about the days when he was just a part of his clan, before the demands of power and survival had transformed him. Back then, his magic was simpler, his constitution less fortified by the dark contracts and fusions that now defined his being. He remembered the laughter and the shouts of his clan members echoing through the icy valleys of Iceberg, their faces alight with the thrill of the hunt and the warmth of kinship.

Lying there, Naryuu's eyes flicked to the gray skies above, a quiet peace settling over him. The memories of those days were like the snow—beautiful but fleeting. Yet, in this brief moment of respite, he felt the weight of his current burdens lift slightly, replaced by the cold touch of snow and a whisper of nostalgia for a time when he was just another member of his clan, not the driven, battle-hardened sorcerer he had become.

Jumping to his feet, Naryuu’s mood shifted instantly from reflective calm to intense focus. He drew his double-bladed sword, its dark sheen catching the dim light that filtered through the heavy clouds above. The sword became an extension of his being as he began a swift, lethal dance, his movements precise and deadly.

In his mind, imaginary foes sprung up around him, each one met with a brutal, decisive slash. His blade sliced through the air with no hesitation, each motion a display of his deadly skill and unwavering resolve. The snow around him churned under the force of his movements, kicked up by the rapid steps and turns of his dance.

As he moved, the space around him transformed; what was once a field of soft, untouched snow became a flattened, smooth arena, marked by the arcs of his relentless practice. His breathing grew heavy, visible in puffs of white that rhythmically burst forth, mixing with the icy air.

Naryuu's face was set, his eyes focused, betraying no emotion other than a fierce determination. Each imagined opponent fell before his blade, proving his readiness and skill, honed by years of training and battle. The flurry of his movements slowed eventually, coming to a stop as he stood amidst the now-patted down snow, his chest heaving, and his sword gleaming coldly in his steady grip.

WC:454

Knuckles Shi stopped in his tracks to see the apparition before him. His curiosity was aroused by what he witnessed as Naryuu's form shifted from a moment of serene joy to a deadly dance, his graceful movements fluid yet calculated. As Naryuu's blade kept cutting through the chilled air, how impressed Knuckles was at seeing the pure skill and determination on his face. One would think that the icy landscape itself had become Naryuu's stage of relentless practice. Every cut was a testament to his unyielding nature. Intrigued by the show of strength, Knuckles felt a surge of respect for this stranger right before his eyes. There could be no doubt that Naryuu was not a passerby in Iceberg; he bore the hallmark of a tried and true warrior, seasoned by both the harsh realities of survival and the burden of memories. As the whirlwind movements ceased, Knuckles approached Naryuu with caution, his adventurous spirit getting inflamed by what he saw. With a respectful nod, he greeted Naryuu, eager to get more information about the secrets cuddled in this frozen kingdom.

Knuckles did not wear his Clown armor this time he was wearing his spare armor and had his helm stored away. His hammers however were hanging at his hips waiting eagerly to be used once more.  A Heavy Black Fur cloak hung over his shoulder to attempt and keep him warm.  

"Greetings, pardon me for interrupting your training but it has been some time since I have seen someone so dedicated to the blade and their craft to train in such environments.  The name is Knuckles "The Clout Chaser" Shi of Paradise Dawn.  "

Knuckles kept his distance and was ready just in case this person was a bloodthirsty murderer, though who was he to judge if they were? He would not mind if they wished to attack him here and now or try to kill him. He had not had a decent fight in some time and this could be a fun person to do just that with. But it was best to see what and who this person was before he pushed for something like that. Still, he could feel his own blood lust grow as if it was that awkward moment where you did not know if you were going to be attacked or if everything would be calm. Meeting one out in the wilderness of the world was not like meeting within the walls of a city. There was nothing keeping anyone from following the laws out here, in fact, the only laws here were the strong lived and the weak died.

The fog thickened when the demon spoke his words, if one hadn’t noticed it already.. The sunlight would slowly die, before the clouds would grow heavy and blanket the trees, and this might have been the first signs of a light shower of snow beginning to fall across the icy woodlands. The few stray leaves picked up, rustling from tree to tree with the wind. In the far field adjacent to the woods where the others were conversating. The black shade of a form would push itself from the cover of the opposite side woods. Like a harbinger of one’s odds, he was moving in a line towards the Void Caverns. But staring forward, from his stationary place he had laid eyes upon a warrior’s training, a sight that took him back to his days as a soldier.

From under his draped hood, the fiend of man pushed his cloaked-form towards the boy, stopping only suddenly to realize that the creature above seemed strikingly similar to someone he knew, and further staring agitated the dark mage, he took with his metallic gauntlets and sliced the thickets and bushes until a narrow path to the other side of the woods. The metal around his fingered gloves crunching and dusting whatever was left on his body.

Here it was.

The prize kill, in which he’d long sought after. One long year in prison later, and the foe was there— like a golden ticket. A demon, winged creature, in the veil and disguise of man in red hair bathed by mythical gear across an even more sickly pale visage and red eyes. Some strange head assortment might or might not have been there, but Erebus lacked the sense to get right up and close enough to inspect, he could instead rely on the sound that he heard with his approach. Knuckles as it was, was preying upon a swordsman that Erebus had not seen in much time, if this were the same warrior under Jikan all those days ago. A collision to which would soon break out— but like a beast, prevailing to stalk. He found himself watching the dance of Naryuu, and the way it drew and distracted Knuckles away from the further corners of the woods upon his approach.

Erebus stayed just out of range and attention as he made his ascent to the others, in the meantime. He donned all of items, and prepared to make his entrance. Perhaps waiting would give Erebus the window to source an execution against his target foe. He had no reason to attack Naryuu, but remained attentive to anything either would do— in the case they had picked up on his whereabouts in the immediate area.

—-

As Naryuu practiced his blade techniques, a sudden shift in his senses caused him to halt mid-slash. His attention snapped to a red-haired man nearby, an unexpected presence that set Naryuu on edge. Slowly, with a deliberate calmness, he sheathed his blade, his movements smooth yet guarded. His gaze fixed on the man, trying to read any hint of intent or familiarity in his stance.

"Training is but a lifestyle," Naryuu responded, his voice steady, though his mind raced to place this new figure within the context of their mission. His mask was off, revealing a more open but still cautious expression. He wasn't in a hurry to cover his face again; the situation demanded a clear view and unimpeded senses.

His eyes briefly swept the surrounding snowy landscape, ensuring there were no other surprises. Though he tried to focus on the conversation, part of his mind remained alert, sensitive to the slightest changes around them,a crunch of snow underfoot, the shift of the wind, anything that might signal further unexpected developments.

As Naryuu's gaze remained locked with the red-haired man, his thoughts churned, trying to uncover the purpose behind this unexpected encounter. Why did this man seem familiar? Had their paths crossed before in a forgotten skirmish or a brief alliance? The lingering sense of recognition nagged at him, yet no clear memory surfaced.

Internally, Naryuu debated the possibilities. Was this man a former ally turned rival, or perhaps a distant observer from past conflicts? The lack of immediate clarity was frustrating, but it sharpened his focus. His strategic mind kicked into higher gear, analyzing not just the man's current demeanor but also potential motives.

"What brings you to this place. What do you know of Sleeping Calamity?" Naryuu might ask outright, his voice calm but carrying a weight of authority. His question would be direct, aimed at cutting through the uncertainty and gauging the man's response for any hint of deception or recognized truth. Every reply, every shift in posture, would be a piece of the puzzle Naryuu was urgently piecing together, all while maintaining a careful balance of openness and wariness

WC:362  TWC:816

Murder flew above and softly came to land on his shoulder as he pet the Raven, one of Lumi's that became found of him.  Knuckles took his eyes off the man now that his weapon was stored and fed the bird seeds from his pouch.  After feeding the birds it flew back off into the air flying above. Knuckles re-adjusted his focus towards the swordsmen. He agreed training is a way of life for a warrior.  

Showing good faith Knuckles moved to put his back onto a new by tree as he lifted his hands halfway up his chest as he moved to show he was no threat, as much as he wished to be he was not.  The man then asked a reasonable question followed by a question that was odd.   "I am with my Guild Master and a guild mate coming to handle business. Out here specifically though, well I just followed the path the gods laid before me.

Now this next answer Knuckles moved his hands back down towards his hammers very slowly and rested them on the handles but not drawing them. "I know all there is to know of it. Though interesting that you ask about a Guild that is not from this part of the world, nor active."  Was he a former member that he never met? It was possible, though as the Ace he had made it a mission to know all parties that he could of the guild. Yet, due to this question, Knuckles began to suspect things were not what they seemed and this could very well be a trap. With that now present in his mind he began to actively search the area with his eyes and ears.

With that in mind, Knuckles did in fact grab both hammers from his waist and drew them. "If they have wronged you allow e to introduce myself, I am Knuckles The Clout Chaser Shi of Paradise Dawn, formerly Ace of Sleeping Calamity.  If you are looking to join their ranks I am sorry to tell you the guild is gone.  If you seek revenge for something done to you or yours by them than I shall be your target for that rage.

Erebus stalked upon the two, taking cover near a turned over tree log. He sat, with only the tops of his hood poking overtop. Ere listened, taking into all the information Naryuu fed forth. So he was the same man from those days, a character who lived to see past Sleeping Calamity and Eternal Nightmare into the next generation. That would place Naryuu’s potential limits anywhere from as high as Jikan’s by this point. Erebus wondered if that meant the red guild was on its rise once more, or if he’d simply wandered into a coincidence.

Holding his location, his form disappeared. Owed to the Nightstalker, Erebus continues to monitor. He wished to see if the two would have out battle, and if they would, what information or success could he mine from such an occurrence. Those were the pitfalls of his enemies, they were always quick to assume Erebus brash and foolish. Never to pay his strategy it’s just respect. Then again, perhaps it was better that way.

He remained about forty meters from their place in the woods. While they were closer to an open view, Erebus was deep in shrubs and branches, if not for his Nightstalker, he would have surely given away a location on his expedition forward.

— — —
-250MP (CD: 2)
Invisible
Effect: The user places one of their hands against their chest and exhales once deeply. The cloak then turns the user completely invisible as long as the spell is being sustained.
MANA: 4500/4750

Naryuu watched as Knuckles interacted with the raven, a sight that almost seemed peaceful compared to the tension hanging between them. As Knuckles fed the bird and leaned back against a tree, it looked like he was trying to show he wasn’t looking for trouble.

When Knuckles started talking about his past with the guilds, especially the now-gone Sleeping Calamity, Naryuu’s attention sharpened. Memories of old battles and fleeting alliances began to surface, especially as Knuckles mentioned the guild. It reminded Naryuu of chaotic times but also of camaraderie.

As Knuckles held onto his hammers, ready for anything, Naryuu eased up a bit too. He understood the need to be prepared, seeing Knuckles’ actions as defensive rather than aggressive. The talk of revenge and the dissolution of the guild added more to their conversation, pushing Naryuu to shift his approach.

Letting a slight smile show, a rare break from his usual stoic look, Naryuu let his hand fall away from his weapon. He decided to cut through the tension by bringing up some shared history, hoping to lighten the mood or at least find out where they stood.

"Remember the times with Jikan, taking on those giants?  Feels like a whole other life, doesn’t it?” Naryuu's tone mixed nostalgia with a bit of a snarky edge, trying to remind them of better times and maybe bridge the gap with a bit of humor. It had seemed his hunch was right. Not all of the past had been lost to him.

WC:255 TWC:1,071

Reading the body language of the man before him Knuckles lowered his hands removing them from his hammers in full. He performed an active sweep with his eyes and ears and even looked up to Murder, his raven to see if there were any signs of other. Getting nothing Knuckles looked back towards the man.
"I am afraid I do not recall the time in which you speak though it does sound like something she would have done. I miss her dearly. I guess you were a member I had not yet met before the guild dissolved?" Knuckles trying to put the puzzle before him together. If the name of the guild was not being asked out of revenge, it must have been out of seeking brothers in arms. If this was the case Knuckles was glad to meet a fellow member of it. "I thought of bringing it back, the guild I mean. Though I never seem to have found people who would be up to be apart of a guild ready to do whatever it took to get better, or who just love to fight."

Knuckles watched the man closely to see how he would react to this bit of information. It was standard to give a bit of information, it at least seemed as if they man was trying to make common ground so Knuckles met his actions with his own words to help build that bridge.