Nerluce waited for them on the border of the Hebikoti Clan.

The western border of the Hebikoti Clan ran alongside the Azum River which. It was not a particularly wide nor deep river this time of year, though even if it was, it wouldn't be any trouble for a Magickian to cross. A bridge could be built of stone or ice. Or the water's flow could be stopped entirely. Magick altered the physical world. Therefore, physical barriers were of little consequence to Magickians.

On the eastern side of the Azum River was a small, stone wall. It could easily be stepped over, but it provided a border marking. Unlike the southern border, the Hebikoti Clan had never been attacked from the west. There was no threat in that direction and therefore no need for an artificial border to prevent Magickians from crossing.

The Azum River stretched for almost three hundred miles until it reached Tilica. Three hundred miles of territory and only one person to guard it. It seemed like an impossibly large amount, especially considering that there was no point in the largely artificial border that made it uncrossable to Ethera's forces.

Yet, Nerluce sat, lax and waiting, on the stone wall.

Water spirits played, inventing and reinventing the Azum River's currents. Nerluce smiled and looked up. The sun had almost completely set. The air was thick with the smell of rain. A storm would be upon them soon. It would be best to get this fight over with before it hit. Rain would lessen visibility and create confusion for the numerous troops of Ethera while doing little to hinder Nerluce who was by himself and therefore making it impossible for friendly fire.

Were they really so naive as to expect him not to be waiting for them? Did they not realize he'd know the direction they were coming from? Or were they so stupid as to think their attack would be a complete surprise?

He scoffed. If war was a game played alone, Nerluce would never be able to stand up to Ethera's forces. But war wasn't like that. Even though Nerluce fought alone, he was not alone. The Hebikoti Clan's spies existed not just in Ethera, but across Itoroh. They kept Nerluce well informed about Ethera's movements.

Considering the direction they were heading, Nerluce narrowed the range from three hundred miles to about thirty. And then he looked at the maps and thought about his opponent, the High Priestess. She was a mysterious woman. Little was known about her and even less was known about her Magick and motives. What Nerluce did know was that she was both incredibly cautious and incredibly prideful.

Those traits did not mesh well together. But it did make it pretty clear where she would choose to cross the Azum. It was likely that the river would be crossable - either through Magick or otherwise - but the High Priestess likely wouldn't want to take that chance. She would prefer something more traditional. Something guaranteed to allow her across. That and she would see it as a more legitimate means of attack.

In the three hundred miles it spanned, there were only three bridges. Kosuke Bridge was the oldest and the biggest. Its back arched towards the sky, like a preening cat. Its sides were patterned with the symbols of river gods. Nerluce had already said his prayers to them. Its cobblestone was empty at the moment - Nerluce had declared the bridge out of order and no one had dared question him.

It was best if no accidental collateral damage was incurred.

Nerluce spread the dark, star-speckled fan he'd been given by the Wolf Woman and waited. The sun sunk lower in the sky. Nerluce frowned. It was possible they'd stopped earlier than he'd anticipated. He'd burn them out of their tents if he needed but Nerluce did not like using such brutish methods. He wanted to give them the chance to return home.

But just as the last bit of sunlight faded from the sky, just as he was about to give up, Nerluce spotted them on the horizon. He fanned himself a couple more times before standing and stretching. Well, he supposed he ought to greet these visitors to the Hebikoti Clan and to warn them that crossing the bridge cost a heavy toll: one's own life.

Scouts had seen him by this point. They went riding back to the High Priestess. Nerluce couldn't make her out, yet. He sighed and put away his fan. Time to work. Time to put everything that he didn't want to think about or feel into a little box and lock it up, tight. Nerluce stored his morals and his memories, he stored his love and his dreams, he put everything he was and hoped to be in this box.

And then he put on a smile and climbed to the top of the bridge. The High Priestess rode forward, oh so distinct with her dual hair.

"Good evening, High Priestess Honami!" Nerluce called from the bridge.

She stopped short of the bridge. Her horse, a gray mare snorted and pawed the earth, anxiously. Behind the High Priestess were four others. Nerluce recognized them as Elder Priests and Priestesses. He decidedly ignored them. He skimmed the other soldiers or more specifically, he looked at their mounts.

Lilith wasn't among them.

"Where's Angel?" Nerluce asked.

"Elder Priest Aristide guards the Chosen Light," the High Priestess said. She looked highly smug about this fact. "He will not let your shadows pierce her. You will have to settle your grudge with him another day."

Nerluce cocked his head. "I have no grudge against him."

The High Priestess's expression darkened. "Then perhaps you'd like to visit him. If you come to Ethera peacefully, there will be no need for further action."

"Oh?" Nerluce asked. "It almost seems like you came all this way to see me. I'm touched."

"We did," the High Priestess said.

Nerluce missed a beat. He'd... he'd been teasing when he said what he had. His eyes widened and then narrowed as he looked at the High Priestess. What was her game? Why would she make such a wager? She was working for Tilica, wasn't she? Tilica wouldn't care about him. He was just one player in a much larger game. Surely Ethera's only mission here wasn't to take Nerluce into custody.

"Nerluce Hebikoti," the High Priestess said. "Son of Prathesh Hebikoti. Practitioner of Dark Arts, Master of Heresy, Magickian of Life." She glared at him with such an intense hatred that Nerluce was startled. "You are a blite upon the world. Your shadow casts darkness and uncertainty onto all of our futures. If you surrender yourself to us to be executed in Ethera, there will be no need to cast all of Itoroh into damnation."

Well, that was a bit different than surrendering peacefully.

"Unfortunately for us both," Nerluce said. "I would greatly prefer to live. I'm sure you and... many of your Seraphs feel the same." His gaze slid over at Ethera's troops. "So I do not want to be... executed for your perceived faults in myself."

The woman clicked her tongue. "You still feign ignorance?" she asked. "I know who you are, Darkest Shadow."

A beat.

Then, Nerluce laughed.

He couldn't help himself. The idea... it was just... stupidity! And it was just what Lyana had predicted would happen. Nerluce had continued to be unapologetic in his usage of Life Magick and now Ethera, cowards when faced with true power, were here to kill him. Nerluce couldn't help but laugh. In the distance, thunder rolled across the sky.

"Darkest Shadow?" Nerluce echoed. "What a fucking joke." Lightning flashed behind Nerluce. His white hair was illuminated by the strike. "You come to my clan's territory with such an audacious lie and demand my life as forfeit?" He spat. "Come and take it. Let the gods decide which one of us is righteous."

"This doesn't have to end in death," the High Priestess said.

"No, it doesn't," Nerluce agreed. "Go home and I will forget this whole incident ever occurred. Things can be as they were."

"With you running amuck? With you killing anyone who inconveniences you?" the High Priestess asked. "Your crimes have reached ears all across Ecekasuri. You are a spoiled child who is completely lacking in morals. If we let you go today, what is to stop you from deciding to kill another innocent person because you desire their land? What is to stop you from deciding that all of Ecekasuri ought to belong to you?"

"I don't want all of Ecekasuri!" Nerluce shouted. Who would? Ruling all of those people... sounded like a lot of work to Nerluce. All he wanted was to laze about: drinking, and eating, and completely free.

Thunder roared, much louder this time.

"And your accusations against me are unfounded. I have never murdered anyone for... for inconveniencing me," Nerluce said. "You cannot convict me just because you dislike my Magick."

"Your forked tongue says nothing but lies," the High Priestess snarled.

Nerluce raised his chin, teeth bared. Lightning flashed. There was no convincing them. They had come here to kill him and they would not be leaving until they accomplished that. A part of him wondered if surrendering to them was the right thing to do. Two years ago, he would have. He would have used his own blade if it meant a stop to the fighting. But now, Nerluce knew that even if he surrendered, even if he spared the lives of anyone he might kill today... the fighting would never really cease.

Ethera would invent a new lie, convict a new individual. They would do whatever they wanted because they had the strength to. They could get away with anything so long as they said it was the will of the divine. And that pissed Nerluce off.

"Cross onto Hebikoti land and your life will be forfeit," Nerluce said, summoning Ealatus as raindrops began to fall from the sky.

The High Priestess narrowed her eyes. "Seraphs! Bring down Darkest Shadow!"

The soldiers let out a cry and began to charge.

"So be it."