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[Chevalier-Ange]

I've decided to create a thread dedicated solely to this series now. Hey wait, did I say Series? Hmm, looks like I did. A few people have asked for more tales, and hey...who am I to say no huh? <_<

So I hope you enjoy the tales of "In Nomine Epicus" I know I am going to love writing them. Oh and by the way, you may see a few posted stories by a few guests from time to time ^_^

1. A Twist of Fate
2. Destiny
3. The Lesson
4. The Return
5. Before The 'Storm' Pt. 1
6. Before The 'Storm' Pt. 2
7. The Harbingers Storm
8. Vision
9. Time and Time Again
10. A Letter to the Bishop (Ver 2.0)
11. Six-hundred and Eighty-two Days of Hell
12. Karma

In Nomine Epicus

Part I

I remember the first time I met her. That was at least...1245 years ago I guess. Hmm, actually, come to think of it, almost to the day as well. Selima had medium length brown hair, pulled back in a small ponytail; she didn't look to be...anymore then 13, maybe 14 tops. Quite young really, but she had the look of someone much older, or at least her eyes did. A child with eyes older than their years... not by experience necessarily, but knowledge so deep, so profound that no one but she could understand...
 
She gazed at me ever so slightly, and then looked down at the man on the ground. That's when I realized what she was, more so then her appearance initially said. Slowly she placed her foot on the mans head, and as she gritted her teeth together, she pushed her sword through his neck and pulled it forward in one single fluid motion, then swung it back with an equally powerful slash...decapitating him where he lay.

For a brief moment I wasn't sure what to do really. Run? Attack her? Call for help? I...just...wasn't sure. But when she raised her head and looked at me with that coy half smile, it didn't take long to decide.

"Get down!" I heard ring through my ears as I saw her raise her sword up again. Then, like a skilled champion, she launched her weapon past my face, killing the man that was once standing behind me.

I was totally at a loss for words. Dumb struck as it were. Would I be next? And why did she save me? Answers I never had a chance to ask, for as fate would have it, three more people appeared from nowhere, two women, and one man, each backing towards us, and fighting for their very lives.

"Shall we?" she asked with another half smile, and a slight motion of her head sideways towards the combatants.

"We shall." I replied with a nod of my head as we both joined in the melee hastily.

We were totally out numbered. A good, 3 or 4 to one, but...you would never have known the 5 of us had just met. We fought in such unison, such...instinctive knowledge of what our companions were doing and about to do. It was as if, we had fought together our entire lives, when in fact, at that point, we didn't even know each other's names.

Selima by far was the most impressive amongst us. She not only was a very skilled and impressive fighter, but also enjoyed the kill far too much for her to be considered an amateur by any means. Beyond a doubt, she fell more soldiers that day, in those brief moments of time, then I did in months of battles. But in the end, as the archers arrived, it still was not enough to save us that day.

I remember hearing the arrows pierce the air as our three other companions fell to the first volley. And as I stood beside Selima waiting for our turn to arrive, she said the strangest thing to me as I felt the first arrow hit my chest, "I will see you again I promise...in another time...another place." She said. Then I felt the second arrow hit me, as I watched helplessly as three entered her as well.

***

It feels strange now as I enter these words into this journal. So much time has past, and so many lifetimes worth of memories; I couldn't possibly fit it all here. But, as I feel my life fading, in summation though, I guess the easiest thing to say, the easiest way to explain it all, is the 5 souls that met that day...were bound to one another somehow. And I can safely say, that every 75 or 80 years since then, at least 4 of us find each other...like we did that fateful morn so very very long ago, and for good or bad, we share our experiences, our lives, our knowledge, our fears and our joys, and we stay that way until we die.

I have never encountered the fifth one ever, but I think, I have encountered Selima at least 4 times thus far, and the more I do, the more complex and volatile our bond becomes. She has in fact, killed me at least twice, and saved me from a fate far worse then death, at least once. She despises me most times, loves me some of the time yet secretly...hates what I have become as well. She claims that it is part of the ever lengthening journey we must take to what ever ends, it in fact...takes us too.

She is I believe the fulcrum for the five of us, and the binding cohesion that holds us together. When she is not here, we never find one other ever, but when she is, what ever body houses the souls of those from long ago...are always known to each other...somehow.

***

Then of course, there is 'him'. The nameless one, the lone one, the one who walks the precipice between light and darkness. Always there, yet ever elusive. Never failing to be present when called upon, but never clearly in the open either. He, I have I met, in every life I can remember. I have seen his strengths, his weaknesses, his fears and his joys.  And I was there that day, when walking through the grave yard, he tripped over the grey lifeless limb protruding through one of the mounds. He has never been the same since, but he just smiles and says "for the journey right?"...I always agreed.


He and I and Selima seem to be, for some reason the closest of the five. Always there...together. In nightmares, in dreams, and in reality too. And  as I said, I have never to this day encountered the fifth, but I know the fourth by name, and by face just as they do...but that tale, I will not speak of on these pages. It simply belongs...elsewhere.


"Your Holiness, that is the last entry I wish to read at this time," The Bishop said with a slight bow, "if I may, I would like to direct a few questions to our guests so that they may fill in a few gaps in both time and detail please."

"Proceed." Came the reply.

"Thank you Holiness." The Bishop remarked as he turned and faced the one male, and one female that now stood before the holy court. "We all know your names, and because these proceedings are semi-public, we have agreed that we will not call you such. We respect your need for privacy, but there are simply answers you must provide to us...if in fact, we are to be in any position to make a judgment at all. Do you fully understand what I mean by this? And is this satisfactory to you both?"

"Yes we do, and yes it is." The male replied.

To Be Continued...


Thanks to OwA for helping with the title, and Nemesis for some grammatical editing

[Mike Caron]

Wow. That puts even Robert Jordan to shame... (If you don't like Jordan, then sub in JRR Tolkien)

I anticipate Part 2!

[OnewingedDragon]

Excellent work. I completely agree with Mike, except you're more concise than Jordan.

I especially like the nameless one.

[Nemesis]

*Applauds* You have a knack for capturing the reader... I must say I'm a little disappointed it wasn't longer. I love it ^^

I eagerly await the next installment >_>

More than that I look forward to your explanations of the five.

[Chevalier-Ange]

Thanks you guys. I'll have the next and last part up tomorrow...or rather, later today when I get home since it's ugh...139am already 

And Nemmi, if I let it be any longer...I'll bore the crap out of everyone.  I cropped about two pages off that part. The next part is slightly longer, but not much.

[Chevalier-Ange]

I'm truly sorry...but I just can't get this out tonight...it's like, it's stuck on the tips of my fingers, and wont come loose. I will try again on the morrow. 

...sorry.

[Chevalier-Ange]

A few things I want to say before I post this part. Umm...I received a few questions about the title. Well...a direct translation would be "In the name of the long journey." but the proper way to say it would be..."For the Sake of the Journey."

And the second thing...after three days of little to no sleep, next to no food, way too much coffee, and one hell of a headache that's pounding like crazy...I think this is actually postable now. Certain names and terms were used not to reference anyone in particular...but simply...because they were/are the right terms to use.

In Nomine Epicus Pt.II

"Good, then if you have no objections...I will begin now?" The Bishop then asked as he closed the journal he once held open, placed it on his table, and walked a few paces closer to the ones before him.

A simple acknowledging bow from the two, and the Bishop began...

"When you wrote that journal, did you believe you were in your right frame of mind at the time?" he asked with a slightly sarcastic tone. Much to his surprise though, the reply he received was almost as sarcastic. The man and women spoke no words, but rather, began looking around. Side to side, behind them, then at each other. The female shrugged and the man smirked.

"Excuse me." The Bishop began, "But I was led to believe you would be answering my questions no?"

"And we will gladly answer any question you direct towards Bishop." The female replied in a very matter of fact way, "that is...when you do in fact direct one towards us."

"Well said." The man added with a smug little smile.

"I did direct a question to you." The Bishop started saying as his tone angered a bit, "I asked him whether he felt he was sane when he wrote that journal."

"Oh..." the man began in an extremely exaggerated sarcastic way, "well...I would answer that gladly...if in fact Bishop...I had written it at all."

A few gasps were heard from the observers and a few people started whispering loudly to one another and pointing. The sound of the grovel hitting the bench quickly silenced this as the Bishop once again turned his attention back to the people standing in front of him and stared questioningly.

"Brother..."

"Yes, I see his face." The man began, "and I believe I understand what's happening here now." He added with a glare.

"She called you Brother?" the Bishop asked interrupting, "you're siblings?"

"Well of course we are, and no, we are not either." The women began to say, "We are in fact many things to one another..."

"STOP!" the Bishop then said with a loud interruption, "You had agreed that we would be told the truth about the journal...and it's contents, yet...the writer is not present, and...this..."

"You thought I was the writer, and she was Selima didn't you?" the man then interrupted in a very course way, "Let me assure you Bishop...you will never see them here before the likes of you, and at the very least...not at the same time...this I promise you." He added as the colour of his face began to get a deeper and deeper shade of red, "And it is becoming clearer and clearer to me by the very look upon your face, that is was not in fact information you were seeking but rather...apprehension of our brother and sister."

"I am insulted by that slanderous remark." The Bishop piped up in his own defence, "I am a man of the cloth, and I will have you know I do not lie."

"Be that as it may," the women replied in a frank way, "we speak for our friends, and they are not here, nor will they be ever, so ask them to us, or simply we will leave again...and we will be taking our 'ancient' book with us."

"Ancient? What?" the Bishop asked astonished, "When did you say that was written?"

"Heh...nice try." The man replied, "We didn't actually...but if you feel you must know, it is about 200 years old right now."

Once again, the onlookers began whispering and pointing amongst the ooh and awes that were also heard. The Bishop turned and looked at the book, and then as the grovel hit the bench once again, the crowd silenced.

Slowly turning around to look at his guests once again...he furrowed his brow and stared. Then, lowering his head respectably, he let out a slight sigh as he spoke.

"Please 'nameless one', I have studied that book for months upon months." The Bishop said in a very defeated sounding way, "please...I must know...who are you people?"

The nameless one and the women stared at each other for a moment. A few seconds later, she smiled at him and nodded. Suddenly he turned his attention back to the Bishop. And after inhaling deeply, he began to speak.

"Sit Bishop." He commanded, "Sit and I shall appease thy mind."

The Bishop did as requested, and the nameless name began walking around him slowly. Slowly and never once taking his eyes off the man in the chair...

"Listen carefully Bishop...for I will say this but one time to you. You wish to know who we truly are? Well here is the answer you seek. We are the Four Riders of the Apocalypse, we are the Seven Deadly Sins, we are Angels and we are Harbingers, messengers and recipients. We are the Ten Commandments, and we are ancient history, we are a future yet untold. We are brothers, and we are sisters, students, and teachers, we are friends and we are enemies. We are incomplete without each other, yet smothered when together, yet never say goodbye.
We are as dark is to light, and cold is to hot, yesterday is to tomorrow, the moon to the sun. We are that indestructible compound created with very different mixtures, yet we are soluble, palatable and permeable. We are everything to some, and nothing to many, yet nothing to some, and everything to many. And Bishop...we are normal humans. Humans with ancient souls that always come back for another life. Souls that need one another seek one another, belong together. Souls with acute perceptive awareness of one another, and souls on a long unknown journey. And rest assured Bishop, we..."

"THAT IS ENOUGH!!!" a loud commanding voice echoed in the room, "You have said enough for this lifetime my friend." It added as a lone man, clad in red appeared in the room.

"Cardinal!" The Bishop said standing quite astonished, "I was unaware you would be attending these proceedings Your Eminence."

"I am not Bishop," the Cardinal replied, "I have come to 'end' them."

"Your Eminence?" the Bishop asked confused as the Cardinal walked closer to him.

"I will deal with you later." The Cardinal replied as he then turned and looked at the man and woman standing there, "You are free to leave now. And I apologize for this and my Brethren." He then added with a slight bow towards the nameless one. "Now go, there is a car waiting for you outside to take you where wish. Take your book, and guard it well...and guard your secrets well. In Nomine Epicus"

"Thank you Cardinal." The nameless one replied, "In Nomine Epicus." He added as he and the women took their book and headed for the door at the back of the room.

"Wait...please." The Bishop then said, "Will you ever come back, will you ever tell me the rest?"

Stopping dead in his tracks...the man then turned around and shot the Bishop a wicked glare "Highly doubtful...since you did not hear me the first time.  As I said Bishop...we always come back." He said sarcastically, as he turned around again, and walked out the door with his companion.

"You know what? You're a real ass sometimes you know that?" she said with a smirk

"Haha...yup, and you know, you sound just like the old man. Did you know that?"

"Sure did." She replied with a grin.

"Oh pulease." He retorted as he rolled his eyes slightly.

"Oh...oh. And you talk about me?" she said with a glare. "And I suppose you don't sound anything like her now do you?"

"..."

"Heh...that's what I thought." She then added with a silly little smirk.

"Indeed."

"Gah I hate that word."

"Yup...I know."

"You're such an ass..."

"Hahaha...that must be the car." He interjected quickly with a laugh.

"Nice evade jerk"

As the two chuckled a bit, they quickly got in the back of the waiting car, and closed the doors.

"Where too?" the driver asked.

"Airport please." The woman replied.

"Airport?" the driver asked, "Well, you had better get comfortable...it's quite a long journey you know."

The two people in the back seat then looked at each other and burst out laughing. "Yes...we know that actually." They replied in unison as the car slowly pulled away from the curb and headed for the Airport.


Postludium

{Phone rings}

"Hello?"

"Hi...it's me. I didn't wake you did I?"

"Nope...I'm always awake at 4am."

"Hehe...sorry."

"What's wrong?"

"Did you hear from them yet?"

"No...but not too worry, I sent a friend just in case."

"Oh, and what friend might this be?"

"You know...the one in the red suit. Sometimes wears a funny hat."

"Har har...you sent Santa Clause?"

"Hahaha...no, but you know...he does actually have a few gifts."

"Hehehe..."

"And you didn't answer my question by the way."

"What question?"

"What's wrong?"

"Shouldn't he have sent you a text by now at least?"

"You know the Harbinger...always like to make me wait and stew."

"Yup...he's a jerk like that sometimes isn't he?"

"Oh yeah...I swear one of these days I am actually going to smack him for real."

"Ooh...I wanna watch that."

"Heh...no doubt. You going to answer me now?"

"I gotta go, catch you later Angel..." {click}

"Hey wait, Selima...ugh" {click} "Goodbye my old friend."

[RedAxie]

...Maybe you should lay OFF the coffee. /glares.
Anyways...very good piece of work. I was glad to risk getting caught online for this ^^

Still...grr...can't post mine now, you bum. Oh well. Having this up is good enough for the forum.

Your inspiration...serves you well.

[Nemesis]

I loved it. Very... appropriate. Sarcastic harbinger indeed <_<

You have a gift for with words and you make it very easy to lose yourself in the story. Listening to them talk it was like being right there for the conversation <<<<_<<<<<

[OnewingedDragon]

Sarcasm, what sarcasm? I AM NOT SARCASTIC! >_><_<

Excellent as usual my friend.

[Nemesis]

Sarcasm, what sarcasm? I AM NOT SARCASTIC! >_><_<

*cough* Whatever you say..... <_<

[Chevalier-Ange]

In Nomine Epicus ~ A Twist of Fate

"Aren't you finished writing that yet? Geesh, what are you waiting for? Our next life time or what?" she heard an impatient yell come from the bottom of the stairs to their library, "She's going to be here any minute now."

"Just...just shut it ok." She replied back sarcastically, "you're so damn...argh...jerk." She then added as she dotted the last 'I', then quickly read over what she had written in the ancient journal. This was her first entry after all, and she wanted it too be...perfect.



I remember how quickly I placed my hand on Selimas bow that day. Her aim...the two brothers below...our two brothers...our friends, and she was certain to kill them both with a single arrow each, for her aim was, unfortunately...impeccable.

"Please don't do this." I wept as I begged her to reconsider her course of action, but the glare I received as a reply told me, she wasn't going to change her mind at all. She was after all...keeping a promise to them.

See, they had been arrested by the locals and charged with heresy, and other beliefs not conducive to the beliefs of the time. The two of them were discussing a 'past' event that was reminiscent of what was occurring now, and...well they were over heard and later forcefully removed from the streets. After a brief trial, if you can call it that, they were charged and sentenced. Their punishment, a duel to the death, which normally wouldn't worry Selima or I. They were excellent warriors both of them. Together...they were a fierce force to be reckoned with. But this duel...this dual was unlike any other they had ever had. This duel...was against one another.

As I think about it now, I know Selima and I would have done exactly the same thing. Exactly, but that didn't change the fact, I wanted another option at that moment.

Our brothers had been given an ultimatum. Fight each other to the death, or every soldier in the known land would hunt down Selima and I and...well, the details I heard, lets just say I would have preferred death to the capture, and there was no way they would ever let that happen to us...ever, so...they agreed to fight each other to protect us.

"Selima...please..." I all but remember whimpering as I saw her slowly draw back her bow, "There must be another way...there must be something else we can do."

Her reply was one I shall indeed never forget "I made a promise I can not break." She said as she closed her eyes briefly, and then opening them again, took aim as our two brothers drew their swords.

For a brief moment, her aim went for brother to brother, then back again. Then back to the other, and so on. As if, she truly didn't know which to fall first, or...as if for a moment, she wasn't the cold heartless killer we had come to know her to be. She really did have a heart under all that armour. Or at least one for...our brothers.

"Dammit..." she scolded to herself as she stood quickly, moved her bow to the left, and released her arrow directly at the Judge sitting in the audience. As the arrow pierced his throat and he fell over in a slump, shouting began and pointing and whatnot, and seconds later...Selima and I had been seen.

"No...No, get out of here." We heard our brother's yell towards us, as Selima drop her bow and unsheathed her sword, then gave me that wicked stare again...

"Well, it is a rescue after all." She said as she motioned me to follow her. A few minutes later amongst the chaos and confusion and guards trying to stop us, we were in the arena standing along side our two friends.

"Sorry." She said sarcastically, "I wasn't going to let you have all the fun you know."

"I swear, one of these days Selima..."

"Oh shut it." She interrupted, "We have company now." She added as the arena filled with soldiers and guards alike.

"Dammit Harbinger. This is going to be a good day to die my friend."

"Looks that way old man. In Nomine Epicus?"


***


But...we didn't die that day. In the brief flashes of memory I have from that point on, all I truly remember... is the soldiers falling with red-feathered arrows in them. And then us...getting on a few horses and leaving as quickly as we could. I've often wondered who saved us that day...perhaps sometime...I will find out.


"Will you please get down here." He yelled to her again, "Her car is in the driveway now."

"Yeah yeah...I'm coming, geesh." She replied as she placed the book on the shelf and quickly and excitedly ran down stairs.

Seconds later, there was a light knock on the door, and slowly and apprehensively, they opened it...

"Hi." She the girl at the door softly, "I'm ..."

"So real..." the other two replied in unison.

"Yup...I am." She replied with a smirk, "Can I come in now?"


And you know this is a complete work of fiction BTW <_<

[Nemesis]

A complete work of fiction influenced by personalities of real people right? (...that jerk)

[Chevalier-Ange]

In Nomine Epicus ~ Destiny

"What the hell just happened?"

"I have no idea actually, she was reading the book, then dropped it and ran out the door...rather hastily." He replied somewhat perplexed.

"Hmm...alright, I'll go get her. If she's upset for some reason, I think a women's touch is needed, not that horrendous bedside manner of yours." Was the retort he then heard as he glared intently.

"Hahah...nice look."

"Oh shuttup and just go get her ok?"

"Yeah yeah..."

Watching his companion rush out the door, he then furrowed a brow as he stared at the ancient book which now lay face up on the floor. Reaching down, he gently picked it up, careful not to lose the page she was on...and began to read it.



"It's not in human nature- no, it's not in nature at all to put someone else before yourself. It's always survival of the fittest, and you're only the fittest if you push your way to the front, to the top and that involves pushing someone else down. Even a mother will sacrifice her offspring so that she can survive. People are very often surprised when something nice is done to them. Like a beggar who sits by the side of the road, a thousand people must pass him by without even sparing a glance, so it's natural he's surprised when a roll of bread drops into his lap."

"Selima?" he then said to me somewhat confused, "You can't possibly believe that can you?"

I remember the contempt for his question I was now beginning to feel as I replied "People are not nice by nature and everyone has an inbuilt knowledge of this. Everyone knows you're likely to get screwed over as someone else tries to get ahead of everyone else. People aren't nice and in return, don't expect nice things in return. That's the way of the world. People like it when others are nice to them. But too much nice... they don't feel it's natural. Too much nice makes a person uneasy. People don't believe that someone can be nice and kind everyday. Because a person can't. Maybe they can act most of the time, but a person will explode from the nasty feelings building up inside eventually. When a family member or friend suddenly commits a murder the people might say 'I'm so surprised, they were never like this,' the truth is, deep down they were expecting it. Knowing that they were capable of it. Every person is capable of murder, but no one is capable of being nice all the time, it's just not natural. "

"Hmm...Then is humanity so lacking in trust, that they feel everyone has an ulterior motive for something else?"

"Humanity? This goes further back than that. This is nature. A flower smells nice, not to please, but to lure a bird or insect to take the pollen and spread it. A fruit tastes good for the same reason. A bug is red, not too look pretty, but to scare away predators. The real question is, what is the world's ulterior motive?"

"You make a good argument my friend, and a sensible one as well. So, it is me that is being unrealistic then? That forgot, nature and humanity have little cause to get along so to speak?"

I remember the glare I shot him as I wondered would he ever learn and accept the truth of all this...even now as I write this, he still angers me, "How can I answer that question? I am not you. You are the only one who can answer that question. I wouldn't go looking for the answer though. The answer is always at the end of the journey. And this probably isn't a journey you want to end yet."

His look at that point, spoke to me more words then he ever said out loud, but as usual, he just had to ask another irritating question as he often did, "And maybe that's an issue for me as well...I am always seeking answers to things maybe I shouldn't be. Curious though...why do you say this is not a journey I want to have end yet?"

"You're looking for who you are? What your meaning is, yes?"

"Yes."

"Where could you go once you'd found the answers to those? You couldn't go anywhere... that'd be the end, there's no other questions after that one is answered right?"

"I suppose so, it's just that...well...I need to know, and surely you must feel that?"

"I feel many things, but yes...I know you do."

"Selima, throughout the years I have struggled to find the answer that I never knew, It strikes at me like a million lightning bolts, and I pride myself in its hiding, yet here I am telling to you. Why?"

"Maybe you're supposed to tell me, I'm not entirely sure."

"Hmm...then maybe you hold the answer?"

I never had a chance to answer him that day, but oh how I wish I did. As easily as I opened my mouth to reply, he grabbed me and pulled me aside, and absorbed the arrow in his chest. The assassins arrow...that was meant for me. When I looked towards the tree line quickly and briefly to see if another was inbound, the nameless one and my 'sister' had fell the coward. Only...it was a few seconds to late.

The last thing he said to me as I watched his life fade away before my eyes was "I understand now my friend." And I think that was the first time I ever cried too.


Raising his head sadly, and placing his phone back in his pocket, he gently closed the book and placed it on the table where Selima had been sitting moments earlier. As he headed for the door slowly, in walked his two friends. Sombre, and not speaking at all.

"Is everything ok?"

"Yup, we're good." Selima said with a half smile as she grabbed her sister's hand and they continued to walk passed their brother. Only the sound of his phone's text message alert caused them to pay any attention to him at all really.

"Who's that?"

As he read the message, a wide eyed smile then crossed his face, "Oh no one really, just some 'old man' I know is stopping by for dinner tonight."

"..."

"..."

[Chevalier-Ange]

In Nomine Epicus ~ The Lesson

It's somewhat ironic to me I think. That, my first entry in this ancient book, is not of a wild tale about the 'old man' and me, but rather one of a lesson that we learned the hard way, one summer's eve many years ago. And remembering it as I do now, I think that this will always serve to be...my truest definition of the word loyalty.


Selima had just left to go 'scouting' as she put it, when the 'old man' had decided he was going to teach our sister a few things about sword-play. He had noticed the day before during a skirmish that she tended to favour her left hand a bit, and he took it upon himself to help her correct the problem, if he could that is. First by theory of course, then as one would expect from the 'old man', by practice.

I watched with great interest that day, for even if I wasn't participating, I was sure I might learn a few things all the same no matter what. He and I had sparred for hours upon end many times, but to see it from this prospective, well I figured it could do no harm right.

When he was finished talking to her, he grabbed his sword and started his 'attack', always aiming for our sister's weaker side, her left side, and never letting up once. I must admit, there were times when I was ready to jump in and stop him, but I knew deep down, there was no way he would ever harm her, no matter how it looked from where I was sitting.

Unfortunately, when Selima came running back towards us, she didn't see it that way at all.

"What the hell are you doing?" she yelled as she approached, "I thought you were being attacked, have you lost it or what?"

The 'old man' was quick to stop his sword, and just as quick to turn around and face Selima as well, "No Selima I have not, I am instructing our sister on the ..."

"Instructing?" Selima shot back with a glare, "You're scaring her and she looks very afraid to me right now. Did you not see that?"

The 'old man' then began to walk towards Selima slowly sheathing his sword. When he raised his head to speak to her again, she pulled her hand back and slapped him across the face with a vengeance, "Now what were you going to say?" she asked sarcastically.

I stood quickly, and approached my sister's side with haste. The 'old man' was glaring at Selima now, and she stared at him intensely. "Yes?" she asked as she pressed her chest into his.

"Selima...don't start this crap with me again, I'm not afraid of you my friend."

"You better be." Selima then retorted as she drew her sword, turned around, and stepped back a few paces.

"I will not fight you like this Selima." The 'old man' said as he got on his knee and placed his sword in the ground and held it...however Selima didn't notice this, and as she swung her sword around to warm him, from where my sister and I were standing, all we saw was the 'old man' topple to the ground.

Selima just stood there and stared at him as I ran over to him and checked on him. Her sword of course, was as true as ever. With him being on his knees, and with her height and her swords height, she managed to slice him straight across the throat. He was...gone.

After we buried him, Selima kept his sword instead of leaving it on the grave, as one would expect. She never told us why...and I have never asked her either.