Ezekiel: "Ugh...Damn...Tart...I didn't tell you to go and drop me to my knees hehe."

While spitting out blood Ezekiel lost sense in his knees, they wobbled out like spaghetti until dropping flat on the ground. Ezekiel had a multitude of bruises across his chest and thigh area, the other areas were hit less. His right eye had a gash right above the eyebrow, the cheeks were swelling a bit but to a reasonable degree. Overall, these wounds under no circumstance should be considered normal for an imaginative battle. Ezekiel's insight continues to intake the world at this very second, his sense keening in and melding together. Ezekiel's body intake the very core of existence, always growing constantly.

While staring in the direction of a certain shack made of red oak which gave it a somber appeal, as opposed to the glamourous white marble of the castle behind it. The distance was near 50 meters and yet Ezekiel failed to squint, he could feel the smile creeping onto his face. He could hear mocking jeers that would bring even the greatest festivals to shame.

The booing was currently being lashed out by a young girl who was a mere year older than Ezekiel. She had overflowing scarlett red hair which reached right above the waist. Her bangs drooped unevenly with a hint of kemptness onto her ocean blue eyes. Her snowy features glimmered gracefully with a wide smile stretched across her beautiful face.

She fashioned long and baggy golden pants with crimson red flame shaped patterns at the end with a katana currently sheathed by a black case. around her waist, with sandals. Over her well endowed breast, was only bandages wrapped entirely over her bust and around her back. She lacked true divinity due to being entirely natural. The type of natural which demanded no artificial enhancing, as in minimal preparation to ready yourself for the day as possible. A rough edged warrior was basically living inside of the well curved blessing of life, her name was Titania Wick.

Titania: "PWAHAHA! My god you're truly a world class actor Kiel, you should really give up on the path of a warrior and join the show biz. I mean that was basically real. The way you were being pushed back, the flailing and bobbing, you even have ketchup spilling from your nose and mouth. And the cherry on top you drop to your knees dramatically as you give a one liner to your 'enemy' you named 'Tart'. I can't stop cackling!"

Ezekiel: "Huff Huff... Is that Huff how it is? I see, and does that mean you'll follow me? I'm sure I could easily get you a role as a clown or something similar."

Titania: "If i'm a clown that makes you my apprentice! Yes, an apprentice clown! Now kneel, oh wait... you're already down there groveling for forgiveness."

Clacking her geta sandals as she approached, Titania refusing to give in to Ezekiel in a clash of rude remarks. She lowered her eye vision and avoided the difference in strength and refinement. The actual deal is that Titania had no leverage in talking to Ezekiel like a subordinate, the truth was, she would ultimately lose every time she faces Ezekiel.

She stubbornly held on to her ideals and her title as the inheritor of the royal name Wick as she flashed her superiority over Ezekiel. Naturally Ezekiel was her family, she truly loved him as so, followed in his footsteps as well. But she could never consider Ezekiel a true equal, Titania truly believed one day her potential will rise far past Ezekiel's, as the name Wick implies.

Once Titania entered the ten meter range she stiffened and flexed. Her gaze met Ezekiel's whom no doubt was in conflict with something not of this world. He had bruises and bumps lined across his face making the so called "Ketchup" look like actual blood. In truth she wasn't even supposed to witness Ezekiel in this act. She had caught Ezekiel while he was in the middle of meditating and murmuring to himself incoherently. This was of course the first time she's ever seen that type of training so her interest peaked.

The curiousity and boundless ambition of flaring up to the top without any regards for the lower tiers. Titania pondered, and thought to herself, if she is to grow, no one but Ezekiel will do as a eye subject. An example, the abstract form of increasing, Ezekiel body always gave off the scent of change. Sort of like a constant metamorphosis, Titania keen nose always catches a wiff in Ezekiels vicinity. Hence, that irresistible smell, the one which grants dreams, the change Titania is looking for, she couldn't help but think it was in Ezekiel.

Cooling herself to absolute zero, Titania could feel the hair on her arms stand with erectness. Her teeth were being bared, her invisible whiskers were flaring ferociously, she gave off the spirit of a wounded tiger. Her attitude flexed onto her body, and she struck. One single motion, grabbing hold of her esteemed katana, Titania sliced horizontally with a broad arc.

Her intentions however were intercepted, Ezekiel with the wry smile he held from the beginning, slightly ducked his head as he stepped forth. Flicking his wrist he palmed onto Titania's grip making her drop the sword and transitioned into a grip. Pinning her arm against her back, Titania loosened herself , with able joints and nimbleness of a cat, she righted herself and half stepped.

She swung her free arm with vigor upon Ezekiel's jaw, right on impact, there was a curve. Ezekiel twisted his chin along with the momentum, completely motioning any damage away from himself. He then spun fully and grabbed Titania's neck at once, slamming her to the ground. While face to face, Ezekiel's expression had never changed once, Titania had lost for the 93rd time.

Ezekiel: "Still? You can tell I feel no danger Ania. At this rate our master-servant bond will be reversed."

Titania: "Grrrr."

Ezekiel: "Sigh. Worst part is you could actually hurt me, if you decided to kill me, I would have to give you a nice little frown."

Releasing Titania's wrist from his grasp, Ezekiel plopped onto the floor and laid on his back opposite of her. He was having a rollercoaster of feelings flush him, Tart was an unexpected treat that caught Ezekiel by suprise. The sensation of the hits Tart gave felt so real, they felt corporeal. The bruises and swelling upon Ezekiel's face was very real, and so for that, he was grateful.

The fruits of his labor were rearing in, there was still more pushing to do. The fun, the excitement, the happiness and joy of moving foward, the will to enjoy every moment. Ezekiel absolutely flourished with life never wanting to waver, or diminish, to grow into a fire which consumes all, and then flash out in a second once the time arrives. The journey which reaches into the omniscient libary and grants the answers Ezekiel needs. Yes, this is the game called life.

On the otherhand, there was his sister in arms, the girl whom Ezekiel spent the second half of his life being raised along side of. The rough edged wild beast who's beauty reaches and bathes in the heavens. This girl lying mirrored in front of Ezekiel was one of the few solaces which saved him. In his time of complete emptiness to the point of hollowness, when everything had been taken without mercy, this girl was there. She had put forth effort in rehabilitating Ezekiel to adjust himself, kept him company and guided him towards the light.

She brushed her teeth with him, ate with him, played and trained with him, learned and experienced with him. She went as far as to sleep with him, not wanting him to return to the darkness he came from once they parted. Keeping him warm and allowing him to always be bathed in life, that was Titania.

Albeit, once Ezekiel was firmly back on his feet, she had also adjusted to counter his overwhelming pride. That's where her will of a warrior derives from, the need to compete and beat Ezekiel, the boy whom she's loved like family, the brother she always wanted. Thus, her frustration at losing once again after near a hundred times, was only natural.

Titania: "I just...Can't ok? I don't want to kill you, ever, you need to stay by me at all times."

Ezekiel: "What am I your lapdog? I get that you think I have attachment issues but isn't this too far?"

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Titania: "Really? I never asked though."

Ezekiel: "I guess you never do. Like how you still sleep with me even though you're an adult now."

Titania: "Hah, how is a princess supposed to go without her pillow? You always bring up such nonsensical arguements after you beat me, as if that gives you leverage."

Ezekiel: "It should."

The oddly serious banter was a commonality between Ezekiel and Titania. She had orginally kept Ezekiel company because she felt pity for him, not for any other grand reason. Regardless, as she spent time with him, she gradually became attached herself. Even if you dislike cats, if your family were to get one as a house pet, do you think your heart will never waver. That eventually once its purring and seeking your attention you won't fall on your beliefs?

Titania orginally thought so as well, until she found herself unable to go a day without seeing Ezekiel. The warm and alluring sense she got from seeing and touching him intoxicated her. The strangest aspect, is she doesn't have a single clue about romance, her emotions are pure to the bone. Ezekiel was her cat, he belongs to her, it's that sort of relationship. So things like cuddling to sleep or showing ones bare body wasn't a problem if it was Ezekiel. Lust was nonexistent to Titania, would you feel embarrassed if it were your pet?

Ezekiel: "We should get going, you got to see what you were stalking me for. Let's go have breakfast with uncle and auntie."

Titania: "Idiot."

She shook her head side ways in forfeit, or otherwise simply lacking anything to attack with. Titania looked at Ezekiel from the corner of her eye as she slowly got up. A hint of mystery laid upon her gaze as she marveled at Ezekiel. His features perfectly aligned to his carmine eyes which alluded one into hallucinations.

The white strand which splayed flat onto Ezekiel's forehead brought such wonder to his being, as if he was something chosen by something..."greater". Catching herself from fully staring like a creep, she righted herself with a enthusiastic "Hmpf!" and proceeded to walk ahead of Ezekiel towards the splendid white marbled Castle. The interior was designed with ornate golden designs assimilated over them. Ezekiel and Titania walked over their lavish stairs up to the door frame where a butler stood.

The butler stood upright with flawless etiquette which would even compliment the gods. His face was well statured and preserved, with a properly trimmed beard. His solemness was abundant as he exuded the righteousness of a gentleman. Long white hair held in a well mannered pony tail, with a body so clearly designed for battle. His body was slim but surely strong, resisting the test of time bitterly. He wore a butler attire, a black suit with a sapphire blue tie and a black undershirt. He fashioned one brown glove on his left hand and right was bare. In both hands he was currently holding glasses filled with water.

???: "Good morning Princess Wick and Ezekiel, you two are surely working hard. By the looks of Ezekiel's face it seems Titania must have put quite the beating on you...Aye Ezekiel?"

Titania: "Hah! As expected of you Wade! It seems you truly are fine aged to the wisest degree. Which is what allowed you to innately percieve the right outc..."

Ezekiel: "These wounds are my own doing."

Wade: "I see, understandable."

Titania: "What happened to your faith in me?!"

She shouted with indignance at the unexpected betrayal of her long time butler, Wade, just Wade. His expression held no deceit, his eyes had no wavering, his voice was straight and even, enough to give a fabulous speech even. So these were all reasons as to why Titania held the dumb founded look she currently had on her face.

Wade gave a hoarse chuckle at Titania's reaction to his sudden switch up. He was awfully accustomed to putting on a mask one couldn't see through in his job as a butler. He would often have to lie about his feelings and thoughts to please his employers, in order to sustain himself. Although he hardly jokes around with a mask on as he just did now, Titania had grown on Wade since she was a child. So did Ezekiel, the two were such bright and awe inspiring children. Always causing trouble and accomplishing feats which other kids wouldn't dare attempt. These two were dynamic to Wade.

Wade: "Well Titania, i'm sure you realize its my duty foremost to keep surveillance over you and Ezekiel while on the premise of the Wick estate. Such is this, that I so happened to watch your 93rd loss to Ezekiel by chance, I must say, you got slightly faster."

Titania: "Guh...Don't just spy on us and call it your job old fart!

Ezekiel: "Shishishi...Well said Wade, I agree Ania has gotten slightly faster."

The two continued to tease the fiercly triggered tigress flaring her anger towards them. Once they saw a moment to defuse, they patted themselves down and coughed into their fist, straightening up firmly. Wade then motioned them forth, delving onto the glistening checkered floor of the castle onward. The walls inside the castle were also white with designs surrounding them. Paintings of previous Wick family members could be seen from time to time, as well as precious artifacts obtained by predecessors of a legendary lineage.

The Wick family, a long standing family which could be tracked centuries back. Firmly known as a prestigious line of historic figures, wether in academics, innovation, leading, strength, or even beauty, the Wick's are known throughout the world. The current Wick's are the third royal family of the newborn kingdom of a century, Galadria.

Wade: "Ezekiel, your refinement...It's really quite something, I marvel a bit when I see it."

Titania: "Wade? What's with the sudden flirting?"

Ezekiel: "Oh? What's strange about it Wade? I thought it was lacking, I mean Titania should have been handled by me blinking."

Titania: "YOU WISH!!!"

Provoking Titania as he sees fit, Ezekiel genuinely posed an honest question at Wade. Refinement, otherwise known as the base component of combat and power. Essentially the physical application of ones own will shaped and formed as a weapon or armor. The more one chisels and sharpens their will the further polished the Aura they exude will be. Experience is also a heavy impacting variable, clashing with refinement far exceeding oneself is the easiest way to bring up evolution and uprising in one's ability.

An Aura is the physical manifestation of ones will, otherwise dependent on the personality, memories, and natural instincts of the person using it. There are degrees at which aura is exuded. For starters a white light is the base degree at which one can unleash Aura, the beginning foundation. After the intial white phase one develops a color suiting their personality type, dark and light colors will vary upon good and evil nature, as well as chaotic natures which are the middle of the two.

There are underlying features that affect aura as well, such as race and memories. The history of a race may heavily impact the genes of the next generations of a race. For example, a race whom were known to be a forgiving and graceful people pass along those good willed genes onto the next generation, giving a lighter aura. Meanwhile, the vice versa is also plausible, if a race was heavily known for warring, plundering, forcefully pursuing pleasure, those genes also become passed to the next generation. For this very reason, the world is plunged into a difference of originality, discrimination became a normal occurrence depending on the history of ones people. However, there are aberrations when it comes to Refinement and Aura, special instances no one can possibly explain.

Wade: "Your Aura, its completely black. That enough is scary to think about considering knowing you personally. But the strangest aspect is not the color, but the translucence..."

Titania: "I noticed that as well."

Wade: "It feels as if you can see through the darkness, as if it were smoke the color of a new moon. The best way to describe it is you being completely bathed in a shadowy ambience. It's unlike anything i've ever seen."

While walking towards the dining room on the adjacent wing of the castle, Wade was letting his wonder be known. Wade was at the ripe age of 60, his back held strong, his will stayed firm, he has seen and experienced much in his life. Though in all those years, never once had he come across someone with a truly black aura, a type of black which sends shivers up the spine of even the bravest people.

The worst part is that the black aura means one of two aspects. The first would be that Ezekiel is actually horrifyingly evil to an outrageous degree, a true villain like the current generation hasnt seen. The type of monster the world must unite against to defeat. Which was an absurd thought to Wade, he threw it out at once. The second aspect, would be Ezekiel's lineage history.

Perhaps, centuries in the past, maybe even farther, there was once a predecessor, a person who was the epitamy of destruction and despair. To have a midnight dark aura, even the most known scum of the world haven't had such a notorious color, let alone translucent unlike any other dark aura. The nature and origin of Ezekiel was inexplainable, he was not born into a prestigious or known line. He was a backwater peasant from a small village which was burnt to a crisp in a single night. The last from the small little village he called a home, with an unknown ancestry.

Ezekiel: "Ahhh I see. So you guys think i'm either this monstrosity representing the deepest darkest depths of humanity, or that i'm the spawn of such a being right? Kekeke, it could be both you know?"

Titania: "Kindly stop."

Wade: "I unanimously agree with Princess Wick."

Both adversaries rotated their heads at breakneck speed as they flinched. The scariest aspect of it all wasn't the words that were said, but the gestures Ezekiel's face made. His eyes lightened ever so slightly as the grin on his face spread. Not a single sense of urgency or caution at ones own predicament, the complete deflection of fate, of what one simply can't control. Ezekiel could care less how he is perceived, his heart isn't supposed to be understood to the world, but to himself, this was one thing Ezekiel was forced to understand. On the outside however, it was an eerie sight for Titania and Wade whom were still concerned about the origins of Ezekiel Malin.

Ezekiel didn't have a clue in the world about himself, he sometimes has dreams about that fateful day, the one which erased his sanity. The day that altered Ezekiel's soul and imported foreign concepts upon Ezekiel. How much he suffered facing Wither, thinking it would all be ok should he was eradicated.

Pushing forth with energy accumulated from the twin ruby dragon dagger, as if supporting Ezekiel's every whim. Thinking soley for the saftey of the crew he considered like family, some of whom were actually blood related. The shadow realm, the unforgettable, indescribable land which haunted Ezekiel's mind.

That voice, the heavenly voice that called out to Ezekiel, the one which told him to rise. To rise far beyond even imagination, the soothing voice which clung to Ezekiel's heart like a tightened shackle. He wanted to hear it again, to listen to more of its gracefulness, to hear the tales that such a voice must have.

Titania: "Kiel?"

Ezekiel: "Hm?"

Titania: "You started looking at the floor with a serious face, thinking about something?"

Ezekiel: "Ah no, just readying myself for breakfast."

Actively intentive at all times, Titania had grown the habit of seeing into Ezekiel's state of mind. She craned her neck back slightly looking down in a swan like fashion, her eye brows pinched into a frustrated look. She had no way to comfirm, she just had a feeling that Ezekiel was lying in order to avoid consolation. Titania quickly sighed and relaxed her shoulders, she also had to ready herself for breakfast.

Wade: "Then, without further delay, we've arrived at the dining wing Princess Wick, Ezekiel, give em hell for me."

Titania: "Hah...Such a tall order Wade."

Ezekiel: "You got it Wade."

While Titania's faced drooped slightly, Ezekiel's shined once more. All the tension should seem irregular for such a miniscule matter as breakfast with a family. It should be a simple matter to enter, consume, small talk, then go about ones day. However, today was a special matter, there was an important matter left to be discussed. The contradicting expressions shall be given light as the door's into the dining room open.