The hunter stumbled backward, fell, and then rolled into a low crouch. Amar was already on top of him both fists raised, lightning beginning to arc off his armor and the floor. Before he could bring his weight and light down, the hunter was up, both hands closed into fists. He struck the Titan’s chest plate as his body went rigid. Black fire rippled up Varin’s back and through his arms hitting Amar like a cannon, throwing him across the room and into one of the water filled tanks. The Titan pulled himself to a standing position as the hunter fell on him, knife in hand. He caught Varin’s knife hand and pulled, feeling the blade scrape across his armor as well as the heat on the weapon. Briefly the two wrestled for control of the knife, Amar ended the contest picking Varin up by the arms and swinging him hard into a nearby wall. The knife fell to the floor with a clatter and Amar kicked it away. "You are done abomination." he said standing over the heaving hunter. "You... You are an abomination. Only part of what you could be. Part of- part of a man. I am whole. I am fr- free. " Varin replied before taking a kick to the head. He rolled with motion and lay on his back afterward. The Titan and his cracked helmet looked upside down now, smug even in his general movements, proud and arrogant. The two stared at each other breathing hard, Varin recognized the hesitancy, not unlike his own once. Without a word Amar brought his fists down. Varin saw the movement before it came and rolled to the side. When the Titan struck the floor, the hunter rolled back, his second knife in hand, thrust it through the crack in the plate helmet and let go. Amar went limp, fell to the floor and moaned. Varin lay beside him, their heads not quite even with one and other on the floor. "You've a few minutes left. You don't get a choice anymore and for that I'm sorry, but you will thank me. It may take a century or two but you will." he sat up and gently pulled the knife out of the Titan’s head then rolled him onto his back as gently as he could and removed the helmet. Amar glared up at him, half aware, half gone already. For a moment the dark-skinned Titan reminded him of a long lost friend. He tore a piece of cloth from his cloak and dabbed blood from the wound he'd made. Amar’s mouth moved, he was trying to speak. "You're going to live. Not like you have before; like few of us do even now. But you'll be able to go where you please, fight who you wish, and be whoever you want," Varin said, then stood and walked to the dark side of the room. Amar looked at the ceiling, saw the light receding, was frightened but didn't know why, he couldn't remember ever feeling such a thing, he couldn't even remember where he was now. He felt cold, then something soft, dusty, and warm wrapped around him, filled him. [i]Where is the light....? [/i]he thought [i]Where....?[/i] ==================== Amar woke in a small room under a wood slat roof. In the next room he could hear people talking, and outside crickets told him it was night. Mostly the speech was muffled, but he could make out subjects such as hunting and patrol frequency, but not the details of the speech or its pattern. He looked around the room slowly, noting the handmade feel of it, the dust on the floor, the thin slit vents and the hinges that opened to reveal a window. On the far side of the room was a small table, his armor and a new helmet resting on it. He swung his legs over the side of the bed, felt the boards and dirt under his bare feet, heard the creek of his weight coming to bear. Beyond the door he heard the talking pause, clearly he had been noticed. Looking down he saw for the first time he was glowing softly, a purple white iridescence all over his body, but he couldn't recall why that seemed strange. There was an odd throbbing sensation just above his right temple, reflexively he put his hand to it and found it tender and bandaged. Testing his weight he attempted to stand and was shakily successful. He wavered with every other step but found his way to the desk and armor where he found an envelope and a letter inside. He began reading the letter and thought it strange for some reason that there be a handwritten letter if any sort of message at all. There was movement outside the room, but he paid it no mind while he read. Dear Amar, You are no longer a creature of light; you are whole, as we are meant to be. I regret the wound I gave you, and that I took your right to choose your own fate, but you left me no choice. The Traveler is only part of a long equation that the universe, let alone our system has yet to.... You don't care. You are no Warlock. What's important, my friend, is that you realize we were never meant to be creatures of either dark or light. We need both, we are meant to balance, not eradicate. We are not meant to fight the cosmic tide, only to ride it out. You were once forged in light; I have tempered you with darkness. You have your own will and I'll not call you to my banner. Go back to the Tower if you wish, they may yet accept you. Go to the Reef and pledge yourself to the Queen. Or seek your own path, as I have. I recommend doing that at least temporarily. See the City, at least once; see its people as one of them. Then decide on your own terms, whether to be a Guardian or to be free. Varin