Beads of sweat were flowing down Astra’s face, stinging her eyes. “Nineteen.” She muttered to herself as she rounded her starting place once again.

She had been training all day with her throwing dagger after Sargoth’s lesson, with the exception of taking time to change out of the horrid black clothing she had been forced to wear while running from Talas. She now wore wide legged, lavender pants and a matching top. Her hair was pinned up messily and stray pieces of silver hair clung to her face.

Dusk was falling and she decided it was probably time to head to the dormitories, but before she left the outdoor arena she wanted to jog twenty-five laps. Being forced to sit around, being a proper Lady did nothing to help Astra’s fitness and she did not want to be soft and weak. She was determined to be able to defend herself when need be.

Glancing up, she could see some foreshadowing gray clouds crawling in from the east. “I wonder if there is going to be a storm tonight...” She thought curiously to herself. Returning her attention to keeping her pace steady and her breathing rhythmic she did not give another thought to the approaching mass of swirling grays.

Seele stood in a corner of the training area, a straw dummy in front of him. He twirled his scythe expertly in one hand, going over what he remembered from his training over a century before. He closed hos eyes, gathering his energy, then lashed out with his scythe, too fast for the eye to follow. He landed on the other side of the dummy, scythe extended to one side, clopak swirling around him. The dummy appeared intact.

Impressive...
You think so?
That many strikes that fast? Of course.
I thought you hated me...
Oh, I would kill you if I could. As well as anyone else still here... just that one lady jogging.
Thanks for the support...

Seele stood up from his crouch, the scythe disappearing into his cloak. The dummy fell apart behind him into at least twenty pieces, head rolling away. He walked towards the entrance to the dormitories, but stopped, lookign back at the rain clouds. maybe I will stay out a little longer... He sat down on a box full of practice weapons, watching the sky with golden eyes.

“Twenty-one.” Astra whispered after she completed another circuit of The Outdoor Arena. The muscles in her legs were starting to ache and seize, but Astra was determined to complete her designated goal. Her concentration was broken when lightning flashed in the distance, lighting up the now darkening arena. Tearing her gaze away from the sky she happened to catch a glimpse of a dark figure sitting near the exit of the training area.

Astra’s heart fluttered and she suddenly felt anxious. She thought that she had been alone in the large arena, but apparently she had been mistaken.

“Could it be an assassin from Talas? I was almost certain I had lost my pursuers…” Astra thought warily. “Perhaps it is just another individual training. Yes, it must be.”

Despite her self assurances she touched her forearm briefly, making sure that one of her long throwing daggers was still strapped there. She changed her direction and cut directly across the grassy field heading to where she saw the figure perched.

She stayed a few paces back, as a precaution, but she now could clearly see the man wearing a dark cloak sitting on the wooden chest.

She pushed back a few silver locks that had fell in front of her face and then spoke softly, “Greetings. Are you training as well?” She did not give her name, in case this was someone seeking the bounty on her head. Although, she knew that if he was an assassin he would surely have a description of her and one glance would confirm who she was. Not many people had bright violet eyes and silver hair.

Seele glanced at her. "I just finished. I was here the better part of today, and thought I would sit here and relax for a minute before returning inside..."

I've seen her face before...
Really? Where?
On that bounty sheet of the assassin that attacked you
Yeah, he was an interesting one. What was her crime?
I didn't recall seeing it.
thanks a lot...

He smiled and swung around, landing in front of her. He held out a hand, smiling warmly. "My name is Seele, Lady..." He bowed his head. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

What if she's an assassin? And knows who you are?
I kill her
I wouldn't bet on that...
Well that's a real boost for my self-esteem
You're welcome.

Astra smiled warmly when the man introduced himself. Surely an assassin would not be so polite. Although, when he called her a Lady that roused suspicions in Astra’s mind.

"Remember that liar Ertai. He seemed very polite, if not for his dark cloak and veil you would not have even suspected him in the least. I hope this man does not know me for who I really am. I left that life behind. Light, please do not let him know me as Selena Cailena Xalvadora, House of The Moon Petals” Astra thought hopefully.

Astra took the stranger’s outstretched hand in a welcome greeting as she replied, “I am called Astra. I guess I must have missed you today. I have been out here training since morning. It is my first day at the Academy.”

Astra knew that was not the way a High Lady would greet anyone. A proper Lady would cringe at taking a stranger’s hand in welcoming. A proper curtsy and a cold introduction was the proper way. Astra hoped that just being herself would hide what she was running from, unlike most of the Ladies of The Court, she was acting when she played the role of a Lady, it was not who she was or wanted to be.

Still smiling, she waited for a response from the man before her. A wave of low rumbling washed in from the east. The storm was approaching more quickly than she had first thought.

Seele smiled. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Astra. I was actually at the indoor arensa for part of today, and you were bus when I came out, so it is no wonder you missed me." He looked at the dark sky behind her, and gestured towads the door. "But if you don't wish to get wet Lady, I would suggest going inside right now. Me..." He turned towards the dark purple clouds, slowly advancing towards them. "I like the rain. It makes me feel refreshed..." He smiled, looking far away, then back to Astra. "But if you want to go in, I might join you. This cloak gets awful heavy when wet..."

Every time Selee used the word “Lady” before saying Astra’s name she cringed inside like she was being hit with a quarterstaff. The only one that was aware that Astra had been known as Lady Selena Cailena Xalvadora was Sargoth and when she had told him flatly that she was no longer a Lady and wanted to be called Astra he accepted her wishes and did not question as to why.

Glancing to the east, she gazed at the oncoming clouds, smiling. She loved storms, she had no idea why but the fascinated her. When she could sneak out without her Father’s knowledge she would walk in the rain for hours, returning home soaked to the bone. Her Lady’s Maids would immediately draw her a hot bath, fussing that she would catch a death chill, but surprisingly never a word was uttered to her Father. She always had respected her Maids for that.

Turning to Selee once again, she held her smile as she spoke, “I do not mind staying out here. I love the rain, it seems that it washes the darkness away giving everything a clean slate.”

“That’s what I have…” Astra thought herself, “… a clean slate. If only I can stop people from thinking I am a Lady.”

After a few moments of silence Astra continued to speak, “Plus, a little bit of rain would be invigorating after that long run. Oh, and Selee. You do not need to call me a “Lady” for I am not.” Chuckling softly she continued once more, “To think, me, a Lady.”

Smiling softly, she kept her gaze on Selee, hoping he would believe her lie. She felt awful for deceiving him, but hiding her past was vital to being what she truly wished to be, even if she was unsure what that was.

Seele returned her smile. "Exscuse me, Astra. It is habit for me. In my world, I was taught from a young age to treat every female as a Lady, and every male as a Lord, from a young age. Whenever I meet someone new, I act like this until they tell me not to." He looked up at the sky again. "I will not call you a Lady again, Astra, until you wish me too..."

He smiled as he felt a raindrop splash against his cheek. Within seconds a steady downpour was drenching them both. Seele closed his eyes and relaxed, letting the rainwater flow around him. If only it could give me a clean slate... I would give almost anything...

Skorne walked towards the outdoor training arenas, planning on getting some serious practice in despite the steady downpour. He was trying to get used to fighting in all types of weather, so the rain helped him out in that aspect. He walked up to one of the practice dummies, and began trying out different styles of fighting to see which one he was better at. He continued for some time, until he became aware of the two other people out there. He stopped and turned to watch them, wondering what they were doing out here just standing there. His curiousity got the better of him, and he made his way over there at a steady pace.

"Hello, my name is Skorne, I was wondering what the two of you were doing out here in the rain." While Skorne waited for their response to his question, he looked both of them over, trying to determine what they were like. He stopped when he got to Astra's eyes, there was something about those eyes that intrigued him, as if he had seen them before. He continued to stare at her eyes while he waited, something was stirring in the depths of his forgotten memory that called to him.

When the downpour began, Astra tilted her head toward the sky letting the rain wash away the sticky sweat that had dried to her face. A large smile on her face she turned to Selee and said, "It seems you come from a very formal and polite place. But, most women, if they know how the majority of High Ladies act in Imythess, do not wish to be one."

Astra laughed when the water plummeting from the sky caused her loosely pinned-up silver hair to fall, framing her face. With one hand she rung the water out of her hair, when she suddenly startled to hear another man voicing a greeting behind her.

Turning around, her gaze fell upon what she thought to be an elf. "It seems that there is more people around when twilight falls than when the sun shines high in the sky."

She studied the elf before her bright lavender eyes. He seemed oddly familiar, but she could not fathom why. "You have never even met an elf. You only recognize him because of that description in the book on the ancient and holy dwelling place of the elves. That's probably why he seems familiar." Astra rationalized.

Smiling at the new stranger she spoke, "It is very nice to meet you Skorne. I am Astra, and to why we are in the rain, it seems to have ambushed us. I thought that it was not approaching so fast. Though, it is very refreshing after a long day of training."

She left Selee to introduce himself, incase he had some reason not to give this elf his name. She did not have any idea why he would not, but people pasts were complicated and she knew from experience that sometimes individuals meant to keep them hidden.

Seele looked the man over quickly, golden eyes claculating. He was an elf, like Seele... but there was something about him that seemed strange. But, hwo am I to judge? Maybe I am the strange one here...

"My name is Seele. It is a pleaseure to meet you, Skorne." He nodded his head to the elf. "And it is as Astra said. The rain can be a pleasant gift at times..."

I thought you told her you called all males 'Lord'
Eh. Males usually think that means they have control over me.
So you lied.
In a way.

Seele shook his head, and put a hand to his forehead. Talking to his demon too much could give him a headache, as it did now.

"It is nice to meet you Astra, and you to Seele. I agree with both of you, the rain can be extremely refreshing, but sometimes it can cause problems." He looked over Seele, noticing right away that he was an elf like Skorne. Memories continued to try and invade Skorne's mind, memories that he knew nothing about. He was thinking of what he could say next...

He saw Astra fall out of an alcove formed by a toppled bookcase, the bookcase was burning merrily, suddenly, something burst out of the bookcase when it started to fall.

Skorne closed his eyes and shook his head, trying to dispell the images that he knew nothing about. He suddenly looked up, hoping that Astra and Seele hadn't noticed it. He watched as the rain continued to fall, lightning danced across the sky, and thunder roared throughout the darkness.

Astra tilted her head to the side curiously when Selee brought his hand to his forehead, and she became even more puzzled when Skorne shook his head. “Perhaps it is an elven trait, something to do with the rain perhaps? They both suddenly seem very tired, or as if they are trying to forget something. I am probably letting my imagination run away from me. But, I cannot get over the feeling that I have met Skorne before….”

Astra turned around and lifted herself up onto the large wooden chest where Selee was previously perched. Turning, so she could see both Skorne and Selee, she spoke loud enough to be heard over the sound of the pounding rain, “I do love the rain, but the only problems I have ever known it to cause are floods and maybe trouble navigating while sailing, but I’ve never been on a ship.”

Looking up towards the sky, she just caught a glimpse of a three-pronged lightning bolt shoot across the sky, which was followed a low growl of thunder. She then returned her gaze towards the two men as she resumed speaking, “I suppose I will not be able to finish the last four of my laps around the arena, unless I wish to be totally covered in mud and I do not believe the Weapon Masters would be impressed with me if I dragged mud through the dormitories.” Pushing some wet, silver hair away that had fallen in front of her eyes she asked Skorne, “Is this your first time to the Academy, or have you trained here before?”

No matter how hard Astra tried, she could not rid herself of the feeling that she had somehow met Skorne before. Trying to ignore the strange apprehension, she waited for Skorne to answer.

Seele shook his haed to clear it and took off the hat, sticking it into his belt. Almost immediately his hair became soaked through, falling in front of his face. He pushed the light blue hair out of his eyes and watched Astra and Skorne. They acted like people who had met eack other before... but didn't remember quite where. He shrugged mentally, deciding it was really non of his business. He watched them both intently, golden eyes shining through the sheets of rain, waiting for Skorne to reply.

"Yes, this is my first time to come to the Academy of Arms. Have you trained here often?" While Skorne waited for a reply, he cast a sidelong glance at Seele, wondering who he was and why he was here. Some sense inside him seemed to react to Seele, as though he had met someone like Seele a long time ago. He was thinking of a question that he could ask Seele that wouldn't be to offensive.

Astra was standing in a library, hiding behind the arm of a man that had just been stabbed by a sickle, his blood dropping to the floor

Skorne forced himself to remain calm this time, choosing to ignore the vision. Why were they coming so often now of all times? True he had had several similar visions, but never so many in such a short amount of time.

Astra’s apprehension continued to grow as more time passed in the presence of the elf that had named himself to be Skorne. Warnings stirred deep in Astra’s subconscious but they could not be rationalized or explained.

Her purple gaze flaring, she responded cautiously to Skorne’s question, “I am enrolled in The Academy of Arms as a full time pupil. I was training early today with the brilliant Weapons Masters Kore and Sargoth.”

Astra evaded directly answering Skorne’s question, she did not lie but she did not give him the information he asked for. She hoped Seele did not see her evasion and grow curious. She had told him it was her first day at The Academy, but for some reason she did not wish for Skorne to know she was practically defenseless. “You are just being suspicious again you silly girl. You were suspicious of Kore when you first saw him. Light! You do not trust anybody! But, who could be blindly put confidence in strangers knowing there is a price on their head? I certainly cannot.”

Another rolling wave of thunder consumed the grounds of The Academy. Astra could feel the vibrations of the grumbling sound reverberate through her body. Astra brushed away a few droplets of rain the clung to her cheeks instead of smoothly rolling down her face with the masses. She had two very good reasons to leave, one the storm was steadily growing worse and she felt increasingly vulnerable, but another part of her held her where she was, despite the fear that was present she was curious as to what was the cause. Casually, she asked Skorne and Seele both, “Have either of you ever journeyed as far as Talas? It is a beautiful city, as far as I’ve heard from peddlers and gleemen. I’ve often thought of traveling there.”



There, her bait was set. It was smart of her to address the question to both men instead of just one. It was less likely to rouse suspicion. She would have to wait and see if she could prod any useful information out of Skorne. Smiling, she waited for either’s response.

"Talas" Seele nodded slowly. "Yes, many times. I actually do work in Talas; I am a field scholar for the Talas Library." His golden eyes grew cloudy as he thought back, trying to remember if he had ever seen thses two in the library before. Skorne... well, his shadow powers were above average, but locked away deep inside him. Seele had never sensed his presence before. But Astra... he thought he had seen her once, as he left the library. She had been going in... and he doubted there were too many who fit her description. "I daresay you have been to the Library before Astra. Am I correct?"

He looked at her calm face and had a feeling this question had been more for Skorne than for him. He whispered softly, quiuet enough that Skore could not hear, "But you weren't asking me, were you?" The rain continued to come down heavier; puddles were forming all over the area, and the track for laps was little more than an area of mud.

Skorne thought about the question, trying to dig up memories of the place. He wasn't sure, he might have been to Talas. "I don't know..." Skorne felt the need to explain some, but he didn't want to burden them with his troubles. "I might have been to Talas in the past, but I can't remember. My memory is veyr poor after an attack that occured not that long ago. I was attacked by a demon, and I lost my memory. I still remember some of my past, but not enough to know if I have been to Talas."

Skorne looked up at the black rain clouds, feeling the rain run across his face, how he wished he could wash away this cloud that hid his past. "I was attacked by a demon who calls himself Ertai, I don't know where to even begin looking for him, so I travel, listening for any news I can find." Skorne thought about the first night after he had lost his memory, and the dream that had occured. there was still something wrong with the whole situation, but he couldn't figure out what.

Underneath a cool and calm exterior Astra was panicking. “Great, just bloody wonderful. Light! What are the odds of Selee passing me by in Talas and have I really lost touch with The Great Game to such an extent that people can recognize when I am trying to be subtle? Should I deny being there? Perhaps, suggest he is mistaking me for someone else? That wouldn’t be very believable, not many… Come to think of it I’ve never met anyone who resembles any of my features. Perhaps if I simple ignore the comment it would be forgo…”

Thought suddenly hit a stonewall when a single word was passed Skorne’s lips, Ertai. Astra suddenly felt like she was drowning, gasping for air, her usually brilliant lavender eyes seemed to dim.


“Ertai…” Astra said softly, nearly choking on the name, “Ertai must have been a horrible creature to attack you so.”

Suddenly flashing back to a month prior, Astra could see a winged-demon flying toward her with an outstretched claw that was carrying her death. She could almost feel the heat of the flames on her face when the mysterious fire erupted before her. She could then see the muscular form of Sargoth protecting what he thought to be a dull-witted High Lady. She hated that she had to portray herself as such… Loathed that she had to hide, and was still hiding.

Shaking her head slightly, she had no idea how long she had been lost in her past. She hoped that the two men before her thought it her astonishment and sorrow for Skorne’s current situation was the cause for the long silence. She did feel those emotions for the elf, but she also hoped that Ertai was not close behind, she prayed to the Light that he was far away.

“I have heard rumors that there is a place of great healing that has been newly built in Talas. Perhaps you could find some sort of aid there? This Ertai…” Astra said shuddering almost unrecognizably at the name, “…is he far behind you? Where did you encounter such a dark soul?”

Thoughts raced through Astra’s mind so quickly they almost became incoherent to even herself, the one that was producing them. “Perhaps he lies? Perhaps, he is trying to see if I react to the name Ertai? Maybe it is the truth and Ertai is chasing him and then will run into me. He did vow that he would finish his job, finish his job by killing me. So much danger, hidden meanings behind every word, it feels as if I am still in The Great Game’s clutches.”

Despite her worried thoughts, Astra’s face held the look of astonishment and sympathy. A trait she had learn well, hiding her feelings. She barely noticed the rain streaming down around her.

Seele looked at Astra, his face blank. She was hiding something, and pretty well too. But she had looked like someone had slapped her when Skorne had mentioned 'Ertai.' He shivered slightly, the move hidden by hjis cloak. He had heard whisperings in the shadows he frequented about this 'Ertai,' although he knew little about the demon. Only that it was a nightmare. "Pray tell Skorne, who is this Ertai?" Seele's golden eyes had a strange light in them as he asked. "And where?"

Skorne's face was pained as he recalled the memory of what had happened. "Ertai is the demon that murdered my family. Why he did, I cannot say for I do not know, but he attacked on the same night that a person name Adsero burned down my house." Skorne closed his eyes, reliving the memory of that night. "I remember the heat of the fire, my father...he tried to fend off Ertai while my mother and I escaped. He was killed, I saw his dead body at the bottom of the stairs in our house. My mother was killed next, she gave her life that I could hide from Ertai. I managed to survive the fire, and I climbed out of the rubble the next morning. It was then that I learned all I could in fighting with scimitars, that I would be able to track down Ertai and kill him once and for all." Skorne's eyes were filled with unshed tears as he finished relating his story. He looked up into the storm clouds, letting the rain hide his tears.