'...Someone else will be the one to pay for my refusal.'

The thought hits the Sheikah immediately as Maverick describes how the Fairy had been killed. The thought of it merely being an accident is somewhat frightening...however, as he thinks more about it, he decides that he cannot discount the possibility of this being a cover up for Meridel assassinating Astor. Even though he himself had not done such a thing as Wraith, he had known countless others who used the tactic daily.

Recalling Fassix's request, the Sheikah nods in his direction. "Of course, Fassix," he says somberly. This is the scene of an incredibly recent death; anything less than sadness would be an insult to those who now treasure the memory of Astor. Especially in a situation like this...death was always a warrior's companion, but a scientist's? An innocent person? That was the kind of thing that Alpha fought to protect now, in the days after he had served under Him. And yet seeing the small pool of blood slowly seeping its way beneath the doorway was enough to inform him that he could not win every battle, he could not save every innocent being.

Still, though, he can't get the thought that Meridel is behind this out of his head. It may have been his nature to not trust the obvious (something which had saved his life countless times), even though his mind tried to silence that part of his soul. The timing strikes him as too coincidental, however, and therefore he feels a need to probe a slight bit deeper.

So, bowing his head in a show of respect, he approaches Maverick and quietly and still solemnly asks, "May I inquire as to what she was working on at the time? What could have caused such an explosion?"

OOC: Yeah, I chose to continue the dot-dot-dot you left at the end of that last post. I'm assuming that's what you meant by 'it could only mean one thing,' primarily because it's the first thing that hit me.

Oh, and from now on I'm going to post as if Victor is not a part of this. He's obviously too busy to do anything (but he's welcome to prove me wrong on this point!). I don't want this to be held up too much, so no more waiting on the bard, at least not for me!

OOC: Fair enough. Although I really hope Victor's second semester isn't so intense

IC:

Maverick relaxed, inwardly pleased that Alpha was so caring for a woman he had never even met. It was obvious by his sullen features that something was troubling the Sheikah, but Maverick would not bother him with the "What's wrong?" routine. Turning his head and flicking it slightly, he signaled for the two hooded men to leave. The did so silently, their feet making very little noise as they descended to the castle's ground level. The other men - save for the muscular man, who turned and entered his dormitory - also proceeded towards the stairwell.

"Alpha... I have tried to steer this organization away from the path of dishonesty. I am about to indulge you, the newest member of my alliance, with information classified to only myself, Myst, and the four members involved. Because... You are involved as well."

Solstrem Maverick raised his hand and flicked his wrist. Around the two mages, the castle's walls almost seemed to melt and drip to the floor. Actually, the floor appeared to be doing the same, except dripping upwards (definitely not a common sight). The grey and brown hued blocks forming the castle's structure disappeared, replaced by a deep black field of nothing. A green and purple haze surrounded the scholars for a moment, and then suddenly it all dispersed.

The fifth floor was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Alpha now stood in a clearing, surrounded by trees rather than the ugly shadows. Maverick appeared ahead of him, leaning against a tree. The remainder of the forest was lost in a light fog, which shrouded any sights further than three trees in.

"Welcome to the woodland of the city, Alpha. Lean back, we have a few things to discuss...."

Maverick grinned suddenly, but not menacingly. It was a knowing, understanding smile.

"In the entirety of the conversation, please refrain from attacking me, Wraith."

The smile remained.

"I apologise, Alpha, but I am a Calatian."

Alpha's eyes flicker back and forth as all of the other members of the organization turn to leave the two of them alone. It is an interesting feeling, being alone with one who commands such a great deal of respect among men. Alpha has yet to understand what about him they find so respectable, but he acknowledges the fact that Maverick is an authority in this organization...but these thoughts only occupy his subconscious.

In the front of his mind is the question as to what could be so important that only a small fraction of the group would be permitted to have knowledge of it - and even more importantly, what it could have to do with him. His gaze shoots behind him once again, examining those who had been gathered in the area with his memory. One man stands out in particular: Fassix. The one who had been attempting to study Wraith in order to learn the secrets of the 'Bright Dark.' He hopes that isn't what Maverick was talking about. If that was the case...then he would know Alpha was Wraith. And that would mean that, in an organization like this, there was no option but to kill. And Alpha doesn't feel like being the one to die today.

The worry that boils up inside of him like a volcano threatening to explode quickly ceases its tremors as the room seems to melt away. Wondering if his mental metaphors are becoming reality, as it certainly seems like the room is being consumed by magma, the Sheikah realizes that it would be a lot warmer if that was the case. As the room fades into darkness, his feelings turn to caution. This is unlike anything he has ever seen before in his life; even the Void doesn't act like this. Instinctively he grabs his staff from beneath his cloak, holding it in a defensive position. Then the darkness also fades away, revealing...a forest?

As Maverick speaks, the Sheikah slowly lowers his weapon in disbelief. 'Weren't we...just in the castle?' And then it happens.

Maverick calls him Wraith. It seems one of them will be dying after all.

'No...no...no. Not yet,' Alpha thinks once his senses return to him. Fear has indeed gripped his heart and forced him to inhale sharply, but the Sheikah is not willing to let that fear control him just yet. There is the simple chance that Maverick doesn't know much about Wraith, or is just taking a wild guess...?

'...what does being a Calatian have to do with this?' He had heard that Calatians had a good information network, but he had covered his tracks so well that there was no way it was possible they could have learned of him. No, there had to be another solution...

He nearly slaps himself for not thinking of that option sooner: Fassix. Perhaps the scientist had not been as dumb as he looked, and had indeed caught on. Yes, that was probably it, Alpha decides. He feels somewhat foolish for not thinking of that option sooner, but the truth is that his shock at having Maverick call him by the title of Wraith was overwhelming. Equally overwhelming was the fact that he was requesting that they not fight.

In response, the Sheikah speaks aloud for the first time in a long time. Although Maverick's voice held no anger or threat, a possible reason could have been because Alpha was absorbing it into his own tone.

"I have two questions for you; your answers shall deside whether or not I honor your request," he says coldly. He holds up his left hand, extending his index finger. "One: how do you know that I am Wraith?" His middle finger then comes up. "Two: how much of my history as Wraith do you know?"

Beneath his cape, his right hand twitches ever so slightly...and a poison needle lands safely within its grasp.

OOC: The "How much do you know" question always gets us, because no one but you knows all of the details of Alpha's past XD

IC:

"Hold perfectly still, Alpha. Already an alliance member has fallen on this day. There is no need for another to tumble as she did. I know you fear that your secrets will be revealed, with more people becoming aware of your pseudonym... or at least, the pseudnym that you choose to hide.

"I am a Calatian, Alpha. There is a library in my homeland - the largest library I have ever seen, and I have travelled to many locations in this world. For years I studied there, and acknowledged the many texts on its hundreds of thousands of shelves. For a time, I was a high-ranking person of my status. People with clearance of the likes of mine have access to the oldest biography, history, and report files in the world. There is not a politician in Calatia that doesn't know about Wraith - we can thank the Goddesses that they were not clever enough to link the clues to you.

"That answers your first question - I read the files. To answer the second: I know very little. Yours is a classified story, and only a select few have even glanced on it. I know surprisingly little. Now please, put the dart away."

Maverick grinned and pointed to Alpha's hand. "Although I sympathize your concerns, carrying around that weapon is hardly the best way to separate yourself from the identity of Wraith. Now, what I do know is that you are a key figure in the Bright Dark research project. There are several people, most of whom we have yet to discover."

OOC: Not sure if I left you with enough to work with, but I have to go

OOC: That may always get you, but you do an excellent job of covering up your lack of knowledge, Blank. *Applauds*

IC:
Alpha can't help but grin at the comment. "It's obvious that you know very little indeed, Maverick, if that's the case." He brings out his hand, still holding the needle, and twirls it around in his hand. "Otherwise you would know that, should I ever be forced into using these needles, the person they target always falls. It matters not if I carry around my special arsenal; few survive to tell others that I have it."

He slowly rolls back his right sleave, showing a metalic device covering his arm from just behind his wrist to just before his elbow. The metal seems to be very thin, not useful in attacking, but its function is already obvious, even before the Sheikah slides the needle back inside it. Bringing his cold, crimson eyes back up to meet Maverick's he slowly lets out a deep breath. "Very well then, speak; I've been interested in learning about what role I play in this 'Bright Dark' ever since I spoke to Fassix. I'm grateful to have an explanation at last."

Maverick sighed deeply, and then stepped away from the tree on which he had been leaning. Pacing about the clearing, he gave the obvious impression that he was unsure just how to explain in suitable detail the ideas behind the Bright Dark. As he walked slowly, his expressions lifted and he finally began his explanation.

"The Bright Dark is an ancient form of spiritual magic, long since forgotten by the remaining inhabitants of this city. At first, we perceived this to be a spell that was simply a fusion of Light and Shadow. After much research and translation, Astor discovered that it was originally a meld of every key element in the common world of that time. Through a series of related, ancient scriptures, Fassix was able to pertain that in the old days of this city there were rituals practised to call about the Bright Dark.

"When joined together, figureheads representing certain elements could trigger the magic. We have found a record telling exactly who is destined to call upon the Bright Dark's power. The recipe, so to speak, consists of the seven Inteligent Ones, and a mysterious individual representative of darkness itself. Although it sounds dreary and negative, it seems that the Bright Dark is calling for you, Alpha.

"Now, the Bright Dark is useful to us for one reason. Because it will supposedly be triggered by the Intelligent Ones, we can use the knowledge we gather to use the spell against them. Fassix, Vic, Tess and Astor were in the process of ascertaining just how this tactic could be made reality."

Maverick looked unsure. His explanations were better than Darizan's a thousand times over, and yet when explaining the Bright Dark and its purpose, there was so much he didn't know. For a scholar so infamous for his vast amount of knowledge, it would have to be a truly perplexing project. So little was known, and by the expression on the Calatian's face, he was bothered by the lack of insight.

Alpha leans up against one of trees and runs his hand through his hair as his face takes on the look of someone deep in thought. Which he is. The idea that he could be the last key to accessing an ancient almighty power that has remained untapped for generations......well, truth be told, he's heard stranger stories.

"Well, I must admit that it makes sense that I could be this 'representative of darkness itself," he says softly. Though it truly is sensible to his mind, his body still shudders at the thought. 'I am a Sheikah, to be sure...but representing darkness? That's something I tried to run away from a long, long time ago...' Maverick was correct: the words were indeed dreary and negative.

He turns away, bracing himself against one of the nearby trees as he continues to think out loud. "And you say that the others destined to awaken the Bright Dark again are the seven Intelligent Ones?" Another shudder, as he realizes that this is what Meridel was needing his aid for. The tests she had wished to perform would have obviously been organized around how well he could induce the Bright Dark. He instantly begins wondering what kind of power this could possibly be, that both sides would be after his cooperation so fervently. "What exactly could this Bright Dark do?"

Weighed down by such negative thoughts, one question that he has had since they arrived breaks through the veil of dark thoughts. His eyes open wide for a split second as he recalls it, and then he turns his face back towards Maverick. "On a different note, I do have a question that I would very much appreciate an answer to...where exactly are we?"

Maverick's expression did not lose its bewilidered and unsure features as Alpha voiced his concerns over just what the Bright Dark would do. Without having to say a word, his face spoke the truth loudly enough for him. Solstrem Maverick, a scholar looked up to as the very best in his class, did not even have a clue.

"To be quite honest, I am not sure what the Bright Dark is for. We have only been situated in this city for a short amount of time, explaining why we are still sending out reconaissance parties, and why we are so baffled by the elusive history of the ancient capitol. We do not even know the city's name, and so it is fitting that we can not yet be sure what purpose the Bright Dark could serve. Our research team is uncovering that mystery over time. We - that is, myself, Myst, Tess, Fassix and Vic - believe that it was a purging magic, used to rid the world of whatever necessary. It is a simple enough concept.

"We typically use the example of water and fire. Say, hypothetically, a wild flame sets alight to the trees of Hyrule's North Forst. The "Bright Dark" of the scenario, of coure, is the water. But we are quite certain that the magic goes deeper than simple, everyday occurrances such as a forest fire. We have yet to perceive just what it may have been used for, but we do know that it would have been powerful enough to wipe out whatever necessary, given the harsh requirements of its creation."

The mage laughed openly when Alpha asked about the scholar pair's location. Such a simple question after such a serious discussion brought Maverick's joy to a higher level, as the meeting was far less tense at that point. Grinning and opening his arms in a gesture to the strange forrested area, he proceeded to casually indulge Alpha with the knowledge of the sacred place.

"This place? It is simply a forest, not unlike the Deku Woods or North Forest. A better question is, how can trees sustain life so far underground? We really aren't sure. It is one of the wonders of this city. Perhaps sometime you'll see the others of its kind. This forest is a hidden refuge, away from the dangers of the city and the bustle of the surface world. It is here that one might come to ponder a serious thought, or perhaps spar with an ally. For now, I would advise against leaving the clearing. We have yet to explore the remainder, and it would be a true shame for one to be lost in there."

"Attempting to control or use something that you do not truly understand...if we were not facing such powerful foes, I would heartily suggest against doing so. It's very dangerous..." The Sheikah shakes his head at the lack of options. The incredibly brief sparring match he had had with Meridel - and even that was stretching it - had showed the power of the Intelligent Ones to him in its fullest. He wishes he had another weapon in his arsenal - 'Like the Goldforce,' - to aid them in this plight. "...but it is what must be done, I suppose."

After Maverick's explanation over where the two of them were, Alpha's questions are...somewhat cleared up. "Alright, so it's a forest that somehow exists far underground, where no plant life should be able to survive at all...most intriguing. But how in the world did we get here from the castle?" He's fairly certain that the Void had not been involved, and so his inquisitiveness has been aroused to its highest levels. "I assume it was your doing, but how did you do it?"

"I will admit that any attempt to harness an unknown power could prove catastrophic, but it's all we've got. Few have survived a close encounter with an Intelligent One, and every life lost fuels our efforts against them. By this point we are desperate to eradicate them. We can only hope that this power is not our own undoing."

Maverick stepped back a few paces, away from Alpha. His left arm raised, surrounded by the odd, dark aura that had brought the scholars to the forest. His hand flashed brightly, blinding not only himself, but Alpha as well. As the light cleared, a colossal stone structure appeared behind him, where deep woodlands had previously stood. The spectacular castle towered over Alpha and Maverick, a wonderful stone wall rising high above them. There was not a window in sight; the forest would be unseen from inside the building. Still surrounding the back wall of the organization headquarters was the strange woodland, only the portion directly behind Maverick had disappeared.

"Do not be so surprised, Alpha. Surely you have seen some others shift their locations in the way that we did only ten minutes ago. Such is a power we have accumulated by researching this city; Victor has already been endowed by the Dark Power, and you, too, will need Myst's "gift" at some point. It has many uses; you have seen it perform teleportation. Coming to this safe location was the simplest of ordeals."

Alpha's eyes open wide as the two of them are once again transported, this time appearing in close proximity to the castle. 'That was...interesting...' It was certainly nothing like the Void; this teleportation was instantaneous and induced no noticable pain - however, he had noticed some faint glows of his scar, indicating that this method of travel utilized dark energies of some kind.

Maverick had called it 'Myst's gift'. Alpha has no idea who this Myst could be, and now he certainly wants to know more about this power that this person could grant him. But the thought of it using darkness to power it does not exactly appeal to him.

The facts remain the same, however: Maverick is right, this power does seem to be necessary. If it has the ability to even out a fight against the Intelligent Ones, then he'll need it, especially should Meridel ever attempt to convince him to join them again. And now, with the knowledge that he might be the one person needed to release this Bright Dark of theirs, it is almost a certainty that he will be contacted again.

Turning back to Maverick, he looks the man straight in the eye. "What do I need to do in order to be granted this power of yours?"

Unfitting of his normally scholarly demeanor, Maverick shrugged. In truth, although wise and far more intelligent than most others, the Calatian was as casual as the next in most cases. He seemed to express that the answer to Alpha's question would not be what was expected; in short, Alpha didn't really have to do anything.

"Well, you could given the Dark Power within the next few minutes if it were possible. However, only Myst can distribute the strange energy that allows for it to exist, and unfortunately he isn't here right now. In fact, Victor has only been here for a few days and already he has been given the 'gift.' You may have noticed his fighting skills were slightly advanced, beyond their status when you last saw him in Hyrule."

Maverick bowed his head solemnly then, speaking in a lower tone. "Alpha, it is time for you to leave this realm. You and Victor must return to the surface of Hyrule until we summon you again. New allies to our cause do not live in such a dark place; but in time you may be spending quite some time below the mountain range.

"As you are both new to this organization, I can not ask you to partake of our uniform when above ground. Our enemies do not yet know that you have joined us, and so you are safe to wander about as normal. If you see one of us up there, I would advise against interfering. Full Apostles, as we call ourselves, are normally aboveground only to complete tasks given to them by myself and the others. You can, however, stand idly by."

Again transporting himself and Alpha, Maverick took the Sheikah to the city's colossal bridge, which connected the five known areas of the cavern. What was occurring was obvious enough. The Calatian was escorting Alpha to the exit.

"I will tell Victor the same thing when I find him. Now, farewell, Alpha. I trust you will be glad to see the light of day once more. Someone will come to you before too long. All I can say is enjoy your time above, away from this chaotic place."

Smiling, Solstrem Maverick walked away from the Sheikah, towards the Castle's gatehouse. The door closed behind him, and he was gone, leaving the scarred mage alone on the massive bridge.

The Sheikah nods in understanding when he reappears upon the bridge. His eyes wander up to the where the exit lies as his nodding continues, though a chuckle is also added to his tone. Just before the teleportation had taken place, Maverick had noted that he did not need to wear the uniform while above ground...a uniform which Alpha had never partook in anyways. He still wears his familiar cape, which may indeed seem like the normal outfit when wrapped around the Sheikah's form as it is now, but it's still a mistake that Maverick has made. And that allows Alpha a soft laugh.

"Trust me, Maverick, I can withstand the darkness for much longer than most people are able. It will be somewhat unfortunate to have to return to the revealing light of the outside...but I suppose I am used to it by now." As Wraith, he had needed to get used to staying in complete darkness for days upon end, without even the light of a candle to supplement his sight. Perhaps he shouldn't have been so hard on Victor about his lack of hearing the Ghoma, with the additional training he had received.

"Well, Maverick, I suppose this is farewell. Until we meet again," he says with a grin as his gaze returns to the Calatian. He throws the man a quick salute with two fingers as he slowly begins to sink into the ground. He may lack this mystical power of Myst's, but the Void is still a good way to travel, provided one does not stay for too long. "Tell Victor I'll be waiting to hear from him in North Castle," he calls back as his head disappears.

And then, the portal disappears as well, with Alpha far away from the underground chamber...but not in his thoughts. Inside his mind, he both awaits and dreads the fact that some day, he will be returning to the castle of Carock's Apostles. Walking out of the portal in one of North Castle's side alleys, the Sheikah returns to the light of day, with new fears, new allies, and new enemies.

Just another regular day in the life of Alpha the Sheikah mage.

Inside the gatehouse, Solstrem Maverick settled himself down into an antiquated chair. Lighting a few candles, he lit the room. It was now suitable for studying purposes. Grabbing a thick volume from off of the table. Opening it, he stared at the illegible print, blinking in confusion as he tried desperately to translate the ancient text. Sighing, the expert scholar closed the book, weary of countless hours spent in attempts to solve the mysteries of the city. He stood from his chair, and blew the flames away. The melted wax rippled in its puddle as he set the book back in place. Leaving the gatehouse, he stepped into the torchlit courtyard, and across the scene of a battle between a bard and an elder. Fatigued and disappointed in his lack of information, Solstrem Maverick, the great scholar of Calatia, entered the castle and searched for the young Hylian named Victor.

<center>~~~~~~~~~~~~</center>

Perched atop a high arch, which was once a great decorative entrance to the now angerous Leisure District, Vic Robertson watched Alpha disappear into the Void. A smug grin stretched out across his tanned face. So, this must be why they've had difficulty... Wraith; truly he is the epitome of darkness. Standing, the young Hylian scribe jumped from his position and landed in a dignified manner on the bridge, sending a small cloud of dust and dirt rushing in the opposite direction. He will only stand in the way. Maverick knows so little... if only he knew that the tremendous potential does not actually lay in Varaudo's existence...

<center>~~~~~~~~~~~~</center>

Far away, just on the outskirts of Mido Town, a man appeared inside a ravaged, abandoned home. Myst Wolfeye once knew the people who had inhabited the abode; in fact, he had also been living there temporarily, until twenty-four years ago. Tears were a rare sight for the Sheikah. However, coming anywhere near Mido Town brought on a hefty weight of old emotions. Three silent droplets of salty water dripped from his eyes, splattering on the floor of the wrecked home. Since the deaths of his comrades all those years ago, he had never truly forgiven himself. He had failed to save the child... he had fallen ill... the bandits had taken the boy... Myst knew the boy had survived. One day, he would find him.

<center>~~~~~~~~~~~~</center>

<center>Thus Ends Chapter I: The Cloaked Goron Guard</center>