Ace slowly walked over the desert dunes under the shadow of a rain cloud that seemed quite intent upon following him. He had conjured it to keep himself out of the sun as much as possible while he was in the desert. He had hoped it would keep him a bit cooler and so far it had met his expcetations. His hair and wings were more of a spicy auburn instead of a distinct red. The measure was a tad bit unneeded for the desert, though for an inferno like Therab he would certainly need to take precautions to make sure the heat didn't get to him. The half-dragon had heard that there was a another Volcano out in the desert, yet that was not what he was out in the desert for and he had no intention of such a hazardous detour. His eyes instead were looking for the flowers of a certain type of cactus. They were needed to replenish his alchemical inventory and since they were so expense it was more practical to take a trip to the desert himself.

Ace stopped as he reached the top of a dune and slowly cast a spell to let him see farther. He was in no paticular hurry, but the spell helped him scan a larger area. He could fly as well, yet he was in the mood to walk. It didn't take long for Ace to notice a cactus sporting several beautiful lavender flowers. That was the one for sure. Ace was excited, he thought they would be a little deeper in the desert. He hastened his pace towards the cactus hoping the were a few others nearby concealed by dunes.

Ornell had to take a break. She was sitting in the shade of a cactus, but the shade was not really big enough. She decided that it really didn’t matter, it wasn’t that hot. Sitting with her knees pulled up to her chin and her arms wrapped around her legs was comfortable enough. She closed her eyes and rested her chin on her knees, her skirts creating a tent of sorts. Her small, red, feathered wings hung loosely from her back. She couldn’t fly with them, but she could never be without them.

Valen had not come with her on this venture. It was too much for the dragon. She had ventured from the Temple of Fire and simply walked. She was learning the lay of the land. It was mostly shifting sand, but places like this one were worth the note. She was tiered now though and had run out of rations. Lady Era was sending Valen to fly her home, but he would not fly in the full heat of day. She had to wait for dark, for the cold to return to the earth, before she would find herself among the halls of the Temple of Fire once more.

Next time she would head to a city again. She needed to talk to people, to see if she could learn more about how this world interacted with the other planes of existence. For now though, she was content to wait here in the sunlight for the steel dragon to come and fetch her.

A shadow… her eyes flew open and her head went up, looking above her. A cloud? A single lone cloud? How… odd. She shifted to her feet, looking up at the strangeness of a single cloud all on it’s own in the middle of the desert. It wasn’t natural. That meant someone must have called it into being…

When Ace got to the first of the Cacti he was quite pleased. They were in deed exactly what he was looking for. Ace was quite glad he had brought bottles with him as he could also get a bit of the cactus juice while he was ought here, though the juice wasn't as hard to come by as the flowers. Most of the juices of cacti were near identical, but this this cactus' flower was indeed unique. It also carried many unique effect when combined with the right subtances.

Ace quickly decide that he would get the best veiw in the air and that it was about time he put his wings to work. As he jogged he unfolded his large red wings and took to the air in one strong stroke. Higher and higher he climbed, while still remaining under the cloud's clover. Beneath him was a beautiful display, bits of green speckled with lavender blooms on a brown grainy canvas. It was while aces was taking in the lovely veiw that he noticed something that didn't belong, after giving the object more of his attention discerned that it was not something but rather someone. A young winged elf it seemed. Her wings were small, too small to fly with. Ace could not help but wonder if it was a phase similar to the one he went through and if they would later grow out.

"Why Hello. I hadn't thought I'd have the luck of finding someone out here in the middle of the desert," Ace called out as made out to land near her. She wasn't very far away.

Ornell looked away from the cloud, searching the ground underneath the magical thing. She say something rise from the earth and seemed to head her direction. She didn't move, seeing no reason for there to be any sort of problem. She was not doing anything wrong so there was no reason for her to expect trouble, yet.

It only took a moment for her to see who it must have been. In turn she was also seen, as he was coming closer. She didn't respond right away, her ember-like eyes studying him in silence, drawing it out for just a moment. Red wings, and he could fly. Perhaps this would be an interesting person to speak to. He seemed to have a good grasp of magic and flight also. She then turned her thoughts to his words then. “Actually, the middle of the desert is further north. I live not more then a day or so from here though. So what brings you out here?”

She then dusted the sand and grime off of her skirts. A soft clank betrayed the fact she was armed with a blade in a wide sheath. She was not worried about that, as it was mostly hidden behind her blood red leather spell book bound with gold. She brought her gaze back to him and tucked her long gray bangs back behind one pointed ear.

The elf certainly knew about the desert. Ace didn't know much about the desert, but he was pretty sure she was right. He would have had to done a great deal more traveling to get there. It was merely meant as an expression. As he landed he heard the soft her weapon. It didn't come as any surprise that she was armed, afterall there were countless dangers that plagued the desert. Sadly the worst of the dangers weren't those that one could handle with offensive spell and sword.

"These cacti actually," Ace said as he gestured at the cacti with a sweeping motion. "Their flowers fetch a large price for their alchemical properties and I'd rather waste energy and save money," Ace explained.

Ace considered her words on where she was form. If he recalled the map correctly and wasn't far off from where he thought he was then there weren't many populous places in this region of the desert though it was totally possible that she had come form the same town that he had left. "What is it that brings you out to this part of the desert? Do you also have an intrest in these cacti?" Ace asked as he fiddled with his pockets to fish out one of the small pouches he was going to put the flowers in. He knew it was likely that the Elf had been drawn to the area fore some reason, for it be quite strange for it to simply have been a mere chance encounter in the wide wasteland of a desert.

Lanik laid back, feeling the sand cushion his head. The heat of the sun beating down on him. Rather than feeling thirsty and worn, he was refreshed. The desert was a welcome change from the cold streets of Taras. he could feel the sand slowly rise, swallowing him. 'Swallowing him?' he thought, eyes shooting open. He jerked his head up, seeing himself sinking visibly. He was free enough to pull his arms out of the quicksand and wade towards the dry sand.

shaking the loose sand from his hair, Lanik looked up. The sun would have blinded him as other men, had he been a normal man. More sand fell from his hair, which was unhindered by Lanik's hat since he shed it before leaving Taras. It moved with a will of it's own, swaying. every once in a short while, a hair would flick to one side.

While he looked up, a spot in the blue sky filled his vision. assuming a piece of sand had fallen in his eye, he rubbed them. looking up again, he saw a cloud not-so far away. Curious, he followed it.

_________________________

Lanik arrived in the general location of the cloud's source. A lone cactus stood in the sand, accompanied by two beings, a man and what seemed to be an elf. A force of habit caused him to slide his dagger up his sleeve, ready for use. he slinked towards the pair, not trying to he sneaky, as it would be completely pointless in this landscape.

"Hello, there. quite a coincidence, three people in a desert all coming together. or maybe not so strange, as it's the only source of water for god knows how far."

“No, I have no real use for cacti, or know what the flowers are used for. I’m not much or an alchemist. I’m more of just getting the lay of the land. It is a bit more characteristic for there to be cacti here though. Much better then just more sand.” She had more to say but drew it to a close as another approached them.

Her eyes narrowed slightly for a moment, not sure of what exactly she was seeing until he was a bit closer. Recognizing his race soon enough though, she relaxed. There was no real threat there. “Why would it be so strange?” She asked him, then decided she might as well answer his question too. “Oh, and more water is about a two nights walk that way. I’ll be heading there at nightfall or perhaps sooner.” She pointed back the way she had come from. Weather or not either of the other two would figure out why she had responded to the question of another water source so quickly had not yet crossed her mind. The fact that neither had introduced themselves yet was something she was wondering about though. It seemed a bit rude. Were they actually expecting her to introduce herself first? She would wait a moment in order to give them a chance for proper introductions.

"Prehaps not too strange, it certainly is quite the coincedence," Ace mused after hearing from the elf and the new arrival, a fire genasi by the looks of it. The cloud could be seen from a good distance away and it wasn't to great a surprise that it attracted attention. Ace was however curious as to what water source the genasi was reffering to, for there was no oasis around that he had seen. Prehaps he simply meant the strange cloud, or prehaps ACe had merely not see the water source yet, though Ace was sure it was hard to miss something like that in this wide desert of sand.

"I hope you do no mean that the cacti are sources of water," Ace said with a conerned look on his face. The cacti juices were not paticularly good for one's health, though they did contain water which could possible save a man dying of thrist. If he had simply meant the could then there was little hope of getting water out of it, keeping it sustained was about all Ace could do untill atleast nightfall.

"Ah, but where are my manners? My name is Ace, I'm a magister at the Academy of Magic as well as the archmage training master," Ace smiled after noticing that he had failed to introduce himself. He was practically head magister, but then again given the terribly reduced number of students there was hardly any academy at all.

Lanik was stunned. "Hello, Ace. My name is Lanik Aeril. What would an archmage, a magister nonetheless, be doing way out in the Istan?" He asked curiously. Surely he had something better to do?

"You work at the university, you say? have a spot open for a new student by any chance?" He asked hopefully. He had been wanting to practice his Fire magic for some while, but working on his own, there is no way to learn new spells and such.

Ornell smiled to herself. Archmage, well that explained the cloud that still hovered over him. She had not heard of the Academy of Magic. Such a place could prove very useful, more so then just a library at least. There was still so many places on this material plane for her to visit it seemed. Her task seemed to becoming more… possible. There were plenty of clues at least.

Her gaze then turned to the Fire Genasi, who also introduced himself and then asked a round of questions. For a moment she debated remaining silent so that the questions could be answered, but formality now demanded she at least introduce herself in turn. They had used either their full name or a name and title… she didn’t really remember her full name, though she did know who to ask should she find it necessary to have such. She had no real reason to go off and find that bit of information out though.

“It is a pleasure to meet both of you. My name is Ornell. I am the Avatar of Lady Era, The Goddess of Flame.” She wondered if that would bring on more questions or not. Not that she minded. Company was welcome to just sitting around, waiting for sunset and the arrival of Valen.

Ace was bothered by the fire gensai not brining up which water source he had spoke of earlier, but Ace let it pass his mind at Lanik's second question. He simply couldn't find enough students. It had been a problem he had sought to remedy for years, but things only seemed to get worse. Ace was about to eagerly reply, yet Ornell broke her own silence and introduced herself and it ceratinly would be rude to interrupt and after listening Ace found that it would also be quite unwise. He had met a few of the deities of past and present , yet he had not yet met this Lady Era. He was still sure that the new Goddess was much better than the old one, Bahamut. He had known Bahamut prehaps to well as he had known of his lusty ways and his lack of commitment, a thing that his lover the goddess of deception had not liked. Ace still wonders if Bahamuts disappearce had any relation to her own enigmatic vanishing that came later.

"Yes, I do work at the academy and our doors are always open for new students. I doubt the goddess herself would have time to visit me or moreso have much to learn, but you and Lady Era may come at any time, Ornell," Ace smiled speaking to Lanik and then turning to Ornell.

"As for why I'm out here, I'm here to gather a few flowers from these cacti. They have great alchemical uses and are rather expenisve to buy," Ace answered again. It was then that he noted that Lanik had not accounted for his own reasons for being out in the desert. "Ornell said she was out here getting a lay of the land, are you yout here for similar reasons, Lanik?"

"...are you yout here for similar reasons, Lanik?" Ace said to lanik, who had been basking in the sunlight. Snapping back to earth, madic chuckled openheartedly. " Similar reasons? hardly. i merely came to this wonderful desert to enjoy the warmth, as opposed to that accursedly cool city of Taras." He said, shivering as he mentioned the cool streets and alleyways of the city.

"i find the desert much more enjoyable, what with the open sun." He said to the both of them. "But you say these flowers are expensive, eh?" he said curiously, not really a question as much as it had been a greed-filled statement. swiftly, he plucked five of the beautiful flowers and placed them gently into his backpack.

Ornell was annoyed with Lanik Aeril at that moment. If someone was speaking then you should listen to them. He hadn’t even been paying attention. She simply nodded her thanks to Ace when he said that she or Era were welcome to visit. She was the Goddess of Flame though, not of Magic. Of course there would be something she could learn there!

Ornell almost caught herself telling Lanik that the flowers would either be crushed or die in his pack. The fact that the cacti were in bloom meant that they had a good amount of rain, which is saying a bit out here. She decided not to though. Why should she speak to him if he was going to ignore her? A wasted effort.

Instead she turned to Ace. “I haven’t seen the Acadamy of Magic yet, if you have a moment I would like to know where I can find it. No rush though.” She then moved a bit away, out of the shadow cast by his cloud and sat down on the hot sand in the bright sunlight. She didn’t bother looking back to Lanik, as she felt slighted and didn’t want to do anything as foolish as taking out her frustration on the poor Fire Genasi.

Lanik seemed a creature of fickle attention and had gone from asking a question to daydreaming in a matter of seconds. It was quite annoying and a problem Ace would likely be presented with if the gensai had the attention span to come to the academy. But's it wasn't anything Ace hadn't seen or dealt with before. Ace was also quite annoyed at Lanik's reaction to his own reason for bieng out here. That was not a good way to store the flowers, what's more the fool knew nothing of the flower and could not convice anyone to buy them off of him a decent price, afterall it was doubtful he even knew their name let alone their use. Ace decided not to waste his breath giving the fool an alchemy lesson when his attention span had already proven to been dismally low.


Ace was glad that Ornell had turned his mind away from his frustration and quite pleased that she was interested in the Academy of magic. "I'll have your answer in just a moment, Ornell," Ace said as he waved his had through the air before him a red light lept from his finger tips. the light quickly split making two lines and eventually a large rectangle. As the lines move the contents of the rectange were quickly filled with notable land marks. It was a colorful map of imythess and notably due south of the middle of the desert rested three small illusionary figured detailed enough to be noted as Lanik, Ornell, and Ace himself."We are here," Ace said as he pointed to the miniture trio. Thre trio seemed to wave back but then resumed mirroring lanik, Ace, and Ornell.

"If you go further south, past the mountains, and past the plains, you'll come across the acadmey, though it's best that you make it to kellen and simply follow the roads to the academy," Ace explained and as he did so a thick red arrow streamed from their location to the academy and the after he mention the roads it altered to a more likely route for on taking the trip by foot.

Lanik noticed how ornell had just walked away in a huff, not even sparing lanik a glance. In a loss for words, lanik rubbed the back of his head. He turned to ace. "One moment please." then strode in Ornell's direction.

Lanik stood in front of the elf and looked down at her. "sorry for not replying to you. I had been speaking to Ace, but that was no reason to act as i had. Will you forgive me, avatar of my goddess?" He asked with a apologetic smile.

Ornell’s attention was caught by the map that Ace was drawing and turned her full attention on that, not about to let her anger get the better of her. She was impressed by Ace’s attention to detail, though details like that were most likely the reason he was the Magister at the Academy of Magic. Having the figures of them wave was cute too and she felt her anger lessoning. Walking from Kellen would be the way she would go then. She had seen the city before, but had not stopped to visit the place. If that city was indeed the one he indicated on the map then perhaps she should take the time to visit it. Missing the fact that there was an Academy of Magic was something she should have never had done, but it would be an easy enough thing to rectify now that she was aware of it. Such a thing would no doubt be a useful tool. She nodded, commenting the directions to memory.

Then another shadow passed over her and this time it wasn’t the cloud. Ornell looked up to see Lanik standing over her. She was more surprised by this then the next words out of his mouth. She stood so quickly that sand flew away from her. Her eyes seemed to burst into tiny fires. The air just around her flickered and danced as tiny flames sprang to life around her as she reacted. “Avatar of Your Goddess?! I AM the Goddess of Flames! She and I are One-And-The-Same! First you don’t even recognize me as such, even after an introduction, and then you have the gall to stand over me even as you attempt to apologize?! Who are you to stand above me like that?! Tell me why I should not…” The fire about her began to collect into a ball of fire above her..

Then, she paused… Valen speaking to Era… so far away but in the same place... She heard his voice. “I’m coming now Ornell. He simply doesn’t understand.” She saw him leaving the temple in a flash of light as the sunlight reflected off his steel body. She blinked and the flames were gone from both her eyes and the air about her. She leveled her blood red eyes on the Fire Genasi. She seemed... almost withdrawn. Anger would not rule her; she can master her own emotions. She pressed her lips togeather for the leanght of a breath before she spoke again.

“I’ll forgive you your ignorance this once, as you did request it. I suggest you not let ignorance rule you.” She then let her gaze go to Ace, and nodded her thanks. “Thank you for the directions. My ride home is on his way. Is within the week too soon to pay a visit?”

Lanik seemed more concerned with getting Ornell's attention than the grand ilusionary map, yet Ace had only begun his observation after finishing it as the illusion did take a fair amout of concentration. After noticing that Lanik was disinterested with the map and Ornell was through with it, Ace waved his hand dismissively through the air and the elaborate image quickly faded into the desert air.

What happened next confused Ace and later would horrify him. Lanik obviously cared little for 'his' goddess as he knew nothing about her nor did he think to try and speak to her from the downward slope rather than the upward one. Ace knew the cocept of avatars failed to reach some, but true worshipers knew this by heart. Lanik likely only called her 'his' goddess for the simple fact that he was a fire gensai. Ornell's rage was not unprecedented, but quickly proved a danger to Ace as the heat of the goddess' flames quickly surmounted over that of the blazing sun. The worst part it was likely a worst threat to Ace than it was to Lanik. Ace backed away hoping to minimize the effect of Lanik's punishment on himself. His hair flushed to a full crimson, and the scales of his wings and tale shifted to a bright ruby. He could feel the horns slowly protruding out of his head. Ace was about to cast a spell to grant a greater distance from the two, but before he could act upon the thought, it was no longer needed and the Goddess' Firey rage was gone. Prehaps inviting a goddess to the academy was not the wisest act for one like himself.

Ace patted his attempting to discern wether his horns were visible and it seem that they were not yet long enough to do so. The lack of shade went unnoticed to all but his eyes. His ability to maintain the cloud had quite been comrpimisde by the event, but the reults could have been much worse than simply being that. "Ah, Yes. Any time is good. Having few students at the academy allows me to be ready at near all times," Ace replied as he strode foward closing the gap he had made. He attempted to act as if nothing happen. He certainly didn't need to say anymore to Lanik than Ornell had, the fellow need to stop his foolishness and learn about a religion before joining it.

Lanik was terrified. As much as he wanted to snap back at the elf that he had merely meant that The goddess of fire was the goddess he followed, and to point out that she was sitting down, But decided it was in his best interests to keep his mouth shut at this point. Thankfully, she had forgiven him, but then still seemed angry with him. he merely wanted to apologise! How much could a sixteen year old street rat know about any religion?
On the verge of tears, Lanik kept his lips pursed and listened to Ornell speak to Ace. While they spoke, Lanik fumed and shook his head, ready to leave. He turned to Ace. "Goodbye, Magister Ace. i will tell my aqquaintance about your academy, and maybe visit myself." He felt somewhat bad, as he almost had harm done to ace for his own faults. Turning away, he began to track his own footsteps away from the two, heading back home.

"I'll send a message ahead of me then. Thank you." Ornell said to Ace, then her gaze fell on Lanik as he said his farewell to Ace... and not to her. She almost yelled at him again, but caught herself. She paused a moment before moving to catch up with Laink. Being angry would solve nothing and she knew it. Valen was right, it was only ignorance... so she took on a different demeanor, one allowing for minor transgressions, one of a teacher or adviser. She matched her pace to his before she spoke.

"I should not have snapped at you, there are few Gods who walk the lands and I often forget there are such differences on this plane..." That sounded like an excuse... or an apology... she didn't know which and didn't like the sound of it, but couldn't stop there. She kept speaking. "If you want though, you are welcome to visit the Temple of Fire with me. Valen can take you anywhere you want to go after that. Perhaps then we can part on better terms." She didn't like the fact that he hadn't said goodbye to her, it felt wrong and she knew she couldn't blame him, not again, so she took it upon herself. Realizing she had left Ace out of the invitation she stopped walking and turned back to him. "You are welcome to visit me as well of course, if you so wish."

She wondered how much longer Valen would be. He was fast in the air, but how long would it take? Ornell didn't dare look for him though. She didn't want to seem nervous or uneasy.

((OOC: Grr... short post!))

Ace nodded as Ornell mentioned she send a message ahead of herself. It was a little unneeded unless she want to meet him specifically. But then again, the other magisters might not feel so comfortable teaching a goddess or even the avatar of a goddess. Ace had actually taught a deity before, ironically it was the former god of fire. Then there was the added fact that Ace was the most competent magister at the academy. Perhaps the message would be needed after all.

When Ace looked to Lanik he could see tears hiding behind the young boy's eyes. He could not help but feel sympathy for him. Lanik was only a young teen and those tended to normally be as ignorant as ever. Still, the affairs of the gods were certainly not his own. "I'll be waiting I do hope I'll get the pleasure of seeing both of you there," Ace smiled before the fire gensai turned away.

Ornell took a change of heart and quickly made her apology to Lanik. She even invited him to visit her in her temple for a more pleasant meeting. Ace was not entirely surprised when this invitation was swept to him as well. It was, however; an offer Ace had to refuse. It simply was a risk far too big for Ace to wish to take. Even visiting Meera in her temple of the mild element of water was too great a danger; otherwise he would have given her a visit or two by now as she had always been a good friend of his. “I fear I can not, Ornell. The elements have ill effects on me when they lean too much in one direction, as you nearly found the hard way before catching your temper. I can only imagine a divine aura of fire would do to me,” Ace frowned.

Lanik stopped and closed his eyes, steeling himself. When he opened them, the tears were gone. He listened to ornell, feeling better somewhat. Forcing a smile, which quickly grew as he was invited to the temple, lanik nodded his head. "I would love to visit the Fire Temple. as much as i have ever wanted to, i never could visit. And maybe-" Lanik winked"-I could learn something about the gods." Lanik gave up a small chuckle. he no longer felt angry with Ornell. Lanik didn't even pause to think of how odd it was how fast his feelings had changed.

((OOC: I hate writers block, this is the best I can manage.))

Ornell stopped when Lanik did and was glad to see his smile and have him agree to go with her. She also nodded to Ace’s response. “That’s fine. I wouldn’t want you to risk yourself for something as trivial s a visit. I will send a message ahead though as I’m not exactly sure of the timing.” She smiled at both Ace and Lank, feeling that this was a much better way to part company and she was too proud to let things pat badly. A dark shadow appeared in the sky from the same direction that she had come from. Knowing that it had to be Valen she smiled.

“Here Valen comes now. He seems to be making good time.” She said. It was something interesting, how chaotic beings seemed to shift easily from one mood to another while she had to focus on her feeling and direct them as needed. She wondered if they even thought about it at all.

Ace was pleased to see Lanik's recovery, though curious at how little time it indeed had required. Still, Ornell was a god as well as his god. Certainly it had to turn one's spirits around to know that your god favored you despite any of your failings. Ace was also glad that Ornell was rather understanding of his situation without needing any further details. "I appreciate your understanding," Ace replied to Ornell.

With both of them ready to go, Ace had almost forgotten why he had come from all that happened from the strange chance encounter. The bag in his hands and the flowers on the scattered cacti did well to remind him, though he distracted himself from the task again as Ornell mentioned Valen, who seemed to be her afore mentioned 'ride'. He followed her gaze to the dark shadow that swiftly drew closer and closer. From the shadows movement he could tell it was obviously a dragon of some sort, a suiting ride for the goddess of fire. Extending his sight once more, he saw quite right. "He appears to be fairly well cared for dragon, Ornell. Though, I am not quite familiar with the type of dragon he is," Ace said as he observed the dragon. He probably wasn't a race of dragons common in Imythess and while he hadn't quite asked a question, he hoped she would enlighten him.