Uncertain Wondering (Levi/Matthew/Invite)

[Phoenix]

Violent storms, torrential rain, fierce wind and fear. An insatiable fear. Derived from the speed, strength and ferocity of others. Derived from what he lacked.

Calmly opening his eyes, the memories abated. The terror just a shadow of itself, a vestige, locked deep within. Surveying his surroundings, the destruction from that chaos was still here. Crumbled buildings and echoes of pain, on display, visible to all. Bringing himself to his feet, Phoenix jumped and slid down the slope of a collapsed building; identical to the one he had perched on last he was here.

Reaching the ground and brushing the dust from his clothes, he made his way towards where he had collapsed. A faint etching in the dirt was all that was left. For hours he had lain there whilst his friend suffered. In the end, it was lucky that he managed to drag Jack back home, even more so that Jack had lived. The damage that his friend sustained had been substantial.

As with nearly all things, Phoenix feared what he did not understand. The power that he had seen that night was something that he didn't have the ability to comprehend. This was unusual to him, it had shaken him and he would do almost anything to discover what he didn't know.

Step by step, he came to that pile of debris Jack had been buried under. Dried blood still covered the concrete. Dust still clung to the air, weighing it down. Phoenix climbed to the top of the debris and sat. Glancing down at the chaos caused by powers unknown, he turned his mind inwards trying to think of something he may have missed.

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi had sensed the foreign presence in their territory, and immediately went to investigate. He scaled his home and leaped along to rooftops towards the presence. Having the ability to be the Dragon's security sensor grid was a double-edged sword as he had to be the first to respond to the intrusion, but at the same time, it meant he could keep their territory safe, a duty he was proud to fulfill.

Levi stopped on a rooftop that gave him a good view of the one who clearly had no idea where he was. First thing was first, let everyone know where the intrusion was. A sky high pillar of light stretched from the ground to the sky around the stranger as Levi hopped down, hands in his pockets, a calm expression on his face as he preferred to keep people guessing as to his intentions. His pillar continued to light the evening sky as he spoke with a smooth, firm tone as his steel irises stared at the unknown man.

"Good evening....What is your business in Dragon territory?"

[Phoenix]

OOC: Forgot to mention that the thread Phoenix is alluding to is this.


The late evening sun slowly made its way towards the horizon. He had made little progress; reflecting over events that he didn't understand could only provide so much insight. The powers used in the battleground before him seemed to be something that he couldn't comprehend alone. Jack had been busy of late with his mercenary business and wouldn't be fond of interruptions. He'd have to find someone else. Brushing off a thin film of dirt that clung to his clothes, Phoenix raised himself off the ground and took one last look around, committing it to memory.

Turning his eyes towards the horizon, he saw that the sky was darkening. Pausing to watch a moment, he noticed something odd. The area directly around him began brightening until, within seconds, he was enclosed within a beam of light. Somehow, Phoenix instinctively knew that this was another who employed powers beyond his current understanding. The source of the light was quickly revealed.

“Good evening... What is your business in Dragon Territory?”

A man stood a distance away, his eyes shined like metal, his tone firm and sure, his demeanour calm, his motive clear. It had only been a matter of time before his presence was investigated. Phoenix posed no threat, he had only come to understand. A pleasant note seeped into his voice as he replied.

“And to you. No business; I only came to understand.”

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[Levi Kayamei]

Levi tilted his head to the side slightly as he pondered the man's reply. No business was good business, but at the same time, his presence in Dragon territory with no business was unacceptable. Levi decided to explore the man's reply further before deciding anything as the man seemed harmless enough so far and may possess a purpose to which he was not letting on.

"I see....an understanding of what if I may ask? And why here?"

[Mathew Amtrum]

"And why alone?"

Mathew spoke up from behind as he started to rise up from the asphalt of the street. His arms folded over his chest as he looked over the intruder from behind. A spike of stone sliding out from under his coat sleeve ready to plunge in to his back should he feel the need.

[Kyrie Blaze]

The bright beacon drew other attention as well. Kyrie, however, stayed back. She did not appear from the shadows, but simply observed and listened as she was just within range to be able to hear, ears fixed upon the conversation.

It wasn't like she could hide from Levi. As to where she was. But there was not a likely need for her to come out. Perhaps if all was well....

Well. Chances were that she would simply slip back to a patrol.

[Phoenix]

“I see... an understanding of what, if I may ask? And why here?”

There was no reason not to explain himself. The man was clearly from the Dragons, a name that he had heard floating around multiple times but actually knew very little about. From what Phoenix did know, they were interesting and could most likely help; that was enough for him. Before he could speak, however, a slight rumbling made him glance over his shoulder. Before his eyes, another man rose from the ground, a spike of stone visible from under his coat.

“And why alone?”

The new man wasn't like the other. He seemed more dangerous, more unforgiving. Phoenix's eyes glinted in the surrounding light, this was why he had come here. He knew that those around him possessed the very power he sought to understand.

“There was a battle here. Two men fought; I watched. One I knew, the other I didn't. They wielded powers with strength nearly beyond my comprehension. Powers that you seem to also control. I came to understand these forces. I'm alone because thinking is best done that way.

[Levi Kayamei]

Levi crossed his arms and shifted his weight as he allowed the column of light to fade. Whoever needed to see the pillar had already seen it by this point. He was certainly familiar with the concept of thinking alone as he had done more than his fair share. This man also joined the Dragons for at least one of the reasons he had: Power, specifically the power of Qi. The question was now: for what would this person use the power he yearned for? His expression remained unchanged as he continued to speak calmly.

"Ahh...power....it is attractive....and so is the desire to obtain more of it, but tell me....what would you use it for? Why do you want it?"

[Mathew Amtrum]

"And why do you deserve it."

Mathew intoned as he started to circle the trespasser. His eyes scanning him, looking for weapons. Looking for scars, signs of combat on him or his clothes. How well fed he was, when he last cleaned himself. He tried to take in the details to figure out just who or what they were dealing with.

[Phoenix]

The surrounding light dissipated. The night sky slowly came into view as his eyes grew used to the darkness. Phoenix had known the light was a beacon, it no longer served a purpose – whether this was because no one else was coming or because they were already here, he didn't know.

“Ahh... power... it is attractive... and so is the desire to obtain more of it, but tell me... what would you use it for? Why do you want it?

Phoenix suspected that them an who could control light had some understanding of his thoughts, although his ran slightly deeper than just the acquisition of power. It was something he had always sought, not for it's own sake, but for it's interest.

“And why do you deserve it?”

The other man began to circle him, eyes probing him, for what he wasn't sure, but he could guess. Surveying for weapons, body type and build as well as scars were all indicative of strength more often than not. It made him slightly nervous, but he maintained a calm and stoic exterior.

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. I want to test myself, I want to learn, I want to know.”

[Levi Kayamei]

"Ah! A philosopher...."



Levi maintained his calm expression despite the urge to smile. This man was showing promise, and though Levi normally didn't go out of his way to look for potential recruits, this man was certainly making a good first impression. He was handling the intimidation that sometimes came with the inspection process for entering their territory well, possibly understanding that it wasn't intimidation at all, simply caution. Add to that the fact that, so far, he seemed like a man who was merely seeking to understand himself and discover his potential, something the Dragons were very capable of helping him with, given the right pupil. He was clearly the kind of man who thought deeply and never spoke before contemplating his words maticulously, thus man was not too unlike Levi, at least as far, and he found it harder than usual to remain cautious of the stranger. His silver eyes glinted as a he walked closer, stopping just a few feet away. His eyes scanned the man inside and out as he spoke again.

"Well if you want help from the Dragons, we need to know what you can bring to the table....specifically....I want to see how much power you already possess."

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew smirked at his answer, and Levi's reply. The wheels in his head started to turn. Because Levi was right, they needed to see what he could do. But they certainly could help him with his journey of self discovery. And if it was power he sought then there was no better place to find the power within than their ranks.

Bringing his right leg up he would slam it in to the ground, a sword of stone shooting up out of the ground in front of Mathew, it's blade sharp and smooth. Human hands could not make a blade so perfect. Snatching it up it came from the stone easily. Twisting the blade around to extend the handle to the young man he waited for him to take it.

"Do you think you can kill one of us?"

[Phoenix]

“Ah! A philosopher...”

The man came closer, his metallic eyes glinted silver in the light of the moon. The eyes scanned Phoenix up and down, focusing here and there, seeking to pierce to the core of his being; searching for strength, weakness and power alike. He'd been subject of such gazes before, but this felt different. If felt like something was beginning.

“Well, if you want help from the Dragons, we need to know what you can bring to the table... specifically... I want to see how much power you already possess.”

It made sense. There was no avoiding the test. He knew that he could talk, weave a web of words around nearly whoever he chose, but inevitably words only had meaning. It would take action to give those words purpose and power. Phoenix's thoughts were momentarily distracted by movement from the other man. He picked up then abruptly brought down his right leg, crashing it into the ground. A lethal looking sword rose, seemingly by itself, from the very material it was fashioned from. Expertly, the man flipped the blade, extending the hilt towards Phoenix.

“Do you think you can kill one of us?”

Raising his left hand, Phoenix took the proffered sword, running his eyes over the masterful blade as he quickly thought. The man with the ability to control light seemed more amicable than the other, however, his skills were worrying. Light, as Phoenix knew, was the fastest phenomena in existence, when focused it can cause heat, comprising of a wave-particle nature it could probably be compressed into solid objects, it was a weapon with the potentially devastating power. The other man, seemed to have some power over the Earth around him, he had already proven he could shape it at whim and submerse himself within it, whatever other abilities he possessed were no doubt just as formidable.

“If I could you wouldn't be able to teach me anything. I don't think it likely, but I won't shy away from the challenge.”

[Levi Kayamei]

"Glad to hear it..."

Levi's face finally changed as a small smile appeared in the corner of his mouth. The man was clearly up to the task, at least in spirit, and that was half of the test right there. Levi looked at Mathew, a twinkle in his eye.

"May I?"

Levi was sure he would have no issues testing the young man safely, and his ability to evaluate the him was more than sufficient given his experience in the Yakuza and his more recent experience with training the Dragon Corps. The Mirage Dragon did take note of the lethality of the weapon the young man would be using, making a conscious reminder to himself to not come in direct contact with it. Whether Mathew wanted to join in or not, Levi would remain relaxed, leaving his hands at his sides with his feet shoulder length apart as he stared into the man's eyes.

"Whenever you're ready...."

[Mathew Amtrum]

Mathew simply took a few moments of silence to size up the young man in front of him that now wielded the sword he had made. Thinking over his words. He doubted that he could kill one of them, but would be willing to try? That was interesting, was it because he did not think the stakes were as high on his side? He held up a single finger to signal Levi to wait a minute.

"Alright stranger. You kill my friend here, and I will teach you what you need to know to have the power you want. But be warned, he has every right to kill you instead should he choose. If you are willing to take that risk then strike him down. Otherwise you have five seconds to drop the blade and leave."

Mathew would take a step back and hold up five fingers, dropping one as he began his count down.