It was a dark and stormy day. The sky was white but filled with black clouds that poured rain upon Cascadia City, and especially on the Monument -- that was standing on the cliffs -- it seemed. Long, white arms of lightning crept downwards through the sky like narrow ladders, but they didn't allow anything to climb on them. Their finger tips scorched everything they touched, and left nothing but destruction behind, while accompanied by the low and furious rumbling of the thunder.

So it wasn't strange that all of Cascadia's inhabitants had fled into their houses, and some of them even in basements to hide from the terrible storm. There was one being however, who hadn't searched shelter. It was a daemon man; an assassin, and his name was Zan. He was standing on one of the cliffs, his arms next to his sides, while he looked upwards at the huge monument; his silvery hair matted upon his forehead. Rain water streamed into his black eyes but he didn't care, for some reason he couldn't stop gazing at the statue in front of him.

His long black coat waved in the wind and he spread his black bat-like wings, jumping into the air and flying upwards to take a better look at the cold stare of the statue. The wind almost grabbed him and he had to flap furiously to stay up in the air, he could get smashed against the cliffs if he didn't pay attention. He sighed and felt exhausted, and therefore he dropped to the ground again, not clapping his small wings until he was a few feet above the ground.

"Darn weather", he hissed angrily, while sitting down against the base of the monument to rest.

The weather was tricky today. The wind roared across the lands. A tall figure stood on the cliffs. It was a girl. Her hair seemed like a flame, waving in the air. She was watching, exploring. Her new home fascinated her and its towns, forests and sea's offered her plenty entertainment. So why had she come to the Monument? It was said to be a place of interest and culture. And the word culture reminded her of her home, The Highlands. It didn't seem that far away now she had visited Imythess' colourful forests. Carolyn smiled and looked at the horizon. The sun was setting. It was a breathtaking sight to any that lucky enough to witness it.

Clara, that was her nickname, walked down the cliffs. The wind played with her dress and made it fly. The cold breeze sent a shiver down her spine. Goosebumps appeared on her pale skin. The Highlander looked around and spotted the Monument. It looked pretty impressive. Thunder could now be heard rumbling and as Carolyn looked into the sky she saw lightning. It set the evening sky on fire. The bad weather didn't scare her. Nothing did. She was fearless. She embraced life and all its aspects.

The Highlander approached the Monument and almost bumped into someone. A boy. He was young. Like her. Thick locks of hair framed his pretty face and Carolyn stood still, giving him an apologetic look.

''I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention. My sight was blocked by the wind. The weather is a bit difficult right now, I'm afraid,'' she explained. ''I was just on my way to the Monument. I heard it's nice and worth seeing.''

Zan looked up when someone suddenly bumped into him. He hadn't seen anyone coming; not at all, although his senses were well developed. His eyes and ears were better than the average human being; but he wasn't just a human, of course. He was a daemon, a young man who was feared throughout the lands. Not because he was that dangerous -- he was a cold-blooded murderer but still he didn't harm those who didn't harm him -- but because of his creepy and gothic appearance, and perhaps because of his rather pessimistic and tomboyish nature as well.

He abruptly raised his head, the silver hair falling into his eyes which were surrounded by black lines that looked a bit like tears, and narrowed his eyes. He saw a woman who looked completely unfamiliar, and he cursed himself because of sitting here so unprotected. He didn't think the woman was intending to attack him but if anyone who had been intending to do so was here, they could easily have killed him without him being able to defend himself.

He quickly jumped up and realised that the woman was taller than him; he himself wasn't really towering guy and pretty short and very slender, almost thin.

"I see", he replied, still not completely trusting the situation. "Well the monument is over there, you can't miss it".

He raised his left hand and pointed at the huge statue above them, that seemed to be looking over the city and the ocean, as usual.