Colin's posts

"What do I want? I want my throne back. I want my reign of the underworld back." he replied.

'See... what those foolish dragons failed to realize, is that I am necessary in this world." he told Eke. "I am an entity opposite to what one might call 'God'." he went on.

"2 sides to the same coin. One cannot exist without the other." he continued.

"Now, don't get me wrong, if I had died in that shattering, then a new demon lord would have been born... but such an act would throw the afterlife realms into utter chaos, which would spill over into THIS world." he then explained further.

"So... in the end, I wish for my rebirth to be complete."

"They don't talk about it any longer, because most of those that were alive at the time are dead now." he responded.

"Either they died during the war, or died of old age." he went on.

"Regardless, the demon lord was defeated, and sealed away." he said. "He was sealed in the only thing that could contain him... a large gem of glazite." he told him further.

"Glazite was strong enough to contain the demon lord, but it was also very fragile. If it were to break, the demon lord's spirit would be shattered as well, and die in each shard of the gem." he continued. "The gem was buried deep within the earth, in the hopes it would never be found, and if it had been found, then the chances of the gem shattering were high." he continued.

"Why didn't they just break the gem immediately? Because they wanted the demon lord to contemplate his loss and stew in humility and embarrassment for as long as possible, until the gem was found and broken." he then explained.

"...however, when then gem was broken, it seemed that fate was working in its own weird way, and the demon lord was given another chance." he then said, knowing Eke could guess what he was talking about.

Ryker nodded and lowered his head. After a second, he was surrounded by the black aura... but it died down immediately, and when he looked back up, his eyes appeared normal... except wherever there was white, there was red.

"Hello again, young dragon." he greeted Eke.

"It seems you wish to know and understand the shared destiny that Ryker and I have." he said.

"Tell me..." he went on, trailing off a little.

"Do you know about the Grand War, which led to the Great Sealing?" he asked. What he referred to happened a very long time ago, and it referred to a supposed war that dragons fought against demons, and ended up with the demon lord being sealing away.

"Welcome back." Ash responded.

"How was it?" he asked.

"Was it quick and relatively smooth?" he asked her.

"There anything you noticed that seemed to be... off?" he asked further. "Such as appearing in a different place than you visioned, or a lingering feeling of a stomachache, or any sort of unease inside your body?" he continued.

"I ask these, because we need to know if it's functioning properly, obviously."

Ryker sighed.

"Well, I don't want to add to that stress on you and your ICD." he said.

"But I need to ask... are you okay with speaking to the 'other me'?" he asked.

"Because that's what this will entail. It needs to be him, because he can explain it far better than I can." he reasoned, before pausing for a moment.

"And he promises to be respectful and reign in his attitude." he then added.

Ash just chuckled.

"Yup." he replied.

"All you need to do is hold it in your hand, visualize the place you want to appear, and it'll do it." he told her.

"Eventually you'll be able to get greater control over it so you don't need to grasp it for as long, or don't need to concentrate for long, or however you figure it out." he then said.

"You'll learn to streamline it to your needs." he summarized.

"Give it a shot if you like, before we end this little session." he then suggested. "Just to make sure it's working properly.

"Very well." Ash replied, as there was a knock on the door.

"That was quick." he commented. "Enter!" he called to them.

The door then opened, and a young man came in, holding a small box in his hand.

"Faster than I expected." Ash said to them.

"Well, it's a slow day, and it was quick enough to create." the male replied. "Plus, when they're needed, it's usually a good idea to make it a rush order." he reasoned.

"Fair enough." Ash replied, as he gestured to Abby. The male then gave her the box, before excusing himself and leaving.

"Compliments of the guild." Ash told her.

Inside the box was a silver pendant, with a gorgeous topaz in the centre of it, that seemed to shine quite brilliantly.

Once they finished their handshake, Ash sat back and sighed.

"Indeed." he replied.

"Well... missing... kidnapped... whatever." he said.

"Spent a good part of my childhood under the rule and experimentation of a drow." he growled.

"But... I escaped and became the man I am today." he added with a small shrug.

"Anyway, enough about me... you have any questions?" he asked her.

"Even if they are about me. Or the guild. Or anything about what we offer or whatever?" he asked further.

"......hmmm, I see." Ash responded. He then turned to the laptop and did some more typing at it for a few minutes, finishing up and turning towards her.

"Right then." he said.

"Now that you're hired, it's time for an official and formal introduction on my behalf." he told her.

He then leaned forward, extending a hand out for her.

"Ash Fyrane."

"A few things." AJ responded.

He then gestured to an electronic sign on the wall beside them, with names and numbers beside them, in list format. He tapped in some things, and she saw the list scroll down to the bottom, and the name 'Silver' appear at the VERY bottom, with a "0" beside it.

"Welcome to the rankings." he said.

"Get that number up to earn bonuses." he told her.

"Also, you have no mana, right?" he then asked. "So you're going to need a way to come and go from here as you place, right?" he asked further.

"Tell me... you got an accessory and/or gem you like or prefer?"

Shortly after he had started cooking, Ryker stirred.

"Nngh." he grunted, before yawning loudly.

"Morning already?" he asked.

"Oh, hey, Eke." he greeted the dragon.

"Didn't think you'd be up before me." he chuckled.

"Feeling anxious about today?" he then asked him.

"............." Ryker was silent for a moment, before smiling.

'Heh.' he thought.

'Thanks, Eke. he thought further.

He then yawned, closed his eyes, and started to drift off to sleep.

The look on his face was content and comfortable... happy to be with Eke.

Ryker smiled as Eke fell asleep with his tail wrapped around his leg.

"Heh." he chuckled.

He then yawned, and closed his eyes to go to sleep as well, his hand resting on Eke's shoulder.

"....one quiet night, all right?" he then seemed to ask the air.

"....if he wants to hear it." he seemed to answer.

"If not, it's his choice." he finished.

AJ nodded and handed her some papers.

"Sign where I put the X's." he told her.

When she got to signing, she noticed there was an area where a codename for her had been given. Her 'hunter name', so to speak. She noticed as well, that in the blank, in official lettering, the name 'Silver' was written.

"Ah, noticed the name?" AJ asked.

"Hunter names are assigned a number of ways, but I decided that it would be best to give you one based on your... unique talents." he reasoned. "It's a bit on-the-nose, but I think it suits you." he said.

"That work for you?" he asked.