The power beneath our skin [Invite only]

[Luxin Rhodes]

[Only admins are allowed to see this image]

Luxin knew not to go inside the city, not until he was strong enough to protect ones life. Not until he forgave himself for what he had done. So, the youth sat outside the city, a decent length from it; his back against a lone tree standing on top of a small hil. In front of him sat the city, and its cliff pointing directly at him. He went back to his journal, holding the one year pencil and writing about everything around him.

A hummingbird floated right in front of him, and sat on his knee only for a second and resumed its neverending wingbeats. What was he doing? A whole month had passed and the only person he had met was Kaiba, who hadn't appeared for quite some time. He needed to meet someone. He watched the sunset, hiding itself beneath the horizon and smiled. He loved them. The way they controlled the hue of the sky, bringing out the best of colours through them.

[Syrena]

Unlike the young man, the naive girl had no idea not to go into the city. Especially being a low ranked celestial mage. It didn't take long before the men were forcing her out of the city limits, tossing her into a puddle of mud where a few of the pigs were gorging in their slop. Her head lifts up, eyes widen, mouth drops as she stares at a fat pig grunting at her. Without hesitation she screams and throws herself up out of the mud, running into the woods. Embarrassment flushed her cheeks as she continued to run and run from the city.

"Syrena, come on now!" She voice spits out, angry at the dumb decision to visit the city in the first place. Was this the life she was forced to have now that she ran away from her guild? Grams was right, she needed to embrace her destiny....but did this embracement have to come now? The pink hair beauty slows down and catches her breath. Her heart was racing inside her chest as she stares around the trees in confusion. Unable to accept defeat that easily, the woman turns around and begins to head back to the city. Her keys clink at her sides as she storms in rage. "No, I'm not giving up! I will show those pigs that they can't mess with me!" She felt confidences, or at least pretended to have this strong front. Secretly, behind the makeup and the mask, she was crying deep down. None of that mattered at this moment, the girl had a plan and nothing was going to stop her!

[Jinchu]

A whisper in the wind was all that could be heard by Jin, he wasn't particularly close enough to the city to hear the goings-on that were happening on the inside. It was a beacon ahead of him, a destination he was most interested in getting acquainted with. This place was known for poverty, segregation, and and greed. The mountain range that the city was built on was just within ten minutes walking distance, and so Jinchu walked, head held high and hands in his pant pockets. The flaps of his jackets fluttered a bit, taken from the blowing wind: his hair had their own dance with the wind, little flickering strands were similar to that of small flames under the hot sun.

The sun that shone along the mountainous train before Jin made many crevices and shadows along with certain gloriously bright areas that looked to literally soak up the rays. In Jinchu's eyes it appeared as if the city's construct both had glimpses of heaven and hell intertwined in its constructs. This however did not intimidate Jin however, it more looked to be something that welcomed him. A soul that had his own peek at the depths of hell would really only find excitement in its embrace.

"I wonder if I'll find what I'm looking for..." It was just a whisper to himself but he still voiced his lingering question. In honesty Jin wasn't looking for much, but it seemed that it was a lot more difficult to find nowadays. It had been a long time until he encountered someone of real strength; someone to get him really going, maybe even a reputable wizard. Of course he knew that his perception of strength was slightly skewed, as there were a good deal rising up to compete in the S-rank bracket of fighters. Jin however, hadn't really gotten acquainted with any yet.

Only a couple minutes away now, and as he panned his head around he saw people here and there, hanging around the outskirts of the land, either avoiding entry into the town or being simply escorted out by force. One thing would stand out to Jinchu as he returned his eyes forward. Pink hair. Jin had never seen the like of it before, it held his focus for a moment. He was too far away to really get a detailed look at the girl with the hair, but the colour was definitely something memorable. A slight sigh escaped him and the corner of his mouth would slight turn further up to give his mouth the shape of a slight smirk. An interesting site to say the least.

[Luxin Rhodes]

As Luxin absorbed the last few seconds of the sun until it had totally disappeared, from the corner of his eyes was a slight glimmer and only turning his head to see a girl covered in the pig's dinner. There was no one that would see the young girl and not show the slightest bit of a smile. And he did. He was smiling but he was not laughing, nor was his smile big enough to seem rude. It was just a pitiful smile.

As she got up, Luxin got an idea of what she appeared to be but the slob kind of made it difficult. Physically, she posessed long pink hair, fair skin, a slim body which is covered by fashionable clothing which happened to be not so fashionable anymore. Mentallly, a desperate rich girl who has yet to make a big decision in her life and struggling with love. Classic. Luxin thought, it was like a common layout out of a fiction book. And he liked it.

"Oi!" He shouted. "I wouldn't do that." Luxin pointed past the gate, into the city. Several men with devious smiles looked out to her lonely body. A lone girl out by herself at night waking into a city that started with the lowest class on the caste system? Bad idea.

The sky looked as if the sun was never there. It was completly black now, with a half moon slowly reaching the top of the sky. Luxin turned his head to his left to see another person - this time a male - who was somewhat smirking at the girl. He smiled and nodded at the individual and averted his attention back to the young lady.

[Syrena]

The wind rustles the trees as she stood there lost in her own little world. That city and it's pathetic cast system was really beginning to annoy her. She holds her fist, slumping them against her hips as she stands there and ponders. The stars were shinning bright over the forest, and the moon illuminated the surrounding area. Mud harden to her thighs, but she didn't care in this state. Syrena didn't fit her normal mold tonight, and she was just about to come up with a plan of action before she heard a something.

"I wouldn't do that." As if a needle tip was brought to a ballon, a man's voice broke her train of thought. She gasps a little, before turning over to look at him. He was casually dressed, not too threatening, and seemed pretty calm underneath that tree. She follows his actions, and sees a few older men eyeing her up and down from inside the gate. A look of terror hit her face and she shakes off their dirty looks.

"Gross, I feel like I need a shower now..." She shakes her body before walking over towards the man on the ground. "Thanks for the heads up..." Her voice was soft as she sat down next to him, hoping and praying he didn't mind the extra company. "Beautiful evening don't you thank?" Small talk. It was all her brain could come up with at a moment's notice. She probably looked like a fool. Lost in her little chaotic brain, she didn't even notice another man standing closely next to them.

[Jinchu]

It was little time before the sun finally disappeared behind the mountains, making it seem as if in an instant the sky became black and cold. It didn't really bother Jinchu, he harbored no ill will to the welcoming abyss above. The darkness however barely had its moment since the moon followed to take the sun's place and rework its own light upon the land. The shimmering silver reflected off of different crags and angles of the mountain range, painting a glow upon the edges and create cavernous depths where the light could not reach.

"A beautiful image. Too bad it's one I'll soon forget." His voice was to himself mostly but others close-by could probably have caught bits of his sentence. Jinchu's eyes shifted, almost of their own accord, capturing the pink hair so vividly, seeming to have its own natural shine amplified by the mood. Jin had a weird feeling, something he's never experienced before and had no real way to identify. In truth though he had yet to even see the girl's face but even with his actively carefree personality he felt tentative to try for a glance.

She was talking to someone else, Jinchu was close enough to them to get a decent look but he did not make the effort to tune into what was being said. Before he brought his eyes back forward he noticed two things: the first was that the girl's clothes were quite a muddy mess and second was that the guy looked familiar from something.

He just strode past the pink-haired girl and continued on with a very low sigh. Actually refocusing on what was in front of him, Jin saw the little clump of what looked to be bandits hovering just at the border gate. Of course he didn't care, they were no threat to him but they did carry a very eerie vibe as he noticed their eyes barely took a good look at him. The men were focused on something else behind Jinchu to his right, and they appeared to be as focused as starving dogs just given a chance at some fresh food. Jin glanced back over his shoulder and was able to determine the likely object of the men's focus.

"You guys are sick bastards... Why don't you just bug off." He normally would have needed some time to figure out what was going through the bandit-men's heads but there was something about this particular situation that helped Jin sharpen his own horizons and act accordingly. If they were cocky enough to talk back then Jinchu might indeed get some of that fighting in right from the get-go. Too bad he already could determine the lack of ability these creeps possessed.

[Luxin Rhodes]

A look of disgust flashed across her face as she walked towards Luxin, who decided to pack his leather-bound jounral in his bag. The wind shuffled his hair, causing him to use his hands to put it back. It was a beautiful night.

"Thanks for the heads up..." In a comfortable tone she spoke and took her seat beside Luxin. He nodded a welcome and watched the sky. To spark a conversation, she started with complimenting the weather, which Luxin found interesting; most others would introduce themselves. He stored that thought where he could remember it and replied.

"It is beautiful indeed..." He said in an imaginitive voice. "Names Luxin Rhodes." He held out his hand to her and introduced himself.

"So how does a girl like you wind up here?" He questioned, but suddenly his attention was broken off as he heard the mysterious person comment on the evening's appearance and walk towards the gates of the city. What was he doing? Luxin thought, that was until he guessed the boy was a mage. He kind of looked younger than Luxin, two or three years, give or take a few? But, only a mage would go through those doors at night, unarmed... or was he... Luxin smirked

Shaking off that thought, his attention went back to the lady beside him.

"I believe he's a mage." Luxin pointed out and watched what the mage would do. He heard him mutter a few things, but Luxin wasn't close enough to hear the words. Just some weak mumbling. The more he focused on it, the harder it was to think so Luxin just gave up, finally noticing the women's clothing. "Are not you cold?" He questioned, taking of his jacket and handing it over to her.

[Syrena]

"A beautiful image. Too bad it's one I'll soon forget." A voice from behind spoke casually to himself, whispering under his breath. She didn't dare turn her gaze around, dreading the awkward eye contact. His eyes were like lasers, pointing into the back of her head, or so she felt. Lost in her own thought about whether or not to turn around and call out the man, she completely forgot about the man whom she was already sitting next too. His voice sounded just like his, something so familiar but so different. If it were his, she wouldn't have a choice but to run. She takes a deep breath, counting to five in her head before hearing a friendly voice to her left.

"Names Luxin Rhodes." He cheerfully replied as he held out his hand to greet her. She quickly snaps out of the dream like state, returning back to reality. She reaches over and shakes his hand with a small smile on her lip glossed lips.

"Right, I'm sorry, I'm...." She pauses and stumbles over her words. "I'm, I'm Rogue, nice to meet you Luxin." For right now she couldn't let out her true identity. After all she was in the midst of running, and couldn't afford having her name tossed out there.

"So how does a girl like you wind up here?" He was polite, attempting to keep the conversation flowing, but they both stopped to watch the mysterious man approach the gate. Foolish. Even if he were strong enough to make it past all of them, there was always a bigger shark. "I believe he's a mage." Luxin blurts out in the midst of there stare. Chances are he was right, but Syrena kept her gaze on the strange man, watching his next action. In the midst of staring, Luxin wraps his jacket around her shoulders, sending a shocking fear through her spine.

"Stop!" She blurts out loud over the scene, throwing the jacket off her shoulders. "You can't just walk in there!" She calls out at the man nearing the gate. She breaks her gaze, looking down at Luxin and shoves him to his feet. "Are you going to just stand here, or do something?" She demanded as she begins approaching the gate herself.

[Jinchu]

His breathing was subtle, too calm to even register to anyone else. The evil and lowly stares that were so sinfully glued to the girl Jin had passed shifted to him, only instead of lust there was killing intent that coated their eyes. His strides did not slow, his steps didn't even miss a beat in his flow. The slight pull of wind still flourished his bangs every once in a few moments, even making slight tugs at the tail flaps of his cloak.

"How about you mind your own business, puny boy!" The words of the leader were sharp and putrid as he spit them out. Jinchu's head was almost slightly bowed forward and his bangs hid the majority of his eyes. Most of his jaw-line was concealed by the high collar of his coat but even so he let loose a pompous smirk to mock the bandit's phrase. He did feel something though, an emotion he still could not register as familiar. It was boiling up within him with utmost impatience. He wanted to put these guys down, unconscious on the flat of their backs.

"My business.... People like you are my business. Run away before I decide to take care of this business personally, right here."

"Stop!" A voice, so velvet and smooth, even in the harsh manner in which the words were said. "You can't just walk in there!" Jinchu was more than confused. He knew who the voice belonged to but the real question lay within the reason why. "Are you going to just stand here, or do something?" That last sentence must have been meant for the man she was with. Jin would not look back. For some reason he was still so tentative about seeing the woman's face, but that wasn't important now. The more pressing issue was that she was getting too close for comfort.

"What are you doing?" Jinchu said in response to her quick footsteps. She did not understand the situation it seemed, her assistance was the last thing that was required at the moment. He tilted his head back up, seeing the look on the bad men before him. It was only getting them more excited the closer she got. "Get back... It's not safe." Maybe if Jin were more complacent it would be alright for this girl to be coming so near but there was an innate anger towards the disgusting men with every filthy glance they gave her. When his emotions were unchecked, the closer people got to him, the more danger they were in.

[Luxin Rhodes]

"Are you going to just stand here, or do something?" Rogue almost stomped Luxin's across Fioré. What is she so irritated about? He thought, standing up, watching her already making her way towards the foolish red haired boy. Luxin picked up his jacket, fastened on his roller skates and raced past Rogue, lingering on for a second to place his jacket over her shoulders.

"By the way, Rogue is a beautiful name..." He smiled and made his way towards the mysterious fellow, leaving behind a gust of wind. The closer he got to the city's walls, the harder it hit him, the tension. Everything flashed back in his head, making him stumble and shaking his consciousness awake. Ignoring his past, he halted, forcing the dirt to travel with the wind. He hadn't even decided whether he was entering the city or not. He still remembered his father by his side everytime they left or returned, those men were scared of him. Not Luxin, but his father, who was the greatest warrior of the city. And now, he was alone.

"What are you doing...?" Luxin asked, pushing the thought away. He could finally see the boy's face clearly. Where had he seen that face before? As the two watched the city, they both attacked the dirty men with enraged looks. "If you're planning on fighting them, I'm in." Luxin smirked. He rested his hand on the youth's shoulder, mumbling, "Metamorphosis".

From dark purple to bright, spiky red. Luxin's hair, face, clothes, everything changed. His appearance printed an exact copy of the person standing beside him. Not just that, Luxin felt an amazing source of power within him, what was it?! It almost made him want to fight. The power was so compelling, Luxin let out a slight grunt in excitement.

"Better two than one." He said.

Spoiler:

[Syrena]

"Get back... It's not safe." The mysterious man barks at her, causing her to frown as she places both hands on her hip. She wasn't some doll that could be bossed around, she was a mage just like they were. In fact she could just summon a creature to do her dirty work, while she stood back and cheered her spirits on.

Syrena was just about ready to blurt out at the foolish boy but stops and bites her tongue as Luxin got up to move towards the lad. Within seconds, his body transforms as he touches the young man. identical Twins where standing there right before her. She shakes her head a few times in confusion before realizing this really was happening. Luxin had the ability to copy other mages, this was something she hadn't seen before.

"Better two than one." Luxin said to the other man. This was going to be interesting that's for sure. Syrena plops herself down on the hill side to witness the battle emerge before her. There was not reason for her to interrupt at this point, and she could say her magic pool for later if they really need it.

"Good luck...." Her voice trails off as she folds both arms over the top of her knees and she sits there awaiting the battle to begin. If she was a gambler, she would bet those goons had know idea who they were dealing with. Luxin and the mysterious man seemed to be rather calm and collected, must mean they had the potential to make this a one sided battle.

[Jinchu]

Jinchu was ready to force his own hand, let the men before him fall like dominoes in succession, only challenging himself to send all of them on the downward journey before the first to fall would thud against the ground. That was his original plan, but it changed when he felt the hand on his shoulder. His eyes averted to the source of that arm and he only saw what looked to be a reflection. His own eye's gaze was returned to him but the face wasn't his own. It looked like him but wasn't him, there was clear confusion in his eyes. This was a sort of magic clearly, but what was the extent of this copying technique?

"Better two than one."

"Wait a second, you don't mean..." Jinchu was not liking this idea, it looked like this guy was copying everything about him. And in that everything could include his magic. He didn't really care that his magic was likely copied but what he did care about was that this magic was copied at a time where someone could get hurt, like the pink-haired girl. No one understood how out of hand this magic could get the moment focus was lost. It was an eruption waiting to happen, Jin's only real hope was to take it down, just this once.

"You punks think you're tough because you can do tricks? We're killers and thieves, you are nothing to us!" The lead man dove forward, his fist cocked back and ready to be let loose. Jin couldn't have made his next action more definite, sliding his his right foot back for his weight to bounce off the balls of his foot. He simultaneously turned his body to the side and thrust out his left palm, his movement was rather quick from using his back foot as a pivot point. His action caused the bandit's punch to whiz by Jin's head instead of hitting its mark while at the same time his palm connected with the center of the ruffian's chest. There wasn't any magic infused with his move or real force behind Jin's thrust so it was actually quite confusing at what his reasoning was behind the move.

"Heh, game over... I win" He shuffled forward with feet as he said this, planting his heel on his opponent's back foot. He pushed with his palm, aiming to get his arm-length once more and rocketed his trailing hand at the bandit. His palm thudded hard when connecting with the chest and Jin put the rest of his body into the follow-through force. In this advancement, the man was inhibited in his movement, then sent off-balance and fell straight to the ground without much sign of resistance. It would look to most as if Jinchu casually pushed him over, an effortless act.

If everyone were to witness the exchange, maybe seeing how one-sided it was, Jinchu could avoid the need for magic altogether. Even-so he had to confirm his suspicions in the first place. "You.." he looked at his copy, "how does your magic work?" Jinchu didn't even worry about the man on the ground, already taking a step back to distance himself, he was a shadow of a threat.

[Luxin Rhodes]

Luxin was impressed at the boy's effortless fight. It sure was one-sided. He smirked, watching the boy's confused face as he questioned Luxin.

"My name is Luxin, Luxin Rhodes... not that you asked or anything." He mocked as he changed back to his original appearance. "My magic is what it looks, and I'm sure you know." He paused. "But just in case, my magic allows me to copy another person's appearance, magic, and I even have a glimpse of their past." He grinned as he sat down on the nearby grass. "Right now, my limit is one person. But one day..." He sighed and looked up into the starry night."...one day."

He looked at the girl who had slowed down and looked to be pretty comfortable, besides her clothes covered in dry mud which cracked in every movement.

"Rogue, meet... what was your name again?" He turned his face to meet the boy's eyes.

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