Ruka - Second Chance
Seeing Cabal led back into the clearing by Minn, Ruka finishes her decision. She could no longer idly stand by while more people were lost. Rushing out of the cave, she asked Minn to let her talk to Cabal. And grabbing Cabals hand, pulled her a few feet away. A voice from across the clearing called out, Philia stating that there was no time with multiple people missing. With a combination of sorrow but determination in her eyes, Ruka responded. “I know this, all too well.”
A bit shakily, she begins to address stricken half-orc. “Cabal, I’m sorry I didn’t see this earlier. But now I see who you really are. You do have strength, a strength that the coven is after. But it is also one that can be used against them.” Her voice firms as determination shone through. “Do you want to fight? Do you want to save those around you?”
For the first time since they had left Red Lake, Cabals face lifted, and looked straight at Ruka with tear brimmed eyes full of frustration. “Yes! That’s what this was all supposed to be about!”
“Then let us fight. Trust me in this.” A glow begins to form around Ruka as she began to weave the forces of the planes. A flicker of doubt formed in Cabals eyes as she replied. “What will happen?” Ruka only shook her head. “There is no time to explain.”
As the spell began to take effect, Ruka could feel her and Cabals mental wavelengths being forced into sync. This was not the smooth sync that the proper bonding allowed. No, this was more… Brutal, forceful. It would get the job done for a short period of time, but the repercussions of something so unnatural were unknowable. But with the stakes at hand, Ruka didn’t care. And from what she could read of Cabal, neither did the part Valasar.
The effect reached the point where direct mind to mind communication was possible. And try as she might, Ruka was unable to keep the flood of emotions bottled up inside her. Her failures, her weaknesses. The Meister Weapon bond was one of great potential, great power; but, it was one that left one vulnerable as well. The one on the other side of the bond could see and feel -- everything.
Broadcast over this connection, Cabal felt great sorrow and loss, followed closely by fear of even more loss. But even in that midst, there was something else. Resolution. A will that that was regaining its fire. The strong desire to not lose another, especially not to those who have been hounding them for what felt like ages gone by now.
As the link stabilized, Ruka realized that it was time, she could not and should not hide the details of what happened at Cabals home from her any longer. Images began to scroll through Cabals mind, each staying just long enough for its content to be understood.
- A view of the wall over the gate at Red Lake. The tip of a scythe is seen in the first person view. Across the way proudly and strongly stands the leader of the tribe, Karguk.
- The next shows the beginning of the duel, the Orc taking his stance, and furred hands nearby, also standing ready. Thoughts overlayed the vision: "It was an honorable fight. Each accepting the risk, ready to fight for what was important, and to accept the outcome, whatever would come."
- Several more images flash by, as blades clash. "All I wanted was to provide the nudge needed to see your people free, to not be trodden under by those using you. But..."
- Three more images go by in quick succession, the scythe shimmering into the form of a man. And being shorn in two. "But I couldn't even protect my own partner. He... died to protect me from my own stupid mistake."
- A couple more images show consciousness fading to black.
- "I don't know what happened after that. When I woke up, we were all fleeing in panic. I'm sorry... so sorry, this was never what I wanted to happen." A pause for a couple seconds. "But I can't stand by and let more be lost. I want to fight to protect those important to me. And... hopefully one day, protect all the people of this land."
Cabals surprise was palatable. This entire time, she had thought the vixen on the wall had killed the leader of the tribe, her father. And why shouldn’t she? All she had seen before she had been led away was the beastly visage of a shinigami sent to murder her family.
- "It was you, on the wall. You were the demon creature, but... you didn’t kill him. He, how did he die? He defeated you, so why is he dead and you’re-"
The overwhelming sense of pain, sorrow, grief, and more sharp than the others, fear, washed over Ruka. So strong was the feeling of fear of the unknown, uncertainty of the future, it pained her own heart as well. But, another emotion was forcing its way up through the rest, one more dangerous than any of the others. Through this, images of Cabals own filtered back through the link.
- A gatehouse, its roof on the wall at Red Lake. Her father ordering the shaman to get the whelp to safety, before turning back to his challenger. As she was carried away through the air, the gate house grows smaller and smaller.
- "Why did you have to go? Who took you from me? Give him back!"
Rukas heart almost broke at that, and it was all she could do to hold back the answer. For she knew, for a certainty, the truth to that question. No, she had not seen it, that was no lie, but she knew. Her companions had finished the job. In a much more final way than she had ever intended to. But she did not have to try hard to hide these thoughts. Cabals anger at the unfairness of the world had built to a point where she saw little else. No, this was not anger. This was even darker and more ominous. An unadulterated blind rage broke through and threatened to overwhelm Rukas consciousness.
In a blinding flash that could be seen for miles around, a cylinder of brilliant yellow tinted light shot from the clearing into the sky above, trails of pure energy arcing out and around the pillar. As eyes adjusted to being able to see again, those around saw a no longer cowering figure floating in the air. Held to the sky above her head, a large shining blade crackled with power. And iridescent golden eyes turned to the sky, following the path of the spirit leading to his master.
