When Old Meets New
Aug 24, 2012 0:04:34 GMT
Post by Deleted on Aug 24, 2012 0:04:34 GMT
((OOC: This is a closed thread between Ryan & Veil.))
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Ryan Jiaoimasu
[/justify]Change. Everything always changed - it was the natural way of things. Though few could claim to have been through as much extreme change as Ryan Jiaoimasu had been through in his lifetime.
His clan, the Jiaoimasu Dragonian Samurais, were betrayed and slaughtered by the very same countries they had always protected, leaving him all that remained. Death and life, he had tasted both in those early days. In his grief he had been manipulated into having the evil split from his body, which changed him forever and created Loki. Years of dedication to righting that wrong brought about pain and suffering, before the world was invaded by Saiyans form the planets moon. It was an extermination force, the Dragonian people the sufferers, but they were defeated and the world finally knew peace.
Eight years of peace followed before Loki finally resurfaced, and when all was said in done many warriors were frozen in time. They awoke one thousand years later, but Dragonia had changed. The new world, Noria, was like nothing they had known, full of magic; even the Dragonian race no longer existed. The ‘Warriors of Time’, as they had become known, did not fit into this new world, but they did their best to do so. However, change was not through with them yet. A planet appeared out of nowhere in the sky and in a blinding flash of light two worlds became one and yet again Ryan was thrown into the unknown.
Despite everything, all the change, Ryan continued to do what he had always done, what he had been tasked with from that dreadful day. Loki was and had always been his responsibility to deal with, despite all those who had attempted to solve the issue on their own in the past. Only now Ryan had other responsibilities, larger concerns. He was an ambassador to the Arcane Academy, attempting to rebuild the fragile balance of this strange new planet, and that alone was no small feat. Life was far from a chore, but it had become full of necessary actions and quests, and was that really a life at all?
So here he was, on the highest point of Hooke forest overlooking the fertile grasslands of Coranth, within the country of Ithroia. It had become his home when he found himself on Noria, though in truth he had never truly felt at home besides when he was on this spot. Up here, overlooking such natural beauty, it reminded him of the sight he used to see when he was overlooking the valley that had belonged to his people so long ago. He had not visited the site of his old home, once in the mountain region that stood between Brada and Leiversia, because he had no idea if it still existed, and if it did there was no guarantee that it was still where it once was; nothing had been the same since that bright light. But only here did he feel at peace, only here could he truly relax.
Closing his eyes Ryan took several deep breaths, enjoying the gentle breeze that softly caressed his scared and aging face, that lightly beat against his cloak. He remembered his youth and his home, his friends and family, all those he had known and loved throughout the years, and all those he had lost along the way. His memories were always so vivid, almost as if he could reach out with his one good hand and grasp them, relive them once more; he could even taste and smell everything he remembered.
So lost in his memories was he, that Ryan did not hear or see the approaching beast that was hunting him. Small, agile and deadly fast, the creature made up for its small stature with razor sharp fangs, claws and spikes that covered the majority of it’s sleek body. Noria had been a world of beasts unlike anything Ryan had ever known on Dragonia. They had come in all shapes and sizes, some bigger than entire buildings yet as harmless as a newborn baby, while others were no bigger than a child’s small toe but could and would kill you in the most excruciating pain imaginable. Ryan was still yet to learn of them all, but akin to the dragons of old, only without wings, this two legged beastie was known and feared as a Karnik, and was not to be trifled with or underestimated.
If it hadn’t been for the snapping of kindle beneath the creatures light frame, Ryan may have never been aware of it’s presence until it had been too late. Instantly the aging Samurai’s eyes shot open, yet he refrained from spinning round, lest he force the hand of whomever was approaching. However, Karnik were known for their near humanoid level of intelligence, and as soon as it realised it had given it’s position away it shrieked into the air and pounced. The shriek was enough for Ryan to tell what angle the creature was attack from, his right, which was perfect. Quickly reaching down to his left side Ryan grasped the hilt of his samurai sword, turning into the attack as he unsheathed the blade. With an upward arc of gleaming metal and flowing crimson, both the beast and Ryan fell to the ground.
Sword still in his hand, Ryan grunted as he pushed the beast up off from atop him. He has survived, he’d never had a doubt that he would not for he still had much to accomplish in his lifetime, yet he had been sloppy and almost paid the ultimate cost for it. After the damage his left arm had taken thanks to Dramanius, Ryan had never regained feeling or the use of it and believed it was unlike he ever would. It had been a hindrance to his skill with his swords, though over time it was one that he had slowly grown accustomed to. Busy with the internal chastising, the samurai had not noticed that his left arm had been injured, a large and bleeding gash now ripped through his clothing and skin, as well as having been pulled from the sling within his cloak.