Shadows of My Heart (knight)

[FaeWhisperer]

(Angst x Romance vibes)

Angelique sat before her pride. She was the young heiress to the throne, a demon born into a clan that were a bunch of soul stealers. Now. They needed these souls to fuel their magic- to keep their terrifying reign solid so that the other demon clans and calibers didn’t threaten them. For the most part, it was effective.

Just one problem. Angelique hadn’t really stolen that many souls herself, and was lacking. Her mother, old in age and ready to let her succeed her throne- knew this of her daughter. Surely her daughter would not make it as queen.

Soon though, it would come to attention that Angelique had befriended the deadliest in their pride, one who would even make the devil shiver. How she managed to do this baffled her, but she wasn’t questioning it. Perhaps this would be good…especially if their friendship turned into a pairing that would surely strengthen the pride.

Demon form

Lioness Form

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath sat at the lowest step near the throne, his axe propped up on its heavy head, the thick dark stone, etched with symbols along its blade, it was wrapped with leather and hide along the long handle. his dark armor clicked and rattled as he shifted in place. His face handsome...well it would be more handsome if he didn't wait with such a stern and cool expression. He shifted again, the only sign of his legs faint discomfort from standing so still a d so long.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

Angelique flicked an ear as she noticed where Skath was, and she only hoped her mother would begin her announcement so that Skath would be able to relax his position.

Her mother waited a few more moments before announcing the end of her reign, and that her daughter would become queen. This began whispering throughout the pride, and the Lioness could sense the uneasiness. She cleared her throat. “This is final. I know some of you have your doubts…but trust my judgement, as you always have..”

Angelique could sense the rumors that were beginning. She knew she wasn’t that strong…but she was the only heir…she had to rule. She then heard her mother add, “She will be trained by our strongest warrior, Skath,” she mentioned and motioned to the man standing at the bottom of the throne, and by those words the murmuring quieted down. Angelique was surprised that her mother would let such a thing happen, especially since was way past the apprentice stage. “When she becomes a worthy warrior herself, I will let her ascend the throne.” This seemed to put the others at ease, knowing that the future queen wouldn’t be entirely powerless and leave their pride defenseless…

But no one really knew what Skath was thinking, it was hard to decipher his thoughts by his stern expression alone.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath lifted his head slightly, that same stern almost stone faced expression still did not yield a sense one way or another. His hand touched his axe, pulling it up and settling it on his shoulder like it was a child's toy, when it took ten strong pridesmen to raise it from its original resting place. The Wayfarer, he called it. He turned his gaze from the crowd to the queen, they had...a bit of an understanding, he was her bodyguard and as she admitted the strongest of them. But she could see through his impassable facade, he seemed almost...confused. surely thy has other less important fighters to spare.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

Skath would see the Queen’s expression. He would soon figure out that he would have to be her daughter’s bodyguard from now on. Surely he wouldn’t complain, having the beautiful Princess by his side.

Angelique flicked an ear as her mother made it obvious Skath would train her. She didn’t complain, she knew he would make her into a fine warrior. And he would show her exactly how to collect souls for their magic.

Once the crowd dispersed and her mother retired to her den, Angelique was left alone with Skath. She padded down to him, shifting forms and presenting her demon form to him. Which he had rarely seen, but knew potential laid underneath that unblemished skin of hers- as he had known her father- a terrifying ruler with an ironclad fist. And the king’s magic prowess was something even he couldn’t have matched no matter how much he trained.

She looked to his face, her eyes searching it. “So. When shall we begin training?” She asked.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath eyed her as she shifted before his eyes, as she searched them she felt the wall behind them, like a thick steel barrier to his mind. His expression still held cold. "Have you even held a knife?" He said, his tone wasn't hostile or rough...but more like he was truly asking it of her.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

“I have…” she trailed off, “but usually when I hunt, I only use my lioness form,” she explained to him. “Surely you can understand I’m not one too familiar with my demon self as you are,” she explained further to Skath, hoping he wouldn’t think little of her.

 

[Knight_of_None]

"You will do well to master both forms." He said as he kept staring her down. "Come. I'll take you to the armory." He said turning to lead her away from the throne room

 

[FaeWhisperer]

(Oh I thought they were like in a woodland area lol guess that they could have a castle.. XD)

She followed him, trailing behind and looking around. She knew where the armory was it was just..not her specialty to be there. But if he was truly going to train her..

 

[Knight_of_None]

(XD I mean if you have warriors, you need to arm them somehow. And stacking up a bunch of swords and axes in a place you can get them faster makes sense anywhere lol)

He led her along, the Wayfarer clinking gently against his shoulder, the armory, a cave guarded by two young demons, they looked identical, the only way anyone really could tell the from the other was the weapons they carried. One carried a long staff, the other had two swords on his hips. Emi and Omi they were called. The two guards straightened as they picked up movement, Emi flipping his staff in his hands, his lithe muscles flexing, his shaved head creasing slightly with tension. Omi drew his swords at the ready but as Skath walked into their view both brothers froze in their defensive actions. "Oh shit-" Emi started but Skath had seemingly vanished from the princesses side, the only trace of his movement was the burst of wind he left in his wake as he was suddenly in front of the twins.

Needless to say, they didn't stand much of a chance, with one hand he stripped Emi of his staff and whipped it around in flourish knocking Omi on his back. Emi moved his hand up to try to grapple at Skath, going in to tackle him, but Wayfarer swung downwards in front of his face, the head of the ace stopping centimeters in front of his hose as he locked in place.

"Still slow." Skath said shortly as he lifted his hands up, dropping the staff on Omi's chest as he drew his axe back to his shoulder.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

(Okay fair)

The princess watched as Skath went and ambushed the twins, and she stayed a few feet behind. Once Skath was done, she slowly walked up to the scene and gave the two brothers a face that read ‘sorry for that..’ as if it had been her to do it. She waited silently for Skath and wondered what he would do next.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath loomed low over Omi, the young shifter looking down, shaking a little for a moment but he reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him to his feet. "We're sorry" Emi said as Skath brushed by them both. "Don't apologize. Get stronger." He grunts as he looked over his shoulder at the princess next. "Next time I expect you to face them."

 

[FaeWhisperer]

Angelique gave a look of surprise. “M-Me?” She asked, knowing she full well never treated others like he did. But…then again, he was the best of the best.

 

[Knight_of_None]

"Yes, or do you desire to face me?" He said, the thought, even if he wouldn't strike her down could chill her blood for a moment. "Lets select a weapon." He said simply.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

Her face paled briefly at the thought, but she didn’t respond. She simply looked around after he told her to choose a weapon and she wanted to take one that ‘called’ to her.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath waited behind her, near the cave entrance, as she wandered the dim depths, lit with low candles. The weapons were raised on the walls, swords, maces, aces, dangers, bows, all sorts of weapons of dark wood and the worked steel.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

She surprisingly chose a large dagger to fashion on her hip, and a bow swung across her shoulder. She came back to the entrance and looked to Skath.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath raised his brow at her selection for a moment but didn't comment on them. "Now is the time to hunt and blood your tools" he said as she approached him.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

She shifted her stance, “alright,” she spoke, and went to follow him out in the woods. She wondered exactly what he was thinking, but unbeknownst to him- Angelique was actually very skilled with a bow.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath led her into the forest line, the dense grassland breaking into a veil of squat trees, and wide reading blimps. Skath shifted into a stop, then looked at the princess. "Find your prey." He said simply, leaning against a tree.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

Angelique nodded and to Skath’s surprise, she was very lithe and quick, silently climbing up a nearby tree, concealed in its dark leaves. Her demon eyes surveyed the area, and she readied her bow. She created an arrow out of magic, and black mist curled around its tip. She fired at an unknown object but she hit something and it cried out. Human.

She watched the others scatter and leave the wounded one behind, the magic of the arrow incapacitated it. She took her dagger and dug straight into the chambers of it’s heart, the blade releasing the human’s soul.

Skath would see Angelique capture the soul, the glowing bright orb going into her chest. Her eyes sharpened and she glanced around, using the rest of her dagger to collect the parts her pride needed for a meal. Usually she would drag the human with her Lion strength but she was doing this the traditional way.

This in itself would be surprising to Skath. A skilled huntress, sure, but in combat was probably what her mother had been worried about.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath shifted from under his tree, walking towards her, taking in her skillful kill and capture. Of course hunting was expected, there was little in the way of easy meat or collection otherwise. He walked to the arrow wound, pulling the sharpened dark stone tipped arrow from the corpse. "Very good." He said with a slight nod.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

Angelique looked up at Skath at his approving nod and felt her chest swell with pride- especially being noticed from him. “This human won’t be enough to feed the pride-“ she began and gave a small sigh. “I need to hunt more,” she tells him next, noting how he held her arrow.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath flicked the arrow, putting the blood streaking along the grass as it cleaned itself. "Then you will collect more" he said holding it out to her.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

She took the arrow and it disappeared in her hand, going back into her magic. She gathered what she could of the kill, placing it in a separate sack of hers before she moved along to go hunt once more, ignoring a feeling she felt when Skath had laid his eyes on her.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath for the most part was a silent presence, but she never could quite forget he was near her. Just behind her, watching her every step,vliikinf ifor the smallest gapp in her talents to address.

 

[FaeWhisperer]

When she reached another kill, she paused and raised her head. She felt eyes on her that didn’t belong to Skath, and she glanced around quickly, wondering if Skath could feel the presence too.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skaths eyes were already glancing along the terrain, rather than stopping low, he stepped plainly into the open,, opening up his senses to the world. Every motion slowing as he skimmed for the danger. The human? Did they have a little pack?

 

[FaeWhisperer]

The human indeed had a little pack but the trick up their sleeve was that some of the members were…halflings. Sure, not as powerful as a full blooded demon, but still a threat nevertheless.

Angelique clenched her jaw, glancing to Skath and watching an arrow- no doubt laced in a deadly toxin for demons specifically- barely miss his shoulder by a few mere millimeters..she gave a soft almost non audible gasp and stood, readying her own bow, waiting for the next attack.

 

[Knight_of_None]

Skath flicked his eyes into the direction of the arrow, rolling his axe from his shoulder and threw the black stone monstrosity forwards, hurling in the direction of the archer. The blade glowed to life as it spun end over end, bisecting trees like they were twigs.