Masquerade Of Madness: Into Madness: Part Two

The knight considered Creed crazy for taking off that kind of light armor. "Did you bump your head or something? That kind of armor would have protected you, not to mention, it's hard to find quality work that grand in this day and age."

"Let's just fight," said Creed

The knight nodded in agreement, "My name is Vaan, by the way." Vaan moved quickly, seeming to disappear. He reappeared suddenly in front of Creed and swung his giant ax – and it made contact. Creed hit the ground with a sickening crunch.

Creed stood up but not without damage to his wings. He started to heal them, hoping to bring them back into a healthy shape.

Vaan did not want to waste time. He went for Creed, who stupidly took another hit while trying to heal. The hit planted Creed into the ground. Vaan began to beat him mercilessly – hit after hit – aiming anywhere he could get. He then yanked Creed up by his bloody shirt and pounded him in the face.

Creed's jaw turned sideways as he spat up blood.

Vaan felt guilty, fighting an unwilling opponent. He wondered if maybe baiting him would make him fight, so he released Creed. "Come on, child. I thought you said let's fight."

Creed's face remained turned. "I said 'let's just fight,' not that I wanted to fight."

Vaan wanted to choke on his own words, "So you're just going to let me beat you around?"

Now Creed looked straight into his eyes. "I never said that either."

Confused, Vaan yelled, "What the hell, lad!" Vaan reached out to grab him, but Creed clutched Vaan's hand instead, using it as a lift to stand. The show of strength stunned Vaan. He did not even think of escaping.

Creed took this chance and bent the hand backward, forcing Vaan to take a step back.

Vaan, knowing that there was no way to avoid Creed's iron grip, winced in pain. He expected Creed to deliver a gnashing blow, but Creed softened his grip and released him.

Completely stunned by the turn of events, Vaan spoke with lost dignity. "Why, lad, if it were me, I would have let you writhe in pain and probably have broken your hand and arm." He dropped his ax.

Creed turned his back to Vaan, knowing that it was not the brightest move. "That is the difference between you and me. I am not willing to hurt you or anybody else for that matter. I want to make a difference in our everyday lives, so Casalyians can learn to be a better race of individuals."

"Lad," Vaan said humbly, "I admire your audacity to do something like that, but ask yourself, is it worth dying for? Is Casalynn worth saving, after all they did to you? Are you willing to save a race like ours? I don't think we need saving. I think we need more individuals with open minds. And what does going to the Humans have to do with that?"

"To prove that Casalyians can live with them, I guess," Creed explained. "In reality, my original reason was not so just. I have thought about it before, going to live with the Humans to escape my harsh, unfair reality. But then what good does that do me? No good actually, just thinking of myself; so then I thought some more. Wouldn't it be great for Casalyians and Humans to get along? And maybe then they would not hate me as much. Maybe the Humans and the Casalyians could teach each other about themselves."

Vaan just shook his head in disbelief. "Kid, you're living in a dream world." He pulled out a sword and rushed Creed, stabbing him in the back. Vaan gave a mighty heave, pushing the blade all the way through, and then withdrew his weapon slowly.

Creed turned around to face his foe and fell to the ground, his knees hitting the metal plate with a huge thumping sound. He tried to manage a laugh, all the while spitting up blood.

Vaan smirked. "Lad, I don't get you. You're the one on the ground bleeding. I don't get what's so funny."

Creed tried to stand.

"Stay down!" Vaan shouted.

Creed unleashed his full ability of healing by saying, "Full admission."

Jade reeled with disapproval. Full admission was for a higher class of fighter or certain breeds of monsters. That did not matter to Creed. He was another breed of Casalyian, a much more powerful breed.

The Spirit of Aura gasped in disbelief. "That is not possible! He is not a monster. He must be one of the elite."

"No, he is not! My master is elite! Creed is half-Nard!" Jade swirled her floating mass to face Aura.

"No! He can't be! He looks nothing like them! Those things are hideous! He is nothing like that, he is beautiful! Plus, they do not have full admission!"

Using his speed, Vaan tried to land a hit on Creed. But Creed dodged, leaving only a blurred image of him.