Second Sight

[Piken]

Ceredor was having a rough time finding this 'Hand of Gul'dan', as he did not know this area at all. Though he did have the general direction and had to keep himself hidden every so often from the countless droves of Demons that filled this tainted land. It sickened him but was almost euphoric at the same time.. So much Fel taint.. and that is what drove his power now.. The very thing he hates. But it is by his own choice that he did this.. And look what he has become? Nothing but his most hated enemy! An abomination!

He growled, reeling and grabbing his head as it pounded. No, these were not his thoughts.. they were the demon inside of him, trying to do exactly what happened to his prey to him; drive him insane. He battled the dark being back into the recesses of his mind and moved onward.. The point of this trial was to show him what he would become if he lost his will to the Demon inside of him.. A mix of fear and eager curiosity filled the Elf as he resumed his travels.

Along the way, he would have to practice his hunting and slaying skills on stray demons, and he reveled in every kill. Again, that euphoric feeling filled him. In his mind, he knew this was no good thing. It was this place, it tested every fiber of his being. He growled as he gripped his head again, a pounding headache overcoming him for a moment as the demon spoke its repulsive language inside of his mind. He shook his head and moved on again.. He was stronger than this being, and he would make sure it knew its place.

Finally, he had some type of lead to where his target was.. Or at least a lead in general.. A trail of demonic corpses, drained of their fel energies and blood. Taking a deep breath, he started off into a jog.. The Hunt was truly beginning now.

[Piken]

As the Night Elf followed the line of corpses, many of them long dead, he became more and more anxious. He seemed to be much more at ease when fighting Demons, even if he absolutely knew that it was a suicide mission.. But this was completely different. It was more iconic, more meaningful. He was going to be battling himself.

Ceredor paced himself as he followed the trail, and it went on for a good while until he finally found fresher traces of battle. It wasn't easy and he nearly lost the trail several times but he managed and it paid off, in a sense. He was horrified at the 'sight'. This being was a vibrant green, glowing more than he had ever seen anyone other than a demon glow before. Though, this being wasn't too far now.. And he was one of his own kind, fallen so far.. He savagely slaughtered the demons he combated. And not only did he ferociously rip them apart like a wild beast, but he drank their blood as he spattered on his face. He feasted on their essence, only to move on to the next. His appearance, from what Ceredor could make out, was of a much more 'developed', many more demonic signs showing. He was so far-gone.. and it brought a great sadness to the fledgling Hunter.

As he watched the gory spectacle before him, his mind raced with thoughts. This was what he would possibly become.. What his people hated and what he hated most. But it was a sacrifice for them. All these questions and thoughts flew through his mind.. but there was something that never crossed his mind. And that was doubt, nor regret. The demon inside of him was silent, taking a break from its usual rantings as it felt this strong emotion. Determination. This Kal'dorei was determined to show the worlds that he would not become this beast. The silence in his mind only lasted for a moment, but a moment inside one's mind allows thousands of thoughts to go by.. And that moment only strengthened his resolve.

The Fallen Hunter suddenly stopped and turned to face him, whether catching on some unknown 'scent' or maybe Ceredor simply waited there too long, but he didn't mind.. He readied his weapons as he stared at the fallen beast before him. "You've done your time.. It's time to rest. You've earned it." He said calmly, though he had a small grin forming on his lips. He wasn't sure if it was him or the Demon, but right now.. he cared more about his prey. The Hunt began.. now it was time for it to end.

[Piken]

The Fallen Hunter wasted no time in charging at the fledgling Hunter, immediately firing a large ball of fel-fire at him. Ceredor rolled to the side, evading the blast, but his opponent was fast. He would be upon him in seconds, Ceredor needed to think fast. He was outmatched in nearly every way; experience, Fel-consumption. It all weighed against him.. Except for the key point of rational thought.. This Hunter was a savage beast, for the most part. It seemed that his thoughts were solely on the next kill, the next feast. And that was Ceredor.

Another fire blast shot at him, Ceredor rolled backwards and evaded the attack once more but now the Hunter was on him. There was a loud clang of metal on metal, glaive on glaive, as their weapons met. The flurry of attacks sent at him were more difficult than he thought to parry and avoid.. While the Hunter was stuck in a fel-high, his strikes were still just as calculated, if not more.. Ceredor growled as he was forced back and sent a fel-fire ball at his enemy, which was easily avoided. Finally, though, he was able to get an opening to put the Hunter on the defensive, slashing and striking with quick, easy movements and attacks while the Hunter struck with powerful blows. A grin was on Ceredor's lips as they battled.. And if the Demon had a face, a grin would be on his face as well..

Ceredor used his time to quickly attack here and there but went back on the defensive, allowing the enemy to strike hard.. While Ceredor's plan was a good attempt, it wouldn't hold out too well. Fel-taint made sure that this Hunter had plenty of energy, but it opened a new opportunity for him.. He found a pattern in his strikes and that would be the Hunter's undoing.

The young Elf continued as he was before, defending and leading the Hunter around, always sticking to a certain pattern with his defense until he was completely sure of his enemy's flaw.. and when he was, he finally took the time to strike hard and fast! In a split second of hesitation in the Hunter's attack pattern, he cast a flash of Fel-fire right in the corrupted Hunter's face. It was evaded, but his intention wasn't damage, but distraction and blindness. And his plan worked out, as it distracted the Hunter and while it did, he finally hit hard, rolling to the side and slashing several times and dealing deadly blows to his opponent.

The fight had lasted a few minutes.. and he had taken a good amount of hits without even realizing.. The Demon inside of him cackled wildly as he knew what came next. Ceredor panted, blood dripping from his body in several places, staring down at the crumpled heap before him. After saying a short prayer for his prey to Elune, he did as he was instructed.. remove the heart from his prey and begin to drink the heavily corrupted blood and essence, his body becoming overwhelmed with a feeling of extreme pain and burning and intense ecstasy. He growled after finishing the task, doubling over and grabbing at the tainted soil. He felt ill.. He felt the being inside of him grow more powerful with this but worked to keep it down and under control.

After some time, he pushed himself up, still feeling ill but at the same time feeling immensely more powerful. He grabbed his weapons from the dark soil and stood straight and started back from the way he came.. to his teacher.

[flammos200]

Theleniel skidded down a slope in her usual fashion, down to the road Ceredor'd taken. "Well... Now you know what it feels like to be one of us, Ceredor." she smiled.

"This might be the last we see or hear of each-other." the Blood Elf peered at her student. "All that remains is a symbolic blood-oath." she pulled back one of her bracers to reveal a scar along the inside of her wrist. "Essentially, all it involves is a cut there, and the promise that you'll spend your waking hours fighting the Burning Legion and preventing their takeover of Azeroth to the very best of your abilities. After the blood has run for ten minutes, you're free to patch yourself up and take your leave." she pulled her bracer back down over the scar.

"There are a couple of new abilities you can manifest now. One would be the tainted fireball. Effectively, you can throw a ball of fel and shadowflame. It's a dark thing, created by expelling your most negative experiences in material form, a flame fueled by your rage."

Theleniel smiled. "And the last, which I suggest you not use, would be Metamorphosis. Temporarily assuming the guise of a Demon. This is risky for any number of reasons - from the fact that you risk your very soul in the process, to the mask becoming its wearer. Not to mention how taxing it can be on one's physique. It's... usually not worth using, in all honesty."

The Demon Hunter walked closer and peered up at the Kaldorei. "You know... I think I'll miss you, Ceredor." she grinned suddenly, those long, sharp teeth baring themselves. "After all, you, I and my own former teacher are the only ones I know to have gone through all of that in such a way... If you do intend to write, do it in arcane ink, or in fel-blood. Though, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone to carry a fel-tainted letter for you."

[Piken]

The Night elf skidded to a stop in the filthy soil though he wasn't really surprised to see his Master cutting him off. He figured she would be nearby. Returning the smile, he gave the smaller elf a nod as he straightened his posture then listened to everything his teacher had to say, and as he did a small frown came to his lips.

Without another word, he would raise his arm to show his wrist. Pulling his worn and torn sleeve back, he brought a blade to his wrist and pressed it down to break the skin, causing his blood to begin to run and as it did, he would speak, "I swear, by all of my being, that I will spend the rest of my mortal life hunting the Burning Legion and stop them from ever taking over our home, Azeroth." He spoke very clearly and formally, though at the end he had that playful smirk on his lips.

After the ten minutes of blood-running, he would finally reach over to cover and bind the wound. Nodding again to his Teacher's explanations, he shrugged, "I'd hope I wouldn't have to be pushed that far.. But I'll keep them in mind. I think my form right now is intimidating enough, right?" He grinned at her, cracking another little joke.

When all was said and done, he gave her another, final nod. "If not, I'll be sure to deliver it myself, even if it defeats the purpose of writing." He laughed and bowed his head, "Thank you, Master. Until our next meeting. And there will be a next meeting." He smiled before turning to head off, back towards his homeland.. There was much to be done. But after all of this, he couldn't help but feel a hint of sadness come over him.. For he was not going to be returning to his teacher for his next assignment, and not hear that amused chuckle of hers. No, now it was time for his real trials to begin.. And he would greet them with Fel-fire and steel.

(And that is the ending to this wonderful tale.. I hope any who followed this enjoyed it. I know I loved doing it! I would love feedback via PMs, as well! ^.^ <3 Flammos, my faithful mentor!)