Smoke and mirrors ~ an empty flame.

[celsus]

Celsus stepped into the emptiness. The blank void that stretched in all directions for miles, a monochrome wasteland where the sky was black and the ground was white. There was absolutely nothing here, and ironically; that was exactly the reason why the Hollow came. He visited this place often when he wished for privacy because there was rarely ever anyone around, and no landscape to speak of, so here he could do whatever he wanted. It was especially suited to his intentions in coming here today - where otherwise there would have been a lot of collateral damage. And no interference either, the Hollow could only hope.

Reaching out his mind, filling the empty void with his own presence, the scenery began to ripple around him like liquid - transforming to match his perception. The ground turned from white to silver, the floor transforming into a colossal mirror that seemed to extend from where Celsus was standing for miles around. In the sky a giant clock face appeared, identical to that of the pocket timepiece the Hollow kept on his person at all times, filling the empty silence with the sound of ticking seconds. And finally, a single reflective rectangle rose up out of the ground, a mirrored screen that sent Celsus' piercing stare right back at him.

Drawing his rapier, his illusive doppelganger matching his movements, Celsus lunged forwards and curved his blade in an arc, his sword bouncing off the mirror's surface as his reflection replicated his attack in motion and in force. Reacting quickly, he thrusted forwards, crossing blades with his illusionary foe, who parried and reacted exactly as he did. Practice. That was why the Hollow had come here. Through fighting himself he would learn his own weaknesses, and learn how to compensate for them in the process. His body would be improved through activity and repetition, and he would grow stronger than he had been before. It was a poor substitute for a real opponent, but it was satisfactory for his needs.

Right now, his overruling priority was to become stronger. He had a little over 12 hours in which to improve himself as much as he could. There was talk of a massive engagement - a raid on the Virus' Nest located in the Red Meadows. Celsus planned to be part of it, and he wanted to be at his best for an expedition of such reckless daring. There would be people from all different races and walks of life gathering together even now. He would be one of them, but first, he had to convince himself that he was worthy. Before he could conquer the Viruses - he first had to conquer his own limits.

[iris]

There was not much reason for Iris to come to the shared blanks. She just felt like going there to maybe see a landscape from her blurred out memory that relaxed her a lot or visit the home she remembered she had in real life. Or at least, the home she thought she had in real life. As she stepped in, she saw that the room has been changed into something like a training room with a metallic floor and a huge clock. It was not much of a strange sight for her, but she wondered if someone was already there.

As she looked around with a straight posture and with her arms crossed, she saw someone with a rapier, apparently attacking his own reflection in a mirror. Closing her eyes after seeing it, a sudden image flashed in her mind. Someone who looked like her but was younger with a wooden sword slashing in the air in front of a mirror. Before she had time to think what it was, it was gone. Opening her eyes again, she cleared her throat to get his attention.

"Am I interfering...?" she said with her same monotonous voice. Her eyes stared emotionlessly at him as she waited for his reply. From the looks of it, she could safely say that he was simply training for something. It was either he was a warrior like her or he was goign to participate in an upcoming fight. It would be interesting if she was to fight him, but she really wasn't someone who would just start a fight for no good reason.

~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~

Word Count;; 267
Tags;; Celsus
Muse Music;; None
Form;; Normal Form
Notes;; There you go

[celsus]

Facing the mirror, Celsus remained locked in combat with his reflection, even though he could see the image of someone else reflected in the mirror's shine. It was a woman, quite clearly. But of what race he could not be certain. She lacked the wings of a Leech, or the features of a Beast, but she could be hiding these trademarks from him, at the cost of energy. If she did however, his eye would be quick to spot the illusion in any case. Parrying another blow, he stopped fighting as she drew closer.

Turning around at the sound of her voice, Celsus looked the woman directly in the eyes. Fixing her with his trademark raised eyebrow while his inhuman eye gleamed. "Not at all, ma'am." He replied in an equally monotonous, but more courteous tone of voice. Beginning to suspect that the lady was a Hollow, like him, judging by a number of not-too-subtle signs. As they spoke, the landscape around them began to fluctuate. No doubt it would soon take on a form incorporating elements from her own mind as well.

Gesturing to himself with his free hand, Celsus let his rapier drop to his side, to show that he meant her no harm. "You may call me Celsus. Celsus Destan. A pleasure to make your acquaintance." He told her as sincerely as he was capable. Of course, it was impossible for him to experience pleasure - he just thought it lightened the conversation a little if he didn't talk entirely like a robot. "I was simply engaged in practice, for the upcoming battle. Is there any way I can be of assistance?" It was out of his way, to be honest. But clearly the woman wanted something. Otherwise, why did she initiate contact with him? Was it possible that she was the one whom he'd been looking for?

[iris]

The man turned around to face her. Almost his entire head was wrapped around with some kind of fabric and he had a mechanical eye. It seemed like he was a hollow like herself most likely. His monotonous reply was a sure indication. However, she thought that he might not have figured it out yet. Most of her mechanical features were under her skin besides her voice recognition device on her neck. She replied by simply nodding her head and easing up a bit.

He told her his name and it was Celsus. Slightly bowing in respect, she introduced herself. "Iris... Iris Shiori..." she said in a slightly softer tone. She never really understood other people's introductions when they say that it was a pleasure to meet other people. Pleasure was something she did not naturally feel, nor does she know anything about it. Nothing computes to that logic to her.

The man named Celsus was apparently practicing for an upcoming battle. She did not know what it was, but maybe she had an idea. He might have been talking about the Virus Defense Force or the antiviruses. It was not really much of a battle, but more of a protection routine for her to rid places deserving to be safe of viruses that might cause harm to innocent bystanders. "This battle... are you training to become an antivirus program such as myself...?" saying this, she crossed her arms and looked him right in the eye.

~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~

Word Count;; 246
Tags;; Celsus
Muse Music;; Innocent Starter-Nana Mizuki
Form;; Normal Form
Notes;; Ugh my muse is still low xD

[celsus]

Iris? Alas, that was neither a name he knew, nor the name of the one he was looking for. Sighing, almost imperceptibly, he wondered if she was even alive, somewhere out there? Dwelling on the future was impractical, but sometimes it was difficult not to. Would he ever find her? Or would have have to repeat the same question indefinitely, until Odine Aurum was either found, or until he ran out of women to ask?

Back to the present situation however, the other Hollow was questioning his motives. She claimed to be an antiviral program - a member of the small organization that had recently established itself in Savette. It was they who had proposed raiding the Virus' Nest, but this was the first opportunity he'd had to speak to one of their members directly. All his other information about them had been passed on through rumor and here-say.

"It was not my intention, ma'am." Celsus replied. While he approved of the Virus Defense Force, he wasn't sure he was ready to commit himself fully to any organization just yet. It would distract him from his other pursuits. "While I find your ideals morally justifiable, I am afraid that I only intend to offer temporary assistance. A volunteer service." The floor beneath him flickered again, the blank page reacting to the presence of the two Hollows as Celsus delivered his grave news. The sky became tinted with red - a fiery red - which reflected off the polished silver floor. Was this an indicator of her disposition?

Ignoring the scenery while it made up it's mind, Celsus raised his eyebrow again in curiosity. "Might I ask what your intentions are regarding this location? Do you also wish to be at your best for the impending confrontation?" Twirling his rapier restlessly, the endless ticking from the clock floating in the sky was a reminder of his idleness. While there was much information to be learned from madam Iris, he also needed to get back to work. He was only 3% done with his analysis of his attack capabilities.

[iris]

The scenery around them were starting to change. It seemed as if there was a fiery sky beginning to build. She would not mind it, but the other person there might get affected by it. She closed her eyes and started thinking. The scenery became a large desert with small sand dunes and the hot sun shining its rays towards them. The sky is clear and blue, but the surface was filled with heat.

"I did not become an antivirus by choice, either... I was programmed in this world to be suited as one... I only live a path of destruction, living with the passion of the battle..." Of course, she did not ever know why she found satisfaction in pitting her fighting skills against other people. If she knew more about her past, it would have helped her a lot. He said that he only was offering volunteer service and she did not mind it at all. "As long as you do not get in my way... I do not have the intention of minding what you do..."

She closed her eyes and drew her sword, concentrating her energy. "Yes, I am here to train...." she said as the sword started to glow a bright red. "Three minutes until data alteration process is successful... Whip Form..."

~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~

Word Count;; 215
Tags;; Celsus
Muse Music;; None
Form;; Normal Form
Notes;; Training time!

[celsus]

Before his eyes, the landscape meta-morphed into a blazing desert, the sky turning a clear blue - as though they were suddenly in Delfray. Clearly this terrain matched her more than it did he, a result of her consciousness asserting control over the landscape. He could not allow his own needs to remain ignored. Concentrating his own thoughts - the hot sun in the sky was half eclipsed by the giant clock-face, creating an area of light and an area of shadow.

Standing in the shade, all around Celsus giant slabs of mirror began rising up from the ground, sand streaming off them as they ascended into the sky and remained floating there, reflecting the light of the false sun in straight lines - forming a pentagon of light around the two Hollows. Reaching into his pocket, Celsus carefully took out a small silver vial and tipped it onto the ground, a tiny splash of water hitting the sand at his feet. Expanding - the water grew into a lake with a mirrored surface, which Celsus was himself able to stand on.

Standing on the shadowed side of the desert, he watched with intrigue as Isis began to do something to her sword. If her claims were true, she was hoping for some practice as well. "Madam? Perhaps we could assist eachother." He pointed out hopefully, his eye twinkling like a diamond in the shade. "I believe that we would make suitable opponents for one another. Would you perhaps oblige me in a brief spar?" Raising his rapier, he swished it through the air experimentally; moisture droplets dancing around him as collected water flowed off the surface of his blade. He was getting a dangerous vibe off this woman - but that only intensified his curiosity. What was she capable of? Would he find out for himself?

[iris]

The sword slowly extended and got longer, segments of its blade connected by an extremely sturdy but flexible chain. Iris raised her eyebrow as she saw a huge looming shadow at one side of the desert. As she looked up at the sun, covering her eyes partly with her hands in order not to damage her eyes, she saw a clock face half-covering the sky. It was not too bad. It could be worse if it was totally dark, since her fire skills will be too revealing of her position. She can always use her whip simply, but the sounds its chain makes will give her position out. It was not time to think like that, since one side of the field was to her advantage.

As she was thinking of that strategy, she looked over towards the direction of her fellow hollow. Large mirrors rose from the ground and hovered in the air. A lake formed around him as well. It was a disadvantage for her, since she was a fire user and she cannot use her skills in it nor can she walk too well on it. She was challenged for a spar and it sparked her interest like a burning flame in her. "... Very well, I will show you what a Front-Line Assault Specialist of the Virus Defense Force can be capable of...!" she said as she sweeped her hand to the side, the chain surrounding her at different curves and angles like a snake and ignited with a blaze, flames surrounding it. "I may be at a clear disadvantage.... however, if I can draw him out of that side and bring him to my advantageous side... I can defeat him..." she thought as she closed her eyes and opened them, pointing her arm towards him and making the chain shoot in a straight line towards his torso to stab through it.

~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~

Word Count;; 315
Tags;; Celsus
Muse Music;; None
Form;; Normal Form
Notes;; Woosh!

[celsus]

Celsus stood motionless as the pointed tip of the blade shot through he air towards him like a metal snake, writhing and glittering like living metal as it glowed with the heat of flame. The attack had been aimed with no hesitation - if the blade were to strike, it would do so with enough force to penetrate his body. Against this opponent, there could be no holding back. She intends to battle me at full force. I must do the same. The Hollow concluded, adrenaline rushing through his body in anticipation of battle. Fully aware now that his newfound opponent had no restrictions about killing him.

Willing the water particles of the lake to rise - a cloud of fog formed around Celsus; concealing him from Iris' sight while his own gaze was reflected off thousands of tiny liquid mirrors. Giving him complete vision in all angles and directions within the fog cloud. As the flaming tip of the blade penetrated the mist, he saw the weapon reflected from every angle, analyzing it's motion path and stability in the work of a second. With inhuman precision - the Hollow waited until the chain-sword was almost upon him before sweeping his rapier in a vertical arc down on the flat of the flaming blade. Swatting it out of the air like a dazed fly, down, down into the lake upon which he was standing. Dousing the flames in a rush of steam, and causing the lethal point to sink below the surface.

Concentrating his thoughts, the scenery flickered as the Hollow manipulated his side of the shared environment once more, causing the lake to freeze into a bowl of silver ice, with the tip of Iris' sword still below the surface. His opponent's weapon now frozen - Celsus wrapped the fog around himself and stepped backwards. Giving Iris a clear view of what he had done to her weapon. "Do not underestimate me because I am nobody." He told her in tones as cold as the ice upon which he stood, his voice floating out through the haze that hid him from sight. While he lacked the capability to do damage at this range, his strategy was to send his enemy's strength back at them, defending their attacks until they grew too tired and weak to continue. If this high-and-mighty battle princess wanted a serious fight, he would give her one.

[iris]

There was a huge fog that surrounded Celsus and it blocked him from her sight temporarily. A distraction, it was very smart of him, seeing that he can move at any time during the time lapse and avoid her whip. After that, she felt her whip's path become disturbed slightly. Knowing that her attack was ineffective, she started running around the whole circumference of the lake to commence her other plan. As the lake froze and it stuck to her blade, she knew that her plan was working. "I do not underestimate anyone... However, you might be taking me too seriously..." she said as she kept running. It only took a few seconds, with her highly enhanced running speed. Not before long, the long whip formed a circle around the lake and she stepped out of the shadows, to the side of the desert.

"Do not overestimate me as well.... I do not want to harm any new recruits... that much, of course..." she said as she pulled hard on the whip, hoping that its blade will wrap around him at the least. If that worked, she could easily ignite it lightly to melt the lake without injuring him much and pull him into the light, where she would have an advantage. If that did not work, she still had another plan which might hurt a little more.

~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~Υ~

Word Count;; 227
Tags;; Celsus
Muse Music;; None
Form;; Normal Form
Notes;; Hmm, will it work? xD

[celsus]

With his multi-directional field of vision, it did not take long for Celsus to realize what was happening. The chain was going to wrap around him, using the very segment he'd frozen as an anchoring point. It was an impressive counterattack, especially considering the fact that he'd believed her offensive capabilities crippled. Examining his options - the few available to him were desperate and last minute. His best chance against an attack from all sides was to create a barrier surrounding himself out of the fog. Holding out his arm, he had barely started to swing his rapier to create the barrier, when he felt the chain tighten around his waist. It was over.

His arms pinned to his sides, the Hollow felt the metal links wrap themselves around him, some of them digging into his flesh painfully. A fitting punishment for his lack of foresight. Bound in such a way that he could do nothing - he had no choice but to yield. Dropping his rapier with a clang down onto the ice below. "You are right to flaunt your title, I realize." He conceded without shame or embarrassment. In fact, really he felt like thanking her. The whole purpose of this engagement was to expose his shortcomings so that he could improve, was it not? In that way, the pain he felt was a service.

"I failed to fully appreciate the... aha... flexibility of your attack. Mistaking it for a blind frontal assault." Celsus chuckled. "I promise you - I will not make the same error twice." Fully aware now that if she had really intended to kill him, she would have done it, Celsus willed the ice beneath him to melt. Allowing himself to slip beneath the water's surface to escape the chains. It was cheating, really, since it was something he would be unable to do in any other location. But he now had a stronger incentive to continue the battle. Retrieving his rapier from the muddy lake-bed, he evaporated the lake into fog and walked up the sloping sides until he was staring Iris in the face once more.

"Would you please oblige me with another attack? I wish to test out an alternative strategy." He asked his sparring partner in his usual polite monotone. He was eager to see what other impressive feats this woman was capable of. He was now standing on solid ground, so presumably she would have a greater advantage, but he was still hidden by a shroud of mist. Would her aim be just as true this time?