Intro:

To each our sins

Chance bring us together, fate binds us, nothing becomes us. Do you have one saying that can entirely engulf your life? Do you have a mantra in consent repeat in the back of your mind just to stay sane? Though these past years I have found this to be true. The only anchor I have in a life dedicated to change and passion, but I am getting ahead of myself. This is what you would consider a middle. What we need is a start.

Pain, that was the start. A sharp pain on the back of my head from a fist. I stumbled a bit on the hard asphalt and turned to face my assailant. We stood outside the school in the red hue of the setting sun. The front of the school was behind him. The doors empty where only a few minutes before kids screamed out.

“Aw, look who got a boo boo. Going to run away again?” he asked admiring at the blood on his knuckles. A grin plastered on his greasy face. A face I had little qualm about beating after it's long record of annoying comments. I had many comebacks for the way the way his mouth ran on, but lately he had been taking it a step farther.

I dropped my backpack and took off my dark red sunglasses, “First of all I didn't run away. I resisted the urge to cause you harm I knew I would regret. Second that's not my blood,” the boy touched his knuckles and winced involuntarily.

“Now John if you would be so kind I have a pressing engagement I just can't miss, so I'll give you the chance to run away.” John just glared at me

“Daniel, you arrogant bastard,” he charged at me and swung clumsily. I ducked and felt his fist just graze the top of my dark brown hair. I pulled myself back up and shot out with my elbow. Striking him hard in the gut. He went down cursing on the pavement. Despite myself I laughed. John roared and punched up with a vicious uppercut. I jumped back, but the attack still glanced my jaw. I felt blood start to pool in my mouth.

“Funny isn't it,” I spit out a wad of blood, “how simple this could've been? What part should I send back to your parents? An arm, a leg, or maybe that cute little tongue you use so much?” I ran at him. Red clouds filling my vision. My right fist smashed into his cheek. I felt the satisfying crunch of his teeth breaking under the assault they were taking. My foot shot out and caught his head like a soccer ball as he fell. Balancing in the curve of my foot. He opened his eyes. They went huge with fear as I put his head down and raised my foot again, but this time right over his face. The blood from the corner of his mouth staining his cheek as much as the water from his eyes.

I pulled my foot away and ran. Ran from the anger, ran from the rage. His moaning sounds haunting me all the way to the house. I tried wiping the blood from myself and by the time I got to the house most of it was gone. I stood outside trying to control the explosive rage inside myself. Finally gaining control I pulled some speakers out of my backpack and laid them next to the door. I hooked up my Cd player and pulled out my cell phone. My fingers danced of the keys and I heard the ringing start. As soon as I got the phone to my ear I heard a click, “Hey,”

“Hello,” her voice lilting over the line. I sighed inwardly with joy.

“Want to come outside?”

“Sure,” I waited, my foot tapping incessantly. Finally the door opened and I pressed play on the CD player. Her favorite song came on. I heard her gasp, “Oh my God.”

“Happy one year anniversary,” I said beaming. She ran over and fell into my arms and covered my face with kisses.

“I love you so much,” she whispered in my ear.

“I love you too, but I'm not done yet,” I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a box. I handed it to her and she carefully tore the wrapping paper off and opened the box. Her eyes lite up as she saw the small sapphire in the shape of a heart on a golden chain.

“I'll be right back,” she scampered into the house and came out again. She handed me a silver chain, “I know this is nothing compared to what you did but I thought you would like it. Sorry I didn't wrap it I didn't know you were coming over so soon.”

I kissed her, “I love it. I got to go. See you tomorrow?”

“of course.”

****

The red brick walls stared back at me and looked exactly like the houses around it. The only difference was the room in the top right corner. The window was covered by a black sheet and frost was around the edges even in the early summer months. I went inside and climbed up the stairs. Going slowly, letting the adrenalin wear out of my body. A sticky note was on the door and the words “happy fifteenth birthday” stood as a silent testament to my family. That was the other pressing engagement, my birthday celebration

It felt good to be done with it as I stuffed the note in the pocket of my black jeans and went into my room. As soon as I opened the door cold air assaulted me and darkness swallowed me up. The room only stayed this way though a very active air conditioner and couple of fans. The overall hum of this equipment was just white noise compared to the music blasting out from my open laptop. Hundred of music CDs sat next to the computer all of which I had already downloaded to my computer. I threw my overloaded backpack on the bed and sat down in front of the desk. The bed heaved as the backpack crushed the well worn mattress causing the red sheets to fold into a single point.

I pulled up my email and went though my messages. A couple from friends which I read and replied with minimal thought. The rest were junk messages other then the message about a new blog post on “The Yairn”. I had found this site on accident and became an advent reader because it was an amusing story. I started reading it to myself...

“Now my fellow readers it is time I divulge what the Yairn is. I am not speaking of the site. I am speaking of the realm of existence outside our own. It is a dimension of pure energy. The very air is used to cast spells. Taking energy from it hurts your essence and leads to corruption and lastly death. Just like any land it is ruled by separate entities. Keyvias, lord of emotions and passion, almost everything he does just leads to change. His animal is the Wolf. His younger sister Ithra lady of Justice and vengeance. Her animal is the bat. Their Father Murez lord of Dedication and intellect. His animal is the raven. Under these lords and lady there are dukes and duchesses. All of which are dedicated to different things and with many different creatures. The lesser creatures under their control will sometimes break though the wall between our realms and infect people. Leaving their lords “gift” to us. The dukes and duchesses have a much larger problem with this then the older and more experienced Lords and Lady. Werewolves and Vampires are the creatures you've heard of most. Though in the past 100 years there have been much less talk of them.”

I left a comment, “If stuff like this was real the results would be... exhilaratingly. A welcome change I would say. Almost as soon as I pressed submit I got an email. It didn't give an address which was very strange and all it said was, “Soon.”

I decided just to ignore it. My friends had played pranks on me before and if I remembered correctly it was there turn to get me back. I headed downstairs where my mother was calling for dinner. Spaghetti tonight, I could live with it, but I would rather live without it. I put my glasses back on. Everything turned red. I sat down at my normal spot and watched the food being served with a hungry gaze. I may not like the food, but I was hungry.  As soon as my dad pried himself from his computer in the other room, my little brother threw his army men down, and my mom sat down we devoured the food.  There was no speaking only the muffled sounds of food being chewed. 

After 5 minutes of this senseless destruction of food we all left.  Going separate ways.   I walked around the house a bit passing though the three main rooms I often spent my time in.  My room, the living room, and the game room as we called it with a pool table in it.  I decided I would go for a walk.  After the days events I needed a way to relax and the night air called to me.  Every time I closed my eyes I saw John's pleading face.  I almost killed someone my thoughts ripping though me.
   
    The brisk night air helped though.  The moon only a sliver in the night sky with all the pollution coming from the city I felt lucky to be able to see the moon at all.  My walk lead me to the park and I swung lazily in the swing.  A slight growling brought me back to reality.  I jumped out of the swing and  turned around to find myself face to face with a giant wolf but that wasn't the part that got me.  the wolf was standing and was wearing Bright red boots and what looked like a squashed  black top hat.  It was comedic and I would've laughed if not for the smell of a rotten flesh coming from it's mouth.  It continued growling, but stopped abruptly.  It's mouth shot forward and I thought it was going to bite my head off.  It's teeth only grazed me causing a minor scratch.  Then as soon as the blood touched it's tongue it turned and ran into the underbrush.

    I ran home.  Sheer fear giving me speed I didn't think possible.  As soon as I entered the door I felt weak and went into my room.  I fell on the bed.  Still dressed in my subdued orange shirt and black jeans I passed out

Chapter 1:

Is there life before death?

That night I died or that's what they told me later. I awoke to find myself in a sack. I tried to free myself from the bag but found my arms and legs tied up and a gag in my mouth. I laid there thrashing for a couple of minutes on what felt to be a wooden deck. The top of the bag opened up and I felt rough hands tearing me out of the bag and toss me on the deck, “Not so rough, Vuren!” a voice yelled out. I blinked my eyes as they became unaccustomed to the harsh red light. I found myself looking up at man wearing heavy rust colored armor with a two handed sword on his back but that's not what stood out. On his back great black wings spread out, “I, 2nd Consul Beonic Longblade of The Ephautotion, arrest you on the charge of First Generation. You will be taken to Synstan to await trial.

I didn't know what to say, “... what is going on?” was all I could get out.

Beonic offered his hand to help me up, “this is very confusing I would assume, but hopefully I can explain it as we do have an ample amount of time. There is this thing called the Yairn,”

“I've heard of that!” I broke in

He raised an eyebrow, “Ok, I'll move on a bit to where we are. You have been gifted with the blood of Keyvias. Soon changes will take effect in you. You are what we call first generation. As a first generation you will be more human then most for the later the generation the more like the animal you seem to be. In the Ephautotion one our most important jobs is to stop first generations from existing by from stopping incursions from the Yairn and failing that taking them back with us. Humans can never know the existence of our world and of magic.”

“but, where are we?”

“We are on my ship, the Pure Sail, we are a couple of miles below the crust,” he said gesturing over the railing. I went over and looked over and saw magma below us.

I started shaking, “howwhybut....” words spilled out of my mouth.

He raised a hand to stop me, “Ships like this are guarded by magic. We float by using light weight wood, flighttimber, it's called, for good reason, and the bottom of the ship is cut off and we place a silk canopy to catch the heat rising. Letting us float, but enough of that back to why you are here. As a first generation more untainted blood flows in you then most and you will ultimately be more powerful then most and we can't have someone like you go free. So we killed you,” after saying this he gave me a friendly smile.

“I'm dead?” I asked not even the least bit surprised. We were floating above millions of gallons of magma talking about magic and other realms. Being dead would simplify this.

“Well, that's what humans, think. We left a corpse Vuren made,” he said gesturing to a boy about 17 wearing black clothes, with dark blue scales running down his arms, and a triumphant grin on his face, “When the coroners examine your body it will appear you have died of a Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.”

I sat down on a bench near me. It molded to my shape, folding and sifting to make me comfortable. The silver colored flighttimber around looking bright red as it reflected it's surroundings, “what do I do now?”

“You will be taken to the orphanage in Synstan and be taught by the teachers there until your trial comes up in which you will be judged to see if you are worthy to be in the Ephautotion or should just live the normal life of one of it's many people, but our landing in Synstan is a couple of weeks away so Vuren will show you to your room and you have free range of the ship. Until next time Daniel”

“How did you know my name?” I asked surprised. Out of everything I heard this surprised me the most.

“We picked you up 3 hours after you were gifted, would getting your name be hard?”

* * *

Vuren led me into the ship. He barely glanced at me, as we walked though the ship, his scales clinking ever so often. The silence between us was almost oppressive, “so, what do you do here?”

He swung around, “I am a Demonstrator, apprentice of Consul Longblade. I aid him in any matter he asks so I can learn how to be a consul and help benefit others.”

I laughed, “Chill, the miss America, the pageant isn't for a couple months.”

His hand shot out and grabbed my neck raising me a couple inches above the ground, “Authentic, don't tell me how to do my job and maybe, just maybe, I'll let you life. You may be first generation but don't let that get to your head I am still more powerful then you,” his other hand raised and he snapped. A little ball of fire appeared in his hand, “this is your room, enjoy your stay.”

He stalked off and I was left alone in front of a bright red door. Can't please everyone I sighed to myself, it was a insult I thought back but one more for comedy then hurt. I opened it up to find a very uninteresting room. A queen sized bed with a warm blue blanket, a wooden dresser with empty drawers, a full body mirror, a sink, and a door that lead to a bathroom. I sat down on the bed and put my head in my hands. I inhaled deeply a couple times before it felt safe to stand up again. This was almost too much, almost. Part of me couldn't wait to see what would happen.

A bell rang out. The air started to get colder and all the lights dimmed. Fairly self explanatory, I took of my silver chain and I laid down and let exhaustion take me. That, that was an easy thing to do.

I was woken up with a slight prodding on the inside of my thigh, “just getting your inseam,” a wispy voice said. I sat up a little to see a very short person with short brown hair standing on my bed with a little tape measurer. He was muttering under his breath as he took the measurements, “all done” he said with satisfaction.

I sat up, “What about the rest of my body?”

“Already did that. You were out like a light,” Normally I was a light sleeper but I could see how the day's events wore me out. I yawned and felt my teeth prick my lip. After a muttered curse, I ran my tongue over my my teeth. Fangs greeted me. I grinned with the new additions to my mouth.

“Very scary, sir” said the gnome said with a smile. I looked down sheepishly, “well I'll leave you to the rest of your day.”

The little tailor scampered off . I watched him leave and started to pull myself out of bed. I felt new muscles ripple down my legs as my feet reached the floor. I grabbed my chain off the table by the bed and put it on. A slight annoying hum filled my mind and a slight burning sensation around my neck. I left it on deciding I would rather have the noise then leave the chain. Sentimentally of the worst kind, I know, but it would feel weird to lose the only link I had to reality.

I walked out of my room and out onto the deck. There was a mini storm above. The sails were freezing cold and the heat from the air caused thunderclouds right behind the sails. I went over to the railing and looked over the side. I marveled at the magma below us and at the idea of floating high above it. I leaned over more and felt something push back on my head. Pulling back I moved my hand out until I felt the forcefield against my palm. I knew there had to be someway we didn't burn to a crisp. I moved my hand away and in it's place there was another ship. This one blended in with it's surroundings. It was a dark red/brown color same as the rock ceiling.

A siren went off on our ship and instantly Beonic and Vuren came out of the ship. Beonic had his sword and Vuren had a shotgun. He saw me eying it and racked it, “Mossberg M590A1, currently in use in 32 countries, fitted with 3 ½ inch shel....”

“Not the time Vuren,” Beonic growled, “Daniel, stay back. Everyone else, Get ready!” I looked around to see four other men armed with an assortment of weapons. One stood in the crow's nest with a rife. He was looking though the scope. A menacing grin on his tan face. The men next to Beonic had rifles. The last was a tall woman standing to the edge. She was wearing a dark green body glove and had a staff that had a blade on each end. The ship was right next to ours and there was a sucking sound as the shields connected and folded in on each other. As soon as there was enough space a rat man tried to jump on board but there was the sharp crack of a sniper rife and the rat man fell to the magma below.

“Pirates,” Vuren spat the word as he shot his gun as five more made the jump to the boat. Vuren hit two with three quick shots and the men next to Beonic only took one down between them. The last one hit the deck and launched himself at Beonic. The sword launched out faster then then I thought possible for a sword that large and cut the creature in half, “Forward!” Beonic yelled as he took to the sky. Vuren threw me a pistol and followed his master over to the other ship like a dog and it's owner. The two guards jumped after them. Trying not to be left behind. The woman jumped after them. The sniper was last taking his time to climb down. I was left on the ship alone. I heard the sounds of gunfire and screams from the other boat. I saw a rat run from it and jump onto my boat.

He saw me. A silver cutlass in his hand, he charged. I brought up the gun and fired. The first two shots went wild, but the third his him in the shoulder. He snarled and jumped at me. The sword slashed down and I blocked with my gun, but the rat pushed harder with the sword knocking the gun and sword away. Sending them flying across the deck. The rat's fist started coming at my face and I jumped back. The rat moved faster then I expected and his tail wrapped around my leg sending me to the ground. The rat pulled a knife out of it's boot and launched itself on top of me.

I grabbed his arms before the knife finished going down. I was face to face with the beast. It's eyes were a bright yellow and it's teeth chattered and clicked together. The knife started to move lower. Even with all the adrenalin powering me the knife kept moving closer. I redoubled my efforts but the knife kept getting closer. This is the end. The thought reeled in my mind and then the beginning came. This couldn't be it, anger fueled me. This can't be the last moment. There is so much left to do. I felt rage fill me. I looked at the rat's face to see something I didn't expect fear.

I pulled up on the rat's arms and felt them snap. I opened my mouth to say something and a growl came out. I put my foot on the rats chest and launched him off of me. I watched in slow motion as he bounced on the deck whimpering. I got up and ran over to the rat. I jumped on top of the creature and my hands dug at his chest. Great ripping sound filled the air as I tore away his flesh. I bit down with my teeth into his exposed neck and felt the blood flow into my mouth. I grabbed the mutilated corpse and threw it off the boat.

I searched around for a new enemy. Blood covering my body. Red at the corners of my eyes, blinding me. A man jumped over onto the boat and I ran at him. He aimed his gun at me and I swiped it away. I saw fear in his eyes. I grinned and howled at the thought of my next fresh kill. My right paw came up. It's black fur just a blur and batted the person on the side of the head. I was about to shove my foot down and crush his head but something hit me in the head and I was out.

* * *

I woke up on the deck. Beonic's bright blue eyes, purple in the light looking down on me. I slowly sat up, “What happened...?” I murmured. He looked down at me not saying anything. Then the memories hit. I threw up on the deck. To my horror it was red. I looked around and saw all of the group staring at me. I saw Vuren in the back. A huge stitched gash across his check. His eyes smoldering with outrage.

“Daniel we need to talk,” Beonic said sadly like a disappointed father. He walked into the ship and I followed. We stopped outside a black door. Beonic placed the tips of his wings on the side of the door. The door whooshed inward and smoke came from inside the room. The smell of incense filled my nostrils, a smell much like black licorice. We went inside and he gestured to a seat on the other side of his desk. He took a seat across from me in a dour golden chair.

We sat in silence for what seemed to be hours though I knew it couldn't be more then a half of one. I could see the arms of of Beonic's chair strain as he gripped them, “I'm sorry,” he finally said. His whole body relaxing with the words escaping his mouth.

These were the last words I had expected, “for what?” I asked leaning as close as my chair would let me.

“This isn't the first time rage has consumed you, is it?” I shook my head, “just as I thought, this is a routine question, especially for a creature of Keyvias,”

“Lord of Passion,” I murmured quietly.

“Exactly, the 'gift' you have been given will make every emotion you feel a thousand times more affecting to you. Luckily you weren't so far lost that a good whack on the head didn't snap you out of it. Someday you may be able to control and use it to your advantage, but until then do not try to tap into that power. Training for your emotions will being tomorrow, along with your weapons training. If something like this happens again. I want you to be ready.”

“Want to explain the violence that happened?”

“Pirates. They either know we have a first generation on board or they are just dumb enough to attack an Ephautotion ship.”

“Why would it matter if I was on board?”

“As I stated before in time you will be more powerful then most other beings because you're untainted. You're free of the taint of living so close with the Yairn and having parts of you being from the realm beyond our own. As the gifts get passed on they take more of the body to the Yairn. Parts with the Yairn can't be used to focus power. Humans are one of the few creatures that broke their ties with the Yairn. As an almost pure Human you have great potential. They could use you to do horrible things”

“So what now?” I leaned back in the chair. Trying to relax as my mind processed the news thrown at it.

“We're still weeks off. It may be an omen that such a bad thing happened only a day into our trip. You will train here to get you ready for your trial and at the orphanage you will have your schooling. Now I have business to attend to. I'll send Vuren and Rien to train you tomorrow,” Beonic started to rub his temples and I wondered what was going on in his mind. Better not to know I decided as I pried myself out of the chair and out the door which opened as I approached. I decided against going out to all the crew and kept to the halls.

I reached my room without incident as soon as I got there though I knew someone was in there. A new smell was in the room. When did I start to notice things like that was my first thought to the smell thing but I didn't mind. I opened the door and expected to see Vuren ready to end the fight I had mistakenly started. Instead sat the sniper in my bed. Late twenties by my guess. His rifle was strapped across his back and he wore black leather clothes. Emerald gems seems to accent every joint on his body. As soon as I opened the door his blood red ears perked up causing his black hair to sway.

“You're unexpected,” I said casually.

He's bronze eyes looked me over. They sly gaze picked out details about me. His tail stood still. No emotion escaped him, “So are you.”

I narrowed my eyes, “not to be rude but it's been a very long day, what the hell do you want?”

“No offense taken my young master. Let me introduce myself. I am Rien, 74th generation of Luala the fox,” His eyes wouldn't stand still. They absorbed everything in the room by mostly played over me, “I just wanted to introduce myself. If you ever need help, just call.”

“Out of the goodness of your heart I'm sure,” I said sarcastically

His paw touched his leather bound torso, “You wound me. I offer my help because I expect great things of you.”

I gave him a quizzical look, “And why would you want to help with that?”

“Call it, a religious fascination.”

* * *

I got up and grabbed at my chain, only to find empty air. Now that I thought about it I didn't remember having it ever since what happened with the pirates. I let out a sigh, just one more part of my life that changed. After everything I had been though I had that chain as a touch of reality. I stepped out of bed and saw something by my feet.

It was some clothes. There was a black long sleeve leather shirt. It must've been worked a lot because it moved easily. It looked new though. There was also a black trench coat and black pants made out cotton which felt better on my skin. I decided against wearing the jacket. Being this close to the center of the earth made me feel like a jacket would be overkill. As I started moving out of the room I felt cold spots touch my skin. I looked down to see rubies down my wrists and down the outside of my leg.

I walked outside my room and found myself staring at Vuren's chest. I looked up a little to see his eyes burning into me, “this way,” he said. I shrugged and followed. We went though the ship to a room with a couple of cages, “Get in,” he said bluntly.

“Want to give me a reason for that?” I asked not all that kindly.

“In this training you may become... unstable,” he said his hand moving to rub the mark on his cheek. I sighed in resignation and got into the cage. He bolted the door with obvious relish, “I'm going to enter your mind and attempt to cause you to change though your emotions.

“Wait!...” I yelled out as I felt him enter my mind. It was hard to explain how I knew he was there but I felt him. An unwelcome presence in my mind. He started to sort though my memories. I saw fragments of my past as he tossed though them. He came to a fight I got into. I saw everything happening again. The violence and all I could do was watch, like a movie that I couldn't stop. I started going deeper into my mind to hide from the onslaught of memories. I bumped into him in my mind. He was glowing a pale red. His hand reached out in almost a fatherly manner and then smack, as his hand contacted with my skin.

I let out a howl in my mind and charged into him. He stood fast and flipped me over. He placed a foot on me, “in here I have the power,” he said. I felt rage well up inside of me. I saw red clouds start to haze my vision. I shook my head and tried to relax. Knowing this was part of the training. I sat under his boot in my mind and waited. Letting the emotions flow over me.

“kinda funny, you act so mighty in the world, but in your mind you have no power at all,” he reached down and pulled me up by my throat and lifted me high like he did before, “you're nothing!” he spat out the words, “just another fake. Someone not even prepared for a gift that has been thrust so greatly upon him.” I smiled as I felt the last of my breath wane.

“But even with all the shit you throw at me, you can't cause a moody teenager to get mad,” I said and then there was darkness. For a couple of hours my mind reeled in nothing. Just darkness.

I felt the barrel of a gun pressed against my cheek, “Still here?” I asked, hearing my voice echo in my mind. I looked up the barrel to see... nothing, I stood up and the gun fell to the ground. A fist hit me in the side of the head. I fell the ground cursing. I stood back up and spit out blood. The memory came back of the kid I beat up came back and along with it the rage. A kick connected with my chest and I rolled over in pain. I let out a roar and reached my claw though the cage.

Back in reality Vuren wasn't ready for this and I had my claw around his throat, “Gift?! Let me show you a gift!” I threw him across the room. Having a satisfying crack follow it. Vuren laid there for a moment as his body started to change. It wasn't into a half beast like mine. It was a whole dragon.

A dark blue dragon that nearly filled up the room roared at me. I roared back and charged the small distance that remained between us. The giant dragon body destroyed the cage and I bit down at his neck only to find steel like scales. One of the paws of the beasts batted me to the ground. I couldn't get up. It felt like every bone in my body was broken. The form of the dragon slowly receded and was replaced with Vuren. His eyes still glazed over with blue, “that's enough for today.” He walked briskly from the room.

I laid there for a hour. My body refusing to follow the simple commands I gave it. Slowly I was able to get up. My body felt better. I looked myself over to find little damage at all. I felt my mind over to find most of the damage there. Stress mostly and also the normal feeling after turning into that wolf thing. I walked to the door, each step a feat in itself. I opened the door and got out and laid against the wall, “You look like crap,”

“Funny, because I feel like hell,” I said looking over to see Rien looking back at me.

“Ready for weapons training?” he asked his eyes showing concern.

“Why not,” I sighed and followed him though the ship. We went though more winding corridors. We made it to the door he was looking for and he opened it and stepped inside. I followed right behind him. I couldn't believe my eyes.

It was a field. A huge field. There was a forest off to the side and a lake on the other side, “Thought we should use my room for this,” Rien said.

“I'm never going to get used to magic, am I?”

“Probably not,” he said. He started walking over the hill we were on and I saw the first unnatural thing. A weapons range, some combat area things, and what looked to be a huge computer console. He walked over to the computer, “Weapons, category all.” As he said this rows of weapons came out of the ground causing the earth to shake. All the rows were made of a steel material and held hundreds of weapons, from every size and type. “Choose whatever you want.”

I spent the next three hour going though the weapons. Shot guns, pistols, sniper rifles, machine guns, anything I could. Rien set up targets for me to practice on. This felt amazing to blow off the steam from what happened with Vuren by shooting at targets at 40 meters thinking of each one of that smug bastard's face. I went back to the stand and placed the rifle down. I started to look though the weapons again. A pistol caught my eyes, I grabbed it and it's twin from the rack and felt their weight. At first the guns seemed heavy and awkward but after three hours they seemed almost like an extension to me, but these felt right. I aimed down the range at two targets. I fired both at once. The shots went far off mark.

Rien came up behind me and clucked his tongue, “fire separately, you'll get better accuracy .” I aimed both of them but focused on the one in my right hand and fired and then the same with the left. I saw nice neat bullet holes much closer to the target, “you've made a nice choice. One of the most powerful pistols out there but with a large 20 bullet box in each. They also have complicated but reliable system to lower the kickback. The FN five seven is truly a credit to it's kind.”

“I'll take these two,” I kept firing down the range. As soon as I heard empty clicks I reached for another clip.

“Hold on, cowboy. We need to get you some weapons that... touch your soul, so to speak. Go test some close combat weapons.”

I gave him a malicious smile as I looked over the weapons. I picked up some knives and started messing around with them. He grabbed my shoulder and shook his head, “Why not?” I asked.

“Trust me, when you find the right one you'll know,” I gave him a quizzical look and continued though the weapons. My hands danced over the variety of blades. My hands stopped over a pair of swords. I couldn't move them from the spot, “A Falcata and a Kopis. Both swords used in cleaving and both are Mediterranean in design.”

“That's nice, why can't I move my hands?”

“Your soul, your Yairnen counterpart has chosen that as the vessel it most relates to. Pick them up. The Yairn is a couple hundred years behind us tech wise so guns are almost never conducts for our souls.” I lowered my hands and grasped the ivory hilts. I felt fire lace down my arms and flow out my fingers. The flames enveloped the sword cutting a symbol in the bottom part of the blade.

As soon as the symbol was finished carving itself out the flames stopped, out like a light.

“Care to explain?”

“Let me see the blades,” I held out my hands. My fingers didn't loosen their death grip on the sword. I focused intently until the blades dropped from my hands into the palm of Rien. I looked at the symbols on the blades and noticed that they still glowed. Like the dying embers of a fire. Rein gasped and dropped the blades. I felt pain flow though my body as the blades thumped into the ground.

“Guessing that's not good.”

“Not that, just surprising. Your soul carves into the blade the symbol that most relates to how you think, your life, just everything about you. The symbol carved into your blade is for black flame,” he looked at me as if the news was supposed to hit me, “The flames alone mean mean change or passion. The black most of the time is evil or extreme, but together they are the mark of everlasting change. A change so deep that it can not be undone. Your soul can not lie and it says you are the most profound effect there is.”

“So even, but extraordinary standards I'm extraordinary?”

“Simply put.”

“Is Longblade the soul name of Beonic?”

“Yes, the first part means far reaching, obviously. The second part stands for attack. It reflects his unforgiving nature. Trust me when he gets into a hunt he doesn't end till everything about it is gone. On to other things,” he said returning the blades to me, “I want you to prod the mind of the blades. You know how Vuren spoke to you in your training. Do it to your blades. They will tell you how to be treated.

I let go of myself. Feeling myself flying into the swords I was holding. A crude intelligence struck back. It didn't think so much as know what it wanted. It was unbending as the metal it was made out of and it didn't speak only showed. I reached out and touched the floating soul of the blades and felt them get absorbed into me. I opened my eyes to find myself holding the kopis with the blade facing the ground. My legs were bent slightly and my arms flung out from my body, almost asking for for attacks.

“That's all for today. We'll go into this more in another day or so. You can hold onto the weapons,” he said looking back at the wall that still showed of the wood of the ship. The only imperfection in his growing world. He looked back at me his bronze eyes cutting into me again, “I'm starved, how about you.”

* * *

He took me to a room near the center of the ship filled with tables. Only a few had people at them. Beonic's guards were there. I looked closer to see that they were twins. Both of them had wings but they were smaller and reminded me of a falcons. In the weak light they were only a dim gold. I marveled at the thought of them in natural light. Rein brought me to a counter and passed me a plate. He pulled some gray stuff out of a bucket and placed it on both our plates. I looked back at the twins and saw near raw fish on the plate.

“Why do we get this when they get something like that?” I asked as we sat down.

“You know what you did with the swords?”

“yeah....” I reached out with my mind to find the stuff in front of me. It's voice was monotone and continually asked what I wanted. I sent a picture of a medium rare steak, including the spices I added to it myself when I cooked. I opened my ears and was greeted by the wonderful sight of my steak, “This stuff seems quite useful.”

“You have no idea. There are few items the neosis can not copy. Bigger items take a bit of magic of course and this stuff doesn't come cheap when you get higher grades. This is low grade stuff. Food is about the lowest level you get.”

“The guy who made this stuff must be richest.”

“They don't get much richer.”

I started to dig into my steak. I looked over at Rien. His own steak was much more done and he picked at it. I thought back on all the things that had happened to me. Then it hit me. Gem, I left her with a shiny stone and a smile. Now to her I was dead, “I'm sorry.”

“How do you know what I'm thinking about?” I asked blinking away the water stinging my eyes.

“You're basically throwing it out for the rest of us. You have nothing around your mind to protect you. Think of your mind as just another world. You can be there or here, not both. While you're there you can do whatever you think could happen. You haven't built any defenses in your mind so it's open to everyone. Later you can try building up your mind, but your defenses will only be as powerful as the mind behind them.

“If you can have whatever you think of. Why do people come out of their minds?”

“Some don't. Some come out every so often to eat but otherwise live in themselves. Burn outs, they're called. Your mind can only create what it can think of. So experiences you know nothing about you can't experience. Some people go though the world trying new things and eating every type of food they can find. Just so they can live in themselves when they get old.”

I finished up the steak and got up. Rien grabbed my arm and held the palm face up. He dropped something in my hand and nodded. I looked down to see my chain, “Thank you.”

“I noticed it after the change. Silver is a bad thing for you of the original three so I changed out the metal with something that looks like silver but not toxic to your kind. I made sure the metal still held it's memories though.”

“it's mem....”

“Don't ask. I'll let you find out yourself.”

Ch 2:

Maybe this world is another planet's hell.

As soon as I got back in my room I fell onto the bed. I took off the weapons I had gotten today and laid them in a pile at the side of the bed. Their gentle clinking, a charade to their true purpose. I took off my leather shirt and moved over to the bed. I pulled the chain out of my pocket and looked it over. It looked exactly like it did before but it didn't give me that burning buzz feeling. I entered my mind and moved to the chain. There was no intelligence to it, not even the crude one the weapons or the neosis had. There was something different about it though. I touched it and felt it over. The last day with Gem. I blinked away tears. I threw the chain down. Trying to rid myself of the happiest moment of my life.

This was the first time my mind had found reality again. Everything I had lost in this change. Everyone I knew. Sure there were people I hated but there were people I loved. I pushed the thought of her away at dinner, but now the emotions washed over me. I spent the next few hours trying to cope with what had happened to me. By the time I could find rational thought again I was fast asleep.

I woke up feeling much better then I did the night before. I put my shirt back on and placed the chain around my neck. Happiness filled me for a moment as the memories emotions filled me, but then my depression kicked in. I took off the chain. It hurt to look at it. I put my jacket on and put the chain on the pocket on the inside.

I went back into my mind and put all the thoughts of my old life into the corner. With all the changes in my life I didn't think those memories right now. After I was done with that I started thinking about how open my mind was. I started to think up a giant wall, but the thought of Vuren's dragon crushed me. I then thought of the shield around the ship. I thought of everything I knew about that and placed it around my mind. Knowing my mind was no longer open for the world made me feel better.

I put my swords on my hips and placed my guns behind my back around my waist. The extra wight would take some getting used to bu t I didn't want to get attacked again with nothing but a little pistol. A feral grin plastered my lips at the thought of another creature trying to attack me only to find itself looking down the barrel of my gun or the blade of my sword. I went out of my room and saw a note on the door explaining that I would get a day off. I openly sighed with relief.

I went down some stairs. My feet barley touching the steps. I found myself a door away from the bottom of the ship. I opened the door to be assaulted by heat that left me sweating only after a few seconds. I looked into the room to see I was standing on a platform above a giant canvas. Through the few holes in the edges of the canvas I saw the magma below. It was a breath taking sight and I would've spent more time there if I didn't feel like my hair was going to burst into flames.

I spent the rest of the day exploring the ship. Discovering everything I could. From what I could see other then the bottom of the ship it seemed like a normal ship that the pirates used to use. I also found out the ships interior lighting went with the time and by the time the lights were getting to dim I found myself in a lounge type area. Rien and the lady with the staff sat in one corner over what looked something like chess. The tailor sat in a chair that swallowed him up with a book that was twice his size. I pulled up a chair next to the board game and sat down. The chair was unimaginably comfortable and I sat with it facing backwards. I rested my arms on the back of it leaning forward watching the game intently.

Rien moved something that looked like turtles forward and I saw him lean back and grin. The girl who looked only a few years younger then him furrowed her brow in thought. After a few moments she moved a piece that looked like a spider behind the turtle and took the turtle off the board. Rein's tail flicked behind him as he moved a piece that looked like a wolf in front of a raven, “Game,”

The girl got up and looked back at him, her eyes not showing annoyance at losing the game but a softness. She strode out of the room without a word, “Nice, how long?” I asked gesturing to the girl.

“A couple months. Best Sandeth could ever offer.”

“Sandeth?”

“Forget you don't know the terms. Sandeth, duchess of searching. Animal is the cat. Kate and me met in Benoic's service. She's quite a lady. Don't ever get on her bad side.”

“I'll keep that in mind.”

“Up for a game?” he asked gesturing to the board

“You'll have to explain it,” I said sitting across from him. The board was 10 by 10 squares long alternating in red and black squares, but in the very back there was three squares that were blue. In the three spaces there was a bat, wolf, and a raven. The next two rows of ten had a turtle, a lobster, a skeleton, a spider, an angel, a human, a shorter human, a dog, a snake, a bear, a raccoon, a falcon, a fox, an orc, a cat, a dark elf, an elf, a rat, a dragon, and a phoenix. Each piece looked hand carved from some bronze colored material for mine and a golden one for Rien. I sighed wondering how complex this game was going to be.

“Don't worry you'll pick it up quite easily,” he said. The next few hours went to explaining the game of 'enfolding.' I could tell it would take a while to understand as soon as he started to explain how each represented a duke, duchess, or in the place of the raven, wolf, and bat, a lord/lady. He explained how each ones trait showed how it's moved. The point of the game was either to kill the lords and lady or take the three seats of power of the other player. There were complex moves that certain ways that pieces could move together. The game was played by almost everyone he said. It increased strategic thinking and also the understanding of the Yairn. After the sparse hours before the 'night cycle' were finished I knew the basic rules of the game along with some tricks that Rien taught me. I also felt I understood a little more on this duke/lord thing, though I knew I still had a long way to go.

I woke up feeling better then I had in three days. Three days seemed like such a short time for so much change to me. I Stretched a little letting my new muscles move. Other then the emotional change, the rest of the changes I enjoyed. Fangs, new muscles, and slightly more hair. All things I could easily deal with. I got dressed and went to the room where Vuren waited. The chain clinked comfortably in my coat pocket. The weight calming to have next to my heart.

Vuren just gestured to the cage when I got in. The bars had been fixed and looked as dark and used as they did before Vuren destroyed them. I sat in the middle of the cage cross legged and entered myself before Vuren could jump me. I found myself standing near the edge of my mind and let out a laugh at the sight of Vuren on the other side. This would be amusing.

“Very cute,” he said. He ran his hand over it, but quickly pulled them back as he was shocked by it. Something I added, I had spent some time looking at motors and power sources back in the sixth grade and knowing how to build one seemed to help.

“Not so cute?” I asked. Looked at him shaking his hand in pain. I saw him take out his shot gun. Oh no, I had no idea how this would work out. I heard the shot ring out and a great tearing at my mind as the shot was blocked by the shield. I saw the tiny pieces trying to enter through the shield but as they lost momentum fall to the ground. I fell down breathing heavily, collecting myself. Vuren let another few shots loose and it took all my energy to keep them from penetrating the shield. An idea hit me, I looked though my mind. Searching for the only thing that would have a chance to fix this.

It lingered on the edge of my mind, just out of reach. I chased after it and in desperation finally grabbed a hold of it. I felt myself changing my features becoming more feral. This change was different. There wasn't rage behind it. This was a planned change. My teeth grew more pointed and my pupils narrowed into slits. My clothes seemed to fold back and disappear as the fur took it's place. I felt Vuren quickly exit my mind.

I left my mind to, back to reality. Vuren stood in a combat ready position. I sat still crossed legged, but now as a werewolf, “waiting for something?” I asked raising an eyebrow. His eyes got large, but he quickly regained his focus and went back into my mind. He pumped more and more lead into the shield. I help my strength waning as he used more and more ammo. Finally the shield broke and I fell into unconsciousness. I came to alone in the cage. The door open, but I was grinning.

Weapons training was just more shooting and getting to know my weapons. I practiced for hours with the swords. As they swung though the air it felt like I was right there with them. The wind playing over my steel surface. Chopping into the targets Rien placed.

Days quickly sped by as I learned more and more control with my mind, practiced with my weapons, and at night talked to Rien and played enfolding with him, getting to know the world I was in a little better.

We reached the final day of our trip. Synstan looked like a giant rock coming from the ceiling as we got closer I could see doors in the rook at looked small from here, but I could tell they were huge. I stood on the deck next to Rien stretching and getting ready for my first day off this ship in fifteen days, “Excited to get off this ship?” Rien asked looking at me nearly jumping the mile we had left to the town.

“Fifteen days, way to long for me.”

“It was for the best though,” he said looking me up and down. I did the same. My body was rapidly changing. The new exercise regime, mental training, and the blood of an other worldly being was having an effect. My body lost all it's fat in the many activities that Rien made me do. My mind was sharper then ever through the conditioning. My eyes changed color with my emotion now, a common side effect of Keyvias, I was told. My hands constantly moved like claws, pawing at the air by my side. I was constantly on the balls of my feet giving me a hunter look. My face had become more pronounced and noble looking.

I looked up to the part of the ship the helm should have been and only saw Beonic looking at the rock city. He looked sad and I couldn't understand why. The question of how the ship was being controlled was also on my mind, but I thought that that would be explained later, like almost everything else.

I decided to bring up Beonic though, “What's with him?” I said gesturing to the forlorn figure.

“The big guy?” He said looking over at him, “He'll be stuck at Synstan for a while. Paperwork and the such. You'll cause quite a stir and he'll have to stay in town for you. At least till your trial. He's for the field. He wants to be out there 'ridding the world of evil' as he says. Life's his holy mission.

“Dedicated?”

“Like you wouldn't believe.”

The ship neared the gate and the doors opened up. They looked large and metal, like they would weigh a ton, but they swung easily. As soon as the ship passed into the rock city it dropped like a leaf to the ground. The ground absorbed the ships weight, sinking in slightly. The gangplank was lowered and the ship's crew and I left. I dropped my bag next to me, that I had filled today with what little I had, and looked back at the ship. A figure came down. He had shrunken eyes and his skin was pale and drawn. He looked sad to be leaving the ship.

“Who?”

“Pilot,” well that explained a little. Now didn't seem to be the right time to ask him to go on, but the curiosity burned into me. I stored it in my mind under 'one of one hundred questions left to ask.'

Beonic clapped the pilot on the back and the pilot gave a thumbs up and headed away from the group. Beonic looked back to us, “You're all on leave until I call upon you next,” he came over to us, “Rien, Can you show Daniel to the normal spot we stay? You two seem to have hit it off. Normal payment, if you're interested.”

“You got it, boss.” Rien replied.

“Thanks for staying,” I said glad to have the familiar face.

“No problem, I'm getting paid to show you to the place we all normally stay and hang out at. Quite nicely paid I might add.”

We started to head out of the hanger and as soon as we were out I saw the sky. It was a dark blue and it made it feel like a lazy day. I looked down to see the buildings. The buildings nearest to us looked modern, but as you looked closer to the center they got older and older. The building in the middle was a giant gray castle.

“We get most of our tech from your civilization. This place was started in the middle ages and has been expanding ever since. The center is the oldest and as you get farther out it gets newer. We'll be staying at the empty quiver, really near to the center.” We walked for a while and I spent the whole time looking from building to building seeing how they had changed over the years. Hundreds of years of architecture were around me and I was trying to soak up every bit of it. Cottages, arches, and British apartments were all right next to each other. The streets went from paved asphalt to cobbled stone beneath my feet. We had been walking for hours, but I didn't want the walk to stop.

Rien brought me to what appeared to be a tavern that was 2 stories high near the center of town. It looked quite old and when he opened the door and I expected to see old wooden tables and chipped glasses. As soon as the door opened those thoughts were put out of commission, the place looked modern. There were tables covered in red cloth and the bar glowed red with the lights under the clear tops. A band played filling the room with a light layer of noise, relaxing the air of the room. There was a sound nearly like a dampened siren coming from one of the musicians. I had never seen the instrument before, but the sound was pleasant as it went with the tune of the song. Rien walked over to the bartender and flipped him a golden coin.

The bartender looked up and caught the coin right before it bounced off his head. He looked at Rien and smiled, “Well look what the snake dragged in. Usual room?”

“Yeah,” he said as the bartender threw him a key. I looked at the key and saw the teeth of the key change every few seconds, “it's so no one can copy the key. The key and the lock change at the same time.”

“Very smart, so people can't use neosis to make key copies?”

“Yeah, only high grade places like this use it though. If you go closer to the edge of town it's much lower tech grade,” Rien said bringing me up the stairs. He brought me to a corridor with dark gray carpeting. We went only a couple of steps before he opened one of the doors with the key. The room inside had cream colored walled with matching carpet.

“Kinda a boring room,” I said. Rien smiled as he closed his eyes. The entire room went bright purple, “more neosis?”

“Geared for color and texture.” He closed his eyes again and the room had a wooden floor and soft white walls. I looked the room over. Two beds on either side of the room with matching dark red wood tables, a Desk in between the beds had a computer on it, in one corner of the room there was an enfolding board on another table with two chairs next to it, and there was also a door that led to what I assumed was a bathroom.

“This place is amazing,” I said comparing it to the motels my family would stay in on our little family occasions when my dad could get away from his job. A smile flashed over my face as I thought of how I would never have to crunch numbers.

“Well, for the amount I'm paying it should be. I'm going to take a shower before we meet everyone else again.” He said leaving me alone in the room. I walked over to the computer and turned it on. A soft hum emitted from it as the high end device booted up. I went online and went to my email. There was a bunch of junk mail but there was also a email saying Gem had updated her blog. I brought up the page and felt tears spring to my eyes.

“I'm lost and I'm lonely
I'm hurt and I'm down
I've gone though these days with less than a frown

These nights seem so long without you by my side
without your voice in my ear,
with just me and myself alone inside

I can say it's worth it
worth every pain
because life without you will never be the same

So I tried going alone
with only myself to trust
because before you this was the only life I had known

but I failed
I can't go back
without you life is seems black”

I left a comment under my blog name. “Gem, I can't say what happened to me. I can only say I love you and I'm not gone, but the chances of us seeing each other again are very slim. When you get a chance send me an email. Don't tell anyone, please”

I fell back in the chair and Rien came into the room. Wiping his fiery orange hair down with the towel, “girl problems?”

“Is my mind that easy to read?”

“No, but the only reason a guy looks that sad is girl problems or he just got the death sentence. That Gem girl?”

“Yeah, she wrote a message on her blog and I replied.”

Rien's normally playful look turned deadly serious, “You didn't tell her anything did you?”
I sighed, “No, she knows nothing.”

“Good, because we would have to wipe that memory from her mind and that is a nasty process for everyone involved,” he reverted back to his normal joyful self, “let's go see if everyone else has arrived.” We left the room and went back stairs. We were greeted with cheers from our group and I even got a nod out of Beonic. They were all sitting in a booth and I got in one side next to Coth, the tailor, who passed me a cup of a green glowing liquid. I took a sip and felt the liquid cool the inside of my throat. The taste was indescribable. It was sweet, but also a little bitter at the end. I felt my entire body relax as the liquid flowed though me.

Coth started telling a joke and Rien burst out laughing, his arm around Kuika. I smiled too and looked over to Vuren. Even he was smiling The pilot sat next to him, the hoods under her eyes gone. He looked more relaxed, but still tense. The twins sat at a table near the booth with Beonic. Phac, who had a red mark over his right eye, patted Brid, who had a blue mark over his left eye. The pilot made a comment about Brid's bad luck with the women that got the table in another roar of laughter.

“Stop, Niy, you're killing me!” Rien yelled out. The music had changed to quicker dancing music. It sounded like a sax and trumpet were holding the melody as the two guitars and the drummer held the beat.

Kuika pulled Rien up and they started dancing. She seemed to be grinding against him, but he seemed a little hesitant to follow suit. I took another sip of the liquid, “is he the only one with that somebody special?”

Coth answered me, “Yeah, this job takes a lot of time up and it's hard to hold a real relationship. I got a couple of months on these love birds.”

Vuren laughed, “Three weeks tops.”

The pilot joined in, “I'll give you three gold pieces they last more then six months.”

The table erupted in a betting frenzy. The three guys had all these crazy theories on what would happen. The conversation soon changed into ideas on the funniest way they could end. The song ended and everyone dancing clapped. The place was starting to fill up with many different people. All of them looked rich with their viberent clothing.

The pilot hissed and Vuren glared angerly. Rien and Kuika sat back down, “Looks like the Orphanage just finished with it's classes,” Rien said.

“I just hope they keep to themselves,” the pilot said, “I'm tired of watching these youngsters fight.” I looked at the people entering. They all looked about my age although some seemed a little older. I was scanning over the crowd as I noticed one girl looking back at me. Gesturing that I should join her dancing. I curtly nodded no, but Rien noticed this, “Go have some fun, we'll still be here.”

The rest of the table joined in and Coth even pushed me out. I walked over to the girl, “Do you dance?”

“Not very well,” I said noticing how little cloth clung to her body.

“Don't worry, no one will notice,” she said dragging me into the middle of the group. I started to copy what the people around me where doing. I was getting into the swing of the music when I felt rough hands grab me.

“What do you think you're doing with my girl?” an angry voice spat out. I looked to see a boy my age with dark brown dog ears and a tail to match.

“Nothing,” I said raising my hands to pacify him.

“I don't think that was nothing,” he said raising his fist to take a swing at me. I looked over at my table. They watched intently, but didn't do anything. He fist seemed to moved very slowly and I easily stepped around it. A circle of people came around us, “fight fight fight fight.” Their chant was burning into my nerves.

I looked over to Beonic and saw him watching me too. Guess I was alone for this one. I looked back at my attacker to see his fist come at me again. Again, I jumped out of the way, but this time I grabbed him arm and flung him over. He landed with a nasty smack, but got right back up. I danced around him as he tried to attack me. His foot launched out at my head and I grabbed it. I pulled it up a little more making him lose his footing and fall to the floor again. I laid a foot on his chest and I felt another hand on my shoulder.

“Daniel, what have I told you about fighting?” Rien said pulling me back to the table. As soon as I sat down he and the rest of the table congratulated me, “Sorry, but I had to see one of those punks have the crap beaten out of him.”

“Don't worry, I don't mind at all.”

The girl that invited me to dance came over to our table, “Thanks for teaching him a lesson. Want to join me for a drink?”

The entire table gave me a look that screamed, “say yes.”

“Sorry, but I'm going to head off to bed soon,” I said. The girl turned and gave me an angry look showing she knew she had been rejected.

“And....” Rien started.

“And I'm still in love with my girlfriend.”

“But you'll never see her again,” Vuren said pointedly.

“Then give me time to get over that,” I said taking a large gulp of my drink.

* * *

I woke up to find Rien sitting next to the enfolding board, “up for a game?” he looked more serious then I had ever seen him.

“I guess,” I said dragging myself out of the bed. I sat across from him and set up my pieces. He went first pulling a spider across the board. I countered by putting my skeleton in front of it.

“You're going to have to let her go,” he said sadly as he moved his rat to take the skeleton.

I moved my raven up and took the rat, “any reason behind that?”

His fingers moved over his cat, but then went to the bear. He moved the piece in a position to take my raven, “because you can't have her.”

“I know,” I said pulling the raven back.

“I'm not so sure you do. If I didn't ask you to play this game your first move this morning would be to see if she sent you an email,” he looked back down on the board and took my falcon with the bear.

“What's the harm in that?” my dragon crushing the bear in revenge.

“You can't keep ties with the real world and what if she lets it slip you're not all that dead?” he moved his fox into one of the seats.

“I trust her,” I said defensively moving my bat up.

“Enough to risk part of her life?” he said moving his raven up into one of the seats.

“More then enough,” I said firmly destroying his wolf with my bat.

“I can't tell you what to do, but I'm warning you. I've seen what happens during things like this,” he pulled his fox back to get ready to take my bat.

“And I'm telling you. Nothing will happen,” taking his fox with my wolf.

He winced a little as I slapped the piece off the board. He didn't reply as he moved his bat up. I followed suit and shut up as I took the bat with my cat. He moved his raven back to try to protect it, “Just don't make sure you don't do anything, you know, rash.”

I took his raven with my wolf and smirked, “I wouldn't have it any other way.”

Ch: 3:If you wish to know what a man is, place him in authority.

That day Beonic brought me to the 'orphanage' which was more like a boarding school, “You're lucky. Fifteen is the age they stop academic studies for their magical, weapons, and Yairn training. The school year is only a few days in so you should have no trouble catching up.” He ruffled my hair as he finished talked. I quickly smoothed it over.

He led me into a giant hall and up to a desk that had a lady in the middle with two phones held up to her face and was yelling into each of them. Beonic calmly waited until the torrent of screams subsided.

“Miranda you look as ravishing as ever,” I tried to see what Beonic was saying, but whatever beauty she held was lost behind her done up hair with pencils and overworked face.

“What is it this time?” she asked sighing but with a hint of mischief.

“I have... a late entry,” he said.

She looked me up and down, “and you just had to bring him on the day classes weren't in session. When my workload is already ridicules?”

“Not really under my control.”

“Alright then,” I was surprised when she raised a third phone with another arm. I looked at her more closely to see eight arms doing many different tasks, “Can you send Uwye?” I heard a mumbled reply from the other side and an affirmative from Miranda, “he'll be here in a second.”

I looked over to the right to see a boy my age coming down the stairs. He was deathly pale and had a belt of knives. He had what looked like leathery blue jeans and a dark brown leather shirt. At least my worries about being the only person in these clothes were gone. His shirt was short sleeved and his arms were just bone. Black gloves covered his hands As he walked his pants kicked up a little and I saw that his legs were too.

“Come with me,” he said lazily rolling the words in his mouth. I followed him down the hall and up some more stairs. As soon as were were out of earshot of the others he spoke again, “no shock about the whole skeleton for a guide?”

“Should I be scared?”

“Being the whole 'being for death', most people tend to avoid me.”

“I don't know the dukes very well, sorry,” I said, “Eeek” I finished mildly

He smiled, “First generation?”

I looked at him from the corner of my eye, “...yeah”

“Cool,” he said opening the door. The doors next to it all had strange symbols on them and were coated in different colors. I noticed there was two beds in the room, “You'll have a roommate.”

“Any idea who that'll be?”

“Yeah, me,” he walked over to his bed and pulled a drawer open revealing even more daggers. He rummaged though them and pulled out a hat. It looked like a dark brown golf cap and how it didn't get holes being in a drawer of knives I had no idea., “Ready to meet the world?”

Uwye brought me to a room with only a few people, “It's normally busier, but most people spend time with their parents on the weekends,” he said bringing me to a pool table with a few people around it.

“This is Daniel,” Uwye said to the group pulling out of stick.

A girl in a gray shirt and black jeans slid over to me, “hey,” she whispered in my ear and slid her hand down my side. I twitched involuntarily at the contact.

“Finna, it's your shot,” a guy across the table said interrupting her wandering hands.

She glared at the man, though one of her eyes was covered by her thick black hair, “Just a second,” her voice belaying her emotions. She turned and pranced away, her raccoon tail dragging across the floor behind her. I looked at the man who had gratefully pulled the girl away. A dark elf I could tell from the elegant, but menacing features. His black skin stood on edge with his blood red eyes that surveyed me as much as I did him. His silver hair cascaded down his back and neatly hide his repeating crossbow. His hands were going taunt with the amount of pressure he was placing on his stick.

I hoped I hadn't offended him in some obscure way, but my fears were diminished when his eyes softened quelling his fierce scrutiny of me. Uwye passed me a pool cue, “You can be nine though twelve.”

I took my stop behind the little white ball and Neatly placed the nine ball in the pocket. I lined up for my next shot, but hit the ball bad making it just spin and move a little off to the left. The silent elf moved in a placed two balls in. The third just missed it's mark and sat on the brink. He walked over to where I was standing and put his hand out, “Terr, welcome to our little slice of heaven.” I placed my hand in his. His hand may have looked frail, but when I grabbed it it grabbed back with strength it didn't look like it possessed, “Sorry about Finna. She's... physical.”

“To say the least,” I said looked back at her to see her botching the shot she was making.

“Don't worry, she does it to everyone,” he said. I gave him a funny look and he shrugged.

The rest of the pool game was filled with the mindless chatter you find between friends. I found it easy to fit in with this group even though Finna made a few more advances on me that I quickly spurned. I played better then I ever had but Uwye still won. He hit the cue ball into the pocket, “I really need to start playing this for money,”

“You'd have a hard time finding someone to play you,” Terr said

“There are plenty of morons in the world.”

We retired to our rooms. I sat on my bed dreading and fascinated by the idea of tomorrow's lessons. Uwye passed me a dark fizzing drink. When I looked at it skeptically he said, “It's like coke.”

That was enough for me as I doused my throat in the liquid. It tasted exactly like coke, “So what are classes like?”

Uwye leaned back in his chair, “As far as school goes, it's some of the better classes. We haven't done much yet. Just been introduced to the idea of the Yairn and our weapons. Tomorrow we'll be working with magic or so I hear.”

“Guessing those knives are yours?” I asked gesturing.

He smiled, his pointed teeth pricking his lips but no blood came out, “My soul apparently likes any dagger it can get it's hands on.”

My hands went over the hilts of my swords. Feeling the familiar spark of connection as it passed over each. My fingertips kissing the leather wrapped hilts, “Is that normal?”

“Not at all,” his grin getting bigger, “most people only have one weapon. I have a world of them.”

I started to take off my jacket when I felt the cool metal tingle of the chain, “Do you have computers around here?”

“of course, there should be a laptop under your bed,” the look in his eyes dug into me for a moment and I felt a slight tingling on the edge of my mind, “I'm going to go change. I'll be out in a second.”

I silently thanked his departure and opened up the laptop. Quickly I pulled up my email and

saw her message, “You sick freak. I don't know how you hacked Daniel's account, but I will hunt you down to the ends of the earth. This person is dead and I don't need reminders”

I sighed inwardly. I should have expected this answer. I wrote a short email back, “Guardian angel.” It was the name of the song I played on our anniversary. As soon as I clicked the laptop closed Uwye reentered the room. He had one only long black sweat pants. The skin on his chest was just as pale as the skin on his face. I could see where the bone started also. Almost in the middle of his chest for the right side and right below the shoulder for the left side.

He sat back down in the chair, “So I know nothing about you.”

“That's a statement, I assume there is some sort of question involved.”

“Well there is, who the hell are you?”

“Daniel. Just a guy thrown into a world he dreamed of, but never thought he existed, in love with a girl he'll never see again, and a slave to his emotions. Enough of a summary for you?”

“That'll work for now, sorry about the abruptness. Just enjoy knowing the people around me.”

“No apology needed. Going to tell me something about yourself?”

“No idea what generation I am, parents didn't know either. My entire family never kept track of it, but I assume late because of amount of taint. Also a bit of a radical.

“In the sense of...”

“The Yairn. From what I know it sounds like a great source of power to tap into, but of course we have to respect it.”

“It seems to be able to do a lot. Not something I want to mess with.

“but you see, I'm curious.

“Curiosity killed the cat,”

“Satisfaction brought it back,” Just then the lights went out, “Good night Daniel.”

I rolled over in my bed. Hearing him stumble in the dark to his, “Night.”

* * *

The next morning came way too soon. I was woken by a prodding, but when I looked around there was no one there. Uwye was just starting to wake up too. I heard him cursing to the air as apparently the prodding got more forceful pushing him deeper into the bed. He finally got out showing his middle finger to the bed, “I hate that,” he mumbled his eyes half open.

“Really? I couldn't tell,” I got fully dressed. I had pulled off most of my clothes and all the weapons right before I went to sleep.

Uwye put on his dark brown and changed into his black leather pants. He didn't put his cap on when I raised my eyebrows he answered, “School policy,” I had to strain to hear him as he did up his knife belt.

“Not a morning person,” his only reply was another middle finger and grabbing his bag. I looked around the room and noticed a black messenger bag and a bunch of books. I swept the books into the bag and noticed the note.

“Good luck <3

-Rien”

I stuffed the note and looked over at Uwye. He had a cup and pored some gray stuff in it. As soon as the semisolid was in there he closed his eyes and opened them again. I looked at the cup and saw coffee. We went out into the hall and I could tell the coffee was already improving Uwye's mood. Halfway through the coffee he stated to act like he did yesterday and by the time we reached the classroom Uwye had finished his coffee. We weren't the first ones in the class, but we were far from the last.

The tables were set up in long rows and green plastic chairs were set up right next to them. Uwye brought me to a couple of chairs in the middle of the room. I looked behind myself to see kids glaring at everyone around them. They all wore black capes with silver patterns I had seen on the doors. I saw the boy I got in a fight with at the club. He noticed me looking at him and he started to stand up, his nostrils flaring. A man entered the room and the boy quickly sat down.

“Open your lore books to page five,” the man said. While the entire class and myself scrambled for our book I studied the teacher. His dark sage green robes were at odds with his long wild black hair. His fingers were long, skinny, and constantly twitched. He looked... average. The only thing out of place was the drawn look on his face as if he had prematurely aged. I heard a few angry snorts from the back of the room. The teacher glared at them, “Yes, I am human, but the Yairn still flows though my veins as much as yours,” he snapped his fingers and the boys who made comment floated out of their chairs. His eyes grew in intensity and I saw bones on the boys snap, “You trash make me sick. With no body part attached to the Yairn I can harness magic beyond your comprehension. While you,” the boys moaned, “You are like the things I used to hunt. Arrogant, wasteful, and unneeded!” The boys were thrown across the room and fell with a slump to the floor.

Two people in white coats rushed into the room and took the boys away. The teachers eyes were golden yellow and his body shook as if struck by an unseen gale. The winds blowing his robes died down and his eyes went to a crystal blue. He bowed down, “I am Sir Saclys. I will be teaching you the art of magic.” His eyes tore into the entire class and he licked his lips, “Let us understand the temptation of power. The Yairn's very air gives us amazing power. Power to do anything we want. The only way to use that power in our reality though is to store it in our body. The power taints us and ties us to the Yairn. The power can't taint what is already tainted and that is why your body powers dedicated to the lords can not be used to store this power. The taint from the Yairn takes a while to take effect even longer to notice. It feeds on your soul. Sucking your very life to feed the power you took from the Yairn. The taint can lead to your enslavement from creatures of the Yairn. They most outrageous ideas become rational to your broken psyche. Just using the power will tire your body and overuse will lead to corruption to a body part. Stopping all Magical use with it,” the entire class hung on his every word, “Can you resist the temptation? Fight the feel of the power brushing against you. A soft wind against your cheek in a world of fierceness and depravity. A plateau of sanity in a land that makes no sense.”

His mind was going though everyone in the class. I saw Uwye stiffen as his mind was looked upon by Sir Saclys. I felt his mind try to enter mine, but get stopped by my shield. I felt myself slowly recess into my mind.

“Let me in, let me in,” his voice sounded baleful. I looked upon him in my mind. A black hat covered his face and his body was covered in a black cloak that surrounded his body.

I drew my swords behind the shield, “Chance brings us together, fate binds us,” the words came unbidden to my lips. I drew strength from the taste of them in my mouth, “Nothing becomes us!” I yelled out letting my shield fall down and charging him. The teacher stood there as I struck. My sword was only a couple inches away before his body disappeared into the darkness. He came to me from the side. A white gloved hand poking out from his cloak. It made a gesture and I felt my entire body freeze up.

He stepped next to me and I felt his breath against my ear, “oh brave little wolf. I shall enjoy teaching you.” I felt him going though my mind. He quickly scanned though my thoughts and memories and came back over to me, “So much work for so little reward.”

I came to with Uwye holding me upright, “You okay?”

“Felt better,” I said moving my hands again. I looked at the teacher. His eyes were golden again and stared right back. That damned smile was on his face.

“At least you held him off. He quickly plowed though my mind,” he looked down ashamed.

“I've had practice,” I said biting back my tongue.

“I have judged you all,” he announced, “please enter your mind. I will teach you from there.” We all retreated to our minds to await what would happen next. I could feel everyone around me. Their emotions of fear and anticipation screaming at me. The teachers voice went though all our minds and he instructed on how to protect our minds and I quickly got though that. Next he told us to focus in on our minds and look for a part of ourselves we never knew was there. He gave us help on this instructing us where to look. I looked though my mind and found a space I had never felt before. I grabbed it and felt myself flying.

The feeling ended and I was standing next to the teacher under a blood red moon. Broken red earth was below me, “Welcome to the Yairn,” we stood in silence for a few minutes, “you know attacking a teacher is against the rules.”

“I'm pretty sure there's one about attacking your students or at least one about breaking their bones.”

He chuckled to himself, “There about nine, if I remember correctly from last time.”

“Where are the rest of my class?”

Three people appeared next to us. They were older then any body from the classes so I assumed they were more teachers.

“The same as these teacher's classes. Fumbling in their unformed minds for the simplest things. I assumed the other teachers taught them,” he looked bored, “but you. You seem quite in control, unnaturally even,” he looked around, “we may be here a while.”

I looked over at the teachers. One was an elf and obviously female. The one to the right of her was a phoenix. His eyes were a deep red as looked as if he was fighting the urge to soar off. The last one stood farther apart from the group. He was a giant snake. He turned towards us and I saw his deep purple eyes. Tiny black slits peered though them at me.

We had to wait for another ten minutes before the next student showed up. It was a standing set of bones. I looked into the empty gaps where his eyes would be housed and smiled, “Hello, Uwye,” I said taking notice of his clothes.

“Daniel, I assume,” he said the bones where his eyebrows would be raised. I looked at myself. Black fur covered my body. I flexed my claws taking pleasure at the feeling of the Yairn. As my claws scraped though the air I felt a light resistance like being in a fog.

“Indeed,” I said sliding the word out from between my teeth.

“Had to be, you were the only one that disappeared other then the teacher.”

Terr appeared next to us. His elven features more pronounced and maniacal. More students appeared and organized themselves into their groups. Finna ran over to us. Black rings encircled her eyes and gray fur covered her body. The body of a raccoon. She bounded over and jumped onto Terr giving him a hug that was from a different animal entirely. Terr looked at both of us for support and we back away.

“Everyone, here,” I heard Saclys's voice boom, “Now.” I didn't need any more incentive and neither did most of the students. We all went over to him and he continued, “You all are in the Yairn. Your true form is revealed here and as you all have noticed each movement is impeded by the feelings of a light fog. This is the power of the Yairn. We will teach you how to store it, but watch out. Storing the power of the Yairn will attract creatures. Not here. The lords have graciously given us land to train our own in. You have nothing to fear here, but outside of the confines of the town. They will hunt you down mercilessly.”

The next hour was spent being taught taking in energy. It was a hard process to get ones mind in a state to absorb the energy around it, but as I soon as I got it was easy enough to fill my body with the power all around me, “now we will work on conjuring magical effects,” the teacher blinked and wooden targets appeared a couple of feet from everyone, “pick a target and think of fire in your hand and then throw it.”

This little exercise gave me no problem. My target smoldered in bright blue flame. Others seemed to be having problems. Some people. So fascinated by the fire, hadn't thrown it and now had burns. The teachers came around and healed the burns so the training could continue. We spent another few hours going though what we could do if we focus our thoughts. Making water out of thin air, having it freeze in different shapes, Casting spells to both harm and heal.

“Enough, return to your bodies. Do whatever you did to get here,” the elf's voice called out. I slid out of the Yairn with pleasure. I was tired. Using that much magic and re absorbing it from the air took a lot of energy. I was alone in the room

Other students started to appear in the room quite quickly. The teacher was the last to arrive. Only a few seconds after the last student, “Well you have proved you're all not a complete loss. Some more then others,” he said looking at me, “You're dismissed for the day. We'll go over the chapter we missed in our books tomorrow.”

The entire class limped out of the class. Uwye came in from behind me and reached his hand by my ear and snapped. I jumped as the flame appeared. He came by me laughing, “now that's a class and Sir Saclys, he is my new hero. It's about time someone showed those syndicate wannabes.”

I sighed at this new word, “Syndicate?”

“Oh yeah, you don't know. Those kids in the back of the classroom, the snobby ones wearing black, are radicals and there's a rumor the syndicate is recruiting kids like that. The syndicate is the opposite of the Ephautotion. They believe the government is holding back the true power of the Yairn and also the humans should be let in on it. They go though any means to spread the message of the Yairn. They also believe in sacrifices for their lords and dukes. To add more power into the Yairn. A strange lot if you ask me.”

“Sound like it,” Uwye led me to another classroom. This one looked exactly like Sir Saclys, but a different teacher was there. She had loose clothes that fell from her body. It was a light blue and golden lining made it shine.

Her light blond hair covered the sides of her face and left her silver eyes uncovered. They came up at the sound of the door opening, “You,” she said pointing at me, “do you already have your weapons?” I lifted back my coat to show her my swords and guns, “excellent.”

The class filled quite quickly. Most of them students from my last class. Probably terrified to unleash the anger the other teacher showed. Terr and Finna joined us when the group of students arrived. The teacher walked over to the door at the side of her classroom.

The class filled up and she spoke again, “I'm going to access your abilities with your weapons you were given yesterday. I am Consul Redsunder, third rank. Please join me in the weapons room.”

As she turned to open the door I saw angel wings on her back. They were still. I got up with the rest of the class and followed her. The room next to the classroom was like a huge gym, but shooting ranges and wooden dummies were set up. I pulled my pistols out with relish and took my spot on one of the ranges. Terr came up next to me with his crossbow and plunged the magazine in place. He sighted it on the target and then lowered it looking over at me, “Having a good first day of school?”

I raised one of the pistols and fired down the range hitting the target a little of the center, “You know, average,” I said showing as many teeth as I could, “yours?”

He let off a score of bolts, “Nothing special.” I looked to see the bolts fighting for control for the center.

The teacher walked behind us, “Continue practicing. I'm here to observe.”

I fired a couple of shots off with my right pistol and followed with a couple of shots from the left. The bullets went though the paper target with ease. Every time I put a bullet in one another popped up. I went though a couple clips before I looked behind myself again. Redsunder was already half way down the room and was judging some kid with a spear. I sighed and went back to putting lead down the range. Many bullets later I reached down for another clip to find empty air. I looked around to see a table filled with many types of bullets. I reached down to grab a clip and felt a gloved hand brush against mine. I looked up and was staring into a pair of leaf green eyes.

“I'm sorry, I forgot never to get in the way of a girl and her bullets.”

She looked at me coolly but I could feel a certain disdain, “Why use such a lesser weapon? I was grabbing arrows.” I felt her mind brush up against mine, but quickly retreat as it felt the shield.

“That could be considered rude,” I said grabbing some ammo from the table.

“So is staring at my chest, but most guys do that too.”

“Am I?” I said staring deeply into her eyes.
“No....”

“I apologize for my gender, but please. Don't get mad at me till I've offended you.”

“I can try,” she replied leaving over to the right of Terr. As she swept away her strawberry blond hair floated up a bit and I saw elven ears poking out. I took my place on the other side of Terr. He gave me the questioning look, but didn't say anything. We continued practicing until a gong rang.

“Time to train with your melee weapon if you were ranged and vice versa.”

I saw wooden dummies and rings to fight in. I took my place at one side and read a piece of paper next to me. Telling how to focus my power to stop my weapons from doing any harm to my opponent. I quickly finished that rite and looked at my weapons. Feeling glee at being reunited with them. I looked up from the weapons to see Terr with two small hand axes. The girl with the bow came up by him and whispered in his ear. I saw Terr's look go though puzzlement and a knowing smile.

Damn him. I was curious what they were talking about. I gripped the weapons harder, but relaxed them as I saw Terr leave the ring. Terr went over to one of the wooden dummies but kept a close eye on us. The girl had on tight fitting white material that clung to her body putting thoughts in my mind I knew wouldn't help me fight. Her bow was placed on her back. It's oak look matching with the wooden scabbard at her side. From it she drew a long saber.

She mumbled the words I did under my breath and then ran at me. I cleared my head and head my ground. Waiting for her attack. I got my blades ready to parry in the front but at the last moment she rolled to the side and attack my side. It was only a quick left swing that made our blades connect. The Metal screeched together and I felt sparks him my jacket. She was quick, jumping back and attacking again. This time I was more prepared. I blocked with one and struck out with the other. Her free hand grabbed my wrist. It wasn't enough to completely stop it but it was enough to slow me down so she could move her blade to block me.

“Have a name?” I asked pressing forward again.

She side stepped and moved her lithe body behind me. The blade went far off mark because I jumped back making her retreat of be crushed by my impromptu tackle, “Yeah, most people do.”

I got my footing back, “most people shared theirs after somebody asks.”

She span the blade in her hand, “Are any of us here because we're 'most people?”

I kicked out with my leg a bit making her flinch and then attacked with my swords, “Any particular reason you're avoiding the question?”

Even though my feint she blocked the swords, “Not really, just like keeping you off balance.”

I kicked out a little again and she got ready to block with her swords. I had my foot continue on and hook behind her heel. I pulled back and had her fall down. I quickly moved and caught her before she fell, “Looks like you're doing a bad job.”

The teacher was watching us now, “Enough flirting, I'm not her to see your skills at charm.”

“Serena,” it took me a moment to recognize that as a name, but a sword aimed at my face quickly intruded on my thoughts. I let go of her and she fell making the blade miss. Before she hit the ground, her arms reached out and lightly touched the ground and made her flip back up.

“Daniel,” was my reply as I raised my sword for another strike. I didn't get the blade down before Serena's sword was up against my neck. Only stopping because of the charms I had placed there.

“Well Daniel, you're dead,” was her comment before walking away. I sheathed my swords and looked over at Terr who was chuckling under his breath.

“Could've beaten you up too,” I said defensively.

“Probably but I wouldn't lose because I was 'distracted',”

“That's it people, I've seen all that I need to,” the teacher yelled out, “So go away.”

Me and Terr headed off to the pool room.

Ch 4:

Oh How The mighty have Fallen

Finna and Uwye were already half way though a game by the time Terr and me arrived. Uwye gave me a look at my sweat drenched hair, “He was flirting,” Terr said before I could say anything.

Uwye looked me up and down, “Must've been some intense flirting.”

“Terr, if a sword fight is what you call flirting. I'm worried what kissing is to you,” I said a smug look on my face.

Finna's face lifted up at our topic, “Is she cute?”

Terr answered for me again, “And so much more,” making an obscene gesture.

“Who's flirting now?” I asked

“Well she's not in my arms yet,” was his reply.

Uwye gave me an even more curious look, “What kind of sword fight was this?”

I gave Terr a look and sighed, “Do you really think I could get someone like that?”

Finna slid up behind up and wrapped her arms around me and licked my cheek, “Oh I don't know. You do have a certain 'quality.”

I shook and broke free, “That's great,” I said wiping the saliva from my face, “but I don't really feel like a relationship right now.”

Uwye passed both of us a pool stick and we went back to the game. I gave thanks that the topic changed from my dating life to our teachers. Terr and Finna were wide eyed when we told him what our teacher did by comparison their teachers did very little of interest. The game lasted a little longer before Uwye announced that he was going to bed. Finna quickly followed suit and went off to her room.

Terr glanced over at me across the table, “The teachers never placed limits on when we could go into the Yairn. I wonder why that is?”

I could hear the tone he was using, “Insinuating that you want to go exploring?”

“No, just noting how peculiar it is, but since you asked yes let's go exploring.”

It only took a few moments for me to access the part of my mind that would take me to the Yairn. I was quickly followed by Terr. The earth cracked under my claws and the sky's deep red hue seemed like some sort of sunset. The perfectly sculpted face of Terr appeared right beside me. We didn't say a word for the sky starting to turn cyan. The night I assumed. The light was now more subdued. I basked in the glow enjoying the solace the night gave. I took a deep breath but stopped cold. The air felt... different. It stung to breath it in. I looked around wildly searching to the source of this contamination. Terr must've sensed something too because this cross bow was already drawn and ready. My eyes finally found the point of disturbance. A cloud of air about the size of a small car floated about the ground. I approached it with my swords drawn. Terr aimed at the center of it. His finger getting closer and closer to the trigger.

In hindsight, I should have gotten the hell out of there, but I motioned for Terr not to fire and got closer. I reached out with my claw and touched it. It sucked me in. The air pulled me closer and closer in till I was fully encased in the cloud. I fought around trying to get free. I finally felt my sword flow without resistance and I went toward it. As soon as I was out of the cloud pain hit me.

It filled every part of my body. The air of slowly eating though my skin and I could feel each cell of my being dying. I snarled and looked around for the cloud. My eyes fell on a dragon. It was huge. Most of it's skin had fallen off leaving exposed muscle. In some places even that was gone leaving only bone. It's wings were nothing but tatters. Only a few places had bright red scales left. It's head lowered and it looked me in the eyes. His eyes showed madness. The pain must've driven him mad. The dragon's head raised and he roared. I was shocked such a monstrosity could still exist. I heard whizzing come from behind me and saw some of Terr's silver bolts shoot by me and embed themselves in the creatures flesh. The beast charged.

I looked back at Terr and saw a glowing cloud behind him, but I didn't know if it would work but I had to try. I shoved him into the cloud and watch him get absorbed. I was getting ready to jump after him when something that felt like a SUV rammed into my stomach throwing across the black glass like ground

Even greater then the pain of the charge to my body was the strike on my mind. My mental defenses, already weakened by the constant pain from the air, were crushed. I got up quickly, but stumbled from the agony coursing though my body. I felt, more then saw, the dragon rearing up.

I flinched expecting it's massive body to crush mine when a frantic voice took shape in my mind, “I give up! You win! I submit!”

“What are you talking about?!” I yelled back.

“Follow my instructions,” the voice pleaded. He made me hold my swords out in front of me and plunge them into the ground. Cracking filled the air as my blades penetrated deeper and deeper. I brought the swords around myself making a circle around me. The dragon told me how to make a design at the top and to make the one on my swords right next to it. As soon as I finished the crudely done symbol the dragon started to disappeared. He turned into a red cloud and coated the sword in my right hand, “Let us leave!” the voice cried.

I didn't think I just jumped back into the cloud that brought me to this place. I was in the Yairn, but quickly slipped into my own realm and into unconsciousness.

* * *

I was alone inside my mind. I tried to pull myself out and into the real world, but felt myself enclosed inside myself. I starting thinking of a field and found myself laying in the middle next to a stream. I relaxed trying to remember what had happened. Bits and pieces of my time in the realm beyond the Yairn came to me. The pain, that stuck out. All I could remember was the pain at first. Then I started wondering if Terr made it out alright. Then the dragon. I pushed the thoughts from my mind. Soaking in the light from the sun above me.

A shadow came over me, “You lied!” the dragon yelled at me. He was rejuvenated. All his scales were back and his eyes were crystal blue with no hint of madness in them, only anger.

I suffered back on my hands, “No I didn't! What did I lie about?” fear coursed though me again.

“You are not with the syndicate! You didn't trap me in there till I submitted and now I'm trapped in your damn weapon!”

“I never said I was,” I was quick to defend myself, “you attacked me! I just listened to you because I thought you were going to kill me!”

The dragon sat down on his back legs like a lion looking over his kingdom, “This is a bloody mess you've gotten us into,” and before I could argue my point again, “I guess it is not all bad though. If it wasn't for you I would be in the hands of a much more evil controller.”

“You're going to explain this to me. All of it,”

The dragon looked down it's snout, “I am Aluvear. I'm the heir to the duke. Our people are nothing like your weak willed leaders. Our leaders fight instead of just indulging ourselves. So I was on an assignment to close a well that had opened up.”

“Well?”

“What brought you to the Nyria. Let me guess I should explain that too, “I nodded, “There is a realm beyond the Yairn. The air there is a thousand fold more powerful then the Yairn, but the power is destructive. The power destroys anything it comes in contact with. The syndicate killed my guard and trap me there till I binded myself to their weapon.

“Why?”

“Would they want me bound to their weapon? Because I would make it much more powerful.”

I rested my head back down and closed my eyes. Worlds within worlds, this would never seem simple. The warm breeze gently caressed my face causing me to start to doze. I pulled off my jacket and weapons. The grass tickled my arms. I turned over to find Aluvear gone.

Memories surfaced to my mind and my life passed over my eyes. Prominent moments slowed to a viewable pace.

“What are you doing?” I yelled hoping Aluvear could hear.

The dragon came back, “Just wanted to get to know my wielder better”

“Learn anything of importance?”

“That you may not be a complete loss.”

A slight humming burned at the corner of my mind. It started to intensify. A drilling in my mental shield. I went the area of attack and saw Sir Saclys intently focused on getting into my mind. His eyes caught sight of me and he smiled maliciously. The drilling was now screeching though the shield causing intense pain. I tried to focus, but the drill was disrupting me.

Aluvear came behind my and wrapped his wings around me. I felt him adding strength to my shield. I gasped at the sudden strength I felt. Aluvear was amazingly powerful. Though the space between the wings I saw Sir Saclys face go even paler then it already was. He quickly composed himself and left my mind. I sagged against Aluvear's body.

He stepped back giving me only scant seconds to balance myself, “This is was no victory. This just shows how weak you are. Nearly beaten by a human. A Human.”

I was about to reply but felt myself pulled out of my mind and into the real world. Sir Saclys held me down with one hand and another was over my mouth. I couldn't understand why until the pain hit. I tried to scream, but the hand kept me silent. The pain made me start to sprout fangs. Sir Saclys's eyes got wide with fear, but I controlled myself. The black fur receding back into my skin

I few moments passed before I stopped struggling. The pain was still there. Making me feel like someone had set fire to my skin, but I was managing.

“Can you control yourself?” I nodded and the hands released me, “good, we need to talk.”

I was skeptical of him, but I saw Beonic in the corner. His armor glinting in the low light.

“You first,” I said.

“So you found the Nyria.”
“You would think somebody would warn us against that.”

“You aren't supposed to know about it. Only members of the Ephautotion know about it because it's their job to stop it.”

“Close the wells.”

Beonic hissed and Sir Saclys gave me a look, “How much do you know?”
“That's it.”

I saw both of them relax, “Good. Who's your friend?”
“Matters, what were you doing in my mind?”

“Just checking to see if you were alri...”

Beonic broke in, “We were going to erase your memory. It's standard procedure.”

“We're still debating it,” Sir Saclys said menacingly.

Aluvear whispered not to share his name so I ignored their question. The pain kicked in again, “Is that why I was trapped inside my mind?”

Sir Scales continued, “Yes, also you wouldn't feel pain.”

I looked at Beonic to contradict the last statement, but he said nothing.

“Why the hell did you pull me out.”

“Because since we can't erase your mind we have to talk this out.”

“You're going to skip over the trial and work as a Demonstrator,” Beonic said, “To stop the risk of spreading what you know and you're highly skilled anyways. Weapons and magic training is only a few days anyway so you're not missing much. We already have a Consul lined up for you to train with. You can take one person from the school with you if they're willing. The Consul lost his demonstrator and a warrior. I have a short list you can't take from because they've already been chosen for the life of Demonstrator and hopefully Consul and we're not losing them to just being a soldier.”

Beonic passed me a piece of paper. Most were names I didn't know. but Terr was on there. My first choice. Luckily Uwye wasn't on there.

One question was nagging me though “Why does my body hurt so much?”

“The Nyria is made out of the dead souls of those from both our realms. The energy was accidentally absorbed into your body. It should bleed off in a couple of days, a week at most. We did what we could so it won't spread you're only losing some of the top layer of your skin and that will grow back.”

Sir Saclys joined in again, “One more thing. The reason for the great number of gems we use. They can store power from the Yairn. So if you don't wish to use your body to hold the power or want a little extra energy that option is open, but it won't hold anywhere as near as your body.”

They left the room and Beonic called over his shoulder, “Consul Foxglove will pick you up tomorrow. Get some rest. You'll need it.”

I started to relax and my sword slipped from my grip. I must've been holding very hard to it because there was an indent in my palm from the leather digging into my skin. I sheathed the weapon and as soon as my finger left the hilt Aluvear's presence disappeared. I said a silent prayer that I wouldn't have to have him in my mind all the time.

I looked around the room. It was small and bare. There was a table and a bed. On the table there was a laptop. I got up and went to the computer. There wasn't a message from Gem. I sighed and went back to the bed.

Sleep caught up to me quickly. Mercifully putting an end to the pain.

* * * *

I woke up to see a man in the chair next to me. He was sitting in a relaxed position. His legs splayed and his arms resting behind the chair. He looked no older then thirty, but he was huge. His shoulders were like giant blocks. He wore chain mail across his body and it looked like he was going to break the chains with his arm muscles alone. His skin had a light greenish tint to it. His eyes were small though. They were a dark orange and seemed to have fire smoldering in them.

“Hello,” his voice boomed in the small room.

I sat up, “Hello.”

“Know the other person who's going to join us?”

“Uwye, if he wants to.”

“Good, let's grab him and go.”

He got out of the chair and I started to get out of the bed. Pain followed me. I let out a muttered curse, but continued after him. He gave me a concerned look, but quickly turned around. I went to the room I used to stay in. I leaned against the doorway and called in.

I got a quick reply, “I'm here.”

Foxglove took over, “Want to go on an adventure.”

Uwye came out of the room with a smile that looked like an exact replica of his belt, “Always.”

“Good. Let's go.”

“Where are we going?” I asked

“To my ship. The Accidental Warrior.”

“Interesting name.”

“It used to be a merchant ship which I used in a mission when my ship sorta... exploded. I've made some modifications and our pilot seems to like the feel. So we decided to keep her. It's been about.... 5 years now.”

“What happens when we get to the ship?” Uwye asked

“We watch it sail away.”

“What?” both me and Uwye asked.

“I'm doing a search for a member of the syndicate. He seems to have high level contacts. He's a wolf, pureblood. He got my Demonstrator killed seven years ago and one of my soldiers killed a month ago.”

“How long have you been chasing this guy?” I asked

“Eight years.”

“What's his name?” I continued

“Scard Ravenblight, his list of crimes is great. Most recent would be, you,” he said eying me.

I was shocked, “The same one?”

He shrugged, “it's not surprising. Wolves don't get out often and Keyvias is going mad with the havoc this one has caused.”

Our talk went into lighter things. Talking a little about ourselves stories, memories, and anything else we could think of. We arrived at the docks and Foxglove said hello to everyone there. Casually noting where he was going.

The boat was vastly different from the one that took me to town. Beonic's ship screamed of authority and power. Foxglove's begged to be forgotten. It was painted a light orange and was smaller then most of the ships around it. We got on, but quickly got off on the other side and hide in the shadows. The boat raised and sailed off.

Foxglove motioned for us to follow him and we entered a building near the docks. It was only three rooms big not counting the bathroom and seemed to have a much lower stranded of sanitary compared to what I had seen in other parts of the town.

Only after he had checked though the meager furnishings did he speak, “You are my excuse. I came back here to hunt down this son of a bitch, not get some fresh meat to get killed. I needed a reason Scard's resources wouldn't flag. Just a routine demonstrator search and soldier refitting. I'm sorry for using you, but I'm not going to lose this guy again.”

Uwye was the first to speak up, “I'm glad we mean so much to you. Are we supposed just to stay here until you finish you 'oh so holy' mission?”

Foxglove didn't even glance at him as he started to the door, “exactly.” He left with a giant axe across his back.

“Oh what tangled webs we weave,” I started

“but only when we try and deceive” Uwye finished.

We talked to pass the time, but soon Uwye decided to go back to bed. The rusty springs creaked under his weight and I was left with nothing to do. I went out of our room and into the main room where the computer was. The computer was very high tech and probably cost more then this building. I went to my mail. A message from Gem sat waiting to be opened. The subject line, you lied, seemed to yell at me. I opened the message.

You said you would see me tomorrow, but you never showed. You said you couldn't say why, but you're dead! I saw the body! The funeral is a month away! Are you alright? There's so much I want to say, but don't know how to say. All I can right now is I love you.

I clicked the reply button and started out my message.

I'm fine. Don't worry about me. I hate this too. Please don't get all depressed. I don't think I'll ever to get to see you again, but if it's in my power I will. I love you too.

P.S. Read this site it's really interesting.

I put in the link for the site that talked about the Yairn. I knew I hadn't broken the rules, but I had seriously bent them. I opened up the fridge and pulled out a couple of eggs. I broke them open and poured their contents into the pan. Adding in butter, salt, and pepper. I placed the finished contents on some bread and started to chew hungerly into the material. Foxglove sure made this place cheap when he got it. Food grade was supposed to be the lowest grade stuff and this house didn't have it. If anyone really looked at the house the computer would sure give it away.

My hand brushed against the hilt of my sword as I continued eating and Aluvear's voice boomed into my mind, “So you're just doing to do nothing?”

I didn't move my hand off the blade, “As much as this may surprise you. Yes I will listen to the person who has some idea what's going on.”

“What does the filthy orc know. You have me.”

“Bigotry again, you really must move with the times and as well founded as your arrogance may be. Being in that sword limits what you can do”

“Orcs and humans are lesser creatures to one of my stature. The power I can add to you greatly outweighs your inexperience.

“You know once I survive a month in my new life I may believe you, but right now I doubt the power of god himself could put me on the level as some of these people.”

“You're afraid”

“No I'm not. I'm terrified. This isn't a game and if it was no one has given me a good explanation of the rules.”

“You may be smarter then I thought, weakling.”

“Name calling will get you nowhere,” I said releasing my grip on the blade.

I finished my meal in silence and wasted some time on the computer. Uwye came in only a few minutes after I finished up on the computer. He went to the kitchen area and looked though the drawers.

He came and sat down next to me, “Something smells good, where's the food?”

I gave him a look. He must've passed many things to eat on his trip though the kitchen.

“Don't know how to cook?” I asked.

“You do?”

“It's quite simple,” I said heading into the kitchen. I spent the next couple hours showing Uwye the basics of cooking and why it's not good to eat the raw ingredients. I actually had a good time. Uwye seemed almost like a child and it was interesting to see him without his hostile demeanor.

I laid down the fork next to the bowl, “and that is how you make banana fosters”

Uwye looked at his empty bowl, “That's some tasty stuff.”

Foxglove chose this time to walk into the room. He gave us a look of curiosity, but left to his room without saying anything. Uwye put his dish in the dirty sink and went to them computer and pulled up a game. I left into my room and laid down on the bed. I lay awake for an hour. Thinking over the days events. Uwye came in and the sounds of his sleep quickly followed him. I yawned and closed my eyes.

I didn't dream. I only relived the pain in the Nyria. I twisted and turned in my sleep. In one great burst of pain my body lurched forward only to be caught by a huge hand. I opened my eyes to find hand over my mouth and a knife against my neck. The man behind the hand was lithe and his cat like eyes pierced into me. He mouthed the words get up and I quickly complied. He sprinkled blue dust in front of my face and I tried not to choke on the substance

When I was standing Uwye was staring at me. Uncontrolled anger in his eyes as a hand was covering his mouth. I waited either to die or be told what was going on. The man more dragged then pushed me into the main room. Three more men were there. Their faces completely covered with black masks and mean looking rifles in their grasp. The person holding was the only person without a mask. His blond hair was short and his face hardened.

Something seemed out of place with Uwye. I couldn't place it till I saw his hands. They were bone like his arms but I had never seen them without the gloves. Uwye was slowly but continuously moving the man's sleeve back. As soon as a patch of skin was visible Uwye's hand grabbed it. Uwye's eyes glazed over for a moment and black lines were traced in his bones and entered the skin of the man. The man didn't say a word and fell to the ground.

The other men in the room raised their rifles and were about to shoot when the blond man raised his hand for them to stop. Uwye pulled out his knives and charged at one of the masked men. I raised my foot and launched it back into the blond man's groin. A moan answered my foot and I pulled out my pistols. I aimed at the nearest man and watched his fingers dance over the trigger. I had only a few seconds before where I was standing was filled with lead. I focused on the energy in my body and released it as a tiny flame inside the barrel of the man's weapon melting the muzzle. I looked to the other man and heard a bang.

Then nothing. Foxglove stood in the doorway his hands in the middle of a complex gesture. The bullet was halfway between the man and me. I moved my eyes to see Uwye's knives only inches above another mans neck. The fused barrel man stood still his hand pulling out a pistol.

A man came out behind him and growled, “How proficiently you use your power”

This seemed more like a accusation then a compliment, “There is no crime against it,” the man's only response was a grumble. Foxglove walked around the still room and plucked the bullet out of the aim and moved Uwye so his strike would hit the table instead of the man's exposed neck. He did another gesture and I could move again.

Uwye hit the table with a solid thunk. His blades sinking deep into the old wood. The blond man started to get up, but said nothing. Uwye retrieved his knives from the table and stood by me. For once he said nothing only waiting to hear what was going on. The three masked men and the blond man stood in the other side of the room. Only a few steps away but the space was there.

I got a good look at the man who grumbled at Foxglove. His features were twisted into a mask of hatred. He was large and bear claws came off his hands. He worse golden plate armor that covered everything but his head and his hands. He had no weapon on him, but energy seemed to flow from him. Well, not from him, but his claws. They were humming, vibrating I finally figured out. Each one was like a tiny steak knife. Ten blades in all. I shivered at the thought of the destruction they had seen.

“Conflict of jurisdiction,” foxglove's low voice said, “or would you like to explain why one of your men is dead and why another one was about to follow him.”

“Fine, radical. I have been tracking Ravenblight for the past few months. My knowledge dictates he has a personal vendetta against you so I followed you to your ship. I saw your ship leave and there were records of this house being rented to a 'unknown occupant.' Since I thought it was no coincidence that a house only a couple of yards away from the dock was taken by someone with the money to give no name I decided to question the people inside. I thought you were working for Ravenblight and informing him of your movements.”

“You will mark this down as a successful raid against a small cult of Nyria users.”

“Hiding is for radical scum like you. Consul Lightbrand will not lie to our superiors,” the blond haired man said forcefully.

“Peace Toke, we will play their game,” the consul turned to foxglove, “I will say that, but watch yourself. I will not tolerate corrupted vermin to survive.”

Foxglove replied harshly, “as will I.”

The Consul just raised his right eyebrow and left, “take number three and depose of the body,” the consul's voice echoed in the small building. Two of the men took the body and left. The consul and Toke left too. I noted with satisfaction his slight limp.

The door slammed and Foxglove looked at both of us, “So who killed the guard?” Uwye steeped forward and didn't even flinch when the hand came at him. The hand stopped just before it hit him and was laid on his shoulder, “good job.”

“Good job?” Uwye asked with utter surprise.

“Yes, you acted with the speed, precision, and initiative I expect from my soldiers,” Foxglove turned to me, “You did quick well too. The burning of the barrel was quite an interesting idea. Though if I didn't stop everything there. You would be dead.”

I shrugged and murmured something about difficulties of being outnumbered.

“I feel I owe both of you an apology. You have proved your worth and I would be proud to have you fight beside me.”

“Hell yes!” Uwye's voice seemed to shake the house.

“I'm with him,” I said more calmly, “I'd be happy to help in any way I can.”

Uwye spoke up again, “So why doesn't anyone care I killed someone? especially since he was an agent of the Ephautotion.”

“He was a mercenary from the memento mori. Lightbrand is a larger user of them. Those were lesser soldiers and their death will mean next to nothing to them. They were bought to die and at quick a price I can tell you. Lightbrand could care less if you killed all his men. Toke used to be on of the memento mori, but he quit to become Lightbrand's demonstrator.”

“How did you kill that man?” I asked remembering the mercenary's untimely demise.

`Uwye pulled his gloves out of his pocket and placed them tightly over his hands, “Touch of death. Doesn't always work and when it fails attacks me, but deprivation lead me to it.”

I shivered at the thought of what a single touch could do. Then another thought hit me, “Why did he call you a radical?”

Foxglove sighed, “Because he's a orthodox son of a bitch. He sees almost any use of the Yairn as a sign of corruption, but on to more important things. Yesterday I found out where RavenBlight is staying. It's a compound on the other side of town, heavily guarded. Most of his guards are rat privateers. It was their raid on Beonic's ship that gave me the hint I needed to find him. I went to the

reaches and used a Talcer to call for support, but I'm worried “oh holier then thou” won't follow though with his part of the bargain. So I'm asking, nay inviting you to join me in a daring raid against a vastly superior force.”

“Little chance of victory?” asked Uwye.

“Vastly,” answered Foxglove.

“I like those odds. I'm in,” I said.

“Until death do us part,” Uwye added

“Good,” Foxglove's body seem to cave in a little, “That last spell took a lot of power so I'm going to recharge. You can join me or just wait to head into a death trap.”

“I'm going back to bed. If only for a few minutes it will be better then nothing. When you're ready for me to sacrifice me life needlessly give me a call,” Uwye said going back into our room.

“How about you?”

“I need to get some more energy. I haven't for a while,” I said slowly letting myself slip into the Yairn.

Foxglove's huge frame was amazingly still in dark red light. . His chest rising and falling to the beat of a long forgotten song. They Yairnian sky contrasted his calm demeanor. Clouds that looked like gouts of fire loomed overhead toppling over each other.

Just standing on the hard earth I could feel energy trickling into my body. I sat down and copied the consul only a few feet from me. It was like the breaking of a dam. Energy started to completely fill my body up. I could feel it starting at my toes and then the tingling sensation continued up my body. Spreading up my legs, filling my chest, and cascading down my arms. I placed energy in the gems that were encrusted in my clothes. The energy quickly filled them up. I continued filling myself with energy,

The energy got to my neck and... stopped. I tried to force more inside myself, but then a familiar pain started. I instantly stopped trying to add energy and the pain receded. I quickly exited the Yairn and Foxglove was already waiting.

“Took you a while. Run into any complications?” he did a horrible job at trying to hide the fact he knew something.

“No, I'm fine,” I said firmly.

“Then let us start. Grab Uwye and tell him that tonight we feast on destruction and drink naught, but blood lust.”

“Grotesquely poetic. I'll be sure to pass along the message,” I said as I jogged into my room.

Uwye lay face down in his bed. I nudged him. He didn't react at all. I flipped him over. His light brown eyes were unfocused. I poked him again.

“What are you doing?” I asked nervous about his still form.

He blinked once, twice, “Trying to figure out what it must be like to be Brandon.”

“Brandon?”

“The man I killed,” his eyes went wild, “I will never refer to him as the dead man or my kill! No one gave him a name so I had to. Have you ever killed someone?”

I stayed silent thinking back, “Of course you haven't...” he continued.

“Once, I only remember it vaguely, but I know it was in self defense.”

“Does that make it easier to get over?”

“I don't think so, but at least I can rationalize it.”

There was a moment of silence. Uwye flipped away, “I liked it”

“The killing?”

“Yes, the way life ebbed from his body. Feeling the muscles whither away, his grip loosen, and his final ragged breath. I'm afraid.”

“Good, then you're fine. Are you ready to do it again?”

“I would rather not.”

“Don't worry about it. Foxglove wants us to head out now, but I can tell him you're not coming,” I got up to leave and was almost out of the door when I heard Uwye.

“I'm not letting you go out and kill yourself,” he got out of the bed and strode like the pinnacle of heroism.

* * *

The darkened streets flew by us. Foxglove's gauntleted hands dug into the steering wheel of the black sedan. Everything was bathed in a dim blue glow, “Night cycle,” Foxglove had said as soon as we had steeped outside. Uwye sat in the middle of the back sides. He had noted his displeasure once, but kept quiet about being put in the back.

I finally decided to open my mouth after an hour of silence, “So.... a car?”

“Hard to come by down here, but when the need is great we can requisition one,” Foxglove said. There was more silence.

“So, how are we going to go about doing this?” I asked

“Seen those action movies where they go in guns blazing?”

“Yeah.”

“Not like that,” he said, “We're going to use a side door, stay out of the way, try to kill Ravenblight, and leave.”

“Sounds simple”

“You won't say that when you see the place.”

“What happens after we kill him?”

“We inform the Ephautotion, get paid, relax for a little bit, and then go on another assignment.”

“We get paid for missions?”

“Yeah, we're almost like bounty hunters. It was actually a good idea. It makes sure agents stay active and bad ones are forced to quit. My own band is having hard times with money since this mission has taken so long. I did a couple of smaller missions to make sure we didn't starve entirely. This is the end though. We either get paid or....” his voice trailed off.

And that was the end of the conversation. Although Foxglove tried to hide it, his fear was clearly shown on his face. He didn't expect to get out of here alive. He played with the links in his armor with his free hand and glanced around everywhere as if expecting to be attacked right here. For all I knew we could have been.

He brought us out of the crowded streets buildings and into more a sparsely densed area. There were few homes and each one was a mansion and had gigantic yards. The car stopped in front of what had to be one of the biggest. I could see people moving though out the entire thing. Obvious defense systems were placed and I assumed there were much more hidden ones around. We all got out of the car and went to the truck. It was filled with our weapons. Foxglove pulled out his beautifully etched axe and placed it on his back. I sheathed my swords and held my pistols to my side. Uwye ungloved his hands and pulled out his belt of knives. Two were resting in his hands almost begging to be let loose.

Foxglove motioned for us to follow and brought us around the building. There was a wall between the door we were trying to get to and where we were. Foxglove ran up the wall grabbed the rim hoisting himself up. Uwye and I followed suit bringing behind a couple of bushes. Two rat were standing by the door. Their guns held loosely in their hands. Even as I watched them they fell to the ground clutching their necks. I looked over at foxglove staring intently as his fingers danced.

As soon as the guards stopped wriggling we went to the door. It was locked, but Foxglove just snapped his fingers silently blowing the door open. Obviously his mastery of the Yairn was phenomenal. There was a guard by the door, but he barely had time to raise his gun before Uwye's knife silenced him. We ran down the marble white hallway. Our steps seemed to ring in the empty hallways. Foxglove led us farther into the complex. We passed giant statues of strange creatures and painting depicting vast landscapes and evil events. I caught sight of many showing Ravenblight himself. His bright red boots and squashed black top hat looking more menacing now. Though I don't know if it was the painting or my mind that made them seem that way.

We finally stopped in front of two giant wooden doors. Foxglove motioned for me to pull out my guns and Uwye to get ready. He opened the door with his mind and I raised my guns up to fire at the nearest target. I stopped moving for a second. The question of the empty halls was answered. Fifty rats all had their guns trained on the door. Ravenblight sat on a throne in the back surrounded by what looked like the memento mori mercenaries we had seen earlier., but they had blue checks on one eye.

“Why Foxglove,” The wolf's voice rumbled the room, but still seemed shrill at the same time, “I see you've brought my puppy back to me. Thank you, it was becoming most tiresome to track him down.”

I decided I would make an answer for Foxglove. I aimed my pistol and shot. There was a loud ping and I saw the bullet flash to the ground a couple feet from Ravenblight. The Mercenaries only moved slightly, but it was easy to tell they were the source of the magic.

“So the puppy has teeth. Not surprising, as a first gen I'm sure the Ephautotion has been pushing your education. I am quite ashamed that such a... prestigious,” he sighed instead of spoke the word, “would skimp on such basic information that Yairnian power easily trumps things like bullets. For you this battle will be decided with steel, claws, and fangs. I on the other hand hold no such flaw.”

The rifles all fired at once filling the air with noise and lead. The bullets stopped only a couple of inches from us. I noticed a greater mass of them was aimed at Uwye and Foxglove. The strange humming pain came back more and more with each bullets held in mid air. The very air around us seemed to thicken with unnatural power.

With a wave from Foxglove all of the bullets went back into the crowd of rats. The Mercenaries made a bunch of gestures, but only a few of the bullets were stopped before they punched into the bronze armor of the rats. As the power holding the bullets stopped so did the pain in my head.

“Mischievous little consul, what would your dear peers think of such a powerful display,” Ravenblight said.

The rats seemed hesitant to fire noting the bullet filled corpses around them. Some replaced their rifles with the notched cutlasses I had seen them use on Beonic's ship. The more aggressive ones were already starting forward chattering amongst.

I sheathed the ineffective pistols and pulled out my blades. As soon as my hands touched the worn leather grip Aluvear flooded my mind.

“Make them pay. Burn it all to the ground!” his normally controlled voice was a roar of anger.

I lunged forward catching the rat in two quick blows. Both blades sunk deep in the rats chest. A deep vibration coming from the one that housed Aluvear. I pulled out the other blade just in time to parry the blow to my left. Red lines followed the blade from my last victims chest. The crimson tide falling as gravity took control again. As the blades met what blood left on the blade was shaken off by the blow of the strike. My second blade released itself from it's bony prison and followed the first blade. The curved blade passed the interlocked blades and the rat's golden eyes grew large as the blade embedded itself in the black fur of the rat's throat.

I heard the rat behind me cry out as it watched it's friend get butchered. I didn't even look as I flipped the blades around and plunged them behind me. The rat's mouth was right above my ear as the blades appeared on the other side of him. Blood came from the rat's mouth and cascaded down my cheek. I shoved the corpse away and looked at the rats. One still had his rifle out. He drew bead on me as I raised my sword at him. Flames shot out of my sword and enveloped the poor creature. As the flames turned blue the creature let out a unrelenting scream.

I looked over to see Foxglove's work. His axe was cutting a wicked swath though the swarm of enemy and Uwyes form was almost to quick to follow. Just a whirl of knives and a trail of death. There were no more rat around so I looked to where Ravenblight was. He watched over the battle with mild amusement. He nodded to one of the magicians and then to me and the sorcerer started towards me.

I ran at him, but was pushed back by a wall of energy. I fell to the ground my ears ringing from the force. The mercenary lowed his hands and I got up. We were squared off. No rats dared come near for fear of getting caught in the cross fire. I sent a wave of flames, but a quick snap and all the flames were gone. I started moving closer with my swords outstretched, but he raised his arms again sending me to the ground. This time I couldn't get up. I felt the energy shove me into the ground. I used more and more of my energy trying to escape myself, but only succeeded from stopping him from killing me outright. I felt the energy drain from me as the ground started to indent with the force of our attacks. I felt fur start to prickle on the nape of my neck. Fangs penetrated my gums. Finger nails turned into claws. With a howl I broke though the force holding me down.

I bounded towards the shocked mercenary and grabbed him face in my giant clawed hand. I shoved down until I felt his neck snap leaving his body as a heap. A rat jumped on my back and attempted to plunge his blade all the way though me. I howled as the blade penetrated my back. I reached behind me and grabbed the rats form mashing it into the ground. I released the mashed remains and felt blood trickle though my fur matting it together. The wound wasn't deep, but it would slow me down. I looked over to Ravenblight and charged his pedestal. Two mercenaries blocked my way and they started to raise their arms. My right claw raked across one's chest cutting deep into his chest. My left hand pulled the magician under my path and I trampled him. His frail bones crumpled under my assault.

I looked up to find the wall opened up. It was a hidden door. Inside was a hall way of mirrors and it was dark. I looked in one of the mirrors. A blood covered, demonic looking wolf, stared back. The black fur looked more brown with blood. I grinned at my reflection. The fangs showing menace.

“I guess I always thought of you as a coward,” I yelled down the halls. Stalking my prey

“Oh, cowardness? Blackfire, Blackfire, Blackfire, where do you get this false thoughts?” His voice came to my left and I looked. I would've passed him thinking he was just another reflection. His claws struck out cutting down my side. I howled jumping back. I raised my hand and released all the energy I had left into a mass of fire. As soon as the fire reached my target he had already moved. I heard the whistle of motion come from my right. I heard the claws slicing down to my exposed position. Their whistling giving away their position.

I swiftly dodged the attack and bite down where I saw Ravenblight. I was rewarded with the soft rending of flesh. Blood pooled in my mouth and I soaked up each sweet drop. Ravenblight howled and I felt his claws raking down my arms. I grabbed his wrists and held him against the wall pulling the blood from his exposed throat.

Ravenblight's knee shot up and caught me in the stomach causing me to fall to the ground. I tried to crawl away on my back, but his clawed foot rested heavily on my left wrist. He looked down at me and grinned. That self satisfied grin of the victor. His wolf features couldn't hide his glee. I lifted my right hand at him trying to call forth any amount of energy. I was rewarded with a fizzle. I focused finding the humming in my mind and released it. A flame wall as large as the corridor appeared. The flames were almost pure white. Small lines of blue danced though the whole thing. The flames hurled themselves at Ravenblight turning him into ash.

I got up and kicked the small pile of remains at my foot scattering them. I howled filling the small corridor with my voice and fell to the floor. Blood flowing down my body. I felt cold as the fur started to recede, empty as the fangs left, and tired was the blood lust disappeared. I shivered from the complete lack of everything such passion and I'm left with this, this nothingness. So many deaths, so many losses and for this pile of ash. I hit my hand as hard as I could against the wall.

“This isn't the change I chose, Damn it!” I yelled. I almost expected a someone to answer me, almost. I got up and the thought of my friends hit me. I left them in a room filled with rats. I rushed in to find them all dead. Foxglove stood looking solemn and dark. Uwye panting, but laughing under his breath.

“You're alive,” Foxglove said, “how very unexpected.”

“So are you.”

“Yeah, as soon as you killed the mercenaries they lost all control. They killed each other trying to get away. Apparently they were under the control of the sorcerers. Don't worry about the ones that got away though, even if they make it to their ship someone else will catch them.”

“Yeah, as I stand here bleeding my worry is about some escaped mind controlled rats.”

Uwye spoke, “Foxglove will take care of your wounds. I was in bad shape but he reknitted my bones with his power.”

I was about to ask, but Foxglove was already moving his hands and whispering under his breath. I felt the skin patch over and my body heal itself. Foxglove's body sagged as my body finished getting healed.

“Are you alright?” I asked worry strained in my voice

“Let's just go home.”

Ch 5:

You have not converted a man because you have silenced him.

Foxglove didn't take us to the car or to the old building. He walking us down the street to a house smaller then the rest. It was still quite large, but looked about half the size of the rest. The walls were made of white brick and reflective windows dotted the house every few feet. Foxglove went to the front door and knocked out a sequence of beats.

The door opened and a dark red furred man in a butler suit stood. He looked like the pinnacle of sophistication, “By sir's arrival I can assume the beast has been slain by your hand?”

“Not by my hand, but close enough. I assume the house hasn't fallen into disrepair in my absence.”

“You shock me, sir. To even imply such a thing is preposterous,” the butler snapped his fingers and another butler and two maids appeared. Classic attire on all of them. One of the maids motioned for me to follow. We passed by many rooms. Some were obvious in their purpose the kitchen, dining room, study, but some were more cryptic. The maid took me up some stairs to a corridor of doors. I was brought to the end of the hall where she opened the door for me. Her white gloved hand not even touching the glossed handle.

The maid, still silent, stood by the door. I walked into the room that looked bland. As soon as my foot touched the white carpeted floor the room changed, drastically. Tall grass almost knee high covered the ground. A river flowed quietly in the background. I knew exactly where. This was a superposition of what I saw in my mind. I turned to the maid.

“The room is made of memgel. It was restarted as soon as Consul Foxglove sent the news...” she cut off.

“What news?”

“The news of James' death.”

I didn't say anything. The maid left without saying another word. I went to the clearing by the river. The room only a few yards long before now stretched on for what seemed like an eternity. The water was clear and the sunset bathed it in a warm orange glow. Aluvear was waiting by the river.

“Memgel, fancy,” he said. He stretched and then curled down. I could see blood staining his claws and teeth.

“What does your mind look like?”

“That's something I'm going to keep to myself. Yours is very... calm though.”

“Self control is something I've had to spend my life learning.”

“I think I may be going soft, but I'm glad you got gifted.”

“Oh, do I sense a compliment coming?”

“We both know this conversation could do without the sarcasm.”

“True, are you mad you're trapped in my sword?”

“It's a fact I'm trying to get used to, to say the least.”

“I'm sorry.”

“Mistakes were made.”

“You were right.”

“About what?”

“You are going soft.”

“I have the blood of 6 rats on me that disagrees,” he said his deep guffawing laughter echoing in the room.

“So that's what became of the prince,” Foxglove said. I instinctively reached for my weapons. Aluvear too was on the defensive. Wings spread and teeth bared.

“Orc, I will not permit you to share this information,” bellowed Aluvear, “This shame is mine alone I need not share it with the world.”

“There is where I disagree. The mind of Aluvear could greatly benefit the council right now,” Foxglove's voice got serious, “Trouble is brewing. Another war may be on it's way.”

“Not possible, while everyone may have some trouble getting along there's nothing to go to war over,” Aluvear said taken aback.

I stood utterly confused, “War?”

Foxglove answered her voice low, “In the 1300s a war came into being between the major elements fire, water, air, and earth. The war was over showing ourselves to the humans. To get everything we have down here we have to get it up there secretly. Now a days we go though many banks and other means, but back then it was hard to secretly buy items. There were times people would go hungry because they couldn't get enough food from the top side world Water and air both said that humans couldn't handle the power the Yairn offered and it was hard enough to govern this small group of people. Fire and earth on the other hand said that the need for materials outweighed the problems it would cause. The Air Faction attacked first. They hit the Fire Cartel. They thought that while a war was going on the Cartel and the Nihilist wouldn't risk exposing themselves. It worked, but the price was high. Imagine a war where an individual soldier would have the power to cause storms of fire or earthquakes. There may have been no guns and no explosives, but the body count has never even been attempted to be recorded. Many towns are empty because of the damage that was caused. Lord Keyvias actually broke the treaty and released more wolves to 'recruit' people. The late earth Nihilist lord Rengard actually created a plague to cover up the gifting of millions of thousands of people. That's why you've seen so many rats. Some turn to crime because there is only so many rats you need. These two events lead to the first and only assassination of a lord. The water league's lord Ithra sent her greatest spies to stab a silver stake though his skull. They succeeded and this killed every Yairnian follower of his and every human that was gifted by them. You see when a lord or duke is killed his powers are passed on to their offspring. That lord never had a child. The power had no where to go so it dissipated into the Nyria. That was when the wells first started coming up. They started to overflow with power. It was the beginning of the end of the war. The Nihilist quickly fell apart after that and the Cartel couldn't face two enemies.”

“How did they group themselves by elements?”

“Every creature has an element they are more comfortable with using. You obviously know yours is fire. Creatures who share the same element are more inclined to think like each other.”

“What happens if the dragon duke dies?” I asked Aluvear.

He shrugged his massive shoulders, “This is a whole new set of events. I would think it would either get transferred to me, in which case you would have the most powerful weapon known to man or otherwise, or much more likely it would get passed on to my brother, Raevula.”

I looked over expectantly at Foxglove, “Don't look at me. I have no idea what would happen. There has never been a documented case of this happening, but onto lighter things. I came up because dinner was ready. I hope they haven't started without us.”

As we left the room the walls went back to their painful white. I closed the doors with unhidden relish. Foxglove brought me down the bland corridor and we went down a staircase that was the complete opposite of the part of the house we had just left. The stairs looked as if they were plucked out of a designer catalog. I made sure my steps were light enough to only brush the velvet carpet. The stairs lead to a pair of the most decadent doors I had ever seen. Their deep red wood was carved with scenes of battle. The golden handles were like fangs.

I almost didn't want to open it if it meant sullying the purity of the doors. Foxglove opened the door for me. His muscle bound hand gripping the fang with no regard to the beauty just beneath his fingers. The doors billowed open to reveal a long table. A light cream cloth sat neatly on the table along with silver dishes. Half of the table was barren of everything including dishes. Food covered the other half.

The master butler sat to the right of the end of the table. His slicked back hair and ruffled turtle neck seemed to make him seem as grandiose as any king and nearly human. Those the fox features and fur covering his face made sure the mistake was never made.

He stood before either me or Foxglove was in the room, “I'm glad you were able to join us. I was worried that the microwave was going to be your cook tonight.”

“And miss your cooking? I swear Jhonaz I have no idea where these thoughts come from.”

“Alex, need I remind you...” Jhonaz the butler started.

“No, no, I think boring our guest with those stories would be bad manners,” Foxglove answered, “but what of our other guest?”

“Master Raincross asked if he could just retire to his room. I said that I found no problem with it. I hope I didn't overstep my bounds.”

Their formal exchange started to bore me causing me to look around the room. The walls were simple, but the ceiling was a giant mural. Another battle ground. Just two parties participating though. bats and a creatures I had never seen before. They looked like goats standing on their hind legs but had a dark brown mane like a lion and ears like a jack rabbit. Most of them carried axes or crossbows. Their leader was obvious because a brown flag hung behind him. The flag may have looked the color of mud, but it also looked pristine compared to the battle around it. Shadows were behind the leader held what looked like silver stakes. That's all I could easily make out of them. The rocky ground beneath their feet seemed to melt into their shadows. The painting was amazingly detailed as I looked closed at the goat beasts. Orange was in their eyes and the axes...

“The tax collectors called again....” Jhonaz's voice broke my concentration on the painting.

“You can tell them we have the money. Even with the casualties this will pay very well. I could easily assume that I will rise a rank.”

“I wouldn't be surprised. A full blood wolf with at least six giftings known, aid to no less then three groups of the syndicate, and the murder of four Ephautotion agents. I am curious, to say the least, to how you defeated him,” Jhonaz said. His deep blue eyes piecing any sense of privacy I felt.

I looked to Foxglove, who nodded, “The Nyria,” I said.

Jhonaz features lost the grace I was becoming accustomed to, “Alex! I know you wanted him dead for what he did to Fallow, but this is extreme, even for you.”

Foxglove held up a hand to pacify his friend, “This is not my doing. Daniel found a well while under the care of the orphanage.”

Jhonaz softened a bit, but his lips quivered with restraint, “I wish no offense, but are you still clean?”

He was looking at me, “... I would assume so, although I have no idea what being corrupted would be like.”

Foxglove looked away from the table, “Trust me, you would know.”

I looked at my master. One of his arms was covered by a dark orange piece of cloth. He was still wearing the battle ready clothes he had before, but the covering was new. I knew better then to pry, but the question was near impossible to contain.

“Stopping time, bullets, and healing wounds from extra dimensional creatures puts a little strain on the body.”

“Why do they even want into our realm?” I asked the question striking me.

“The way the Yairn's power corrupts people is it disintegrates cells replacing them with it's own power infused ones. This is painful. The creatures of the Yairn have built up an immunity to the pain in their realm, but they also block out any other feeling. In our realm they can actually touch things, feel things, and taste things.”

“Why do we stop them from living here then?”

“They are the Yairn's children. They imbalance it. Life in the Yairn balances the unlife in the Nyria, also whenever they touch someone not of the Yairn they risk gifting them. We have enough problems controlling what little population knows about the Yairn.”

“How come Sir Saclys is still fully human?” I asked thinking of my near insane teacher.

Silence filled the room for a moment, but Foxglove started up again “He was made aware of the Yairn though... other means. When he experienced the Yairn he was not gifted so the corruption took hold without a dukes gift. We try not to let that happen because the power he can wield with the Yairn is even greater then yours leaving him at greater risk of becoming a uncontrolled Talcer. You see a Talcer is someone who lives half in our realm and half in the Yairn. Creatures of the Yairn can use them to cross over while the Talcer alone can expel great amounts of energy creating amazing devastation. The Ephautotion keeps a couple Talcer in the reaches unknown to the general populace. They are used for communication normally, but they also give the reapers their power in the process of soul rending. Life force when combined with Yairnian power can be given to other people vastly increasing their power.”

“How can you control a person to give up their soul and sacrifice what's left of their purity?”

“Here's the controversial part. The Talcer are kept in a near unconscious state and ideas are sent directly into their mind. They don't even know what they're doing.”

“That's horrible!”

“Or we could kill them. Whether it was their choice or not, by the time they are one of the Talcer they are a risk to anything and everything around them.”

The rest of the dinner was spent in silence. Waves of revulsion coursed though me. Jhonaz gave me a sympathetic look every so often, but I rejected his gaze. I left without asking as soon as I was full. I knew the way back. My mind already mentally mapping out the area it was in. As I climbed up the stairs I let my hand fall to the blade around my waist.

“Stop your bloody pouting,” Aluvear's voice was starting to feel natural in my mind.

“Well boo who if I find the torturing of innocences wrong!”

“They aren't innocent. They could kill us all. All it takes is a couple hundred overzealous creatures of the Yairn and we're all dead.”

“Why isn't your presence here harmful then?”

“If you haven't forgotten I'm tied to your weapon. I have no body to imbalance the Yairn with.”

“What are these reapers?”

Aluvear was silent and he retreated from my mind a little even though hand didn't move from the blade, “Pray you never meet one. They are a last resort weapon employed by the Ephautotion. There are different ranks in their missions stating how innocent life should be treated. E, humans should not be involved at all. Dyphi, human minds can be wiped. Crant, human life may occur but should be avoided. Blai, Human life means very little. Then there is Alturior. Alturior means the target is so dangerous there is almost no limit to amount of death that would be considered “acceptable losses.” There are only 18 reapers with a maximum of 20 on duty at one time. Two were lost recently in a... mission. Reapers are the best soldiers that the Ephautotion can find and then put though contests to find the best. The few and I mean very few that are chosen go though a process of soul rending. They lose what humanity they had and gain unimaginable power. They can blend in anywhere except for their eyes. They are normally blinded by the process of soul rending, but it doesn't matter to them. They can feel vibrations in the air. They can taste emotions. They are neigh unstoppable. The head reaper, called the hunter, was one of the ones that died recently. Soon a new contest will be held to find the next hunter and if possible two new reapers.”

We arrived at the room. My foot passed though the doorway making appear not the peaceful and serene scene I was used to, but a dying one. The trees once full of life and swaying with the gentle breeze stood bare. Their dead carcasses standing guard against the vibrant yet depressive red sky. The grass was now just broken earth. Fissures spread though them. Aluvear was there. His body seemed dwarfed by the looming trees. They seemed almost to imprison him.

“I am not a monster!” the dragon roared, “I know you even you dislike these humans.”

My shouldered heaved, feeling the weight of age that seemed just to appear, “I don't want to be your damn conscience! I don't just dislike them. I hate them with their fallible ways and petty squabbles, but I am not about to damn them!”

“Neither am I! Yes, some will die. Yes, some will be put though torture. It's for the best. The Yairn is falling apart and those humans are the thing line separating existence and nothingness.”

The trees moved away, “It's moments like this you understand this isn't a game. I always dreamed of being supernatural, of being what I felt like all those times, being able to release myself, hell! Just being able to do something other then see that same house. Now there's this... this.... I don't know what to call it.”

“Try life.”

- - - - - - - - - - - -

Three weeks later and the results of the battle were just starting to heal along with my mind. Buds were everywhere. The entire room seemed to be regrowing. I finished dressing under the shade of the tree. The sunbeams too bright for my liking, but would feel still feel strange without them. Aluvear was flying high in the sky. He looked more like a bird at his hight. I had to admit life was good. I still worked, training mostly, but nothing too strenuous. The money from the apparently came in from the mission because Jhonaz had calmed down. Foxglove's team was due back by the end of the day, but I was content just to sit here and enjoy the beautiful day my mind offered. Uwye slipped in, he had been named assassin in the group. The title the late Broilknife once held. He had a long way to go Foxglove said, but he was improving at a steady rate.

“How's the training coming?” A thunk resounded next to my head and I looked sideways to have my nose touching steel, “So pretty well I assume.”

“Not really I was trying to hit next to your leg,” we both laughed, “It's going well. It's the down time that helps. I can't remember when I had a moment to sit down. From school to fighting an army of rats I was worried it was always going to be like that. If we were with some of the other Consuls we would be doing missions constantly.”

“Well, we did just miss an eight year long mission.”

“Correction, we ended an eight year long mission,” he said with a smile, “always, Foxglove told me to get you he said we're going off to the city.”

“To meet the crew?” Uwye just shrugged his shoulders in response to my question.

We headed downstairs where Foxglove was waiting. His large booted tapping out incessantly, “About time you two showed up.”

“Our humblest apologies, Alex, we will try to further our attempts at punctuality,” his voice held almost lethal amounts of Sarcasm. Uwye seemed to disdain the long drawn out way of proper speaking and enjoyed mocking Foxglove for his common first name.

Foxglove's eyes became slightly more hooded as he looked down at Uwye, “See that you do.”

I sighed inwardly. Uwye may say he likes the down time, but it's obvious he's screaming for an adventure. He had taken to his training almost religiously burning hours honing his new skills. As he said he didn't want anyone to have to heal him next time. When the thoughts of independence drifted into my mind so did Gem. We had corresponded some, but the distance between us was massive physically and emotionally. I could no longer relate to a bad homework grade or failing a test and neither could I tell her I learned how to shoot a pistol with enough accuracy to hit almost anything thrown at me or swing a sword with such ability I could cut a fly in half out of the air.

“Not back here!” Uwye's voice rang out. While I was lost in my thoughts we had walked all the way to the orphanage.

Foxglove used his finger to signal us to be silent, “I thought you would like to see the trials.”

Uwye nodded his consent for silence.

The halls seemed smaller after all that had happened. My lip twitched to a smile at the fear my first day held compared to the arrogant stride I now had. Well polished shoes stepping in their own time. Guns on a loose leather belt adding their noise to my walking tune. A long formal coal colored jacket had a red stripe on the left shoulder with a gold line under it. The mark of a Keyvias demonstrator. I wore the mark with pride. Uwye's steps right next to mine were a whole different tune. Like an upbeat jazz solo. Small brown leather gloves covered it's necrotic treasure. A white vest with a black undershirt made him stand out. A gray line with silver x's under it was his marking for rank on the chest of his vest.

Foxglove had on tan pants a white shirt and a somber orange cloth covering his left arm. His face was deep in thought.

“In here,” he said distractedly. Both me and Uwye went into the room. Foxglove started to shut the door.

“You're not coming?” Uwye asked

“I have some business to attend to, you didn't think I came just for your friendship did you?”

“I was thinking at least my glowing personality,” Uwye said his cocky smile growing larger. With that Foxglove left.

I took stock of the room around me. It was made out of white marble. There was a continues circle of benches on different levels around the center. A dot of black seemed like a blemish in the center. A couple feet away stood a podium made of a warm brown wood. Some people were already sitting. They were all dressed extravagantly in all ranges of colors. The all had a combination of 2 or more gold stripes on their arm.

I sat down at the back of the room resting myself on the wall. Across the room I caught sight of Vuren doing the same. My eyes narrowed at him as I noticed the two gold stripes on his arm. He only glanced my way and then closed his eyes for a moment before sending a smile in my direction. I moved my eyes back to the center of the room. A boy was being walked to the center of the room. At once a hush fell over the crowd.

The boy had dark skin and flaming red eyes watching all of us as much as the crowd watched him. He wore a simple white tunic and dark brown pants. His silver hair flowing down his back still with the crossbow under it.

A man walked to the podium. He looked official. His bloated body and pompous look matching any of the politicians above us, “Please state your name for the court.”

The boy brushed the hair from his face, crossed his arms, and put on a smile, “Terr Unearth”

Ch 6:

Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you.

Uwye nearly broke into applause next to me. I could see his entire body electrify at the sound of his friend's voice.

“Do you think you're ready to be a demonstrator?” the man's voice boomed.

“Yes.”

“Think you could kill a man?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think being a dark elf will effect your work. Your people do have a history.”

“Do you think being a politician makes your words worth any less? Your profession does have a history.” I saw some men around the room mutter to themselves some excited others displeased.

The man continued, his voice betraying no offense or even interruptions to normal proceedings, “You only have a ranged weapon and not a advanced one at that. Do you think you'll be able to handle people with guns and swords?”

“If you truly had to ask that I wouldn't be here. Let's cut to the chase. If you ask if I can, I will say I will. So if that's how this trial is going to go, mark me down for yes.”

“As you wish, this will be the first one up for auction. All consuls have been given the file. You have heard all he wishes to say. Start your bidding.”

This took me, Uwye, and even Terr by surprise. Some hands rushed to small white sticks others didn't move. I took great pleasure in Vuren's absence in movement

“1,000,” a voice came. It was from a woman