Diana and the cult of evil bird ninja wizards... and Silus

Diana looked at fairy god Silus but her face remained stoic. The concern was truly out of place, but Diana made no comment on it. Something in the back of her mind reminded her of her old acquaintances from Awesome Squad... It felt like a lifetime ago. The power of the sword was hers alone. "The Blood Sword... it can be used for much, much worse things. In my hands it's trouble. In others, it's a calamity waiting to happen."

The elevator opened up to an elevator lobby, and other people were coming onto the floor as well, wearing those masks. "Oh right." Diana realized and donned her own mask when she came face to face with an aristocratic looking pair in those white bird masks.

"...Silly initiates." The man in the coat and top hat said, as he walked in with cane in one hand and a female gown and mask wearer clinging to the other.
Ceremony Hall

They proceeded into the closed off hall, a large function room with two dozen or so formally dressed folk of obvious wealth and tacky taste, arranged around one of those ranked ninja wizards, kneeling in the middle of a mystical circle surrounded by candles. The room was stuffy because of the smoke, and an eerie silence dominated, as all eyes were on the figure. Then slowly, four more ninja wizards around him began chanting, while their hands were moving around in large, sweeping gestures.

"Hey, keep an eye out here. I need to go find my stuff. Call me if something bad happens." Diana said to Silus, patting him on the shoulder. He would get to watch the whole ritual unfold, how exciting... Except, if he knew his demonology, they were summoning something very, very bad.

STORAGE ROOM

Diana didn't bother listening to this rubbish, making her way through the crowd as she followed the exact location of her mobile device. She briefly came face to face with an taller than average man in a suit, who didn't pay her that much attention, nor did he seem as enthusiastic to be here.  At last she happens on her bags in one of the side rooms, most of her clothes and cash intact but no sign of her Sword. She sweeps the room with the stacks of chairs, folding tables, folded linens and speakers, but no artifacts of doom.  

"Excuse me? May I help you, initiate?" A man in a suit wearing the mask came in, following Diana into the props room. She turned around and feigned surprise.

"Oh. well! Hello, I, uh, was wondering what were you going to do with the bags?" She said, referring to her phat loot and wads of cash.

"The belongings of the heretic shall be seized by the order sister, for its benefit. Her ill gotten wealth will be put to better use." He explained in a most formal English that didn't quite suit his accent.

"I see... a proper course of action. hmm. And what is your rank, brother?" Diana asked, slowly approaching the man.

"Well... I am a journeyman, with recommendations of the arch wizard of- GUUGH!" Well, it seemed magic didn't do much against a swift kick to the groin followed by a knee to the gut then a double palm strike to the ears. The poor fellow's solar plexus crushed and his eardrums ruptured, he goes down. Then Diana puts him in a sleeper hold, to knock him out.

Ceremony Hall
The summoning Ritual was apparently near completion as the Raven in the circle stood up, holding in his hand a bracelet while red steam was rising from his body. The present bird aristocracy looked on with great anticipation, as the ninja wizard uttered some legit magical incantations, causing the bracelet to wildly begin morphing into armor around him.

"Blood Mail, I offer my blood and flesh, to call forth the Faceless Ones!" With that final incantation, his body also underwent an extreme transformation, as he grew three times his original dimensions into some red skinned fiend armored in silvery plate. His agonized voice warped and changed, but the crowd only gasped in more thrill and anticipation, as the four ninja wizards who chanted held out cups to collect the demon's blood as it fell to the floor.

"So. Run this by me one more time..." A voice would ask Diana. The voice was warm, and it was an almost crystallized song to be sung. There was a warmth to it that was beyond natural, it's voice alone able to warm a frozen heart with a glimmer of hope. Of course it's "glimmer" inspiring side-effect to it's voice was actually oxymoronic to it's personality. "You're somehow smart enough to acquire a magical weapon of extraordinary power. You're smart enough to acquire such phat loot...but it somehow seemed like a good idea to leave a demon-possessed sword unattended in the other room." The comment was almost like a strained disbelief, condescending in the same respect. But the crystalline voice was so...it was so warming and compelling. Of course this was mid conversation with the Journyman. He said something about Arch wizards and then BAM! Cheap shot and spermicide and a choke-hold.

"I'm totally giving you the honorary title of "Ninja Vampire: Diana the dick kicker!" May your name be sung far and wide. Woe unto those who take her phat loot." The sword added in, of course it was still necklace in form. The necklace then fell silent for a moment as it let Diana return to her devices.

Ceremony Hall

Silus ventured himself into the ceremony Hall, following the lead of several others before him. Silus began to wonder what kind of initiates were sent after such a valuable thing as the bloodsword. The only thing he could think of was that they were planning something nefarious, and that they did not intend to kill Diana, rather simply ensure she was away from the blade. This could mean one of several things, the first of which he imagined them trying to preform a dreaded and secret ritual of powerful dark magic. "The Unspeakable" was the name of this ritual spell, mostly because it's name was so dark that the name of the ritual even whispered turned ones tongue into coal.

He was uncertain if this was what these ninja wizards were doing mind you, but it was a fear he held deeply. It wasn't often times you saw a demon-trapped in a sword ritual being preformed. "Well crap. A demon summoning on a Wednesday? I must have missed the memo." He murmured to himself before letting out a drawn out sigh. This was definitely something he needed to warn Diana of... but this ritual needed to be stopped. Could he do it alone? No...he'd have to be safe. He needed to find Diana.

Ceremony Hall

Once all her items were in order and back into her bags, Diana began heading back out to the ceremony hall. Apparently the jewel weapon was also intelligent, and Diana was quick to defend herself, her frustration over losing the sword compounding her poor demeanor. "For what it's worth, the sword usually tells me when someone's close to it... and it usually hurts them. Very badly. These guys must have some kind of spell to negate it. They're Ninja wizards after all." Diana speculated, though logic would dictate they had magical power enough to fool something as powerful as the Blood Sword.

Diana got out of the props room just in time to witness the demon wearing the Blood Mail. The demon materializing was called a Faceless one, an agent of the Old Ones. and Diana knew this. As the man who offered himself up was slowly being sublimated by the being, these disgusting people were being served- or rather, force fed, goblets of its blood, so that they'd either gain some kind of power or keel over and die from demonic cancers growing in their bodies. Seeing the horror, there was an outbreak of cold feet as the rich thrill seekers wanted out- but the guards wouldn't have any of that, holding them at bay with submachine guns. Ninja wizards with submachine guns. Granted, they were low ranked...

"Let us out! We didn't sign up for this!" One protested.

"This is crazy! You're all crazy!" Another woman cried.

"You don't know who you're dealing with! My father is with the district attorney's office!" A third threatened, which was met with a rifle butt to the face.
Most of them keeled over as their bodies began to mutate horribly, growing new appendages or their existing limbs changing, or their stomachs turning into giant mouths.

"Enough!" Diana ended the ritual by running one of the conjurers through with the Wishing Star sword, then decapitating another before they could react. The feedback from the interruption causes the other two summoners to... liquefy where they stood. Screams erupted from the remaining rich people, and Diana decided to step into the limelight. "You asshats are in way over your head. The Bloodsword is mine! Now where is it?!" She shouted, though she was answered only with an otherwordly laughter.

The guards abandon their posts, and the rich people begin evacuating. Machineguns are pointed at Diana while the partially summoned demon confronted her.
Barely a man and mostly demon, and bristling with the armor of the Blood Mail, the demon towered over her or Silus, and spoke to Diana... through the fang filled, lipless mouth in its palm that oozed black tar. "Ah. The thief and heretic is here, with a bold claim indeed! You think the Master serves one as self-centered as you, girl? You are nothing but a pawn in his schemes, a means to an end..."

Diana's eyebrows met as she gazed at the big ugly. She ignored the cliche villain reveal, and the intimidation. "The Blood Sword. Where is it? or else I start chopping."

"Foolish child. The Blood Sword permitted us to retrieve it from you did it not? He wanted to be found. He tired of you, tired of your selfishness, your petty greed, your lack of ambition beyond material comforts. Above all He tired of hearing you whine about your whore of a moth- " He said, and that broke the camel's back.

Diana was now mad, and let out a fierce battle cry. She began her combat with the demon, landing two strong strikes immediately before it could react. Roaring in pain, the demon caused the Blood Mail to grow into claws. The wizards with machine guns also started shooting at her, Diana's attention split between deflecting bullets and avoiding her old armor's attacks.

"Well damn girl, now we cookin'! Do me a favor and don't forget to drive me through that ugly thing's eyes!" The wishing star said to Diana, only her and Silus being able to hear it. The bullets roared and whizzed through the air, requiring Diana's attention alongside the infernal blood mail.

Silus was amidst the crowd as the bullets fired out at Diana. He slipped back into the shadows and began to drag an ungloved hand up and a small sphere of paint fired out towards the wall. The paint exploded and splattered, catching hold of several individuals. That's it. Silus covered them with his magic paint, nothing more too it at the moment. He then tapped his bangle, the accessory quickly transforming into the spinning axe. Silus then rushed to Diana's side and began spinning the blade at a high speed, making it a whirr as bullets began to be deflected off of it, providing cover for Diana. "s-s-s-s-s-s-stoooooooooooooooop the sssssspiiiiiinnniiiing!!!!!!" Spectral Soulreaver begged of Silus as the bullets let out pangs and pings.

"Stop yer yappin' and spin whatcha maker gave ya! ♪♪Cut them slice them chop them up!♪♪" The wishing star literally sang out as it wanted to cut and cleave through the masses of corrupt cultists and twerps. Silus rolled his eyes and continued to give cover. Silus then called to Diana that he had her back...well he said "I" still trying to keep his identity a secret as best as possible. Meanwhile he'd keep himself aware of Diana's actions, trying to defend her and keep her from doing anything she'd regret. His first line of defense however was preparation, and he was watching and observing every little thing.

The henchmen who hadn't leapt for cover and were caught by the pain were momentarily distracted, only to continue their attacks. A period of reloading marked another lull in the volley, not to mention these weapon masters who could deflect bullets.

Once she could give her full attention to the demon, Diana bobbed and weave with all she could, the demon's killing blows coming within a hair's breadth. She mercilessly carve away at the demon piecemeal. Diana attacked the armor consciously, beating it into confusion by attacking the demon all over the place, until it couldn't keep up with her rythm and she dug the sword deep into his liver and intestines, getting smoking, tar-coated demonic entrails onto the floor.

"AAAAUURHGH!" He let out a hideous scream of pain and slumped to a knee. Vermin and creepy crawlers slowly made their way out of his wound, a wound he tried to cover, trying to keep his mutated organs inside of him.

"The Blood Sword may have let itself be found but I know how my gear works." She said, not missing a beat and stabbing the demon in its hand mouth as he tried to raise it for an attack. The Blood Mail slid off him in semi solid pieces, like it was ashamed of its defeat, and slowly pooled into a single pool of mercurial metal at Diana's feet.

"Now. Talk. where is the Sword." Diana asked, slowly digging Wishing Star into the demon's chest.

"Why don't you... ask him..." The demon laughed and slid forward, killing himself on Diana's sword. She slowly pulled out, and flicked the thick, molasses-like blood off Wishing Star. The corpse slumped to the ground, then slowly a black portal slowly reclaiming the demon's corpse, until nothing but a pool of steaming guts remained.

Diana picked up Blood Mail, subservient and taken the form of a thick metal bracelet, clasping firmly back onto her arm. Diana turned towards the odd, perfectly calm human in the suit who watched it all unfold without much a reaction.

Seeing their demonic summons butchered like livestock, the remaining cultists flee. Or attempt to anyway. One was unlucky enough to have a piece of metal dug into his chest, Diana using the Blood Mail to grow herself some throwing weapons.

"You're not with the Bird is the Word crowd, Suits. Now, be a good man in black and start talking... unless you want to start eating demon guts." She threatened again.

The man in the suit stood there and removed his sunglasses, not the slightest bit intimidated by the blades. He even took a step closer and shook his head, as if disappointed that she believed that something like those could really be a threat to someone like him. With a simple motion he closed the sunglasses, and slipped one of the prods down into the interior breast pocket of his suit. He then gave a little tug to his jacket, straightening it out and all around dismissing Diana as if she were just another person. Silus quickly snapped his fingers and the paint that covered the gunners and the witnesses turned into a highly powerful elastic glue, keeping them from moving too far or doing too much. They were like rats in one of those inhumane sticky traps.

"The bird is the word? I was pretty sure "Arrogant" was the word. It's more fitting because it describes you. You're trying to be so sure of yourself that you're over-compensating so that you can assure yourself that the blade isn't right. Because if what the demon said is true...that means no one wants you. No one wants you. Not your family, not your friends...Hell, a homicidal demon doesn't even want you anymore. You uh...you're out of people sister." The man in the suit said with a sigh, as if he were sympathetic to her plight. "You can't even scratch me, let alone make me eat demon guts. So if you want anything I suggest you put away your mommy issues and talk about this like a grown up. Otherwise things are boud to get nothing but worse for you." The man said as he crossed his arms. Unfortunately he was correct. Not only was his shield protecting him, but even if Diana were to joint attack with Silus, his natural durability would stop anything that they could throw at him. Not that she or Silus knew that though...

"Give her the bloodsword!" Silus commanded in his feminine form. Despite him being an authoritative female, his comment mostly distracted the man from the door behind him, which a Silus doppelganger that looked like the real Silus stepped through silently a rope in his hands and biting down on his lower lip as he ducked back into the other side of the door and peered around looking to Diana and smiling with a little wave, trying to alert her that he was here with a plan.

Diana paused to let all that the man said sink into her, like an rapier sliding through the cracks of her skin and into her heart. To be discarded, to be unwanted, to not matter... nothing was worse to a human being than to be told, with possibility, that they were indeed worthless. Her memories raced through her mind, but the gaps had been made by Corvus, his corruption having completely sculpted his chosen avatar. for a moment Diana could do nothing but hold back tears, tears that flowed regardless.

Then she spots Silus. A glimmer of hope in a sea of darkness.

She bit her lip in anger, in torment. Her mind was ravaged by thoughts, but her body ached to act. She did the only thing she knew, the only thing the Blood Sword taught her. To fight, to reject an enemy's words with her skill and steel. Diana was not rejected, no, she was not left powerless. Her weapon may have left, but her training, her technique, she earned it all. She was... "... War. I am the bringer of death that cannot be denied. My technique is unbeatable. You say you cannot be harmed, but no armor is perfect..." Diana muttered beneath her breathe.

She stared down the man, discarding the mask and holding Wishing Star in one hand, Blood Mail coalescing into an arm blade in the other.

"So long as I stand, so long as I fight, I am invincible! Though the gods stand in my way, I shall cut them! It is my wish to see you laid low, to be defeated utterly! I reject you, I reject you with my weapons, and my will!  Tell me where they took my sword! You say you cannot be touched..." She entered a stance to fight the Agent.

"...Then let us put your invincibility to the test!"  Once psyched up, a palpable aura of violence surrounded Diana. Not the energy of her weapons, but her own martial ki, her body tensing to their utmost limit. She roared, and charged into a cold rage, launching three of Blood Mail's cruel daggers towards the Agent, towards elbow, knee and eye. empowered by the demon's blood (occult 8). Diana would kill one more time, or forever sleep. There was only one volley of daggers, for Diana's step closed the distance between herself and the Agent.

The Cultists entangled wisely close their mouths about the whereabouts of the sword.

"Think we should tell her?" the tall lanky one asked.

"I think at best that would earn us a less painful death. For crying out loud, she killed that demon..." The short chubby one replied.

"...We could promise to tell her if she promises to let us go...?"

"...You go and try it."

They look at each other, undecided, deciding to watch this fight unfold, and wonder how much more painful their deaths were going to be.

"Well color me disappointed. Alright kiddo, let's get this over with." the "Agent" said as he cracked his neck, standing upright in his six foot of proper posture. He swiftly stepped aside and evaded Diana's closing in, his back turning and his eyes trained on Diana and then to Silus. His "stance" wasn't anything impressive a typical arrogant prick's stance at best. From behind him the little boy Silus came around the corner, stepping silently, the rope tying itself and transforming into a knife looming in his hand. Apparently Silus was either about to do a very dark deed, or he was going to at least damage the barrier. He raises his arm back, but the Agent caught a glimpse of it. Within the reflection of the real Silus' eye he saw the little boy. Lucid and quickly he turned as Silus brought his arm down. A hand on the little boys wrist and then a hand on the little boys throat as he lifted him and forced the arm to follow through, causing Silus to stab himself. The faux Silus gasped and grunted as the indigo glow faded from his eyes and he dropped from the mans hands, landing and digging the knife even further in to the corpse's chest as warm blood oozed out. "Times like this I hate my job. Sorry little guy." He said before kicking the corpse over with his dress shoe, sending the little body rolling while leaving a smeared trail of blood behind.

The real Silus was shocked, but he wouldn't be disheartened. With a throw of Soulreaver the "Agent" turned and caught the blade, throwing it at Diana forcing her to engage with the Soulreaver, or move aside to avoid the blow. The Agent proved formidably quick, perhaps not up to par with Diana, but certainly faster than Silus. The "Agent" then drew out a pistol and fired two shots. The first aimed right at Diana, the other one just off to the left. The shot was skillfully aimed to ricochet off the wall and strike where he anticipated she would move to defend. If she didn't move the bullet would ricochet again and hit the real Silus between the eyes. His skill and prowess weren't anything to laugh at. It was blatantly apparent with the calm smirk that adorned his clean-shaven face. With a flourish of the wrist a rapier of an odd serpentine metal appeared. It had a glorious sheen to it, a blade of an almost immaculate and hypnotizing nature. It was almost so beautiful that one might have forgotten to question the physics of how that thing was up his sleeve.

"Let's rock girly!" the Agent taunted as he flourished the blade and took a rather nontraditional fencing stance.

Agent:

The mortals caught as unwitting witnesses to this battle would be hard pressed to keep their shit together. They would see fighting unlike anything human minds would be capable of. Clearly what followed would be beyond words, as attacks and counter attacks, feints and lunges and a dozen gambits unfolded in split seconds as these masters of war traded blows.

"I'm going blind from the awesome!" One cultist exclaimed.

All her attention was now on her opponent, as she drowned out Silus's presence on the battlefield, real or otherwise. She attacked when the Agent was occupied, and Diana used her weapon technique to catch and throw aside Soul Reaver, then launched herself into melee. This was no place for anyone else. Diana counted on her speed and aggression, going for crippling attacks to places like throat, eyes and joints. She also saw to her own defense, her only remaining advantage the Blood Mail's mutable form. Her survival instinct was now suspiciously stronger now that her regenerative weapon was no longer present.

Soulreaver was returned to Silus by Diana's hand. The battle ensued between the Agent and Diana. His sword was more powerful than her own, and his suit provided him a special shielding for if he were to take damage. Of course that was providing he took damage at all, seeing as his skills more than rivaled Diana's. The man wasn't going to match he speed to be sure, but he more than made up for it in skill and durability. Then man wouldn't tire either, it was just another movement. His intent to hit Diana was nothing more than a couple scrapes or slits, he wasn't even trying to move in for the kill, but as he moved and danced through the blades she threw, he found his suit getting cut and sheered in some portions.

"So... between my suit, natural thick skin and skills I'm not gonna get hurt too bad." "Agent" Moriarty said as he gave a swift slash of the sword, altering the flow in momentum between Diana and himself, most likely sending her off to the side a little. Of course even if she were put off to the side, she proved more than skilled enough to make a recovery and a counter attack, so the Agent placed his blade out at an angle towards her. "My sword is also sharper dearie. Unless you intend to run away I don't think you'll be winning this round." He said, the Irish accent slipping through as he ran a finger up his rapier and gave it a flick.

Silus watched the battle transpire as he looked to the wishing star, then looked to his doppelgangers corpse. Silus watched as the man stepped back and gave a swift flick of the blade, aiming to graze Diana once again as a faux-pas before aiming to take a swift shot at her legs, looking to knock her off her feet. Coup de' grase being that as he spun to sweep her legs, he spun with the gun and he'd fire off the wall. A ricochet bullet firing off the wall and aiming to take her life from behind if she had not been swept.

Silus sat there and watched for a moment, deeply conflicted and unsure of himself, and even more unsure of Diana.

Diana parried and weaved with the attacks, seeing as she was finally fighting someone on equal footing. The rapier point was about to run her through, but she avoids and lets it shear through her outfit, while delivering another blow in this tiresome exchange, raking his tough skin when she could when he couldn't defend. A few more scrapes to her foot she took gladly, but with a truly spectacular move she deflects the bullet with Wishing Star.
Her wardrobe torn, her source of survival was made apparent- the Blood Mail had reacted to encase Diana in armor, though even these attacks weathered it with cracks and dents.

Diana distanced herself, realizing this battle would go on, likely not in her favor. She needed an edge. As she studied what damage she had dealt to her opponent, She looked aside for a moment towards Silus, looking to him for an intervention, something to turn the tide of battle.

Diana looked to Silus, who just stood there, holding Soulreaver and letting out a little sigh. He was unsure as to everything that happened right now. What was he doing even? He was helping Diana get back the very blade that corrupted her to begin with. Not only that she just watched him get impaled and didn't even have the time to notice it. He couldn't help but feel as though he were a mule of sorts. Expendable pawn. Was this what his death meant to the person he considered his closest friend?

  "I wish upon the morning star..." Silus' voice said. The Wishing star turned to dust, whispers and echos of the words in a chorus of hushed voices as the dust vanished into the air, glowing gold as they settled on the "Agent". In an instant the Agent would grunt and feel himself tethered down, unable to move as he looked down and noticed that he had literally been teleported into the adhesive paint. (Wishing Star +2 PP Teleport target within 182 meters)

  "Well...Damn." He said as the faint golden aura faded. The cut open and bloodied Silus staggered forward, holding the wound as his glowing indigo eyes began to fade. He actually even fell to the ground and weakly used his legs to push himself forward. He was ice cold. Silus then used his shapeshifting ability to take the form of a battered and wounded version of his regular self, replacing the female individual with a perfectly independent doppelganger.

  Now being his usual self he turned and snapped his fingers the paint beneath the man becoming caustic and burning away at his shield. Now it was just him and his natural durability. Silus coughed and produced a vile mix of mucus and blood, not having thought through the ramifications of injuring himself via transformation.

   "Where is the-"
   "Sucks, don't it kid." The Agent interrupted him. Silus' head bobbed as he started to fade from consciousness. "I know how you feel. To care so much about someone and watch them be utterly unphased when you get stabbed for them. I lied to ya dearie. You are wanted... but in anger you completely turned a blind eye to the one who had faith in you... the one person willing to die for you and you're more interested in some chunk of metal and a demon." The Agent said, Silus coughed again and his little fist was clenched.

 "You're wrong." Silus tried to protest weakly. The Agent shook his head with a smile.

 "Oh...but I'm not. You see, when I say I know how you feel, I mean it quite literally. Pathokinesis dearies. I know how she feels unloved...and I know how you cling to her and want nothing but to see you "best fwiend" succeed." The Agent said, a mocking baby-voiced tone when he commented about Silus' viewing her as a best friend. "Doesn't look I'm going anywhere, sadly. So if you'd like to spend your final moments pleading for her inner light, be my guest. It won't get you anywhere though." He said, matter of fact as he smirked at Diana.

 "G-go-*cough* Go ahead and stab him. But please...d-*cough* *cough*- Just d-don't kill him." Silus pleaded to Diana as he kept pressure on the whole in his abdomen. He really...really didn't think this out well. He actually was hoping Diana would cut the bitch.... the "Agent", not him.

Diana's attitude towards the Agent became especially hostile over the course of the fight. Time and again he involved Silus, and she was no longer able to hope he'd be able to take care of himself.

"You still haven't run away, have you Silus? The first attack didn't discourage you at all, and now you've paid the price for your tricks... Well. Don't worry. He won't get farther." Diana looked at saw that her companion was no stranger at all, but a long lost friend. Diana was gasping to keep up in this fight. She needed to end it. She watched as Silus performed a gambit to hold Moriarty in place to give her the edge.

"So. I thought I was fighting my equal. Turns out he's a dirty coward who needs leverage. Well, Pardon me if I use this advantage." Diana obliged Silus's request and sped herself to Moriarty's side. In lieu of a killing attack he would anticipate, she went for a feint-dual attack.

She wanted to impair the Agent's vision with a cut at the brow; it was a classic dirty trick, but she wasn't sure if this person even bled for it to work. On any other, a cut to the brow was a shallow cut, but the constant trickle of blood in the eyes made fighting difficult, constantly wiping it out of the eyes a hassle.

She would also go for the tendons in his elbows, using the Blood Mail as a sickle, maximizing the weight of the point to get through that dense skin. It had to work, or she and Silus were as good as done for.

Diana's blow definitely hit. Without his shields, and his fighting skills inhibited by is sticky situation, he found himself victim to Diana's blade. It sunk into his skin, his natural durability able to take more than what the blade could deliver, but the blow in and of it's own right was enough to make a point. The Agent smiled and even chuckled as he shook his head, reaching out and grabbing her scythe swinging arm with the same arm that she was attacking. In the end him doing this with his dense skin probably saved the arm, but it horribly crippled it, though his grip on Diana didn't relent.

 "Keep lettin' it boil. Your blood is poison you know. Let it boil dearie, let it boil. Soon enough you'll get all the poison out...and you'll be nothing more than a poisoned husk of bitter and broken. That's all that people like you and me are. Mistakes, meant to be broken and battered. That's what they think anyway. But we know better... They try to replace us, but we won't let 'em. I'm sure I'm the real me... but are you sure that you-" the Agent said before looking up, his face morphing and melding until Diana was looking at a perfectly, unharmed version of herself. "-are the only you?" The mirror Diana then smiled at the true Diana before fading away, a cheshire smile of pearly whites the last thing to fade from existence.

  "Okay... blurry vision. Little help here." Silus said as he began to shift about, his faintly glowing eyes staring Diana down for a moment. "So... howya been?" He asked plainly, albeit weak as he did, totally ignoring the fact he'd lost sufficient blood.

Diana swung her weapon one more time in defiance at her doppelganger, but her blade only struck at air and nothing. Diana worked to quickly free Silus, the combat over and she was free to help him.

"I've had better days than this. Stay right here..." Diana said, helping Silus to lie down. The Blood Mail weapon folded in on itself and turned back into a thick, ruby encrusted bangle. She went to the stock room to retrieve her things. She then took an unusually large acorn from her pack, a mundane thing that the Cultists likely had no idea the value of.

"Now, this is going to feel very weird... and painful." She warned him, sticking the acorn into his side. The acorn's outer shell fell away and in its place was the softly glowing Gem of Greens, which quickly rooted into Silus's body, its roots gradually growing into his wounds, closing them off with space roots. His body's natural repair systems enriched with space plant juice. He would be healed, though this could be a case of the Remedy worse than the Disease, considering the Gem needs to power up Silus's organs. Diana sat down beside him, her head downcast, letting out a tired sigh. A very, very long night indeed. She remained quiet, not wishing to speak. Not knowing what to say.

Between the gasps and the wrenching from this damn gem Silus began to tear up but for some reason he thoroughly enjoyed this. It was kinda twisted but from the nerve cluster to this Silus found himself with an affinity for pain. He finally let out a little whimper and a groan as he shifted, finding a slight comfort where he was at. He looked to Diana, seeing her crestfallen like this made his heart heavy....heavier than this plant was tugging on it anyway. Silus shifted himself, pushing with his legs thta he could hardly feel and leaned his head back on her side, using her to prop himself up. He smiled and looked back at her with his signature glowing indigo eyes. He actually dug his hand into his open wound, gettign a little blood ot mix with his fingertips as he began scratching little marks subtly.

 "H-hey. You know he's wrong right. If you...weren't wanted then what am I doing here?" He giggled a little, a boyish grin on his face as he tried to cheer up his friend a little. "You.. can't-gahh...ya can't base your happiness on the words or actions of anyone else. 'Cuz there's only one person who can make you happy. That's you. You just need to remember what makes you special. You're like...a warrior princess who wielded a demon sword and kicked butt. You're pretty cool outside the sword too. You investigate Mayan ruins, you beat up bird ninja cultists... You're also my best friend... the only one I can count on... Silus sighed as he narrowed his eyes and placed his hand down on the drawing, keeping it covered from Diana's view.

 "I'll believe in ya until the end... and if you ever doubt that..." Silus added a glowing light shining over the drawing he made and then his hand rising up as a little something formed beneath his hand. "Then just look at this." Silus said as he moved his hand and revealed a real little corgi pup wearing a silk bow the color of Silus' eyes atop it's little head. The little corgi wore a collar with a blank name tag and another little tag which read "To: Diana. From: Silus."  Silus chuckled as the little Corgi yipped and immediately rushed to Diana's lap.

 "Now ya can remember that you got two people who want ya around." He said, trying to sound energetic like he normally was, but the pain was seeping in a little. Diana was lucky Silus really did see her as his best friend, otherwise he'd probably have been mad at her for taking him on adventures that turned him into a masochist. The second Diana gave the pup a name, the name would engrave itself upon the enchanted name-tag, an additional little bonus to the painted tag.

After that point it didn't matter much anymore, as Silus didn't have the pain tolerance that his father's or brothers did, and sooner rather than later he found himself drifting out of consciousness