[i]Previously, in Broken Honor…[/i] Ichiro leaped into action, ice crystals flying from his palm and striking the ground between the enemy and the three trainees, who were now closer to the Elder’s house than any of the villains or their goons. The ice spread quickly, forming a line to separate the two groups as Rysko dashed to the entrance, beginning to yell desperately for help, “Hey! It’s Rysko, Arte, and Ichiro! We need to get in! We’ve been spotted! Help us!!” However, at that moment, a huge wave of gravity strengthened beneath each of the three trainees - none of them could stand as they all fell to their hands and knees, coughing from the effort to breathe. Cmirg chuckled softly, stepping over the pitiful line of ice and approaching Ichiro with his revolver drawn and aimed at the poor boy. “You just couldn’t stay away, could you? Now… which of you is the Half-Elf?” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rysko, Arte, and Ichiro were completely trapped. They couldn’t move their limbs thanks to Cmirg’s gravity control. The fields of intensified gravity held them in place like prisoners as the man himself walked between the three of them, inspecting them with a cold, uncaring gaze. Two of these kids meant nothing to him. As for the third, well… that would be the half-elf he needed. Unfortunately for him, half-elves could look oddly similar to both humans and elves, so he had no idea which of the three was truly the half-elf. “Well? Out with it. Or I might find myself inclined to smoke out the remaining rats of your worthless village.” Cmirg’s voice spat at the group of trainees as he began losing his patience. Arte’s subtle flinch, being the youngest, was enough to tip him off. He approached her slowly, then squatted down as he intensified the gravity field that was around her. “Tell me, girl, or your bones might not survive the next few minutes.” Arte’s lungs couldn’t draw breath. She collapsed to the ground on her stomach, forcing her to cough up spittle and a very small amount of bile. Her bones were the least of her concern - air was a bigger priority. She slowly lifted her head up to meet Cmirg’s gaze, as that was all she could do. Her eyes were full of fear and anxiety. She had no idea what he wanted with Rysko, nor how he had found their village in the first place. Struggling to even breathe, she held her gaze with Cmirg, narrowing her brow with an ironclad will. “Ironic… The youngest among the three of you is the firmest in her will. Tell me your name, girl.” Cmirg grinned wide as he glanced at Ichiro and Rysko for a moment before returning his attention to Arte. He didn’t know which was the half-elf, but this girl intrigued him. He waved a gloved hand, and the gravity field concentrated around Arte lessened considerably, enough for her to breathe and climb to her hands and knees, although she was still forced to grovel in front of Cmirg. Arte grimaced slightly as she spat on the ground in front of him. Her parents’ lessons echoed in her mind in that moment: [i]“Stand your ground firmly, Arte… and take pride in being a daughter of magic….”[/i] In that moment, Cmirg’s patience wore thin. He stood up calmly without saying anything and turned to the other two trainees. “Tell your other rats that I have my new hostage. You can deliver me the half-elf of prophecy in exchange.” Without speaking another word, he snapped his fingers, and the gravity field chaining Arte was gone. Immediately, before she could even react, Jain and Aku stepped to either side of her, holding her arms tightly and roughly lifting her up. Cmirg nodded once, then began walking back the way he and his armies had come. They took their equipment, guns, and personnel with them. Five minutes after the last person disappeared from sight, the gravity fields around Ichiro and Rysko lifted suddenly. The pair of trainees were absolutely speechless. After all that they had gone through together, to be separated from Arte so easily was… degrading. Humiliating. Embarrassing. Crippling. Rysko was especially shocked. He remained on his hands and knees, hanging his head as he forced his eyes shut tight. [i]“Don’t think about it…. Don’t think about her…. You did what you could….”[/i]