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Chapter Eleven - Kain - Avernus Cathedral

Dark Chronicle - Two Heroes Collide

Kain arrives at Avernus in bat form and strides forward, drawing, but not raising, the Reaver as Raziel appears from the portal.

Raziel: (on the defensive)
Kain. Why is this no surprise?

Kain:
Because our destinies run together, Raziel, like two rivers that have met and can never be distinct again. At your every fatal turn, you will find me.

Raziel:
And the free will you said was mine, what has become of that?

Kain:
You still have it. And that has everything to do with my presence here now.

Raziel:
It was your machinations that set my destiny in motion. The coin you tossed has struck the earth. Now you must abide by its outcome.

Kain:
The coin is still turning, Raziel. To reach the resolution we both can live with, that will best serve our futures, Janos Audron must not be raised.

A faint tinge of green flares in Raziel's eyes, then fades.

Raziel:
Because you do not wish it? Is my free will to be exercised only when it accords with your whim?

Kain:
There is much more at stake in this than you know.

Raziel:
Yes, and it is Janos who has the answers I desire.

Kain:
You must trust me, Raziel. Our intentions - for Nosgoth, for our futures - are not so diverse.

Raziel:
I must trust you - or?

Kain:
I have not come here to threaten you, Raziel.

Raziel:
You say that, while you hold in your hand the instrument of my doom?

Kain:
I saved you from the Reaver once. I have no intention of imprisoning you within the blade.

Kain returns the Reaver to its place on his back.

Raziel:
At least not until the moment it serves your plans to do so.

Kain:
You are not the only one at risk. I may carry the instrument of your destruction, but I, too, have taken a chance in coming here. Or haven't you realized - you bear the only weapon that can kill me.

Raziel activates the wraith-blade.

Raziel:
Then you know what I am - and who you are?

Kain:
I believe I do.

Raziel:
And still you think you can move me about like your pawn. Think again, Kain.

Raziel attacks, his eyes glowing fully green now. Kain recoils back out of range.

Kain:
Take heed, Raziel.

Raziel:
Why? If we are who we are, then are we not destined to fight to the death, to decide the fate of Nosgoth?

Kain: (agitated)
Don't be a fool. I will not fight you.

Raziel: (enraged)
And that will be the prophesied heroes' battle? I win, because you will not fight me?

Raziel attacks again, and again Kain evades the attack.

Raziel: (enraged, mockingly)
The mighty Kain, Scion of Balance, would-be savior of Nosgoth, surrenders before the final battle even begins -

Raziel leaps at Kain, who hurls him aside. Kain draws the Reaver and starts forward.

Kain: (resigned)
Very well, if this will make you see reason -

Dark Chronicle - A Deadly Confrontation

Kain stands over Raziel, having beaten him into a semblance of submission.

Kain:
Now - you will listen to me. The Heart of Darkness must remain undiscovered. Great harm will come of its use.

Raziel:
You don't know where it is, do you?

Kain:
No -

Raziel:
You never looked for it.

Kain:
It doesn't matter, Raziel. Listen to me - you must understand that every creature is bound to one predestined path. We are all shackled -

Raziel: (bitterly)
To the Wheel of Fate. Believe me, I know that even better than you do.

Kain: (exasperated)
All but one. Because of your remaking, you are the one unbound creature, the one among us all that truly has free will. You have a choice, Raziel -

Raziel:
Which I'm sure I must make at your direction. Your pawn has reached the end of the board, Kain.

Raziel rises menacingly, his eyes flaring green once more.

Raziel:
And now my powers may even surpass yours. How ironic if the creature that you made should prove your own undoing. Now - we finish this. Once and for all.

Raziel attacks Kain again.

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