Out of the fire and into the cave

[topagae]

This woman was just full of surprises. This man was gravely ill. Haste was essential...

"Marisa, as you probably have stipulated the only way I can get to Celestia is through magical means, and I know you probably realized that I need a mage to help me go there, which is why I haven't visited as often as possible. I haven't exactly made friends among the magicians in the local area. My friend has informed me that every second that your friend is not in their care, is a second his chances slip away. (Topagae willed his mind to Marisa's)I dunno if you can hear me, but she's surprised he's lasted as long as he has. Every second counts...) Nonetheless, I suggest we leave as soon as possible."

[Yumei]

"Amemiya is strong. I've surmised that the degradation encroachment half-life is about 240 hours, or 10 days, based on his immunity to ailments. So, that is why he has survived for a long time. We shall depart, then?" Marisa said. At that moment, the door was being knocked on. When Aeirn opened the door, there was Miyuki, carrying a fallen, but conscious, Amemiya. He could barely speak. "So... ... ...You... are to... be helping... me? ... ... ...I... I... thank you." he said. Amemiya was not wearing the armor that a Majin would traditionally wear, instead wearing a samurai-esque kimono outfit that made Amemiya and Miyuki like a matching couple. Amemiya's skin complexion was pale and human-like, and his eyes were also unusually large. Miyuki set Amemiya down on the fluffy couch and sat by him. "Well, there he is. He can't speak for long, though I'm sure if he were better he'd be much more energetic than this." Aeirn said.

"Well, whenever you're ready, we can depart," Marisa said.

[topagae]

Topagae handed a scroll with magical writing on it, some chalk, a feather, and a crystal that seemed to make everything brighter around it.

"I don't really know how it works, but somehow I doubt you'll have trouble with it."

Topagae looked over the wounded man. Everything was struggling but his eyes. They took everything in at once. Topagae knew this man was survivor. Just like him. Lets hope Raily wasn't the one who was going to greet him at the gateway....

[Yumei]

"An Illuminas Contract. Simple enough." Marisa said. The scroll had some easily decipherable writing on it, that involved the user to quickly note down the names of the people to be transported, then the locale, then finally, to offer the appropriate item for the contract to be sealed. When Marisa wrote down the names, then the location of Celestia, then finally offered the feather, the crystal then glowed and the feather disappeared. The resulting disappearance caused Miyuki, holding tightly onto Amemiya, Topagae, Marisa and Aeirn to all suddenly get transported through a dimensional wormhole ripped as a result of the Illuminas Contract. Eventually, they landed within the cloudy, lofty paradise that was Celestia...

[topagae]

The ragtag group arrived on a platform surrounded by clouds and fluff. With no visible sun, only an unnaturally radiant and warmly satisfying light shone down on the land. The gate had a good deal of writing on it, welcoming denizens in just about every language. Topagae chuckled when he realized at the very bottom there was half a phrase of a demonic language.

There was a squad of soldiers in full plate regalia with shining weapons posted on their hips as if they'd worn them forever. Of course anyone who'd seen battle in the group could tell the only person who might have actually seen a real battle was the obvious leader. With a clipboard and similar but more glamorous looking armor and weapons. Nonetheless, hundreds of years of training against one another made every angelic soldier a powerful and deadly foe. To most, quite unbeatable. With a mixture of hundreds of years of weapons expertise, magical weapons, armor, protections and spells, combined with excellent teamwork and squad based tactics. Angels were a force to be reckoned with.

Topagae was glad most of the angelic veterans of any wars were quickly assured officer ranks. Training, managing and tactics. There was few veteran angel squads, and their power and tenacity made even the strongest of demons shake with fear.

A split second before the captain turned around Topagae knew this was going to be a damned hassle. It had to be THIS captain...

The captain turned and spoke in a booming voice...

WELCOME NEW FRIENDS OF.....[you][/you]

The soldier stopped in his tracks. As he realized just who he was talking to. He dropped the same speech he said over and over and turned to speak with Topagae. With venom in his voice...

"You.... You dare to show your face after shaming yourself to me the last time?! And after denying me all my requests for a fair match?!"

Topagae really had hoped he wouldn't have had to deal with this. He had no idea why EVERYWHERE he walked he either pissed people off, got people killed, or more recently, made several true friends, but it's never anywhere in between.

Topagae replied in kind, trying to act as humble as he could.

"You won the match fair and square, I ran away with my tail between my legs, which I'm SURE made all your little lady friends swoon over your bravery. Why can't you just leave me alone?"

The guard became quite angry at this comment...

"You threw your sword at me, summoned a magical cannon and RAN away all the while handing out roses to all the women in the crowd INCLUDING MY SISTER. She's been sending you love letters for weeks, and you're going to pay for your insolence!"

Topagae was scared. He knew damned well if he had another sword fight with this guy he'd chop him into neat little pieces. He had triumphed through wit and outsmarting an arrogant foe alone, but he knew this time he wouldn't make the same mistakes. Topagae was quite gifted with every weapon imaginable, but against a foe who's practiced for perhaps thousands of times longer then he'd been alive, he'd seen the results. He knew there was only one longshot way to turn things in his favor...

"Oh, so THAT was your sister? Kudos cause I made a killing selling all the copies of the raunchy naked photos she attached with her rose scented letters to very horny demons."

Topagae pleaded for the universe to let this work... Ralegar just needs to do one little thing.. (Pronounced "Rail-gah-are")

Ralegar turned red with rage, his whole body shook and his cadets took a few healthy steps back as he trembled with unbridled rage. He drew his weapon, a magnificent epee glimmered in the sunless day...

Topagae's mind grasped at this. His ONLY chance.

"How DARE you sully the codes of conduct and honor. You may not think much of me, but I DID follow the rules of honorable combat, and you have the [you]AUDACITY[/you] to draw your weapon in anger against an opponent you have not formally challenged nor made to accept?!"

Ralegar was caught. He was an arrogant prick at times, but he was also a good man, if not annoying. He was true to his word, and was nothing if not whole heartedly and sincerely as honorable as he could be.

With nothing but sincerity in his voice, Ralegar took a knee and presented his sword.

"I beg your humble apologies, sir. I have lost myself and it is beneath me. Please. I beg your forgiveness and pledge myself to you in any way will I help you if you can forgive me and accept my challenge to a duel"

Yes... If he could only avoid death this man would be great help to his little group.

A duel is a curious thing. After a challenge is issued, it is a little invoked rule by angels that the opponent gets one free attack. To guarantee to the opponents satisfaction that if he is indeed defeated it was no chance or luck that caused it. As he had the option to handicap his opponent. Of course most angels never thought of such a thing. Topagae was no angel. The first time he had shot Ralegar's kneecap out, and it was the only reason he was fast enough to escape. This time...

Topagae clicked his gun to shocker rounds and shot Ralegar in the heart. He never flinched, despite just having about 1000x the lethal dose of amperage and voltage to kill a fit human, he merely waited for Topagae's response.

"I accept, you are bound to me forevermore after this day after the conclusion of this duel."

Ralegar smiled, he knew if Topagae was dead, that he wouldn't be in a position to give him any orders. But that promise was the only one he could give Topagae that would guarantee forgiveness for such a broach of honor.

"As the challenger I set the conditions as set forth by the rules of honorable combat. First, we shall duel here, your minions will leave, my friends will spectate. And.... I shall engage my ancient right to use a proxy in the instance that I feel unfit to fight. I mean, I just have this sore throat."

Ralegar finally moved. A proxy? No angel would invoke such a right, but Topagae was no angel, and he had a feeling that he had a truly great swordsman who was more then willing to help him.

"Lady Miyuki, I implore you, do you think you could please do me the honor of engaging this fine gentleman in combat?"

[Yumei]

Miyuki was shocked. Well, more shocked at the fact she'd be engaging in 'honorable combat' with an Angel, of all people. "All for the sake of Amemiya, dearie." Miyuki said humbly and softly, so only only Topagae and the others could hear. With her black, obsidian rectangular blade Kiyojohime at her side, she stepped forward, obviously willing to duel with this angelic figure, in order to aid her very dear Amemiya, who practically sacrificed his life for her.

Marisa and Aeirn looked in astonishment at Miyuki. She was actually willing to form the basis as a proxy on behalf of Topagae! After all, it was in order to gain passage to find a way for Amemiya's ailing, debilitating disorder to be treated, or even cured. Marisa fed the first of the twenty bottles of the medicinal vial to Amemiya, which energized his brain slightly. "Mi... Miyuki... dear... I believe... in you." he said. Miyuki looked at Amemiya, who weakly smiled.

Miyuki was determined to win this duel.

[topagae]

Ralegar let out a hearty laugh of derision.

"The gunslinger sends in an unarmored woman with a sword made of something that might as well be dirt?! This should be interestingly short. Her death will be on your hands this day Topagae!"

Topagae smiled. This was going to be funny.

Ralegar entered the middle of the platform and pointed his sword toward Miyuki and bowed. It was obvious he was letting Miyuki take the first move.