Flames of Darkness (Started- Still accepting)

Aelicine Sehinnine

She leaned against a wall with a hand to her head, "Get your gear, it looks like we're going for a walk. A long, long walk. I have some things to get in order before we leave; meet me at the barracks entrance in 30 minutes. Don't be surprised if it takes me longer." She dismissed him worriedly, looking over her information on the foreign country. It wasn't much; nobody got past their storm barrier uninvited, and the chances of going threw the other mountain pass and making it were slimmer still. She opened her secret compartment and grabbed her fans, clipping them into place on her belt. She put a upper-class traveling dress over a leather-and-cloth suit. The hood of a traveling cloak lay back and she looked in the mirror. She then strode out of her room.

She looked at her dorm of sleepy trainees. They weren't happy at being woken, and the helmsman looked tired. She looked at them silently for a minute, and sighed, slipping back her hood. She looked each one in the eye, and said, "I'm going to be away for a while. Runi, you're going to master the bow while I'm gone, right?" The trainee nodded, and she patted him on the shoulder, "Don't worry about it to much, in all honesty most men can't use one either. If you still struggle afterwards, I'll teach you how to throw a knife. You, Boval. There's an axe in the armory, about your size. It's a two-handed weapon, just like you like," and she continued down the line. Some of the trainees looked surprised that she knew their names, and she was quietly proud. These were the men and women she might save someday, or die trying; it was fitting to know their names. She stopped at the Helmsman, "I'm sorry to pull you from your home. I'm going to be gone; I don't know how long.There's an empty cottage near here; it's supposed to be mine. Bring your family there,and make sure these idiots," she said loudly, "Stay in line." The line grinned stupidly as the gave tired salutes. "Well? You'd better rest! It's going to be a long day tomorrow!" she proclaimed. Jumping out a window, she landed next to Rovaalian. "Let us be off."

Hunter
I knocked on the door to the King's chambers, but no one answered. "Your highness?" Once again, no answer. I was beginning to get worried. Maybe the orc had resorted to assassinating the royalties since it hadn't managed to start a war. No wait, the orc was dead.. Something about it's death didn't feel right. Surely someone, something, with that kind of magic wouldn't let itself be killed by normal arrows? A simple shielding spell.. I shook my head. It was dead, had to be. But it probably wasn't alone.

I heard steps from further down the corridor, so I turned and sniffed the air. The King was on his way. I glanced down at Quick who were standing beside me. Beads of sweat were forming on his forehead, and he had a concentrated frown. He was staring at the palm of his right hand.

"You're doing it wrong." He looked up at me, confused. "You are doing it wrong," I repeated slowly.

He seemed to understand. "Vai rong?"

Oh dear, that accent was horrendous, but at least he had proven himself to be a extremely quick learner. "Relax. You are dealing with air. It can't be forced." Once again he looked confused. "Slappna av. Det är luft du har att göra med. Du kan inte tvinga den att göra som du vill." He nodded, rolled his shoulders a bit and tried again, but less tense.

"Hunter, Quick," the King greeted us.I bowed slightly, and Quick briefly looked up from his hand, nodded and then looked down again.

"He's practicing a spell. My little trick with the thunder seemed to impress him."

The King smiled. "Thanks for th.. What's that?" He was looking at the dagger in my hand.

"It was found together with the dead orc." Now it was the King's turn too look confused. He should already have known about it. Wasn't that why he hadn't been in his room? "A small group of soldiers found the orc in one of the corridors. It killed some of them with magic, but then they managed to shoot him in the head with an arrow." The King frowned. Yes, it did sound unbelievable. "This seems to be some type of.. Power source or.." I shook my head. "I think it's a power source, but I don't know. This type of magic isn't something that I usually deal with."

There was a sudden shout from Quick, and when I looked down he had a teeny tiny cloud floating above his hand. It quickly drifted away and disappeared when he lost focus. "Again," I told him and then looked back to the King. I didn't know what more I could do, so I hoped that he would have some task for me.

Rovaalian
Aelicine landed with a thud next to Rovaalian, apparently having jumped from the window. Rovaalian turned around, and noticed a door nearby. He would have questioned it, but she quickly straightened off her cloak, a dressy type garment, though he could see the lines of leather armor underneath. "Let us be off." She said. Rovaalian raised an eyebrow.

"I want to get my stuff, too." he said. Aelicine sighed.

"Make it quick." She said, probably seeing as how it was only fair. Rovaalian climbed nimbly to the roof, now out of his heavy armor, and ran to get his things, just his swords and cloak, and ran back again.

"We can go now." he said as he jumped down next to her. And they made their way to the gates. As she untied two horses, and handed the reigns of one to Rovaalian, he asked "is no one coming with us?"

"No." she said after a moments thought. Going alone, Rovaalian knew, would be dangerous. But it would be faster, and more discreet. They could go undetected.

"Well, I hope you know the way."

"Of course I do!"

"Yes, well, I don't feel like stopping for directions is all"

Balik
I watched the kid for a while, the hair on the back of my neck prickling at the magic in the air. I pinched the bridge of my nose, sighing softly.

As dangerous as an invisible foe was, it had brought my cousins together and given me the alliances I needed. My subjects would have food now, but it my cousins found out now that there was no common enemy, they would begin their bickering again, and I would be left at square one...

"Does anyone else know?" I asked softly, ushering them into my chambers hurriedly.

"Not that I know of."

I nodded, beginning to pace as I freed myself of my damn robe. Underneath I had regular clothing that was much more comfortable. "Don't let anyone know." I glared at them both. "I have gotten too far for this to go to hell because our attacker got himself killed." I twitched as Quick created a miniature clap of thunder to go with his tiny cloud but ignored it. He was just doing what he had been told. "If Anaki or Korhel find out, they'll be at each others throats again, and I'll have to let go of both alliances or get drawn into the war." I stopped, grinding my teeth. "I'm not going to fight in this ill-conceived war of pride! Don't let anyone else- especially any Atrians or Nekoites- know."

Hunter gave a curt nod. "Of course."

I sighed, waving at the door. "Dis- Wait!" I was forgetting something. What had I wanted to... I put a hand on my head and closed my eyes. "Ah!" I snapped my fingers. "Korhel is willing to give us a shipment of food now. Will you retrieve it?"

Glitch

There was alot he could do, but little he could do undetected. He could get a guard to steal it for him, but he would have to be caught with it, and there was little chance of him getting away. Otherwhise, they would know he hadn't really died. He could tell Aga'Rauko. What would the master do? Would he be angry? He decided, against his better judgement, to contact the Blood demon. It would be difficult to do it undetected, since even through a seeing glass, he would radiate a powerful aura of evil. He did it anyway. He thought maybe, that if he did it, he could get a replacement.

He summoned the glass and made contact successfully, the demon's face apearing in the glass in moments.

"Are they at war?" he asked monotonally.

"No. Also, they have my dagger. The one you gave me? Without it, it will take too long to gather the power necesarry to open the portals within the walls. Years, instead of days." said Glitch, instantly regretting his honesty.

"Glitch..." said the blood demon.

"y-Yes, sir?"

"You really are an idiot sometimes. But I will destroy this dagger." he said snapping his fingers. "That knife is now dust."

"But I needed that..."

"NO INTERUPTING." he bellowed. "now, I will give you a new toy to play with. I actually made this this morning, wondering to myself 'I wonder if Glitch will lose that dagger today?'" he said more calmly, holding up a wicked looking gauntlet, that through the glass radiated a tremendous evil aura. It would be hard to conceal. "I call it 'Soulsucker.' It sucks souls. Everyone you kill will provide four times the power. Plus, now you don't have to deal with blood anymore, so don't worry about your stupid allergies."

"Thank you, master. I will not fail." said Glitch, bowing slightly.

"By the way," said Aga'Rauko. "They are keeping your death a secret. As far as the Nekoites and Atrians know, you still live." he said, before the glass shattered. Glitch rubbed his head in frustration. Damned Genorians.

His thought was interupted by a searing pain in his hand. He watched in horror, as his flesh melted away, and burned like fire. The pain was inbearable as his hand dissapeared, replaced by a Black Gauntlet, inlaid with a blood red jewel. roughly cut. In the grooves a red liquid flowed. The metal was tempered in blood, and glowed black and red. The pain subsided and was replaced by euphoric maddness. Perhaps if he couldn't start a war, he thought, he could at least crush their defenses. He shrouded himself in shadows, and spells were weaved around him. The power... It was unbelievable. He was now a living shadow, that stalked through lesser shadows. He emerged within the walls, and with the gauntlet grabbed an unexpecting peasant by the throat. His essence flowed through the Gauntlet, and he was gone almost instantly, seemingly crushed to dust, that blew away on the wind. The power that entered him was ten times that which the dagger gave him. He disapeared through the shadows and appeared in a house, full of people. Only one of them had time to scream. He had blown through all of them, untill they had become dust. He took a piece of parchment, and wrote on it in the flowing hand of a castle scribe.

To the Atrian and Nekoite Royalties.
The Orc assailant was confirmed dead earlier today, shot through the brain.
No need to worry anymore about the Orc.

and he folded it neatly and went into the castle and slipped through the shadows, and lay it down on the sleeping form of the queen of Atra herself. Just because he could, he looked around and saw that she had left a robe on the chair next to a desk. He quickly and silently leapt to it, and placed a moderate curse of bad luck on it, so that when she wore it, wierd stuff would happen. This was more playful than evil, he knew, but fun to watch nonetheless. He also relieved the robe of any gold, and made his way back into the shadows.

Hunter
"Of course." I turned to leave, but in the door I stopped. "You should rest while you can. I have a feeling that this is far from over."

I let Quick tag along to the courtyard. I was hoping that he'd pick up some new words from listening to others. It had worked well this far and I planned to continue. Besides, he was far easier to keep track of if I had him with me at all times. No more listening behind doors.

I went down and talked to the deliveryman, who apparently had to go get something, so I waited. While waiting I drew the dagger again. I had examined to the best of my ability already, but I couldn't understand what it was for. If the orc had used it as a power source, which I believed, then that meant that the orc had no power without it. Who had even managed to create something like this?

I snapped my head towards the west. There were some remnants of nasty magic coming from that place. The deliveryman's horse seemed unsettled too. It suddenly became even stronger, as the dagger turned to dust in my hands, and then it went away again. I was left staring down on my now empty hands. This was indeed far from over.

"Now if you'd just sign here."

I quickly wrote my signature on his little protocol, ensuring that we had indeed received the shipment. I told some of the guards, men I trusted, to take it into the castle and make sure it was divided into rations. It would be handed out to the people as soon as possible.

After that I hurried to the room where I stored the map. I carefully used my magic to examine the western part of Genor, and just like I thought, it showed the same remnants of evil magic. I needed to tell the King about this, and I needed to do it now. Either the orc was still alive, or there were more of them close by.

Balik
Sleep. I seemed to remember something of that name.

I threw myself down on my bed, not bothering with shoes or sheets, and promptly fell asleep.

I don't know how long I was asleep. It felt like a minute, but it was long enough for me to have rolled to my side and my pillow to have collected a decent pool of slobber. I rubbed my cheek blearily, looking around in search for what had woken me.

"Balik! I know you're in there. I've torn this castle apart looking for you."

I swore, sitting up suddenly as I scrubbed my cheek roughly, making sure there was no drool left. Running my fingers threw my hair, I leapt off the bed and yanked the door open. "What?" I growled as I looked at Anaki.

She waved a paper in my face. "When did you find out about this? How did you get it in my room without waking me? Why wasn't I informed immediately?"

I snatched the paper from her hand, glowering at her before glancing at it. "What the hell..." I stopped as I read what the paper said. I looked up as Korhel stormed toward us.

His questions were quite similar to Naki's.

"Hold on!" I shouted as they continued asking questions, growing louder and louder to be heard over the other. I sighed heavily as they glared at me silently, refusing to look bewildered though I felt as though I was still just waking up and this was a surprise I hadn't quite planned on. "The..." I glanced at the letter again. "...Orc was killed by my guards almost..." I tried to take a nonchalant step back to look at the clock and was shocked at the time. "Ah... Four hours ago."

They both stared at me.

"You mean to tell me, I have gone four hours without knowing vital information that you have?" Korhel hissed softly.

Anaki seemed to agree with his feelings for once.

I cleared my throat, trying to come up with something on the spot. "Well, you see..." My eyes narrowed. "I'm in charge of this... clusterfluck, and I wanted to..." I glanced around as I tried to continue lying and grinned at Hunter who was rushing towards us with Quick on his heels so I wouldn't bare my teeth at him. "Here he is! I was just making sure the facts were all straight before I really bothered you. I- ah... I told my messengers not to bother you if you were resting... I see they did that to the extreme. I will punish them..." I waved Hunter into my chambers. "At some point."

I frowned at them as they tried to follow. "No."

"Are you going to hide more from us?" Anaki sneered.

I stared at her. "What are you saying?" I asked softly, "In my own house?"

"I think you're dirty," she replied fearlessly.

I raised a cool eyebrow. "I suggest you watch your tongue here, Your Highness. My men outnumber yours." I turned my gaze to Korhel. "That goes the same for you. I am honest, and I don't take kindly to being questioned."

I turned sharply and slammed the door, impressed with how intelligent I had sounded.

Hunter was studying me.

"What?" I demanded.

"You're not going to get involved in an ill-conceived war of pride?" he quoted.

I waved such concerns away and shoved the paper at him. "How did this come to be, Hunter?" I muttered, moving away from the door.

He glanced at Quick, muttering some of that gibberish they both seemed to understand. "He'll set up a spell against eavesdropping," he muttered and flashed a grin. "I've already put a light one up."

I rolled my eyes, finished with being understanding of magic and its masters. "Just read this," I said through gritted teeth.

His eyes slid over it and then went back to the beginning to do so again. "...Did you change your mind?" he asked, giving me a questioning look.

I stared at him. "Why would I do that?" I demanded. "Now I have those two... rabid animals behind that door waiting for answers I don't have."

Hunter frowned, studying the message. "I might have some answers."

I calmed a bit. "I was hoping you would."

Aelicine Sehinnine

As if the earlier time were I was getting the helmsman and talking to my trainees wasn't enough, she thought to herself. Sighing, she handed him the reigns and mounted when he asked if she knew the way. "Of course I know the way," she proclaimed. She patted her bag, as he made a smart remark about asking directions, and added, "I have a map. Rovaalian, when we get there... I won't be unknown. It's why I'm wearing this... drudgery. But you are still my subordinate. I'm fairly lenient when it comes to the chain nonsense but in the court," she sighed, "You will treat me and my king with respect. Do you understand?" I could tell by his face that he neither liked it, nor wanted to follow it, but he gave his consent. It was all she could ask for. "It's going to be a long ride. I hope you've got your riding legs," she said, spurring the horse up the path.

Later that night they set up a small camp, two tents and a fire. She secured the horses and sat down cross-legged with her eyes closed. "Draw your swords."

"Wh-"

"Just draw your swords." She heard the sound of a sword coming out of it's sheath. She knew that it was because he wanted her to. "Good. See the tree over there? Chop it down by the end of the night." She smiled faintly to herself, and continued to meditate.

Aga'Rauko

He sighed on his throne of skulls as the glass in front of him shattered. still though. Secretly, he really liked his minions. He wasn't the tyrant blood demon everyone thought he was. He was ruthless and evil, granted, but he knew who was on his side. And he respected them. That's why he had such a vast army. It was surely not for his intelligence. He also, secretly, was glad that Glitch had reported the loss of the dagger. That was an old toy, and Aga'Rauko loved making new toys for his children to play with. Children... was that what they were to him? Like sons and daughters, they were. They would help him make his dreams come true. They would bring about the razing of the material plane, and the rise of his great, bloodstained shadow. His reign started with good minions. That's why other evil dictators failed. No manners.


Glitch

He had been keeping up the undetectable spell almost all night, fuling it with the lives of unwary passers by. He had killed one family and several peasants by now. He had nothing else to do now but find a way to cripple the forces of the humans. Then he would kill to his hearts content. The Gauntlet... it had changed him. He was bloodthirsty, a malice was bourne in him like an inferno where once there was but a flickering flame. He floated above the town, struggling to mask his now enourmous evil aura, but managing to reduce it to a weak glow. He looked down and saw the whole city, with it's towers and huts. Then he saw the goldmine that was the stables. It was too tempting. Every horse that the Atrians and Nekoites had brought with them was there. Not for long he thought. He swooped down and put both guards to sleep. He entered the stables unimpeded. One by one he absorbed the horses, untill there was no sign that they ever existed. Their energy had vanished within him. He couldn't hold this power long. He had to store it. He quickly left and slew one of the guards, but instead of turning to dust, his skull remained. He trapped the power inside of this skull. For safekeeping. He quickly went back to his cave, and placed the skull in the corner, and rose a wall of stone in front of it. He had, in doing this, created a vault for his new power vessel. This was how he would store the power for the portals. This skull and two more like it would be needed for a portal. He needed four portals. That was about... but he grew impatient, never really caring much for mental math. After procrastinating by hunting with a spear stolen from the slain guard, he discerned that he needed twelve skulls full of power. Didn't seem like too much to do. Before he went to bed, he fashioned a great stone door in front of the cave, and tried to conceal it. Effectively he made the cave look like a great boulder, but he opened it, and gouged the earth further. He made the place quite a comfortable lair before going to sleep.

Rovaalian

Cut the tree down. Right. He looked around and saw a tree. He turned and saw another. Dammit, this is a forest. he thought bitterly as he tried to discern which tree it was that he was to cut down. It was a rather thin birch, not too much to complain about, but his swords weren't for cutting trees. He looked at the tree a moment, and began cutting, making a V shaped groove that circled a segment in the wood. He worked for many hours, probably around four or five. Finaly, as his swords began to stick in the wood from the weight of the tree, it fell with a deafening cracking noise. He turned triumphantly to Aelicine, who was meditating nearby.

"Wrong tree, Rovaalian." She called, pointing to another birch about the same size, but in a different direction entirely. "Try again."

Rovaalian sighed as he made his way over to the tree, thinking to himself as he chopped I am going to be soooo respectful when we get there. Wait and see. It'll be great...

Aelicine Sehinnine

She smiled to herself, as he worked on tree number two. He's going to be tired tomorrow. And he'll need some water, or else he be tired, hungry AND thirsty. She drew a fan and waled up to the birch next to him, studying the tree. With a swift chop, the tree collapsed onto it's side. She snapped the fan closed and put it away. "I didn't give you an axe, I said to use your swords. You don't have all night, we're leaving early tomorrow in hopes of making the mountain pass by nightfall. I've seen a man chop a tree down with one arrow, simply because the bow was his weapon if choice. If all you're going to do is flail around with those things, you should consider a new profession, say, mail carrier. I hear they're looking for a good carrier to take mail to commanders. Dangerous, but well paying. And you don't actually have to draw your weapon." She returned to her seated position by the fire and heard his frustrated grunts and a nice thump. Her smile broadened as she pointed to a new tree, "In one stroke, if you will."

Rovaalian

This was infuriating. To chop a tree down in one stroke was a feat that few could advertise, and that was when using an axe of some sort. His swords could do it, he knew. They were sharp enough. But they couldn't do it without damaging them if they touched through the wood. Or could they? He had never had to sharpen these blades. They were harder than any steel of any opponent he had ever faced. So what was he to do? Was he strong enough to fell a tree with one blow? without a very sharp waraxe, he doubted it. There was simply no way around it. He spread his arms wide, and slammed his swords together, through the tree. It stood for a second, pinning his swords under it, but as he watched it slowly tipped over. Making only a slight shuffling sound as it fell, when it hit the ground it hit hard. Slam! Aelicine turned around suddenly. She then nodded to him.

"You can fetch some water in the morning." she said.

Rovaalian was too tired to argue. He marveled at the fallen tree. Than at his swords. Any other blade, he thought. Any other blade, and the tree would have laughed. But what was so special about his swords? He looked at the snakes encircling the blades, the finely crafted blades, their beauty tarnished forever by the phantom blood of those fallen before him. He had only kept them because he made his vow on them, long ago, to wipe them of innocent blood. He remembered the day with the lion... He shuddered and a pain in his shoulder was reborn where it bit him. He remembered the spirits. He remembered their faces as they gave him his purpose. He remembered their whispers. Murderer...

He had recreated himself. And he had done so with his swords. His swords. He had once cleaved through a bronze helmet with them. If he so chose, he truly believed that they could cut through anything. He sheathed them carefully as he lay down on the bare ground to sleep.

Hunter
I read the short message that the King had given me. This proved what I already knew. Either the orc was alive, or its companions were still trying to wage war. "I might have some answers."

The King seemed to calm down. "I was hoping you would."

"I felt something evil. Dark magic, very strong dark magic, to the west."

The King sighed. "Hunter, it's not that I don't trust you, but I can't tell my cousins that 'my advisor had a feeling', it's to vague."

I cleared my throat and continued. "While I felt it the dagger that I showed you suddenly dissolved, it turned to dust in my hands. Then I went to check the map, you know which one I mean, and I could still feel traces of dark magic to the west. The two.. Three," I corrected myself, "wolfs would have felt it too, and Korhel's pet." Even the horse of the deliveryman had felt it, so they definitely would have.

"So there are more orcs around?"

"Either that, or the orc is still alive. I find it odd that a creature with such power would let itself be killed by ordinary soldiers. Even I can put up a protective barrier around myself, and I'm not even good with that kind of magic."

A sudden knock on the door made us both jump. At first I thought that the royalties were going to kick down the door, but instead a soldier stepped inside. "Panic is start.."

"Come in and close the door!" the king, shouted before the soldier could say anything more.

"Gå ut på borggården och försök få till ett regnmoln över slottet," I instructed Quick. He seemed to appreciate the challenge, and left. It wasn't that I didn't trust the kid, but he didn't need to know everything about what was going on. Not that he could even understand most of what we were saying.. On second thought, I had no idea how much of our language that he had managed to pick up.

"What is it?" the king asked as soon as the door was once again closed. I quickly put up another spell against eavesdropping.

"Panic is starting to spread among the citizens. Whole households has gone missing, and the only traces that they have left behind is dust. The people believe that they have been spirited away."

Dust? Like the dagger? What was going on? Had the orcs started killing people now? For what reason? Questions kept coming, but another knock on the door cleared my head. I opened the door and saw one of the stable boys, he was pale and seemed afraid. The fact that the other king and queen were staring at him like vultures didn't help. "What?" I asked, but then I changed my mind, pulled him in and slammed the door.

"The horses are gone," he was speaking so quietly that I could barely hear him.

"Speak up," the king said.

"The horses are gone." He suddenly seemed to panic. "Please, it wasn't me. I didn't leave the doors to their stalls open, I swear!"

"Was the stalls covered in dust?" I asked, though I already knew the answer.

The boy looked up at me, confused. "Yes?"

I swore both of them to secrecy and chased them out. "We're obviously under attack. What do we do?"

Luna

Being unable to sleep, I got up and decided to do more wandering around the castle. veering off from a corridor, I slowed my pace as a light caught my eye and headed for it. As I grew closer, I realized it was a garden, filled with such bright and colorful exotic flowers. I smiled as I stepped in side and was instantly engulfed by the invigorating scents tantalizing my nostrils. So refreshing and energizing. I inhaled deeply before letting it go and moving deeper into the room to look around.

The ground was nothing but soil, and the room was circular in shape, but the walls weren't with the same material as the castle. It was made of glass. Completely see through. Nothing was on the other side, which meant there was a drop off outside of the glass. I looked up. The dome shaped ceiling was made of stained glass depicting a garden. Brilliantly flowing bright flowers swaying in the gentle winds and butterflies fluttering along with out a care. And the skylight with the light of a ripening moon, the reason I was drawn here, shined down, giving everything a surreal glow. An incandescent light spilled off of the the flowers and made them seem as if they were awakening from a deep sleep. It was breathtaking.

Now to take look around. I let my hands graze the soft petals of every flower I walked by. Lilium(Lilies), Cyrtanthus Vallota (Fire lilies), Antirrhinum majus(Snapdragons), Tulipa gesneriana (Tulips), and various other flowers. I came to a stop in front of a flower i'd grown around. Lilium Lacifolium (Tiger Lily). Kneeling down, I took in it's unique smell. Mmmm. Like honey and sage with just a hint if ginger. I sighed before standing up and walking through the garden. I found an area of the garden where there was nothing but soil. A place to meditate, perhaps. I guess the person who tends to the flowers must use this place for privacy. She must be very skilled to have so many flowers that live in such different climates and environments synced in harmony together like this.

I grabbed a lock of hair and looked at it. The silver in my hair was becoming more pronounced with the moon growing fuller every night, and there was nothing I could do about it. Everyone back at home knew about it, but no one here did, which might only make everything worse. The only reason it hasn't been noticed yet was because the silver usually begins underneath where no one can see it, and then in the front. There was no way to hide it. I sighed before looking around and moving towards the entrance. Before stepping out into the hallway, I stopped to look back at the garden. This place was too beautiful not to come back to.

I turn and take leave. On the way back to my room, all I can think about is that garden. As I round a corner, An enormous chill runs over over my spine and I shudder as my nostrils flare. The beasts inside of me begins to stir and I turn to look around. Just then, I feel something approach me from behind. I spin on the balls of my feet and throw someone against the wall with a growl, putting myself nose-to-nose with... Hunter? I blink and pull back slightly. "Hunter? What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing." he replies softly.

I realize how close we are, but make no move to back away. Being so close to him makes me curious. His eyes were interesting. A blue so pale it almost white, and one dark brown. Inky black hair and chocolate brown streaks. I liked it. What I didn't like was how white his skin was. It made me think he was sick in some way. He was taller than me, but not by much. I cocked my head to the side curiously and studied. Lean with broad shoulders. Big hands from what I could tell. He cleared his throat, and I looked back at his face. No line. No scars. The peach fuzz on his jaw was interesting. I looked back into his eyes as I took a step back.

"Where are you heading to?"

Before he could answer, A loud boom sounds somewhere and we head in the direction of it.

"Wanna fill me in on what's going on?" I look at him.

"You have no Idea." he shakes his head.

Glitch

He was strolling invisibly along when he noticed the oddly low stormcloud forming over the square, with slight magical signatures. Hunter. I'm going to kill the dog now, once and for all. He walked calmly to the source of the power to find that it was not Hunter at all, but his lacky, Quick. He had been the curious evesdropper during dinner. Better him then nothing he thought, as he strode over to kill him. Bloodlust almost overtook him when he stopped himself. They knew he was alive. They knew that he hadn't died. But this boy... This would make the plan interesting. He could use him. He entered his mind, and spoke to him. Quick. I know who you are, and I think you know who I am. he said. Quick jumped, and lightning cracked so loudly right overhead, that the explosion could be heard probably throughout the whole town. He made to call the guards, but Glitch stopped him. Make a move, and I'll turn you to dust. Besides, you won't get to hear my proposition. Come to the stables, where the dust of the horses still lay unmoved. We can speak in person there.

The boy looked around, and Glitch feared that he searched for a guard. But he saw hunter walking through the courtyard with luna, her hair starting to gleam with silver. He looked up at the waxing moon. It was getting fuller. Perfect. Another charge yet to blow. he thought. Quick, the boy, was making his way briskly to the stables. Nobody was there. They had deemed it unholy, and supersticious. The boy walked in, and Glitch with him. Instantly he said "Where are you?" and whirled around.

"Here I am, boy, no need to worry." said Glitch, apearing from the shadows. The boy held his own well. Glitch had expected him to scream. No such reaction. Very well. "I offer you my teachings boy. I need not persuade you. You've seen my power. And you've seen Hunters. He bores you, I know it. I can see it in your eyes; you want to learn real magic. I can teach you. But you have to do exactly as I say. So, what say you?" The boy thought for a moment. Weighing his decisions, it was probable that he realized that if he responded with no, he would be killed on the spot.

"I... I want to be powerful." He said slowly. "Can you... Can you make me stronger than Hunter?"

"Stronger than Hunter?" said Glitch. This kid's funny. "I can see your mind, and you have a certain flexibility about you that makes you dangerous. You are already that powerful, boy. You are like a great and mighty blade, that has only to be sharpenned. I can hone you! I can teach you ways to bend magic that you have never encountered before!" said Glitch. He was lying of course. This boy was not more powerful than Hunter. But still, he learned quickly. He had potential... as a weapon. And what a fine weapon he'll be.

"I... accept you offer. I won't disappoint you. What do you want me to do." he said. A glint appeared in his eyes, a glint that excited Glitch. Oh, this is going to be... excelent.

"Wait untill tomorrow. Then come back here, midnight tomorrow night. Your training begins then. Goodbye, Quick. You made a wise decission." said Glitch, as he left the boy where he stood, vanishing into thin air.