During the battle

[Soggydog]

Jack felt a surge of fury reverberate through his body. He knew why, it was the sword. He had recently discovered it spoke to him through his emotions.
"I don't know what that means, but my sword does not like it. I say this as a warning not a threat, be careful what you say to me,"

[Athena]

Turning again to Lailoken, Athena added "I don't think so," listened for a response, and then "Yes. I know." To Jack, she adds "You should listen to yourself instead of your sword, Jack."

[Soggydog]

Jack could not control it any longer, he charged extending the Nex Complexo to its full length.

[Athena]

Athena blinked, nonplussed. "It's a sword," she told him, like he didn't already know.

[Soggydog]

This startled Jack, he had assumed that she knew the sword's true nature. He wanted to stop himself but he could not. He swung the sword at her with tremendous force.

[Athena]

Athena isn't a ninja -- not anything close to becoming a ninja, of course, the entrance exam nearly killed her, actually, but, when a sword comes at her she ducks with amazing speed. She hopes he doesn't ruin the desk. She really likes her desk, rather attached to it, and all.

[Soggydog]

Jack feels himself begin to lunge at her again but manages to stop himself.
"This is no ordinary sword," He explains. "It has a consciousness of it's own, and it's own motives. As I draw strength from it, so too does it draw strength from me. I was given the task of keeping this sword, as I am the only one it accepts. It is difficult to control in stressful situations such as this battle,"

[Athena]

"Why do you use it, then?" asks Athena. She cocks her head to the other side, hops back up onto her miraculously not-destroyed desk, and grips The Shadow's sword a bit tighter.

[Badgerlord]

The Shadow surreptitiously presses a small button on his right arm. A small lever emerges from it with a small click. He closely watches the emerging fight between Athena and Jack.

[Soggydog]

"I can't stop using it. This sword is slowly possessing me, yet I cannot willfully get rid of it."

[Athena]

"...Well, that's not good." replies Athena, but she is not Really Paying Attention, as Lailoken is telling her something that no one else can hear.

[Badgerlord]

Lightning fast, the Shadow raises, aims, and fires his right hand, jamming the lever back. It sails exactly as targeted, clenching around the hilt of Silence. As soon as the appendage clamps down, it is reeled back by the Shadow, ripping the sword out of Athena's hand. The Shadow twirls the sword into a firmer grip and then plants it into the sheath on his back. With his other hand, he replaces his mask, the back sliding back into place to secure it to his head.

"Jack. Cease this foolery at once."

He moves towards the window, and exits onto the battlefield if he isn't stopped.

[Soggydog]

Jack snaps out of his self pity at hearing The Shadow's voice.
"Good luck to you," He says to Athena. He then turns to leave.

[Esther]

"Howl!"
Esther runs over to look at Howl's body. "Oh no...no...not you..."

She turns to look at the Shadow and Athena. But the Shadow has disappeared, and a completely different person is standing there. So she glares at him instead.
"You will most definitely regret doing this."
She draws her sword and her whole body begins to vibrate with fury and magic.

[Badgerlord]

The Shadow is still in the room, and hears a potentially violent situation arising.

"Back down, Sonambulist. Jack had no part in your friend's death. Do not try to fight a battle you cannot win."