He slowly came to a halt near a cottage. His lips were still curved in a smile as he remembered the night. It had been interesting, challenging and worth the game. Right now he need to worry about other things. He stepped down from the large black stallion and removed some of the dirt from his face, he stepped down and heard the faint sound of mud, he cursed lightly but remained passive for now, listening. When he deemed the area clear he turned to the stallion and got the grooming kit out. 15 minutes later the stallion was cleaned and groomed, and he was even more dirty from the workout. He rubbed his forehead and smeared out more dirt over his face he smirked and then walked over to a bucket filled with rain water. He splashed his face and cleaned himself before he grabbed a snack. Once all of this was done he got the blanket out of his bedroll and made his way towards the deserted main room of the cottage. here he curled up in a well deserved sleep.

Three nights later he was crouched low in the forest as he watched the large army of the warlord move once more. He slowly shook his head as he observed. how easy it would be to walk in and show them they were facing more then peasants. yet he knew now wasn't the time yet, soon his brothers would join this crusade and they would stop the upcoming war machine. and he would be fighting a slow and tender guerilla war. the one war he enjoyed, but more so he enjoyed the full scale thrill of a large scale battle, the one where he could here the cries and screams of the death, face the mighty enemies... At that moment behind him a branch snapped and in that instant the young exalted turned the black Orichalcum sword appeared in his hand. The anima wich was hidden inside him flared up. The panther demanding the respect from the ones who dared to challenge him. With his feet stepping forward the large blade came crashing down in a low sweeping arc. The swiftness of his reaction caught the ambushers and the first one who was targetted never saw the blade coming down. The man was cut down and in the next seconds the exalted was dancing between the ambushers. dodging the blows against him, taking hits when he was to open. but in less then 5 minutes the group lay dead around him. he himself was wounded as well, the cut over his cheek, arms proved he could be reckless, but also capable of delivering retribution. He simply nodded and then moved away from the scene sword still in his hands...

Once he arrived back at the small encampment he had made he sat down and closed his eyes. The panther flared up once more as he started to meditate. this was a bold move to make, for if he was found know he would be in dire need of aid but he didn't seem to mind. it was as if he was confident of his worth and the defiance showed in his relaxed thoughts. and those thoughts trailed of to 1 person...

He had been sitting in trance in that small cave for more then 7 hours. The sound of patrols moving past him were unheard to him. Even if he had heard them he would have ignored them, knowing a wise man should fight on his terms. And thus once he was healed again he stood up, slowly to make sure his muscles didn't hurt to much. He then looked outside towards the area around him and his lips curved in a slight twitch as he saw the way it was now... It rained, and he hated rain it would show his markings way to easy. Yet if he didn't move they would find him as well. The choice was hard and long to make, but before he decided to make it he moved back into the cave, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness.

Once he saw the faint outlines of the cave he smiled for a brief second, nodding and mumbelling something about the Wyld to himself. He grimaced lightly and then ventured deeper into the cave. beneath the boots the sound of twigs breaking were heard. His ears picked up the faint scurrying of rats moving away from him. He chuckled and stopped as he came before a crossing. He could go either left or right, he still hadn't gotten a clue to what purpose this cave was. so in his omnipotent wisdom he decided to turn left. He could always come back and see where right went to, and his mood was such that he would do that anyway....

Once he turned towards left he picked up the faint smell of death and decay. he frowned lightly and then carefully made his way deeper into the cavern. He also noticed that now the sound of the rats were gone, they seemed to be afraid to enter this section of the cave. He turned around and frowned, should he go back and explore the right part first? it could be safer... but was it really saver?? Meanwhile in the darkness behind him 2 eyes were seen glowing up, the feint glimmer of white in the darkness was seen. But as Drach turned around the eyes were gone as if to lure him to continue his path deeper into the cavern. And like the brave warrior he was he made up his mind and moved deeper into the cavern, the smell of death and decay growing stronger and stronger...

Behind him in the darkness the scurry of feets were heard, not a few but they seemed to multiply, growing towards a stampede. And the young Exalted had faced many things but well a stampede of rats wasn't something he wished to see. So he moved against the wall and made a slow prayer that he would be okay, and that the rats or what ever it was would move past him. As he stood there the "Stampede" came across him. now that he could see it up close and personal he noted the fact that it wasn't a stampede. it was a simple being, with a multitude of legs. and those legs carried the beast, no more let it thunder deeper into the darkness and the cavern. As the beast was gone he let out a deep sigh, glad he didn't have to face the rats. He then let out a soft chuckle at his foolishness before stepping away and deeper into the cavern. Behind him on the place he had been standing the 2 eyes appeared once more, and a glimmering row of teeth appeared beneath them, and from the darkness the words flowed around the being, soft and with a twist.

Yessss, do walk further...
Do walk into my lair my pet... yessss!

Drach didn't hear the voice, and even if he would he would have dismissed it. claiming it was an illusion, his arrogance, or ignorance as one could claim it seemed amusing now. but many proud man had been killed because they never saw the large sign saying Danger!!. the slow steps of Drach guided him deeper and deeper into the cavern, until he arrived in a dimly lit area. He stepped into it and then he gagged. the sight of what he was seeing here was revolting. It was the only word he could describe, it was disgusting. He turned and wanted to leave, flee back into the safety of the darkness but as he turned around he found himself standing in the midst of field of skulls, he stood in it knee deep. Blood seemed to flow down the skulls as he looked at them, he could see the crucifixes standing on hills where people were being flayed to death, there skulls tossed with the rest. One skull came flying straight at him and in a reflexh he caught the blood red skull. As he looked down into it the eyes looked up at him, they were questioning him. and now he started to hear voices as well.

Why...

Save us...

Savior....

Chosen one...

He heard it all and he tried to block them out, failing...

He let out a scream of anguish as the voices continued to make there demands known. He slowly started to move thru the large pile of skulls, towards the hill, determined to end it. Yet as he moved closer and closer it seemed that the hill was still as far away as he when he started. The young Exalted frowned darkly as he noticed it, it seemed someone has just made him his new pet project and he didn't like it at all. And thus he called upon his power of the exalted and then he gasped even louder. He could see the Anima for around him, it turned out to be a Panther first but then it changed, into an abomination. He could feel the surge of power flowing thru him but it tasted different, tainted. He gagged and gave up as the vile taint flowed thru his body. and with a final sigh he closed off the link, shivering in fear. What was going on he wondered. He knew that this wasn't right, nobody had the power to temper with his essence, or were there people who had that ability?? He let his mind roam over the possibilities and then let out a soft curse, there were beings who were capable of it... They were Demons. the ones his kind could summon and bind, but if that failed it would rampage around the world, terrorizing the local neighbourhood. And he knew then that it was a demon he was facing. And from behind him the words rolled out of the darkness once more.

Yesss, my pet...
I am a demon, now show your new master what you offer him...

He quickly spun around on the ball of his heels as he faced the demon in front of him.

You... You are nothing more then a demon, summoned from another realm... you are no threat to me...

And without even thinking he called upon his essence, the sickening feeling corrupting him instantly. his nostrils flared in defiance as he tasted the vile presence in his body, fighting back the urge to call it off. But he needed it, needed it to survive. Altough his words were brave he knew that the being before him was powerful, it could kill him instantly if it wanted. But he wouldn't go out without a fight. He was a Dawn exalted, a proud fighter, created to topple kingdoms. And if needed kill a demon who dared to threaten his existence. Altough the presence of his corrupted essence was sickening him he called upon his sword, black as the night, it came to him. But when he recieved it it wasn't his blade. His sword was corrupted as well and the mere presence of it was more worth the trouble then he could imagine. He wanted to drop the sword and run... run as far and fast as he could... but then that challenging voice sounded once more.

Yesssss....

Runnnn...

I will find you...

your soul is mine!!

That voice let him snap back to reality. he stepped closer to the demon, his eyes flaring with anger, his nostrils wide open as if to sniff in more of the demonic scent. yet in reality he did it to make sure that he could harvest the full effects of what was going on in his surroundings.. his breath quick as he the taint poured deeper into his soul, trying to corrupt him. Yet he still was fighting it, not willing to give in, his sanity still keeping him in check as the inner battle continued. If one would look inside they would find a small isle in his mind where the last fortress of his sanity battled the corruption. and on top of that fortress a single banner flew, and it carried the ancient dragon symbol of Jaeden. He knew he was holding on to a straw and he had to use the advantage to shake off the corruption, and the only way to do that was to go in offensive. And with that final thought his body reacted violently as the corruption grew stronger due to his call for essence, the one thing that was to corrupt him. The demonic Anima hissed in defiance and then he stepped forward, letting his sword move down in an arc towards the demon, hissing one word

Jaeden...

The demon let out laughter as he saw the sword moving down to him. the young exalted would be his soon... after this defeat was over Jaeden would lose a price, and she would be right... but what if him carring for her proved his strength then the demon would be in trouble. The demon let out a shriek of pain as the blade bited deep in shoulder, dark fluids poured out of the wound. His left hand moved up and with a mighty sweep he back handed Drach. The young exalted crashed into a pile of skulls and slowly got up, his face seemed demonic already as he hissed in defiance to the demon, the corruption slowly spreading. The demon pulled on the blade to get it out of the wound, it hurted him. Then as he was holding the blade Drach called it back to him and with another cry he charged back to the demon. The demon was still startled by the vanishing sword, he had heard about it and never saw it happen yet now when he couldn't need it he ran into someone who could call his blade. He let out a growl of hatred as well, feeling that the exalted was fighting the corruption with all he had inside of him. Then he took the whip he carried on his belt and with a mighty swing he unleashed the power of the whip. The movement was enough to remove the head of anyone else but the reflexes of Drach saved him. He brought his sword up in the nick of time, letting the tip of the whip touch his skin, the tiny claws digging into his flesh and with laughter the demon pulled his whip back, exposing and ripping apart a part of his cheek, yet he made no sound as he picked up the pace once more for another attack.

He stepped closer and closer, it seemed he was flying almost as he closed the gape between him and the demon. his sword raised up high above his head. And once more his anima glowered brightly, the corruption growing stronger as it eat at his last bastion of faith. With a mighty roar the blade came down at the demon, who in his foolishness had chosen for long range instead of getting ready to face a furious and near demonic exalted. His blade came crashing down on the same wound once more, this time he pulled the blade out and let it swoop with renewed fury back towards the wound. This last stroke severed the demon's arm from his shoulder. A cry of pain and terror rumbled thru the cavern. yet as the 2 of them were locked in battle once more, hits flying over and back the arm was twitching and it seemed to deny the law of nature. If one would pay attention they would see that the arm started to create something. The air around the combatants was filled with tiny droplets of red mist, as the mist moved towards the arm it seemed to grow and within seconds there was another demon. It was the same as the one Drach was fighting now, and the mist of blood clinged to the first demon, creating a new arm as well. Drach blinked as he saw what happened. he gasped for breath as he was running low on his strength. As he stepped back the whooshing sound of a whip closed in on him and hit him on the back, stripping him from flesh. He turned and winced in pain and then a cry of terror escaped his lips as he saw the other one as well. This was something he didn't bargain for, facing 2 demons who were growing like weed from here. Who ever had summoned the first demon had fucked up, majorly....

He let out a soft curse as he felt his resistance failing from utter defeat. Yet he couldn't give up, not now nor ever. He once more called upon his heritage knowing this was his final stand as the corruption flooded over him. If inside his head the fortress was gone now, only the banner was there and a single soldier was holding back the charging waves of corruption. And with a defying cry he charged towards the first demon. The other demon let his whip move and continued to flay him, flesh ripped from his back, bones showing. yet he continued to charge, defying every law combat in his final stand. He would never succumb to the darkness nor it's demonic servants. With a mighty leap he took a jump. his eyes blazing with the final rush of live, the final combat joy reached. His goal in live would be never full filled, he would never see his brothers triumph over the Dragon-blooded but that didn't seem to bother him anymore as the battle raged inside of him. The wicked sword came crushing down the first demon's skull who looked surprised at the feats the exalted was pulling. he had thought him defeated before the fight would start. But here he was fighting for all he was worth. The kid truly was someone special... Those were the last thoughts of the demon as his head rolled from his neck, rolling into the pile of skulls. Yet Drach didn't wait to see what happened. As he landed on the chest of the still not knowing it was dead demon he leaped away once more...

As he landed on his feet the other demon looked stunned for a second, more it didn't do for it knew that the young exalted would be facing it's doom soon. And that was true, behind Drach the head and body were collecting that red mist once more, slowly reforming itself and in another demon. so instead of killing it he had created more enemies. It was a shame he had no knowledge of demons or else he would have taken other steps and fought differently but such wasn't the case. And Drach continued the upcoming charge, confident he had killed the other demon. With a loud cry he dashed forward, ignoring the stings of the whip as it continued to hit him, most of the hits he knew to dodge or defect. but those that hit him took away his skin. the loss of blood wasn't good for him either as it ate away his fighting prowess. Then when he was within 10 feet of the demon he let the essence wash over him and the final battle continued inside as he leaped up and came crashing down into the demon, his sword slashing furiosly into the demon, his rage knowing no boundaries know as it cut in deep....

His sword hacked and slashed into the demon with rage and fire wich burned in his soul. It was passion, love and the lust for live that was now shown in his combat his last moments of battle. His eyes, once bright with the joy of live were now dark black as the corruption was winning. Inside he knew it as well, he knew he had lost, yet he would go down fighting, like a true exalted.

Meanwhile he was in reality still in trance, his body was being consumed by a poison wich had been carried by the patrol he had ambushed and killed earlier that day. the poison was potent and it showed on his body, altough the battle wich was fought was in his mind it seemed to have taken effect on his body as well. The healing in wich he had dipped himself was the only thing that stopped his body from giving up already. the markings of the whip were on his face, neck, chest, arms and his back. He was sitting in a puddle of blood as it dripped from him. Yet still he fought on, refussing to lose to a poison. his will was strong and determined...

Meanwhile the battle in his mind continued, he was now facing 4 demons. his anima was now a large demonic beast, raging because it wished to be released, fighting Drach as he still held on to that final straw. that final straw of life, refussing and not willing to accept his faith. Slowly he made his way over to the 4 demons, his sword raised once more, yet his actions lacked the power and passion he used to have when he entered the battle. It seemed the battle was now fought and the winners would gloat over his rotting corpse. As the 4 looked at him like the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse they also showed admiration in there eyes as Drach walked up to them. With his last will and strength he raised his sword, ready to strike for the final time. But what the 4 didn't know was that he would never give in to them, he would rather take his own live then let himself be controlled by the dark warlords...

In the real world he had unbeknown to him called upon his blade and held it in his hand. he had placed the tip of his sword against his chest, aimed at his heart. Still he refused to let go, refussing to give up his life. He doubted, if he died then who would be Jaeden's champion? Such was how his mind was going now, refussing to let go of the past and the future, refussing to know defeat...

Jehserea had just entered the sanctuary as she felt the thread rising towards Drach, and in an instant she reacted, placing herself next to him she grabbed his sword and drew her 2 katana's looking ready for battle, and ready to defend the one from whom she took the sword.

When she took the large Orichalcum made blade from his hands it would vanish once more and the young Exalted's eyes would spring open as he gasped for air. Around him there was nothing that had been threatening, altough the rain could be classified as a threat. His lungs pumped up and down with each inhale for air. He then looked up at the one in front of him. Those Katana's weren't the nicest things and the worst part is he had been just been abused mentally and those katana's didn't speak well for his well beign, especially since he was in a place where a large army was camped outside. And in a flash his sword came back to him and he took a battle ready stance, his eyes flaring up, his anima flaring up brightly...

Who are you??

He had been laying on his back in the cavern, his eyes roaming over the crevases of the cavern. He closed his eyes as he let his mind roam over the last night. He had been attacked by his inner demons and didn't like it. It seemed his enemies were lining up for a nice attack and he knew it had to be big, else they wouldn't use poison. But that wasn't what worried him, no what happened after that. He had been saved by Jehserea, and they had a nice talk and the likes, he fooled around with her. but what happened after that was more troublesome... she had pulled him close and kissed him, and there was no reaction he could think of then his remark to do it again to place more passion in it. He sighed and closed his eyes. He felt like a babe in the woods...

He groaned lightly as he knew that right now he was facing a moral dilemma, one part of him called out for Jaeden and the other one wanted to see what Jehserea was up to.... It was all so interesting and confusing. He opened his eyes once more and then reached out and picked up a spider from the wall. he looked at the little insect and then let out a soft sigh as he whispered to the little insect.

You have it easy don't you...
No need to worry about love, sex or anything. You just walk around, create a web, catch food. and when the time is right you find a nice mate, mate with her create little spiders and then move on...

He sighed softly and shook his head at his words. he was truly losing it. meanwhile the little spider crawled from his hand towards his arm and armor, the tiny legs tingeling his skin

The spider continued to crawl up and then walked up his armor. He didn't even bother to look at it, he was to occupied by the thoughts in his mind. Not many could have claimed to bring him in such turmoil. He shivered lightly and let his mind float, knowing that the Jehserea and Jaeden could pick up his mind thoughts with ease.

Why do you 2 torment me like this...
You 2 are currently shifting my world up and down...

Now he would have to see what the 2 of them would do, either way they would ignore him and ditch him, or they would respond. and either way it suited him fine. So the wait would continue...