Sealamin swooped lower towards the track, his keen eyes picking out the 5 bandits trying to get down through the pass towards the Dwarven cities lower in the mountainside. Sealamin landed on a slight rock cliff and waited for them to enter the narrow pass he knew was coming. He would wait patiently untill theyhit that area, and with a quick flight he would attack them at the horrible angle that they couldnt defend against, or one on one at the back or front of the lines. They would regret ransacking the outer houses of Sealamins village. There were several other elves hunting, but Sealamin was the lucky one to get revenge.

His time had come. Sitting up, his keen eye sight picked out the leading bandit endering the narrow pass, his short, stocky dwarven form making him too low to attack from above. Sealamin smiled at the thought of taking him on single handedly. Sealamin despsided Dwarves.

With a jump of the narrow cliff ledge, Sealamins large wings lifted him higher into the air, and with a final flap, he set into a dive, aimed to take out the last human entering the passageway, and then fly round to the front. The whirring from his wings allerted them at the last moment, and Sealamins downwards slash from his longsword rammed down against his shoulder when it would have slashed against the back of his neck.

Sealamin lashed his sword back into the air and with several powerfull beats lifted himself higher over the small peak with the intent to land down infront of the dwarf before he left that passage. Landing heavily, Sealamin brought his left hand up and wrapped it in the end of his cloak while his wings folded in behind his back.

At the first noise of the nearby dwarve smashing his way heavily through the snow, Sealamin lashed his cloak arm up towards the dwarves face, momentarily stunning him from the surprise. That moments hesitation was all Sealamin needed, and he launched forward, his longsword smashing straight into the Dwarves hip while his axe was lifted to protect his face. The force of his stab careened off the hip bone and slid out the other side, bringing a grunt of pain out of the dwarf. Being made of stern stuff however, the dwarf lashed out, and a ham sized fist sent Sealamin flying backwards to land heavily on his back, his sword dropping out of his limp arm while the blood dripped onto the snow.

Rolling to his feet while the dwarf charged he lashed his cloak at him again, drawing it back and smashing at the dwarves face again, while his hand wrapped about the hard hilt of his sword. With one last whip across the dwarves face, Sealamin lifted himself up and over the dwarf, his longsword ripping across the neck of the dwarf while he waved his axe at the direction of where Sealamin was standing. Spinning around, Sealamin whipped his cloak out and quickly followed it through with a stab straight at face hidden behind the cloak. Sealamin felt the crash of bone breaking, and felt the dwarf collapse backwards from the blow.

Whipping round, Sealamin heard the shouting from the other 3 men, the last one must have lost enough blood to cause him to be out of the fight. These 3 men would be easy, Sealamin though to himself, and with that thought, he lifted himself of the bloody ground and up and over the peak and dropped straight down towards the 3 men standing in a group behind the man curled on the ground. Sealamin roared his deep throated battle cry while he dropped towards the middle of them, his cloak flying at one while his sword sliced towards the face of another with his feet together to smash into another one.

With a cry, the first human raised his arms to shield his face from the smashing cloak, which knocked him back against a solid rock wall. The second one threw himself backwards away from the slicing sword and rolled smoothly to draw his longsword into a defensive position. The thrid one was not quick enough to react, and was send sprawling when Sealamins feet smashed into his face, smashing his nose and breaking his neck when he landed heavily, his sword in a defensive position in front of him.

Seeing his friend being landed on by a flying elf with huge wings, the human in the defensive position roared with anger and charged swinging his sword in an uncouth attack, aimed at being more brutal than skillfull. Whipping his cloak up, he entangled the swords swing in it, and quickly severed his hold with a chop at the humans elbow, making him fall backwards in pain. Drawing his sword back, Sealamin prepared to stab straight through the neck, however, he felt a blow against his left wing which was folded back. The human woh was flapped against a wall via Sealamins cloak and recovered and had attacked holding his own quarterstaff. The blow send Sealamin tumbling forwards, and landing heavily onto his would be victim in front of him.

In such close quarters, Sealamins longsword was useless, so he quickly dropped his sword and cloak and hammered his head straight forward onto the bridge of the humans nose, while he used his arms to roll himself over and drag the human body ontop of him to protect himself from the attacker with the quarterstaff.

Feeling the thud of the quarterstaff, and the gasp of the remaining human at the fact he had attacked his own mate, Sealamin used that moment to thrust the body aside and launch his feet in the air straight at the human, pushing him backwards against a cliff wall. The moment while he was free was all Sealamin needed, and he rolled to his side grasping his sword hilt in both hands, and thrust it straight at the slightly stunned human, and broke through his neck bone, blood splurting out through the wound.

Dragging his sword clean, Sealamin looked around proudly at his handywork. He had succesfully killed all 5 of the robbers, and would now get the jewellry stolen from his village. Cleaning his sword on one of the cloaks of the dead men, he sheathed it while picking up his cloak from the ground and wrapping it round his shoulders. Reaching down to drag a bag clear from under a body, he undid the claspand emptied it to find the jewellry.

Anger coursed through his body at the sight of everything but the jewellry he had come to retrieve. After shifting through the rest of the packs and finding nothing, Sealamin quickly checked pockets on all the dead bodies, finding nothing. Lashing out , Sealamin kicked one the bodies in frustration, and then set off in a slow flight back to his village.

A figure stood behind Sealamin, watching silently, arms crossed. After watching him kick the person, he shook his head sullenly, then walked back. He arrived at a wall, and began to whistle, his long, lanky figure making him seem a beast. He seemed to meld with the wall itself, chuckling darkly.

As Sealamin landed in his village, a figure once more watched from the shadows. Little could be seen of him, aside from a pair of bright yellow eyes, and a wide, taunting grin. After mere moments, he stepped out, smiling at Sealamin. His voice was soft and lilting, and his eyes twinkled merrily. "So, Sealamin, the winged elf. No doubt named for the wise Solomon? Ahhh, the irony is nearly palpable."

He nodded just slightly, and held out a hand, as if offering to shake. However, something glinted in his outstretched palm; a single jade ring lie in his hand. He turned his hand over, and it fell to the ground with a small clink. He gave a warm, soft smile, and spoke, his voice mellifluous and inviting; this man could've charmed a nun into debauchary. "A small gift. There shall be more to come, but only if you seek me."

He turned, pulling his cloak over his head, and walking to a nearby wall. His hand moved in a blur, and he quite literally stepped into the wall. Just before his body went through, he turned, his grin wide and almost taunting. "Seek me, Sealamin. There is much we must speak of." He stepped through the wall, and as he did, a single, silver necklace lie propped against it.....

Sealamin was angry, he swept threw his veins at the though of the jewellry being stolen. And the worse thing was that the village gem was part of it. The greeny/blue swirling patterned circular orb was the prize posession of the village, and they would get it back.

"I found the 5, and killed them," Sealamin said in response to the leaders questioning look. His face lit up instantly. "However, they didn't have the gems." The muttering from the few villages around grew, and he knew they were upset and angry.

"So, Sealamin, the winged elf. No doubt named for the wise Solomon? Ahhh, the irony is nearly palpable." The voice came from afar, stepping from the outskirts of the village and into plain view of Sealamin and the 6 other elves standing together, causing Sealamin top grip the handle of his sword, ready to draw it out if needed and launch himself forward, his powerful wings flexing slightly. Sealamins eyesight instantly recognised the jade ring in the strangers hand, and he sensed rather than saw, two elves nocking arrows in response to shoot the stranger down.

"A small gift. There shall be more to come, but only if you seek me." His voice was soft, trusting and inviting, but Sealamin drew his sword, stealing himself against any surprise attack. ""Seek me, Sealamin. There is much we must speak of." And with that he stepped towards the wall, his hands moving as a swift blur, causing the leader of the village to bark out the command fire, and 2 arrows thudded past and hit the stone wall where he face had just vanished.

Zigimo turned around to face the village headman looking him straight in the eyes, "I'm going to search for him. I will find the village gem. I will be back." With that Sealamin launched himself into the air, his first stop the other side of that cliff wall.

The mysterious figure was several hundred yards away, moving quickly. His silhoutte was neatly outlined by the darkness, and an almost opressive sense of darkness seemed to exude from him, as if an aura of shadows came from his very pores. He turned, his eyes registering as mere glints in the dark.

He finally sat down at an outcropping of stones nearby, flicking his wrist as a whip of flames issued from his palm, flagging down Sealamin. He shouted rather loudly, yet his voice only barely carried to him. "Sit, rest, Sealamin!" He slumped back against a stone, his tophat tipped to cover his face.

Sealamin landed heavily on the far side, his longsword already drawn and ready to attack. He would attack first and ask questions later, no sorcery would make a mockery out of his village. Touching the cliff wall with his hand, Sealamin became convinced that it was magic, and not some little trickery. That wall was as hard as ever.

"Sit, rest, Sealamin!" The silky voice floated over, causing Sealamin to stiffen and whip round, his cloak lashing across the air against nothing, the stranger sitting a distance away from Sealamin.

Sealamin stalked over towards him, his eyes taking in the darkness in the area he sat. It would be easy to hide someone in the shadows there, ready to make a surprise attack. He would not move that close. Flexing his wings out halfway, Sealamin gripped his sword tighter, and wrapped the cloak around his left hand an extra turn to ensure he didnt lose it.

Stopping several yards away, Sealamin left 7 long strides between the two of them. A distance hard to cover for a normal person, but easy for Sealamin to flap over quickly giving him the advantage. The magic worried him slightly, but he would find something to overcome that.

"Stranger," Sealamin began, his voice rough and unyielding, "give me back the jewels you have evidently stolen. Other wise I will be forced to run your through with my sword, and I assure you that none of you magic will stop me re-gaining my village's jewels." Sealamin gripped his sword tighter and slightly bent his legs while his wings unfurled, ready to pounce or dodge if needed.

Yaksha rose, and chuckled wryly, pushing himself off the ground and spreading his arms wide. "Why, that's exactly why I intended to do!" He stepped forward, and pulled a ring from his cloak, throwing it to Sealamin. "I stole from theives. The end justifys the means, little Sealamin. Look at me, do I really look that bad a person?" His voice was soft, lilting, and mellodious, nearly irresistable. He gave a warm, inviting smile, and then motioned for him to come closer. "I will give you your town's work, but only after our talk."

He threw a necklace at his feet, and laughed softly. "Quid pro quo, Sealamin. Do you honestly think I'd give up these precious keepsakes without something? But...." He reached out, his hand just barely outside the shadows. "I don't expect much. Simply listen to an old man's ramblings, and I shall gladly return what is rightfully yours."

Sealamin listened to the stranger, his voice was enticing to the point of Sealamin's arm slightly wavering, but he steeled himself against it. He would take the gems by force, all at once, not from any of those picking from this magiker. His reflexed worked quickly enough to catch the ring that was thrown to him, and he pocketed it unthinkingly, somehow trusting the stranger that it would be one of their rings, one of their treasures.

"Quid pro quo, Sealamin. Do you honestly think I'd give up these precious keepsakes without something? But...." His hand movements caught Sealamins keen eyesight, and he jumped back, swordbeing brought back up to its defensive position from where it had dropped to down by his side.

"I could take them by force man. I could run my sword through you in an instance. Sealamin took a deep breath. "Why should I listen to your rambling old man?" Sealamin stressed the last 2 words, his mouthing moving to form a smirk.

"Because you're chaotic GOOD. And any good person's morals should dictate they respect their elders, if not their betters." He sighed, and stepped out from the shadows, a true fiend staring at him with two cold, dark eyes like windows to the abyss. "300 years is a LONG time to live, even for a demon. I'm one of the oldest uninfused demons you will find in this time." He shrugged, then tossed him another necklace, staring at the sky. "And yet all everyone sees is a monster. Everyone assumes just because I'm a demon, I must be evil. And because I'm evil, I must be MEAN." He chuckled cynically, and then looked up.

"I don't expect anything much from you. But, we've much in common. Both of us are disgusted by the civilian's outlook of our kind, and both of us intend to change it. But there's one simple difference between us two." He cocked his head, his eyes twinkling merrily. "I will be successful, while you will never change the fact that your kind is pitied, and even reviled by some." He lunged forward, mere inches from Sealamin. His palm flew out, throwing what looked like pepper in his face. "If you WANT something, you must TAKE it. Simply sitting back and waiting for it will gain you nothing!"

He gave a sharp, taunting bark, and jumped back, his finger running along the rock. As he did, another door opened within the stone. He laughed sagely, and stepped through the rock. A second later, he stepped out from the other side of the rock, holding several of the jewels in his hand. "If you wait for it to be given, the results always take much too long to acheive. If you wish for the winged elves to be respected, give them reason to!"

Sealamin listened to the fellow, but refused to let his guard down again. He would not be caught out again, he would not give an opening. And uninfused Demon? What is the dam difference! A Demon is a Demon! Sealamin didnt voice his thoughts however, that would probably be the wrong way to antagonise the old man in front. Sealamin eyes narrowed at the statement by the stranger. "Your kind will be pitied." To hell with him, his kind would not be pitied. They would prove themselves strong.

The sudden lunge did catch Sealamin slightly off guard, he was thinking viciously of how he would prove that his race was not weak, and that they couldn't be used for whatever spell or potion those mages wanted. That lunge was quick, but not quick enough however. Sealamins powerful wings lifted him off the ground in one powerful beat, small amounts of snow and pebbles lifting off the ground from the beat of the wings, pelting slow pushes of wind downwards while Sealamin rose 12 feet into the air, while Yaksha started to laugh.

Sealamin stared as he opened the door in the wall. That was unusual magic to control, and seemed more defensive than offensive. However, the drawing of the jewels had captured his gaze. In that demons hands were currently the second most prized possession of the village, the Broach of Telluvi. The only broach his village now owned, and inbribed with the power of lightning in it. None were allowed to wear it untill a time of desperate need, and only then, an elf of the true blood of the village could wield the Broach, and have it fit to their wrists.

"You talk old man, as if we dont take what we need and gain the respect that we deserve. The dragon folk live with us in peace because we have hunted them in return for destroying our villages. They respect us for our strengths and abilities to counter them. Sealamin waved his sword in the direction of the village, "and did we not prove we can defend for ourselves when I single handedly slayed the 5 bandits and would have returns the jewels with you?"

Sealamin gripped his sword tighter, his brow showing the first signs of anger, a small bead of sweat slipping from his hair line. "You make it sound like the Dwarves and the Humans and our Elf cousins dont respect us. They understand our powers and strengths, however, our small numbers gives us little we can do about stuff like that, so we content ourselves in what we know we can succeed. Do not talk about what you do not understand old man." He finished viciously waving the sword in the direction of the demon.

"Don't understand!? Don't UNDERSTAND!? Sealamin my boy, I am one of the most understanding there is!" He chuckled darkly, and spread his arms wide. "You wish to slay me, so be it. I want nothing more than to help you gain what is rightfully yours." He set the Broach on the stone, and sighed. "It's not my fault you won't listen."

He stepped forward, and his voice grew deep, and full of malice. "Love is a lie, an illusion used to disarm the strong, and impower the weak. Hapiness, glory, all of it is just some thinly veiled trick, some way to pretend this world isn't as cold and bleak as it truly is. Love, happiness, empathy, all a trick. Sealamin, do you think any of these people give a damn about your people? No, because they're not THEIR people. As long as it isn't them that missing something, it's all fine. Well, Sealamin. It's time to introduce them to the few TRUE emotions; fear, anger, sadness, paranoia, agony. Why don't we show the pathetic sheep of this world... just how 'all fine' everything is. Why don't we show THEM how it feels to be hated, to be scared, to be hunted. They call your kind monsters. Why not show them what a true monster is?"

"My kind are not monsters!" Sealamin roared viciously, his eyes glinting with anger and rage. His grip on his sword shaking, wanting to strike out, wanting to ram it through this man and demons face, wanting to severe his head from his neck. Sealamins feet took an impulsive steptowards him too, his eyes glaring daggers at the stranger.

And then he calmed himself. He was getting angered over someone who acted as though he understood Sealamins plight, yet how could a demon understand? A demon out of any of the possible races who actually could understand the view of outcast.

"No. You dont understand. Your a demon, and demons fight for demons or against demons depending on their whims. Demons dont understand friendship, loyalty, respect, teamwork, and dedication." Sealamin wrapped his cloak around his shoulder, the cold starting to slowly seep into his bones. "You can say that the real emotions are anger and fear, but anger and fear are only partial emotions. They can disapate in a moments notice. Respect however," Sealamin raised his left hand and pointed it straight at the demon, "respect is something you demons only gain by pure force on proving who is stronger. Not on other things. You can understand respect!"

Sealamin was still angry and his right hand tightly gripped his sword in a defensive position, yet he didn't strike out yet. He wanted to hear more, to hear how he could help. But he also wanted to slay him, for the good of the elves!

Yaksha simply laughed, and sat down. "Oh, such delicious irony! You claim I cannot understand what it means to be mistaken for a beast, to be hated simply because of my race, then you say I can't understand what it's like to be judged by my race BECAUSE of my race!" He rose, and then cocked his head, smiling genially. "Tell me, Sealamin. What gives you thje right to judge us demons? While it is true we spend much of our time among our own, that needn't mean we can't have a sense of empathy. We've spent eons trapped in the abyss, many of us too scared to come to this world. We've never truly seen love or compassion, for the normals would never care enough to bestow it upon us."

He sighed, and then began to rock back and forth, speaking in a monotone. "Being the bad guy is a harder job then simply being devious and cruel. Most of us don't want to be bad, but we're simply called so because we're in the way of the good." His voice was weary, full of pain and longing. "All I want, Sealamin...is a chance to wipe the slate clean. To give demons, elves, and humans alike an even playing field. All the endevours of our ancestors need notr be OUR endevours. All I want, is for life to give us all a fair shot. Is that so much to ask?"

"Demons brought that upon themselves! They started viciously and gave humans and elves no choice but to see the worse in them. Demons belong separate. They dont deserve a chance for all they have done to the earth." Sealamin swung his sword to his right quickly to emphasise his point, quickly bringing it back round in front of himself.

"You might as well tell me Dark Elves ought to not be subjugated next, that we shoudl give them a chance to change." Sealamin laughed at the though. Dark Elves would never be forgiven for their betrayal. Never!

Yaksha rose, his face full of a pity, and a limitless compassion. "Poor poor Sealamin. The only reason our kind is STILL so monstrous is because we must be to stay alive." He leaned forward, and smiled. "EVERYONE can repent for the actions of their ancestors. Would you honestly punish me for the actions of my father? My dear child...." He leaned forward, and smiled. "They could easily banish YOU for Nikkolai's sins if that were the case."

Yaksha simply smiled wisely, and spread his arms wide. "All I ask is for demons to receive what you ask for. A chance to prove we are worthy of respect and honor, and that our kind are not as terrible as everyone said. I've paid my time in the abyss. Now let me walk free in this world."

Sealamin's sword clanged to the ground, his arm falling limply to his side, no thought of defiance or anger left, but curiosity and the thirst to know. He had stopped listening once the stranger had mentioned Nikkolai, his father. Was his father really banished? Was his father disgraced and had his wings taken from him? Was that why he was brought up alone and became so defensive and self efficient so early in life?

Taking a step forward, Sealamin looked into the strangers eyes, and asked the question that was screaming inside him, his need and want to know burning with strength. "Did you know my father?" Those five simple words ment so much to Sealamin than the rest of the conversation they had been discussing before. The village jewels, the redemption of the races, everything was negligeble compared to finding out any information about his father.

Yaksha merely shrugged, and sat down. "We belong seperate, little Sealamin. If I'm truly as filthy and cruel as you say, I would think that I WOULDN'T tell you of your father. Of my brother-in-arms." He gave a sly grin, and patted the ground. "Only when you admit your fault will the history lesson begin, Sealamin."

Sealamin's mind raced. If he truly ment "brother" as in the relationship tern of brother and sister, than that would make this old man his uncle? Had Sealamin really been so close to killing his own uncle? SHaking his head viciously at the thought, Sealamin bent down to pick up his sword, raising it in front of his face to look at the blade. A look of confusion filtered onto Sealamins face, and he quickly put his sword away into his sheath by his side.

"Did you really mean brother? As in brother and sister? Not the mere friendship of fighters together?" Sealamin really needed this comfirmation, he needed to know. There was no more time for bloodshed now. He needed the truth about his parents, about his village, and about this stranger.

Yaksha merely stared for a moment, then cocked his head. "What bearing does that have on our current situation? I know about your father. More importantly, I know where he is. I would think your first question shouldn't be how, it should be something a little more concrete. I told you once already." He pushed himself off the ground, and stepped forward. "Until you confess your folly, Nikkolai's past simply has to wait."

Sealamin bristled at the mans response. Sealamins folly. He had no dam folly, but he must humour the half-demon if he was to find out about Nikkolai, about his father.

Sealamin eyed the demon up carefully before he spoke, letting the silence fall and hang around them before he broke it. "And what would you have me admit to Demon?" His voice lingering on the last word, frustrated that the demon was playing his own games, and to his own speed. Sealamins hand dropped and rested lightly on his hilt of his sword, a glint of frustration in his eyes.

"That itself is your folly. You insist our kind are ruthless, merciless, and bloodthirsty. Do I really look all that dangerous to you?" He gave a warm grin, and shook his head. "Not all demons are evil. And not all evil ones are mean. Your generalization of our kind hurts me deeply, and I simply as that you acknowledge that not all demons are monstrous and inhuman beasts."

Sealamin laughed coldly. "But the fact is you ARE inhuman beasts! And there is nothing you can do other wise. Your kind have been seen that way for so long that it is hard to get over what has happened." Sealamin had was wrapped around the hilt of his sword, grasping tightly, ready to draw it out, his slightly sweaty palms making the grip slightly slippery.

"We have no more to speak of demon. We are of two different species and families despite your knowledge. Now give me those jewels before I torture you to give them up. And trust me," Sealamin drew out his sword and stared hard at the demon, "I will cause you pain if I am required to return those jewels." Sealamin quickly flapped up several yards into the air, his sword drawn ready to strike.

Yaksha laughed bitterly, and threw the gems into the air. "There's a laugh! I'm inhuman, and YOU'RE the one that's willing to harm a defenseless elder for some trinkets!" He jumped on top of the stone, and shook his head at Sealamin. "You say that my kind is heartless and monstrous, yet the only monster I see here holds a blade and looks down on others for their mere lineage." He held his cane in his left hand, and gave a small sigh.

"It pains me so to hear such a promising youth already so bitter and full of prejudice. You claim your kind has gotten a bad rap for years, and that you want to redeem your kind, and you think that deserves other's respect. Yet when I claim the same thing, you merely laugh in my face, and tell me it will never happen!" He leaned forward, and gave a flashy grin. "Who is the TRUE monster here, Sealamin? Make sure you ask yourself that, late at night...." He jumped down from the stone, and landed on the rocks, and pulled the hood of his cloak up, his body beginning to meld and shift, and after a second, a fearsome beast stood before Sealamin. "I have no desire to fight you at this time, but if you force me to, I won't back down."

Sealamins huge wings spun at when the demon started to change, a few beats able to lifted him ever higher of the ground, 12 feet from the demon, which was transforming into a werewolf. A savage beast encased within evil magic. This was a demon who was now dangerous, no longer a mere rambling old man.

"I force you not Demon! I am only here after what is rightfully mine, my villages. You give over what belongs to us, all of it, and we will be finished here. We need not meet again." Sealamins voice was steady, his sharp eyes concentrating on the beasts huge muscles, ready to pick up any sign of tensing for a jump, for an attack. He would be prepared to dodge and deal the killing blow if required.

Drawing his cloak in his left hand, Sealamin steeled himself for the fight if it was nessecary.

Yaksha gave a savage laugh, and he let loose a primal howl, a bone-chilling and eerily pitiful sound. "Do not make me hurt you, Sealamin. All you ask is what is rightfully yours. These precious little trinkets..." Yaksha held a ring up to the moonlight, his eyes shimmering darkly. "And all I ask is for the same thing all others dote upon each other. Forgiveness. You fools have neverending mercy for your rapists, your theives, even your adulterers. Yet WE are unworthy of forgiveness!? Many of you normals are even more feindish then us fiends!"

He held the ring out, then threw it in the air, his jowls snapping forward, and splitting the small circlet between his formidable jowls. He shook his head solemnly, and spat the peices out. "Nothing sacred should be so easily sundered." He looked up, his eyes full of a dark fury, but a pitiful mourning also shone in them. "Go home, Sealamin. Such little trinkets are not worth a life, even one of a demon."

Sealamin bristled. His village jewels were worth more than his life. He if he died, yet mortally wounded the beast, or even killed it, his body and those jewels would be found and restored. He would not go home.

"Those jewels are worth it. They are the pride of my village and I win return them." He was sweating slightly in anticipation of his planned attack, he would not back down now. His hand tightened on his sword hilt, while his left hand tightened on the cloak. "Leave demon. You should know I will fight to the death for those jewels. Is your pride really worth your life?"

Yaksha cackled madly at this, his voice alternately a high-pitched giggle and a rough snarl. "You think this is about PRIDE!? Oh, you fool of a child! I'm 300 YEARS OLD! Pride lost any meaning to me eons ago! No, my naive little Sealamin, this isn't about me proving anything to anyone. This is about doing what needs to be done." He threw all the jewels into the air, his eyes glimmering with some primal instinct. "This is our story, Sealamin. And each of us play our part, odd as it may be."

He gave a low, peircing howl that would've chilled the blood of any normal person. "I play my part, Sealamin. Now, the time has come for you to play yours." His voice grew soft, and nearly irresistable. "I ask for little, Sealamin. Only to wipe those smug looks off the faces of the humans, and to show them my kind are truly not that different from their own...." He crouched low to the ground, snarling deeply, and then looking upward. "Battle me, Sealamin. All will be as the fates decide."

"So be it." Sealamin voice was cold and final. The sound of an emotionless enemy. Sheathing his sword and putting on his cloak, Sealamin swept higher into the air, drying his palms on the side of his trousers. Preparing himself to seal the demons fate. Reaching 20 feet in the air from the demon, on the ground, Sealamin drew out his sword, it ringing while it escaped his scabbard. While his spare hand deftly wrapped the nape of his cloak around his knuckles twice for afirm grip.

Within a second, Sealamin had wrapped his wings backwards forcefully, dropping swiftly towards the demon, his eyes glinting with coldness and hate. The wind whipping past his hair back against his wings, his sword straight down. His speed gathering. His sword arm withdrawn to his side.

While a mere 7 feet from the ground, Sealamin flashed his wings wide, his cloak whipping down towards the demon, while his sword went in behind his flashing cloak while his wings whipped out to drag him upwards quickly.

Yaksha went down on all fours, his lips peeling back in some primal snarl. As Sealamin got close, and his cloak shot down, his hand shot upwards, grabbing it and pulling forcefully. The fight had turned into a tug-of-war for life or death, with sinister consequences for the loser. A thin laugh started in the base of Yaksha's throat, looking up at the sky. "It would seem the fates smile on me tonight. Had it been anything less than a half moon, I'd be airborne already. As it is, it could go to either side."

He tugged again, this time tossing his arm to the left deftly. If the trick worked, Sealamin would go soaring to the left, more than likely losing grip of his cloak. "I'm not some foolish little child, Joysword! I've got ages of memories, while you've hardly any! To think one as young as yourself could slay ME!? You've almost made me laugh!"

Sealamin's armed shook when the demon grasped his cloak in a strong grip, attempting to pull it away and to the side. This was a totally unexpected move, but did play into Sealamin's plans as he had evidently not seen the sword slicing under and behind the cloak.

With a small bead of sweat glistening across his his left eye lid at the concern of losing his second weapon, Sealamin let go his grip of the cloak, using the demons own strength to clear the path towards its face, a vicious look etched on its wolven features.

Lunging downwards at an angle, Sealamin thrust his sword straight and true at the wolf head, his arm tensing and putting his body weight behind the blow. His wings wide to settle him into a glide overhead the beast, easily able to fly higher quickly.

Yaksha managed to pounce to the side, the blade slicing through his shoulderblade, and getting caught inside. Yaksha let out a howl, punctuated by a stream of blood from his mouth. A tongue of flame shot from his arm, flying towards Sealamin's leg. It had turned into a deadly gamble for Sealamin: Would he release his sword, and give up his final weapon, or take the deadly strike, and risk his own wellbeing?

Sealamin's arm strained at his sword sliced through the beasts shoulder, thoroughly entering and piercing deeply, into the beasts shoulder, injuring it badly. However, the damage came at a price, with the demon having the chance to attack back with a burst of flame blistering from its other hand, burning its way to Sealamins lower legs.

Gritting his teeth, Sealamin gripped the sword handle yanking it backwards while his wings propelled him upwards and away. He needed his sword, and the pain from the burns would be worth his weapon. His expectations couldn't have led him to expect the pain that came though. Fire burning and wrapping around is lower calves and feet, burning at his skin, blistering his feet and lower thighs.

Breaking free of the fire burst, Sealamin swept into the night air, a small growl of pain escaping his lips which were being tightly bitten by his teeth to hold out against the pain. The brisk winds in the air cooling at the burns, burns that were painfully blistered, red and sore. He would need to attend to those soon. But right now, he had to finish that dam beast off.

Circling back round over head, 15 feet into the air, Sealamin sheath his sword, the pain overcoming his ability to think straight, forcing himself to resort to cooling those bruns with magic. A quick heal would be sufficient, and thats what he would do.

Holding his hands out in front, the magic started forming around them, pulsing blue in the light moonlight, wrapping and roving around his hands, never quite touching but looking as thought it was an extension of his hand. Stretching his arms down, Sealamin held his hands palm down, fingers spread over a leg each, the magic starting to seep down, his heal spell cutting off the pain and causing the blisters to cool and to stop popping. A small dose was all he needed to continue the fight.

Yaksha gave a low grunt, and swiped at Sealamin as he pulled his blade out, blood jetting from his wounded shoulder. He grimaced, his head low. "Impressive, Joysword. That was a big risk you took." He rose, blue light creeping across his own shoulder, causing the skin to slowly creep together. Yaksha peered at the wound, and shook his head. "You got me deep, child. This is gonna hurt for a time..." Yaksha rose his hands to the sky, his hands conjuring up another whip of flame. It flew through the sky, yet made no effort to touch Sealamin.

The whip disappated after a minute, and Yaksha lay close to the ground, watching Sealamin carefully. "You're strong, boy. Very strong, it seems the fates are having a ball tonight. But you've only a TASTE of my magiks tonight. I reccomend you submit, for only defeat awaits."

Sealamin took no pleasure from the demons praise. A key part of a fight would be doing the unexpected and surprising your enemy. He merely engaged in a surprising move to give himself an advantage, which really didnt work since the demon heal itself while he was self-healing.

"There will be no submitting!" Sealamin shook his fist gripping his longsword downwards towards the demon, "Haven't you realised that I will not let my village down. I will not become the face of disgrace when I had our jewels within grasp." Sealamins eyes dropped down to the jewels scattered around, a few blood specked in the slight amounts of snow that was on the ground, the sight of them just being thrown their aimlessly and without care boiling his blood.

"If you agree to leave and allow me to return those jewels, consider yourself a victor of our fight. However, I will stay here and fight to the death till I regain those jewels for my village, my family!" Sealamin locked eyes with the demon, this time determined not to back out and re-heal, but to attack viciously.

Yaksha simply pulled himself low to the ground, and snarled silently. "Then we'll have to end this, now won't we, Joysword?" He rose onto two legs with much effort, and pounded at his chest. "Give me all you've got, child. For I promise you the same of me." He peered at the moon, and howled chillingly. He then began to jump wildly from rock to rock, barking loudly. "Catch me if you can, young one!" He was moving so quickly, it would be near impossible to see the black energy crackling on his right hand....

Sealamin's right hand drew upwards, his neck snapping backwards straight as he flew several feet higher above the ground. The demons talking having no effect on Sealamin. With a swirl, Sealamin turned around and watched as the wolf-beast started jumping from rock to rock with great speed, making it alot harder to hit with his flying attack.

With a flap of wings again, Sealamin flew another foot into the air, then quickly wrapping back his wings to make his body streamlined, Sealamin dropped down, swerving sideways to put off the beast. Bringing his sword into the centre, and gripping with both hands, Sealamin glared downwards, his keen eyesight picking out the beast hopping quickly with ease, and a slight glimmer of black energy in his right hand to which Sealamin paid no heed to in his current state of attack. He could not fail.

Dropping down, Sealamin widened his wings slightly and he rose from a steep dive to head slightly upwards in an effort to pierce the demon in mid jump, his sword stretched ahead, his eyes merciless.

Yaksha let out a low howl, and fired the bolt of black energy as Sealamin came flying towards him. He curled in the middle of the air, his lower chest in the path of Sealamin's blade, along with the bolt of dark magic. "I'm not one to be trifled with, Joysword! If you battle with me, you're in for a shock!" As he spoke, a cloud crossed over the moon, and he returned to a young man, wearing an odd cloak. He let loose a gravelly laugh, his body still bared towards the blade.

Sealamin felt the black bolt whistle past him, just lightly skimming past his raised arm holding the sword towards the demon. The life energy drained out of him quickly, but since the bolt merely skimmed his arm at the slightest touch, but drew enough life force out to knock him unconcious.

With the force of his flying still behind him, Sealamin crashed into the now human Yaksha, his sword dropping from grasp as his head and body smashed into Yaksha's upper torso and then crashing to the ground unconcious.

When Sealamin awoke, he would've seen Yaksha sitting on a nearby rock, in human form once more, fully clothed and only mildly hurt. "Not too shabby, Joysword. It was a fun way to spend a night, no doubt." He rose, his cloak rippling in the breeze, his back turned to Sealamin. "The gems are yours, Joysword. Our meeting is done, may you prosper until we meet again." He looked over his shoulder, a chilling smile on his face. "For I may not be feeling kind next time we meet."