The Practice of Killing

[Dante Ahti]

He was still angry. He wanted Phillis back. But Phillis was dead, and he couldn't do shit. Except maybe kill the ones responsible.

He still hadn't gotten any leads. None at all. Dante was growing more angry by the moment, more mad. More insane. Dante tried to come up with ideas on how to find the person, but nothing came up. Someone knew who killed Phillis. and Dante would stop at nothing to kill his lover's murderer.

He stood in front of the ruins, in a large open space. He stood on a very large stone circle, clearly a place where merchants would have sold their goods. Dante's hands were in fists as he stared at the ground.

Fire erupted in his hands, and he began to lash out at the air with his hands, moving quickly and efficiently. He would change his fighting style ever so often, from fire, to darkness, to moving the earth around him. Dante was strong. Stronger than he had ever been before. His hate fueled him.

I will find him Phillis...and I will avenge you, Dante clenched his teeth, slamming his fists into the ground, creating a ring of fire around the boy. It grew, and moved ferociously and quickly outward, stopping just at the edge of the stone circle.

Dante stayed like this for a few moments, before standing up once more and looking up at the sky. He then began lashing out at the air with fire once more.

[Phillis Von Christ]

Phillis/Hayden had been creeping Dante for awhile. He missed him a lot, and felt back for not letting him in on his secret. He was one of the few people Phillis truly loved. He decided he would talk to him. No, he wasn't going to speak to him as Phillis. He would become his alter ego, Hayden. Even if Dante didn't recognize him, he would just be glad to speak to him.

Hayden approached the boy, smiling sweetly and politely waving. This was who he was now. He was happy now! And he was always going to be happy. "Hi there!"

[Dante Ahti]

Dante looked up quickly, fire still in hand. He slowly lowered his hands, releasing the fire as his hands went to his side. Smoke came off of his hands as he stared at the man. He's similar to Phillis.

"...Hey. Need something?" he asked, his tone plain and dull, turning his body towards the man who reminded him of his lover. But it couldn't be Phillis, and Dante knew that. He discarded the thought. This was a stranger.

[Phillis Von Christ]

Hayden shrugged. "Just came to say hello." He checked Dante out with his eyes carefully. " You've gotten pretty buff, actually.." he accidently said allowed.

[Dante Ahti]

The man tensed up, of course making his muscles flex slightly. "Who are you?" he spoke calmly but assertively, his lips a thin line.

[Phillis Von Christ]

"Hayden. Hayden Gayle. You probably don't remember me, huh? We met when you were pretty young." He began to lie, and was doing a pretty convincing job at it. He didn't want to seem like a creep.

[Dante Ahti]

"Never heard of you," Dante said simply, eyes slanted. He trailed his mind for a match, but to no avail.

He would not jump to conclusions so soon. After all, the mind was not perfect. The man did not seem to lie, so Dante continued on. "Where do I know you from?" he asked sharply, crossing his arms.

[Phillis Von Christ]

"I was a student teacher, I think you were in your first year of school. I remember you because you were the strongest student. Oh, I didn't stay for very long though, so that's probably why you don't remember!"

[Dante Ahti]

"...maybe. I sort of remember that." and he did. He remembered a student teacher from way back, who left not long after. He just didn't remember his name, or what he looked like. Convenient for Phillis.

"What are you doing back in town?" he asked, walking towards the man so that they were face to face.

[Phillis Von Christ]

"I decided to return. I heard Avaleur had boomed to a much bigger kingdom! I'm quite amazed to see it has." Hayden smiled a bit weakly, it was secretly killing him on the inside that he had to hide himself. " How have you been all these years? Still in school, I hope."

[Dante Ahti]

"The university right now. I'm close to graduating even that in the arts of magic. But, currently, I've taken a leave from school to focus on...other things," Dante said the last part angrily.

[Phillis Von Christ]

"Oh? Dropping out isn't a wise idea, Dante. What would make you want to do that?"

[Dante Ahti]

"I am on the search for the murderer of King Phillis. I intend to stop at nothing to kill whoever killed my lover," Dante said simply with a shrug.

[Phillis Von Christ]

"But he's not even dead!" Hayden blurted out and then covered it with the same awkward laugh he always had. "I mean, he'll always live on in your heart, you know."

[Dante Ahti]

"...I suppose so. But that doesn't change the fact that he was taken away from me. I wasn't even able to say goodbye. And the person...or people...who did this will pay," Dante smirked, slightly insane. He was more focused on Phillis's death than the fact that Hayden had just had the same laugh as Phillis.

[Phillis Von Christ]

"Say, kid, I've met king Phillis. I knew him from Paineston. I was his personal tutor, and I can be honest when I say I know he'd want you to give up and go back to school, alright?" he said,quite seriously.

[Dante Ahti]

"And listen, I know you're trying to help and all, but if you didn't notice I'm hooked on this thought. Sorry, but I'm going through with it."

[Phillis Von Christ]

Hayden sighed. "It's pointless, you know. You'll never find his murderer."

[Dante Ahti]

"And how would you know?" Dante smiled a sarcastic smile.

[Phillis Von Christ]

Hayden laughed awkwardly again. "I just know.. I guess?"