Corpus Rahkshi

IC: Era - Hallway.

"Don't those two hate each other?" I asked, confused.

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IC: Exxan - Hallway.

"She was awfully agreeable." I noted. "How have you managed to get on everyone's good side with that temper of yours?" 

IC Kat: I took the offered key gratefully, "I'll be sure to leave it just the way we found it~"

I turned to The others, heading down the hall to the dorms, "They go back pretty far, apparently"

IC: Hoto - Hallways

"I... I thought so." She watched them walk away, waiting for some biting remark or even a strike, but there was nothing. It was not even like the uneasy peace around when Omega died.

IC: Fang - Hallways

"Believe it or not, Exxan, but I can be... calm when I wish to be."

No matter how angry he was, he could never stay mad at Hoto. She was always too kind and too innocent for him. He had never deserved her friendship, but it was formed long before... circumstances changed. She had never seen what he was capable of now.

IC: Exxan - Hallway.

"I'm starting to believe it..." 

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IC: Era - Hallway.

"That's good.... I think...." I said hesitantly, "....them putting aside their differences." 

IC: Hoto - Hallways

"I... guess so..." She shook the confusion from her mind and tried to focus back on what they were talking about earlier. "So... Suvak's office then?"

IC: Fang - Hallways

Fang remained silent as Kat lead them to Hoto's room and unlocked the door. Her room was sparse, but she didn't have any need for decoration. She barely had the need for a room after all she'd been through, becoming used to travelling for days on end and sleeping where she could. It must have been awful.

The only unique thing was the pile of ingots still resting on her cupboard. Fang grabbed an armful and started off towards the Gym, striding quickly through the halls.

IC: Exxan - Hallway.

"Need any help carrying all of that?" 

IC: Fang - Hallways

"I... can manage," Fang insisted, the strain slightly evident in his voice.

IC: Exxan - Hallway.

"Sure..." I agreed sceptically, reaching up and taking half the load off him, "....and now you definitely can." 

IC: Fang - Hallways

Fang grudgingly allowed Exxan to take part of the stack. He didn't need help, not from Exxan. Besides, Kat was there...

As they walked into the Gym, it recognized the pattern in Fang's mind and formed the forge once more. One large basin of water, deep enough for the long blade of Exxan's sword. A work station for shaping the metal. The glowing forge, already hot enough to drive most beings away. Fang stepped right up to it all and set the metal on the table. An orange glow played on his armor as he contemplated the design. The steps the craftsman had gone through played through his mind, adjusting for the new shape. Heat, shaping, cooling, then repeat.

He turned to Exxan, his apprentice, with a gleam in his eye. "Let's get to work," he said as he snatched up an ingot and plunged it into the fire with his bare hands. The metal began to glow with heat, and Fang watched it carefully to the perfect temperature.

"Pump those bellows," he demanded without taking his eyes out of the fire.

IC: Zelnos | Hallways

After stopping to ask a few NPC students the directions to Suvak's office, he finally caught up to Era and Hoto.

"Okay, I know where Suvak's office is"

IC: Exxan - Gym.

Once upon a time I would have been annoyed with Fang for bossing me around, but in this situation, he was definitely in charge. Wordlessly, I obeyed, working the bellows with both hands and watching Fang stare fixedly into the flames.

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IC: Era - Hallway.

"Really?" I turned to Zelnos. "That's great." At least someone knew where we going now. 

Ic:

 

"Suvak?" Still waited for the drillmaster to receive it. The Rahkshi had a simple question, one unrelated to the studies and shenanigans at Corpus Rahkshi. "How are Skakdi made?"

IC: Suvak had been purposely avoiding the fiasco at the Gym. He did not approve of Tridax's medieval methods for doling out punishment. And he had reservations about the upcoming assignment Tridax had informed him would be happening. They'd discussed it when the school had first started up, but had decided it might be best to wait until the students were higher level. Apparently that advice had gone out the window...

And then a student was asking him about rebirth. Well it was something to take his mind off recent events.

"They are created on Zakaz, they appear in the temples of rebirth. Similar to how new Matoran are created."

IC: Rail - Gym

"The whole concept of honor is stupid anyway; all it does is make it easier for you to get yourself killed," Rail said in response to the apparent insult. "So the way I see it, calling me dishonourable is actually a complement towards my survival skills, so I guess I should thank you. It's nice to know that you think I'm instinctively smarter than you."

IC: Xara - Gym.

"He has a point," I nodded to Rail. Honour was pretty stupid. 

IC: Squid

Squid was sad. He had been waiting a long time for someone to show up in the courtyard, but here he was all alone. He'd really hoped they could make a student council and have peaceful talks... but not even the host showed up. He went to the Library shuffling his big feet.

IC: Jayar / Empty Dorm Wing

"It's a repurposed dorm room somewhere, right?"

IC:

"Rebirth? Similar to Matoran. Have you ever partaken?"

IC Fog:

Inwardly, Fog agreed with Xara and Rail, but thought it best to remain silent. Speak out against the other Rahkshi's beliefs and Fog risked earning a grudge.

IC: Fang - Gym

The fire glowed hotter as the bellows pumped. Fang quickly wheeled around, his hands still clutching the white hot ingot. The craftsman had used a hammer to shape the metal, but why use such an imprecise tool when your hands are resistant to high temperatures?

He kneaded the block into a long tube, only just beginning to widen at the tip. This would be the grip. Another spin, and a deafening hiss as Fang plunged the piece into the water. His hands tingled from the sudden temperature change.

With the base started, he snatched up another ingot to begin the process again. He hardly seemed to notice his old enemy standing next to him, only occasionally giving some remark such as "Watch this closely," or "Little more heat." He was literally in his element now.

IC: Hoto - Hallways

"Lead the way then," Hoto said. She fell into step behind Zelnos and tried to resist the urge to run.

IC: Jayar / Hallways

"What do you need to see Suvak about?" asked Jayar, walking alongside Hoto as the group headed towards the drillmaster's office.

IC: Hoto - Hallways

"Era was thinking we could try a... field trip, of sorts," Hoto explained. "No assignment, nobody else, just us exploring Malebranche. I... never really had the chance to see it last time. Did... you want to come?"

IC: Jayar / Hallways

Jayar considered it. He might miss out on Mahrika's council, but that was a minor thing to miss, compared to a trip to Malebranche. And it would be nice to leave the madness of the school for a while. "I suppose I do. If you don't mind, of course."

IC: Exxan - Gym.

I watched, transfixed, as Fang went to work, melting and shaping the raw metal into something new. It was.... beautiful, in a way. Artistic. I was surprised that someone who had the capacity to be so violent, so angry, had the self control required to do something like this....

IC Kat:

I looked on, simply thinking. When you're planning to get away from a school of Rahkshi, you need a good few times to think.

Plus, I had to admit, it was nice, watching Fang work. Relaxing, in a way. 

I noticed even Exxan looking on, as if in a trance.

I grinned, "Betcha never thought he could do something like this, eh, Exxan?"

IC: Fang - Gym

If the others were speaking, Fang didn't hear them. He focused on grafted together the new ingot and the grip. The blade was beginning to take shape as he pressed the blocks into a plane of metal and dunked it into the water. A few more cycles of heat and cooling should solidify the metal and make it more resistant to breaking. This particular set of instructions had mentioned multiple layers of metal, the harder and sharp core with two softer layers to act as the spine. The outer layers would come later. For now, Fang set the glowing blade on the table and pressed it long and thin before starting to work on another ingot.

IC: Hoto - Hallways

"I don't mind," Hoto replied coyly. She suddenly looked around to the others. It was so easy to forget they were there, especially when Jayar was by her side. She should have asked them first. "Is... that okay, or... is it just us?"

IC: Era - Hallway.

"The more the merrier," I said, smirking, "just don't gross us all out with your weird lovey-dovey stuff."

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IC: Exxan - Gym.

"I can't help but feel that you're enjoying this a little too much," I said to Kat, never taking my eyes off Fang's work. "I like learning new things, and sometimes the easiest way to do that is simply to watch."

IC: "I've never had a family, no. Never really found the time," Suvak looked up from the doodles he was doing to avoid the paperwork to meet Still's eyes, "Whats brought this on?" He really hoped the student wasn't going to start asking him about love and feelings. It was very embarrassing the first few times students had started done that, and most after that had worked out they should either work it out on their own or ask Palma

IC: Mantis

Mantis narrowed his eyes. He was amazed at himself about how calm he was. It seemed all that meditation really did pay off. He looked at his two new enemies and took on a fighting stance.

"Without honor, what can one be? Surely you have some moral values you live by."

IC Fog:

Fog watched, eager to see the reaction.

IC: Xara - Gym.

I sighed. "You really want to do this?" My relaxed stance shifted immediately into a battle-ready posture. "Without honour, one tends to live longer. As for my code.... I have no need for morals. I fight, and I fight to win. Simple as that."

I remembered what I'd promised Palma. I didn't want to hurt this weakling; but I would if he didn't back down. Some people were too stubborn for their own good. "I'll give you one last chance to get out of Rail's way...." 

...or you'll regret it: I left the obvious threat unspoken. Please.... make the smart choice....

IC: Mantis

Mantis didn't step down. He was no coward, and he would fight to protect his ideals.

IC: Xara - Gym. 

I sent a small arc of lightning crackling from my sword tip towards his face. I'd do my best to finish this fight quickly. 

IC: Mantis

Mantis ducked into a crouched position, then lunged at Xara, flicking open his Kamas mid-flight.

IC: Xara - Gym.

I lashed out with my foot, aiming a kick right at his approaching head, ready to deliver him a powerful electric shock on contact. 

IC: Rail - Gym

Rail watched on, sensing the hesitation in Xara's voice as the two Rahkshi began to combat each other. From what he had seen of her before, she was always eager for a fight.

What had changed?

The gym quickly responded to his thoughts, raising a wall large enough to force them both backwards between them in an attempt to separate the two.

"Xara, while I appreciate the assistance, I think that I'm fully capable of fighting my own battles," he said calmly. "If you still wish to assist, kindly watch my new belongings for me."

IC: Mantis

Mantis tried to twist in midair to avoid Xara's kick, but found himself crashing into the wall instead. He got up, rubbing his head.

IC: Riptide(Revenge)-Forest

What are you aiming at Raptor?

IC: Riptide (Raptor)

How about that convenient Rahkshi target right over there?

Ic: "What is origin of thought? Why think one way but not another. Designed?"

IC: Xara - Gym.

"With pleasure," I said to Rail, taking the unpleasant collection of limbs and weapons from him.