Hoping to test the limits of his glacial magics and the frozen aura that they had brought, Videl had decided that now was the time to head on out towards the desert city of Zeinav. Whilst it was difficult for him to temporarily break away from his beloved companion, he had known that it was best for this particular instance. Sylvari likely would have been alright within this desert land, considering the regions views on necromancy, but this was something that the T'saya would have to test on his own. Well.. as alone as one could be when they were consistently accompanied by their mount.

At present, Videl had found himself resting at a tavern and feasting upon several Vaha Fruit. Throughout the past week, Videl had managed to test his glacial magics rather thoroughly. Regardless of how hot the region had been, he had still found himself feeling as though he were frozen solid. As for his magics? While the immense heat had the ability to melt away his magics, such an effect wasn't instant. He could even go as far as to call upon his active twelve feet of snow if he had pushed himself to his limits. Knowing that he could do better in this regard, however, Videl would ultimately decide that at some point or another, he would have to find some way to overcome the limitations placed upon his magics by the heat.

"I wonder how Sylvari's doing," he would claim whilst popping another Vaha fruit into his mouth. "I always get so worried when we are apart.. but at least I'll have grown several times stronger by the time we meet once again." A soft laugh would proceed to escape from the T'saya's lips as he had thought on his new capabilities with the spear. Not only had he managed to discover a way to extend his reach with his polearms but he had uncovered a combat style that would allow for him to launch himself into the air and safely land within a range of about thirty feet. Whilst having found himself in Zeinav thus far, he had even managed to learn a spell that would allow him to overcome his own fears!

In an area such as this, he had been able to overcome several of his limits. To think that he would be able to replicate actions taken by another, only to master them after a short period of training, had shocked the man. Whilst it was true that he had done the same thing to learn how to properly wield a polearm from his tribesman, just about everything else he had known had come from his own practice. In the eyes of some, he might be considered a genius. At the same time however, Videl would never have believed such a thing.

As Videl had continued to devour the small bowl of Vaha Fruit that had been presented to him, his gaze would subtly drift towards one of the tables nearby. Several of the tables within the bar had been dedicated to gambling of some sort, a pass time for many of those that were passing through, but there was one particular table that had stood out. It was the more raucous of the tables; several of its patrons having grown rowdy with each round of drinks that had come their way. And unfortunately for Videl, and several of the taverns patrons, a new round of drinks would find itself presented to that table with each round of their game. If it hadn't been for the fact that they had been purchasing so many rounds of drinks, the tavern keeper might have even gone as far as to remove them from the premises.

A smile spread across the demon in human skin as he breathed in the scent of debauchery. Azazel loved inns, taverns, and any den of sin that mortals engaged in. As he surveyed the room, he spotted a new patron of this particular establishment. The demon's smile widened. Every new person was an opportunity to gain more influence over the mortal plane.

Azazel began slinking over to the newcomer, with all the grace of a jungle cat stalking its prey. He was waylaid, however, as a particularly raucous group of patrons got even louder at the latest gambling hand. Azazel stopped in his tracks. I can't work in this environment. Those mongrels need to be dealt with. Give me the reins and I will tear them limb from limb. No, Arteron, trying to engage in conversation, especially with new contacts, is exceedingly difficult with fresh corpses about.

Stifling the subservient demon's frustration, Azazel walked with purpose over to the rowdy group. "My friends, would you be so kind as to keep it down? I understand the joys and despairs of gambling are moving on the soul, but surely you can appreciate the disturbance you are causing the other guests?" The reek of alcohol and bile on their lips made Azazel incredulous that such a tactic would work, but for the sake of his new mark, who would likely appreciate his attempt at diplomacy first, it was a necessary action.

The main customer, heavyset and ugly, moreso than most mortals, regarded him with a haughty stare. "And who are you? Chamberpot boy? We don't need any changing and we're paying good money to not be bothered. If the other people want to leave, that's their business." Pity for them. A little intimidation is a nice change of pace every now and again.

"I'm afraid I don't give a Skittermaus' ass about your money. I don't work here; I merely want peace and quiet. You will be silent, or I will make you."

As Azazel expected, the man was too intoxicated to recognize the disparity in skill between them and stood up abruptly, nearly staggering from the sudden motion. "Oh yeah? You and what army, boy? Scrawny runt like you couldn't force a handmaiden to leave." Azazel smiled, getting close to the man, even as he felt Arteron pulsing with rage and a desire to strangle the mortal.

"You'll go willingly, for now you've earned my displeasure." Calling upon the power of his demonic mantle, Azazel let his true form bleed slightly into his features, just enough so those seated could see his flaming eyes, pointed teeth, and overwhelming presence of ire ^{[Fiend, Invoke Fear]}. The man's companions, more lucid and sober than their leader, immediately rose and backed away, terror plain in their eyes. The drunkard himself was unable to take such coordinated action and fell to his knees, blubbering incoherently. As the smell of ammonia filled the air, Azazel noted with disgust that he had soiled himself.

Leveling his imperious visage on one of the others he spoke in a commanding tone. "You there. Take this idiot and begone. If you darken this doorstep again, I'll let my friend feast on your entrails." The singled-out man was only too quick to comply, and in the next breath, they were all sprinting out the door, with their broken leader in tow.

Azazel did an about face as he approached the table where the newcomer sat. He took a seat just opposite the man and leveled a charming smile at his new companion. "Terribly sorry you had to see that pathetic display. Zeinav City is usually free of such miscreants. But I forget my manners: Azazel, concerned citizen and eager to know you." The demon held out his mortal hand to his next prey.

It wouldn't take long for another of the taverns patrons to get involved in the debacle that was occurring not too far from where he had been seated. This go around though, rather than join in on the debauchery and annoyances, the individual that was heading over had decided to tell those at the table to leave. It wouldn't come as a surprise that the group had decided to brush the encounter off. At first anyways. With the accompaniment of a threat, each of those that had sat around the table had risen from their chairs and prepared to flee. It was only their 'leader' that had remained, clearly having soiled himself. Honestly, the whole scene had reminded Videl of the first time that he had met Aledüne. One of the few people that he hadn't really liked, given how they had chosen to respond to certain things.

As the man had darkened his metaphorical doorstep by approaching him soon after, Videl would find himself holding in a sigh. He had grown rather tired of dealing with such individuals as of late.. It was almost as though, outside of Sylvari and a few others, the majority of those that he had encountered had resorted to violence as their main motivator. Such a person could only spell trouble. Especially when they spoke on the matters of friends that one couldn't necessarily point out straight away. Rather than be rude to the man before him though, even with the manner in which his thoughts had been going, Videl would turn towards the man and offer him a soft smile in return. Seeing that the man had offered him a hand in this moment, Videl would extend a hand in return and shake the mans hand whilst introducing himself.

"Not to worry, Azazel. This is the kind of thing that I've grown rather used to as of late. I suppose that you may know me as Videl. Wandering adventurer. Aspiring Knight. Tribesman of the T'saya people." It was the standard greeting that he had offered to those that he had met as of late. Of course, as he had introduced himself to the man and shaken his hand, Videl would find that his gaze had begun to wander across the mans features. A lithe and fit man that had stood a foot taller than him, if he were to have been standing at this moment. Messy brown hair and striking green eyes. And most importantly, loose fitting clothing that had displayed a decent portion of his skin. Something that Videl would come to consider in the event that the two were to come to blows for one reason or another. He had rather high hopes that such an event wouldn't befall him but at the same time, he was most assuredly going to prevent the second coming of his time with Aledüne.

"I hope that this isn't too personal of a question, Azazel, but whom exactly is this friend of yours? The one that you mentioned to those drunkards?" The question was a rather dangerous one considering that Azazel had mentioned that said friend would feast upon their entrails. Was this going to be another one of those necromantic situations? Or was there something deeper going on here? It was also entirely possible that Azazel's friend had simply remained in the area nearby. A creature of great oddity such as the Draegloth that he had met in days past. "Rather than entrails, I'm sure that they would find themselves to enjoy these Vaha Fruit." A soft laugh would escape from the mans lips as he had subtly placed his hand at his backside. He was truly hoping that things wouldn't devolve from here.. but one could never be too safe.

The demon flashed a predatory smile for an instant as his hand clasped the newcomer, using the skin contact to initiate a scan of the man's mind ^{[Reveal Truth]}. Let's see what we're working with: cursed birth, no love from family, shunned by people... all worthless. Let's look a little more recent.



Azazel was frankly staggered by the looming presence of a woman on Videl's mind so great and holy that she seemed to put the angels of the gods to shame. Sylvari was her name, and she was the single most important person in the world to this man. Azazel was tempted to write it off as mortal infatuation, but the deeper he searched the more there was only her. She was a cursed thing, a vampire, and quite an emotional wreck from what the demon could see, and yet, Videl painted her as the most righteous person he knew. Memories of her serving at orphanages and soup kitchens and amongst the poor were vomit-inducing for their sickly sweetness, but there was a greater problem. The purity of Videl's devotion to this woman would make him much harder to manipulate than the demon cared for.



Even so, he was a prideful sort, and ever keen to further hone his craft. If he could drive a wedge between these pathetic mortals, it would stand as a testament to his manipulative power. Azazel smiled charmingly as Videl spoke, choosing first to answer his new companion's second question before his first.



"Heard that, did you? He's a bit of a local bogeyman around the city. Bane of those who are complacent or unruly. I'm sure you won't see him anytime soon, my friend. But to more interesting matters: what's a member of T'saya tribe doing so far south? I understand yours are a people of Frost Gale. Wait let me guess: it was a girl that pulled you from your natural environment, wasn't it? Yes, I can see the answer there in your eyes, plain as day. So where is this lovely lady? Is she here? Or perhaps she isn't, which is why you're in a tavern alone. Forgive my forwardness, I didn't mean to scratch an old wound. As a gesture of conciliation, I would be happy to offer you advice, if you'd like. I have my fair share of experience with women, of course."

At the mention of Azazel's friend having supposedly been a boogeyman of sorts within the area, one of Videl's eyebrows would quirk itself in curiosity. He hadn't so much as heard of such an individual within the region.. The closest thing that Videl could understandably have heard as any sort of boogeyman would have had to of been the Unbandaged but even those wouldn't quite meet the criteria that Videl had imagined. They certainly met the criteria of devouring entrails though..

"Is that so..? Well I'll be sure to keep that in mind then." Pulling his hand from out of Azazel's grasp, Videl would soon place it back at his side. His other hand had remained hidden away, still softly gripping the shaft of the spear that had been bound to his back. Of course, at the mention of a girl having pulled him away from his home, a soft strawberry hue would overtake the T'saya's cheeks. Even the mere thought of Sylvari was enough to cause his cheeks to burn. With an awkward cough, Videl would attempt to pull himself back into the conversation and out of his thoughts. "Well.. I suppose that you could say that she is the reason for my departure from home.. Still, she isn't here at the moment. Nor is she any of your concern."

Shifting himself about in his seat for a moment, Videl would ultimately loosen his grasp on the butt of his spear before turning his full attention towards the man before him. While he had still been rather skeptical of this Azazel fellow, he had been willing to show him the bare minimum respect that he would show to others. "As for your offer of advice? I can most assuredly say that she has set down her own path. There isn't anything that I could possibly want to do to dissuade her of her own feelings. It wouldn't be right for me to impede my own will upon her, simply for the sake of my own feelings."

Hoping to steer the conversation away from Sylvari, give that she was his one weakness, Videl would instead speak on something that had caught his attention. The fact that Azazel had known of his tribe and where they had come from. "For one of the desert region, you are quite knowledgeable on those that exist around the world. It perhaps shouldn't surprise me, knowing that you know of us, but our two homelands are like night and day..! A sweltering region full of nothing but heat and sand and then a frozen region that is encompassed in snow and hazardous environments." With yet another soft laugh, Videl would look Azazel directly within the eye. "Could even go as far as to say that we are polar opposites."

Oh, Videl, Videl... Or should I call you 'V', like her? You're actually quite formidable with your icy magics and that spear you keep clutching like a child's blanket, but you've never had to deal with a threat like me, have you? Ever the follower, no one pays any attention to background characters.

Videl's not so subtle misdirect to speak about his people rather than Sylvari, his weakness incarnate, did a poor job at changing Azazel's interests, but, for the sake of maintaining the pretext of civility, the demon would give it passing notice.

"What can I say? I find people so interesting. Every culture has its unique imprint on the individual and the rest of the world. It would be a shame to miss any little piece that I have the opportunity to learn. But getting back to the juicier topic: don't you think you've resigned your fate just a little too soon? I mean, I've been talking with you all but a few minutes and the depth of your devotion is plain for even a new acquaintance to see. Let me tell you a little secret..."

Azazel leaned into Videl, conspiratorially close, as he whispered truth for the first time in this conversation. "People, by and large, don't know what to believe. People WANT to be led. Now, would it not be better for those unfortunate souls who have lost their way to be guided by someone who truly cares for them? Can you honestly tell me your ladylove has no difficulty accepting the path she walks?"

Azazel sat back, concealing a smug grin as he saw realization cross over Videl's eyes. "How about this: we do some role play. I'll act the part of your paramour and you say exactly what you've been dying to tell her. Now, to just get the form right... How about this?" Azazel shifted his body and clothing to resemble a dark-haired noblewoman of Moondglade ^{[Astral Soul, One with the Cosmos] [Morph Suit]}. "Or this?" The demon then contorted his frame to be a woodsy brunette farm girl. "Or maybe..." Finally, going for the throat, Azazel became a person startlingly close to Sylvari, less the armor and crimson eyes, but with all of the kindness and regal bearing plain in her gaze that Videl had come to know.

Azazel's fascination with others and the world at large had left a resonance with the T'saya as he had continued to listen to what the man had had to say. When he had initially set out from Frost Gale, he had felt rather similar. An interest in the cultures of others and how each of these cultures had affected the world at large. The two likely would have gotten along if the conversation had remained on this particular topic. Rather than allow for flow of the conversation to lead away from Videl's private life, however, Azazel would continue to push. And those that had pushed for something that he hadn't agreed with were those that had irritated Videl the most.

As the Zeinavian man had closed the distance between Videl and himself, he would start to whisper dangerous things into the T'saya's ears. Things that had sounded dangerously close to the way that Aledüne had portrayed himself. Much like he had thought, this man was far too similar to him. He would have to be on the lookout for any sort of mind altering effects that might linger within the mans words. Not that he had any real way to defend against them, unless they had attempting to lock him away into a state of fear. He was just about to push the man away from him as Azazel had returned back to his seat.

Things would only devolve from there though. Not only had he continued to speak on the matters of Sylvari but he had.. taken on her guise. He had run through a couple of others first, displaying to the T'saya what he had been capable of, but once he had settled on a form resembling Sylvari's, Videl's mind had stopped. Even with such shape changing capabilities, how could one go about taking on the form of someone that they had never seen before? Even more than that, Videl hadn't mentioned her name. So he had clearly known who the pair had been. There was no way for him to ever understand that the man had almost quite literally read him like a book. He simply couldn't see the truth behind the mans actions. Now in a world of unknowns, Videl would find that he no longer had to rely on reason. He lost himself to instinct.

Lost in his emotions, Videl's mana would begin to pulsate. In an instant, his left eye would take on an icy blue hue, his mana would find itself channeled through the silver circlet around his wrist, and a freezing cold gust of wind ^{[Frost Flash]} would start to blow throughout the tavern itself. This burst of wind was so cold that any and every individual within the tavern that had had their skin exposed in some way or another would be subject to the frost nature that accompanied it. Their exposed skin would blister and freeze, becoming dry and sensitive to the touch. And from there? Videl would tumble back out of his seat, putting a distance of ten feet between himself and Azazel, before pulling out his trusty spear in retaliation. "Don't you dare take that form..!" A wave of bloodlust would leap free from the man, encompassing the area that his frosted winds had, evident enough for those within the tavern to take notice of its source.

Azazel had to hold in more than just a grin at the young T'saya's reaction: he wanted to practically cackle with glee for how powerfully the taken form had affected the man. But, as ever, Azazel was a consummate professional, and he threw up his hands in peace, an expression of concern spreading over his face, still wearing the disguise of Sylvari.

"Woah, there, my friend! I got an inclination of the fine lady's form from the powerful feelings you had, but I had no idea my rendition would be so evocative. I deeply apologize for any distress I may have caused. I can take a less assuming form if you wish, though my offer of assistance still stands. I know your trust for me in this moment is all but nonexistent, but if you'll allow me, I can demonstrate my genuine intentions."

Azazel's voice was low and soothing, and in Sylvari's own cadence and tone as he continued to speak. It was a dangerous game, played on a knife's edge, but Azazel relished it all the same. He knew that even knowing it wasn't truly the object of his affection in front of him, Videl would have a hard time knowingly harming one in his beloved's visage. His smile, HER smile, was compassionate and conciliatory, and full of all the loving warmth the demon knew Videl craved from her.

The words that Azazel had offered him in response had meant nothing to Videl. If nothing else, they had only served to bolster the irritation that had risen within him. The fact that this man would dare to take on the form of his beloved, even going as far as to mimic the intonation of her voice, had further pushed the man from reasoning. Rather than exploding into a raucous fury however, as he might in the past, this time around his anger would take on a cold indifference. It was as though the man that had stood before him had been nothing more than prey before a hunter. A different type of anger than what Videl was used to embodying.

Rather than bolting towards the man that had stood there before him, only ten feet away, Videl would continue to call upon his magics. For this instance, he would channel his mana through his spear, coating the edges of his spearhead in a sharpened layer of ice ^{[Cold Touch]}. Once this act was completed, he would speak but a single sentence. "I told you to drop that form." Through the vibrato in his voice alone, many of those within the tavern had known that Videl meant business. If it wasn't for the fact that his magics had already harmed so many of them, they might have even lashed out at him. Aware of the fact that they would only get in the way and find harm brought upon themselves if they had remained within the tavern, many of the patrons would make a break for the entrance to the tavern itself.

Videl would proceed to thrust his spear towards Azazel from where he had stood. It might have seemed strange to some for him to have performed such a feat from his current location but with his most recent of trainings, Videl had managed to overcome the trivial matter known as distance. Just as the spear was about to reach the height of its thrust, Videl would adjust his grip on the spear ^{[Titanic Reach]}, allowing for it to be thrust forward at a quickened speed that would close the distance between the pair and attempt to pierce into the Zeinavian man. A sharp whistling would pierce through the air as the spear had doubled its speed ^{[Spear; Thrusting Enchantment]} whilst attempting to reach the man. And shortly after the first thrust would come a second, both within the span in which many would achieve a single attack ^{[Spear; Double Strike Enchantment]}.

There was no care for the safety of others behind his actions at this point. Not like there might have been previously. Videl had actively ignored the others within the area, considering them to be nothing more than gnats that were flying off at the first sign of danger. If they had considered him to be the danger than so be it but he could only hope that they would consider the literal shapeshifter before him to be more of a threat. With everyone else fading away for the T'saya, his attention had focused solely on the Zeniavian before him. Every move that the man would take, Videl would watch. He hadn't even cared for this supposed friend of Azazel's, in the instance that such a person wasn't just himself.

Azazel watched the spear thrust towards him as if in slow motion. He knew of Videl's capabilities and had any number of myriad ways to thwart the attack. But he didn't: he allowed the spear to pierce his flesh, her flesh, for how much sweeter the agony he inflicted this way.

As twin streams of blood poured down Sylvari's lips, Azazel looked up with compassion at Videl, even as he knew she would. He reached out to brush his face, as she would, before finally reverting his vessel to its original form. "There's the passion that drives women, all people, so. Now we just have to work on your delivery. Admittedly, people are more given to flowery soliloquies than assault."

Through his words, punctuated by small coughs of blood from how the spear churned his vessel's insides, Azazel made no motion to retreat from how Videl pierced him. His steadfast care and fortitude was a performance that would make even the saintess in question herself blush.

Rather than feeling remorse or regret at the situation, Videl had hardened himself. Whether it was due to this cold indifference or something else, even he wasn't sure. All that he had known was that, at this moment, there were two things keeping him from returning to his emotional state. The first had been the fact that he was already aware this wasn't Sylvari. The second had been that this could be considered practice. Practice for when he had to stave her off. To keep her from feasting upon him before he could track down a cure for her vampirism.

What had truly caught his attention, throughout all of this, was the fact that the man hadn't truly reacted to being pierced through with his spear. Not only had he thrust his spear into the man once but he had even gone as far as to do it twice! Twice towards the chest and yet there was no real reaction other than an ill advised comment and a trail of blood from the mans lips. Or well.. Sylvari's lips in this instance. Why hadn't the man deigned to defend against his attack in some way? Just what was it that gave the man such confidences? There were too many variables here that he couldn't understand.

Figuring that it must be some kind of defense that he simply couldn't see, Videl would proceed to thrust his spearhead forward twice more, even going as far as to close the distance between himself and Azazel within that moment ^{[Spear; Double Strike; Thrusting]}. No further words were spoken as the spearhead had prepared to thrust into Azazel's chest yet again. Before the first strike could land however, Videl would channel his mana directly through the spear, utilizing it as a catalyst for a spell. Suddenly, just before impact, a vast amount of cold energy would burst into being around the spearhead ^[Shatter]! This cold energy, were his attack to land, would instantly freeze over the clothing that had covered Azazel's chest, leaving it entirely too brittle. From that point, the second thrust of his spear would come in right behind and would apply the force needed to not only shatter the top that the man had worn but pierce through it and into the mans chest yet again.

As blood began pouring out of Azazel's wounds and mouth, any notion of special defenses would be quickly dispelled. The color in the vessel's skin was rapidly draining as he fell to his knees, bleeding out. At this point, Azazel doubted he would be able to defend himself against the northman. 

Azazel decided to risk it all on a last-ditch gamble to placate Videl. The only option left to assure his survival would be to call upon Arteron, and admitting he needed the wrath demon's help was a fate arguably worse than the death of his vessel. I'll still have a few seconds even if this doesn't work. Probably... Luckily Arteron was too busy straining at his bonds to be very coherent right now, and, thus, didn't notice Azazel's unsurety.

Given his pitched fight to maintain control of the vessel and his rapid blood loss, Azazel had a hard time keeping his body's eyes open and speech unslurred enough to be coherent. Godsdamned mortal fragility. Azazel began to speak, still placatingly, though punctuated every few words by coughs and sputters as his puppet choked on its own blood.

"You know, my friend, attacking others unprovoked is still a crime. If you kill me, who will argue on your behalf to the guard that this was a misunderstanding? After all, it wasn't just me you hit with that initial blast of cold. I doubt the other patrons are as forgiving as I am. What say you stop trying to skewer me, and I rethink my approach to your companionship? Fault was had on both sides... perhaps one more than the other, but I'm willing to let bygones stay just that if you are."

Azazel lifted a shaky hand, not needing to act to show how piteous he was in that moment.

"Truce?"

Even as the hard truths of the world were being thrown his way, Videl didn't offer the man a single blink. He had wronged him in a way that no one should ever dare to do so. Taunting him in the manner that he had.. It was something that Videl couldn't forgive. It wasn't as though the thought of killing another was something that would way too heavily on his heart. Not when it came to an individual such as Azazel. He might have felt off when he had slain Vonoros but that was then and this was now. Things had changed within the T'saya. A seething rage had been released where it should have laid frozen over.

If he had truly desired to do so, he could easily stomp out the life of the man that had been following them. He had half a mind to do it as well but had ultimately chosen not to. While the man had been cruel and clearly had been following him for some time, Videl couldn't say that the man was outright evil. Not quite a monster from what he could tell. If Sylvari knew that he had slain another, without just cause, than she would likely be upset with him. That was something that he couldn't allow to transpire. He was slowly making progress.. If she were to see him like she had seen the rest of the world than all of that progress would disappear.

Rather than thrusting his spear towards the man once more, Videl would simply sigh before placing his spear back within its holster. He hadn't trusted the man before him but at least knew that he could defend himself without the need for his spear if it had come to it. "..fine then. Get up." Cold and domineering eyes would remain plastered upon the downed man, analyzing his every movement. "I'm not sure why you would willingly taunt others without a way to protect yourself. It's outright stupid. Best hope that I don't discover you trailing after us again."

Not quite sure where to go from here, Videl would take a seat in one of the chairs nearby, his gaze still remaining upon Azazel. "Now tell me, Azazel, what do you know of her..? There's no reasonable explanation for this 'feeling' of yours to be enough for you to take on her form. And let me say this once.. While I might be willing to let many things go, the same could not be said for her." He had made it a point not to state Sylvari's name. In the event that this man had only trailed after him, it was best not to give him any unneeded information."

As Videl restricted his spear from Azazel's chest, a waterfall of blood cascaded after it. The fading life essence of his vessel made it hard for Azazel to think, and he knew he couldn't count on Videl for help, even having stopped his assault. It seemed, however, that Azazel's infernal luck had not run out.

A barmaid, upon seeing the displayed violence in the taproom, collapsed from the shock of it, falling to the floor in a heap. Through lidded eyes, Azazel reached out mental to mark her and consumed a portion of her life essence, immediately closing his wounds and restoring himself to full health and capacity ^{[Fiend, Consuming Darkness]}. The action wouldn't kill the maiden, though Azazel wouldn't have cared if it did, but it would prolong her unconsciousness. She would be lucky to wake within the day.

Thus restored, Azazel rose up gracefully from the ground, like a dancer, his smirk reclaiming its customary place on his face. Knowing green eyes sparked with something dangerous as he began to speak with Videl. "Tut tut, Videl. I pray that, in the future, you make the distinction between those who cannot defend themselves and those who choose not to. I did, and still do, have high hopes for our budding friendship. Taking aggressive action, even after your rather outsized violent reaction, was not conducive to that goal. Thus, I did not."

The demon reclaimed his seat, seemingly unaware or else uncaring of his blood which still pooled on the wood. "As for your beloved, I know only that she must be very lovely indeed to provoke such a reaction. So lovely, that I must admit I would be quite keen to meet her, but I imagine such a joining would only serve to anger you further, so I retract. I see you have doubts about my intuition." The demon's smile took on a more earnest and conciliatory nature. "My offer to prove my intentions still stands, you know?"

Much like he had anticipated, there was more going on behind the scenes than he had been privy to earlier. Videl wasn't sure quite how Azazel had managed to do it but in an instant, his wounds had found themselves entirely healed. There wasn't any sort of glowing light or anything that would indicate just how he had managed to do as much and as such, Videl had believed that it had something to do with the man himself. Either that or an item that he had held on his person, albeit it didn't seem like he held very much at the moment.

"I really don't like you.." While he wouldn't come right out and say it to the mans face, Videl wouldn't be able to help himself from whispering such words beneath his breath as he had watched the newly healed man rise from the ground. "I hate to break it to you, Azazel, but I'm not exactly in the need for friends as of late. You might as well take the very notion and toss it out the window. When it comes to people like you.. Well I simply don't have any friendship to spare."

As Azazel had returned the topic back to Sylvari, going as far as mentioning that he had been rather keen to meet her, Videl had just about risen from his chair and beaten the man down again. With a great amount of will and reserve however, the T'saya would keep himself firmly planted within his chair. It had helped that Azazel had reclaimed this statement of his but Videl couldn't see such words as anything more than a threat. Especially after what had just transpired between the two.

"I'll allow you to speak on your intentions, Azazel. But only once you do something for me. Explain this intuition of yours. Where did such a strong intuition stem from, hm?" He was likely to not trust a single word that had come out of the mans mouth and yet he still prompted him with such a question. It was only a matter of time before the guards had found their way here and either Videl or Azazel would need to depart. Before that time comes, he was going to have to draw as much information from out of the man as possible. Even if it meant putting himself at risk.