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C-34 1.1

The night had always been a welcome feeling to the Meji.

He stood alone on the cathedral's steps, slowly twirling his wand around. He would have blended in perfectly into the shadows if he had stood perfectly still and closed his eyes.

And now, as he sat there on the ruined staircase, C-34 felt somewhat...lonely? Perhaps that was the wrong word. The feeling was much, much different then that pathetic six-lettered word and it brought a dark scowl to his face. No, he was not lonley.

If he had the luxury, he would have gotten up and searched for the cause of the feeling. But he did not have the luxury. There was something he had to wait for...

So he would wait. Wait for fate to throw whatever it wished at him...

[SpringsSong]

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Rijius, Noel Fenling

Night was always a welcome time to the Fenling.  He enjoyed the darkness in which people could not laugh at him for being three-fourths blind, nor could they stare at his vocal chords--or, actually, lack thereof.  They were rather staring at his throat, void of any voicebox, a dark red shade from the blood that had been there once.

The darkness gathered around him, and it was a rather welcome feeling.  In the darkness, the ones that made fun of him were about as blind as he.  In the darkness, he could almost forget about the pain... the pain that he always felt, no matter how long had passed since he got the scars that put him so near to death.

How long had it been?  A year?  Two?  Ten?  A hundred?  He couldn't remember because of the pain.  He winced as he felt something tear at his left paw, bringing him harshly to the ground.  A soundless cry escaped from him as he curled up on himself.

{1}

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C-34 1.2
The sound of gravel crunching caught the Meji's attention. He made no rush as he stood up and slowly brushed some imaginary dirt off his coat. Then, with an easy-going pace, ambled toward the source of the sound.

He did not need to strain his eyes to see what the creature was. It was a Fenling, laying there, looking rather pitiful. Without any trace of emotion, C-34 raised his wand and pointed it straight at the Fenling's nose. "Who are you?" His voice was flat, dull. It was the kind you could forget in an instant.

Sparks gently flew from his wand. He was not afraid to kill the Fenling if the need arose. His cold, dark eyes demanded an answer.

You might have forgotten his voice, but you would have trouble erasing the memory of those emotionless eyes.

[SpringsSong]

Rijius lay there, a slight rasp coming from his throat as he tried to answer.  When no words came, at last, he said in his mind, I always forget that... I cannot speak as you. He turned to face the Meji before he replied, In this world, before I was taken to the Middle Realm, I was known as Rijius.  I suppose I am still known as thus today, though I am mostly... Here, he growled in pain.  ...mostly a fightment here... He finished in a strained voice.  Who are you? He asked.

{2}

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Ah, a mute, was he?

C-34, seeing that he didn't mean any harm, stowed away his wand and briskly answered, "My name is C-34." He was slightly curious about this...'Middle Realm', but decided that there was another time and place to learn about it. "And may I ask why you are here?" The Meji scruntinzed him. "This Cathedral is not a place for people like you." C-34 figured that this was true as Rijius seemed to be somewhat weak, mentally or physically. "And it is not a place where the everyday people take a stroll."

He folded his paws, waiting, no, demanding for an answer.

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Why was he here anyhow?  That was a very good question.  Well, whether or not I am a weakling, blind and mute, cringing forever in pain, darkness calls to me forever... the night... it is when I am my strongest.  The night is when I can be who I once was... He said, and then, he asked, What kind of a name is C-34?

{3}

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Amusing. This Fenling was blind and mute. And what did he mean by 'the ngith is when I can be who I once was'? Very amusing. This Fenling was shrouded in secrets.

What kind of a name is C-34? He blankly stared at Rijius, reaching for his wand. It wasn't for any bad reason, it was to simply show Rijius why. "Simple. It is the name of an experiment," C-34 held out his left paw, gently waving his wand over it. "Of an artificial monster." The fur started to slowly fade, revealing what was lying underneath the skin and fur.

It was a horrible sight. The arm was not made of bone and marrow at all: it was constructed of metal, designed to function and imitate those bones. Clear tubes wrapped themselves around the artificial bones, blood rushing through them. Synthetic muscles clung to the arm's structure, a raw, bright red.

"Of a damned cyborg." C-34 calmly finished and tucked his wand away and the mechanical arm disappeared among the skin and fur again. "It seems to me, my friend, we have alot in common. If I had the luxury, I could stand here and engage in a pleasent conversation with you. Unfortunantly, I have no such luxury." The Meji crossed his arms once more. "There are more important matters." He turned away and began to walk toward the Cathedral, calling over his shoulder, "If you wish to tag along, it doesn't matter to me. Come if you wish."

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An experiment, eh?  Rijius tilted his head as he looked at the structure under C-34's fur.  That must be... well, terrible. He said, shaking his head.  Right now, he was glad that there was only partial lighting, because the sight of his mutilated throat would probably be too much to bear.

What matters do you speak of? Rijius asked curiously.

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C-34 stopped in his tracks and looked at Rijius with a queer look. "Matters concerning the life and death of a certain someone." And so far, there was no sign of that certain messenger who was supposed to come. What could be delaying him or her?

So now, he'll be forced to go look for that messenger. There was no use waiting. The Meji raised his wand and summoned a small, black book. With a casual air around him, he flipped through the book, his brow furrowing in slight worry.

This was not good at all.

[SpringsSong]

Rijius tilted his head in curiosity.  Life and death, you say?  Ah, there is a delicate balance between the two... a very delicate balance indeed. He said calmly, looking around with his shrouded eyes.  And whose life or death might this concern? He inquired.

{5}

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"That does not concern you...for now." He slammed the book shut, waving his wand once more. It vanished in a sulfuric smelling smoke. "What will you give to regain what you have lost?" The question was not aimed at anyone in particular. It seemed like C-34 simply wanted to speak his mind out... "Will you give up a limb? A close comrade or friend? Perhaps your soul?" The Meji paused to glance at the darkening shadows of the Cathedral. "So many questions and so little time." C-34 mused to himself. He briskly began to walk up the ruined steps, his little coat flapping along as he did so. "Coming, Rijius?"

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Rijius pondered what C-34 wondered aloud.  What would he give up so that he could see and speak properly again?  Ah, well; no matter yet.  He couldn't decide on just one thing to give up, in all honesty.  When asked if he was coming, the Noel Fenling merely nodded as he took nimble steps forward, contemplating something in his mind.  What would I give up? He wondered to himself.

{6}

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The old Cathedral was truly in ruins. The Meji simply stepped over the shards of stone and glass that lay everywhere, his boots grinding into the ground. "Watch your step," C-34 crisply said. "We wouldn't want you to impale one of your paws, would we?" His voice eerily echoed through the dark walls as he talked.

It was getting darker as they went deeper into the Cathedral. C-34 found it neccesary to bring up some light with his wand to see through the darkness. Now, if he could find what he came here for...

[SpringsSong]

Rijius gave a small snarl.  I know this cathedral well enough not to impale one of my limbs. He said, weaving through the rubble.  As he walked, his memory began to flicker with several different images, one of those being an image of a dragon-like being jumping at him and clawing out his throat.  He gave a slight whimper as he put a paw to his now-mutilated throat, cursing the draconic that left him as such.

{7}

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"Is something the matter?"

C-34 directed his light at the Fenling, having heard a strange noise coming from, at least he thought, came from Rijius. "Never mind." The Meji said when he saw that Rijius was fine. "Let's continue on then...if I can remember those instructions..." He lazily waved his wand at a wall. Nothing happened. "Where was that, now...?"