"Without trial, there is no chance to error on the wrong."

- Reshiram Del Lavatos, the Sage Monarch

"Even on the pushing of the boundaries of magic, there stands limits and barriers to which steps must be taken."

- Unknown

"To see is to be as free as a bee!"

- Unknown

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"We cannot allow such transgressions leniency Elway! For thousands of years, this school has held its code rigorously and faithfully! In many a case, it is the sole reason it still stands and yet you want us to ditch it like dirt upon the cobblestone streets!"

"It is necessary my old friend, to survive the turning tides, we both know su-"

"Damn the tides! And damn your suggestions! This school so long as it stands upon the founding principles shall stand fast against many such tides to come! It is foolhardy to bolster otherwise! You claim these things from what? An upset stomach? Tsk, you lose my respect for losing your head over moldy bread within your gut messing with your thoughts. The seers have no sign of such 'change' you claim you bumbling oaf."

"And yet it comes." Smoke puffed from aged lips as wizened eyes stared from wirey glasses at a robed fellow across a wooden table. "You know how correct my predictions are to any seer. If it were not for my insight into the worldly forces great tragedy would have befallen many an innocent not once, not twice, but thrice. I ask you, to once more, hold your faith in me blindly as you have before."

Silence came in response for but a moment before the grisly looking man with hair white as snow sighed "You know you have it, doesn't mean I want to give you it so freely."

A smile came "That is all I ask."

"What is coming this time exactly?"

"A terror the world has been free from for a long, long time, but one that is never truly gone I fear. I am afraid it is one of those kinds of nightly terrors. A legend making way to walk again."

"How so certain?"

"Do you truly ask that question, my old friend?"

A smile came with a chuckle "I suppose not, just necessary to say regardless." The grisly man picked up a glass and a bottle of liquor, pouring it to the brim and downing it in one go. "So what do we do eh? Round of another batch of the fated saviors against another terror?"

Elway shook his head "I am afraid we are likely regulated to be mere spectators for this show."

"Oh? How so?"

"Because it is the whims of the gods and fate of course?" Elway gave a sly grin and a hearty laugh "Did you think I would say such words freely like a courtesan's cheap love?"

"No. No, I suppose not, though I would love to see you do such a thing."

"You would, wouldn't you, you old goat."

Laughter came between both "So what do we do?"

Elway took the bottle from the others hand "Netri my friend, we drink till we forget why we were arguing moments ago."

"I'll drink alright, still not letting you change the rules of the school."

"Shut up and drink already."

More laughter and many emptied bottles filled this night as two old men shared drink after drink in this little room, temporarily forgetting the all too likely truth in Elway's predictions, simply because it was almost a running through the motions sort of truth after all these years.

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Grim faces peered from beneath steel helms as they overlooked a black stone wall. Their eyes glued to the unseeable black horizon as the winds of storms whipped and lashed their arms and armor. None blinked, for not even the wrath of a god could drown out the rising timber of heavy steps by the thousand upon the muddied dirt and waste that lay before them.They could not see what approached them, nor did any want to save a few feeling brave out of an underlying fear that permeates the soldiers through and through. The boots grew then cut like a string, the storm given its rightful dominance. The breaths caught in the throats of many, some confused others sensing what was about to befall them. A shriek rang out like a thundering blow and arrows flew hailing upon the defenders like a waterfall of pestilence. The defenders, in their fear and trepidation, were still trained soldiers and not some motley crew of farmers and stable boys, returned fire into the unseen dark.

Robed figures stood atop the towers of the keep chanting as light ignited the world above, shadowing the dark below revealing the foe they so feared. The silence of their foe became a terrifying war cry "Uluk Droth!" the horde battered upon the walls with the forces of tides and mountains. Mages cast spells of war and shielding between the various armies as flame and thunder tore through as locusts.

"Nakarim! Nakarim! Rers des Gorba velu!" The defenders fell deeper within their keep as slowly the fear overtook their false bravado masking their feelings. The final doors between the remaining defenders and the attacking force were battered, pushing further in with each stroke of the battering ram. Low moans of fear escaped some as the last of the officers tried to keep order, knowing full well its futility. Prayers were uttered as the door came crashing in. Arrows were loosed, blades crashed and then silence fell upon the black stone walls not from the solemnity of the defender's defeat, but in a silent form of rapture that its master had come home as a red flag began flying its colors to the world once more.

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"He's come? For certain?" shadows cast over two figures standing beneath a great canopy of green

"There is no other creature who's armies bear such a flag." The left figure kicked a stone, bouncing gently down the mountain and into the dark recesses below, only signaling its halt with a splashing of creek water.

"Destruith's left tit, of all the times..." The right figure leaned against the ancient tree, his face showed a plethora of emotions unviewable by his companion from the long shadows cast

"It is rather terrible timing." There were no other words to describe the situation

"Almost prophetic." Almost as if to make light of it all

"What do we do Yust?" Concern draped across both features bringing momentary silence with it

"Not die that's what."

Laughter rang out clear as a whistle "Besides that I mean."

"Get away as fast as we damn well can." There was nothing beyond the serious in the tone

The first figure rose his eyebrows "Run? Not fight?" He never viewed his old friend as a runner, always a fighter regardless of the odds.

"Borou, if you can fight that then be my guest, I'll roll a red carpet for you as you step into the field, on my honor." The first figure bowed in a sarcastic manner as to place further emphasis on the unprecedented levels of idiocy the notion brought.

"Gres nuat!" Half a serious vulgarity, half a joke as one would expect two old friends share between them.

Yust gave a wry smile "You would, wouldn't you?"

Punches flew for a moment as the two settled into a good laugh for a moment in their good humor. "When do we depart?"

"We have some time I bet, the fort they took is many a league from here, a week at most is what we can work with. We pack up and go then, but no later."

A nod and silence came and the two looked up at the stars wondering the fate of many a thing.

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After the initial setback, the skeleton was well on its way to becoming adept in various magical fields that did not involve other objects, since it had a tendency to break even the most durable of magic items. However, today was a special day. A day of experimentation of sorts. Something Reshiram long wanted to test, but unwilling to do so himself due to the possible unknown consequences, however, now he had the perfect test subject.

"Look at me." The skeleton looked directly into Reshirams eyes "Repeat after me, I will not touch anything I am not allowed to, nor will I wander off when being instructed."

The skeleton was motionless before it used its magical connection "I. Wall. Nut. Torch. A. Ting. I. Um. Nat. Alloy. To. No. Whale. I. Winter. Out. Whine. Boing. In. Treat. Tit."

Reshiram simply sighed, knowing full well it had to seriously work on this skeletons speaking prowess. "Good enough, I suppose." In truth, Reshiram was half tempted to work on it this moment but knew it could take over the entire day if he did. "Today we are doing ritual-less contracting. I have already shown you the steps, to do so. I want you to master this before we begin completing rituals." In truth, Reshiram was hoping this experimental magic would turn the skeleton into ash and had no plans to actually perform rituals as this skeleton already broke one of his three phylacteries. It wouldn't have been much a problem if it was repairable, but there is a reason such objects are held with high value after all.

The skeleton sat in the middle of the room and began meditating, as was shown through the gradually dimming light from its orbs as it attempted a connection without a booster to the realm simply called the other side.

Problems immediately became apparent as shown by the elgasia gaining a purple glow, something Reshiram noted likely occurs when the magic binding the skeleton became in danger. This was a surprising occurrence as the only color he had seen being blue, thus this purple phenomenon would have to be studied in greater detail later, especially since he never heard or saw an elgasia glow any color beyond the initial blue.

"That's enough." Reshiram wiped his hand in the air as if to erase the skeletons failed attempt. "It seems you are not prepared fully yet for such undertakings." While he truly wanted ash in the place of the skeleton, it didn't mean he was willing to let go such opportunities to test the previously untestable. Thus, he decidedly would allow the skeleton to live to its full potential of usefulness in such category, but not a moment longer. Though by that point he may no longer be in a state of mind capable of even indirectly harming the walking pile of bone.

The two figures locked eyes, one in careful consideration. The other, in a state of...not so careful consideration. then again, what could that particular one of the two plausibly consider, let alone with any sort of care. "Follow." and the skeleton did.

Reshiram waltzed through an ancient portal of a door into his private collection of knowledge and written word. Books were piled and organized by the thousand in the magically maintained section of the house. He waved his hands, searching through an invisible catalog until he found precisely what he sought. From a corner of the massive library came a slow floating book with a cover as black as night and as inviting as the grave. Reshiram stroked the cover of the book thoughtfully before turning to the skeleton.

"Catch." he threw the book at the skeleton, who not knowing what 'catch' meant had the book fall to its feet. Reshiram sighed "Pick it up, and read it." He already felt quite drained from that one moment. Of course, he was quite glad he managed to teach it a recording spell which took the place of actually say reading a book though it did the job well enough given the recipient was a brainless creature in the most literal of sense.

The skeleton eyed the book, casting its spell. Itrium Volo Descro, Lost Not Found. A curious title for an even more curious book. Reshiram wandered over to a desk in the corner of the room and called down a book seemingly at random and began reading, unaware of the effects giving a skeleton the chance to learn the contents of that ancient text, whether such consequence would bring positive or negative remained to be seen. Thus the elf sat quite lazy in an easy chair blissfully unaware of what he had begun to wrought right before his own eyes. Though of course, he couldn't cause such potential disaster before sending a mental request to a servant for a hot cup of tea to wash it all down with.

Very curious, for such an ancient, and supposedly wise, elf that is.