City of Strata

THE CITY OF STRATA

LOCATION - DESCRIPTION - ARCHITECTURE - PROMINENT BUILDINGS/SIGHTS

THE UNDERGROUND - ROADS AND PLACES - HISTORY

Ancient port of the Barthavos Desert, located near the southernmost point of the Gaian Continent, nowadays one of the major cities in Gaia. Founded by refugees from the ravages of war. Infamous for its crime but well known for its large harbour and trade district. Though certain conflicts have caused a decline of Strata's former importance and wealth, it is still a magnificent sight. Coming from the sea and arriving in the harbour or from the desert entering through the grand Northern Portal every visitor agrees that in front of his eyes lies the "Beauty of the South".

The dry heat presses down on the town. The air is shimmering in the brilliant light of the air. The hot winds coming out of Barthavos carry a fine sand which covers everything with a fine layer. But on the bottom of the canyon the tall houses are forming, the shade is deep, the wind cut out and life is possible. Archways border the broader roads and precious trees give shade to those who have to follow their affairs during the heat of the day. But those are not two many. The town comes to life when the sun is sinking into the sea far in the west and the winds are ceasing to blow, lamps are lit all over the main places and roads, and the times for business other than that during the day has arrived. The traveller is advised to avoid the darker sideways and hopefully he knows already where to put his head in the night. But which newcomer to Strata can withstand the market down at the harbour, where goods from all over the world can be looked at - or even bought. Or the colourful places all over the town, where shops are lined up, in between taverns of all kinds and where you find musicians at every corner who compete with each other.

[list][*]Location:

The southernmost point of the Gaian continent, Cape Strata, is a flat rocky region which is covered by a thick layer of sands which gets thinner the further south you travel. While the rocky underground is still quite dense near the Mesa's, which are a two days travel north of Strata, it contains a lot of caverns near Strata. These flat rocks elevate near the southern tip just a few, maybe six feet over the sea level when the tide is high, farther north in the town it has raised already to about 10 to 17 feet. Strata slightly rising from south to north and from east to west allows therefore a magnificent view for those ships coming from other parts wanting to sell their goods in the harbour near the north-east side of the town. Due to the water currents of the sea, Strata has only few beaches or sandbanks. One is near the southern point, the other north of Strata on the eastern side.

[*]Description:

People are arguing about which approach to Strata is the more splendid one, coming from the desert and looking onto the town stretched beneath ones feet, framed by the blue sea, or approaching by ship sailing along the front of beautiful houses lit by the sinking sunset, or - entering the harbour in the east in full sight of the town, preferably when the sun just rose above the horizon.

The Approach from the East

Few travellers endure the hardness and dangers of a voyage through the Barthavos, most arrive by ship. Arriving in the morning and approaching Strata slowly, travellers see a town lying before their eyes which just seems to have arose from a tale told by the elders or a distant myth:

Built on the very edge of the headland of the Gaian continent, it takes the whole space of the hook. The land is slightly rising from south to north, and even a bit more from east to west, so the view is just fantastic. Tall houses in the colour of the sun, from a light yellow, over a deep Strata orange to a dark red are standing side by side, framed and divided with a splendid white colour. Down at the old harbour side are some bigger houses used for storing the valuable goods coming from Northern Gaia. A broad road is leading from the old harbour straight to the western end of the town, passing the great harbour gate and the town wall and running through the central market, around the famous giant Dar'ii Tree. On the left edge the splendid Temple of Water draws the eye towards it just sitting on an small island outside the town wall, which runs around the town just behind the houses belonging to the harbour quarters. The city wall is another prominent feature of the town, and though it is of strong built and was never torn down, it doesn�t look threatening. The light yellow of the stones gives it a friendly touch, though the pointed pinnacles demonstrate the ability to protect its citizens. On the other, northern side, outside the town, the magnificent, pure white, round temple of Falis is greeting the traveller with its golden shining spherical roof and its three tall, slender towers.

Few of the arriving ships call at the old harbour which was destroyed during a big flood and only partly reconstructed, most moor in the new harbour outside the town in the northwest of Strata.

There, down the beach in northwestern direction near the new harbour, a very tall, huge lighthouse is standing. It doesn�t fit very well to the whole town of Strata, and the fascinated visitor soon averts his eyes and concentrates on Strata again.

The houses in their beauty and variety are enough to astonish the foreign visitor, but what catches his eyes most are not the splendid buildings, but the green in between, where you didn�t expect it. Strata is know for selling fresh water as one of the valuable goods here . Water is a resource which is rare and therefore restricted for everybody, even the rich ones. And so the trees which grow everywhere in the town are valuable and very cared for. The mightiest and oldest tree is the Dar'ii tree in the middle of the famous Stratanian market place, but there are rows of other trees running down in the middle of every of the main four roads, each tree belonging to a certain house of which it is cared for. And every house itself, most of them build in a rectangular way with a inner courtyard, has its own tree in the middle of the house. This is the way the Stratanian's can survive in the heat of a summer day, when a hot dry wind is blowing either from the southeast or coming out of the Barthavos.

As the ships comes nearer, more details can be seen. The white colour on the houses turn out to be complicated white ornaments and white shutters in front of the plenty windows, with balconies and porches the houses try to surpass each other. The trees show more of their gracile beauty and the promise of a cooling shade, and suddenly the traveller can�t wait to set his foot on the landing docks of the "Beauty of the South".

The Approach from the North

Coming from the north the town promises relief after the heat of the day, the green of the trees are balsam on the tortured eyes, the air seems to be cooler now and the ears longs for the sound of running water. Like a coloured jewel lying on blue-green silk it matches the sea which surrounds it here by all other sides. The beautiful Northern Gate, ornamented with blue shining tiles, welcomes the traveller.

[*]Architecture:

The houses in Strata are up to seven, eight stories high and built out of dried clay bricks.

The wall is covered with plaster out of the same, fresh material and coloured while the plaster is still fresh. The Strata orange is the most seen colour, but yellow and the red are common as well. Few houses have a pale blue, but this is a new habit and the Stratanians still don�t know if they like it or not. So far this colour was only used for the temple of Water or for interiors and seeing it on the outside of a house divides the citizens.

Though the houses would look great, tall and slender as they are, built together or standing close with only small lanes between them, they get their characteristics from the ornamentations running like a baize around the bottom of each story and around the plenty windows which are the pride of every owner of a house. Each of this ornamentations is built from the plaster the wall is covered with and highlighted and enriched with the brightest white colour available in the south.

The roof and the upper story is painted with a white chalk mixed with a binding agent which protects the claybricks and plaster from the wind, the burning sun and a very rarely rainfall.

The windows are mostly small, but high, sometimes stretching from the bottom to the ceiling. The upper part is often curved. Sometimes they are divided in a lower part with shutteres which can be closed or opened, the upper, curved part which can not be opened. A very thin sliced special stone which allows the light to penetrate sometimes covers this openings. But big pieces are very fragile, and so small pieces are set in a framework creating a special look to these windows. To guard the windows, they have small gracile balconies in front of them, delicately build out of the same material as the houses themselves.

To shut out the early heat of the sun in the morning, every window has white painted shutters which allow the air of the western sea to bring a cooling breeze to the interior of the houses, in the middle of the day however they can be closed to prevent the hot air coming in. Some noble houses have imported glass in their windows, but it is often blind due to the sand carried by the desert winds into Strata which finds its way into every c***k.

The roofs are flat, surrounded by a wall to prevent people from falling off. In the late evenings, when the air is pleasant, the winds have ceased and the tasks of the day are done they are the meeting place of the families and their guest, from neighbours and friends.

There are two different types of houses in Strata:

One is the common rectangular house with an inner courtyard. The rooms are mainly oriented to this courtyard, except the rooms which are facing the main road. In these courtyards the pride of the family has its place, the shade giving tree, in most cases a dar�ii tree.

The other type of house is found mainly in the Eastern Lane. The houses built directly on the town wall and facing the western sea don�t have an inner courtyard, but are built simply rectangular with the rooms facing either the sea or the road. These families set their pride in a "high garden" and care for a diversity of plants which they grow on the roof.

All houses on the main four roads have archways at the bottom level, each house connected with its neighbours, so that walking in the shade is possible. The same is to find at the houses standing around one of the various markets of Strata.

Prominent Buildings/Sights. Among the many notable buildings and locations of Strata I'd like to name the f

"Ohohohohoho..."

The laughter carried through the home, even as a few passerby's ont he outside turned their heads to peer at the Scroll Shop, before moving on. Night had already descended upon the desert City, and the lamps outside were brightly lit. Within the shop, on the second floor, was where the source of laughter came from.

"My, my... That is quite interesting indeed. Very, very, muchly so." Standing in the doorway of a quickly set-up guest room, the man known as 'Grandfather' was not a young man, though powerfully built, and his hair and beard were peppered with grey, threaded here and there with frost-white. He wore the same type of flowing tunica, as Nahara and Hibon wore, although more flowing to his very feet. This man was known as Vaelaron Dain,a 'retired' War Mage.

"Well... you won't throw them out will you?" Nahara spoke softly. She was knelt by the bedside of the man that had been entombed partially within the rock of the mesa, a damp cloth being pressed alongside his forehead.

"Really woman, do I look like a b*****d to you?" Dain continued stroking a hand through his beard as his eyes, very much like Nahara's, settled upon both men, that were laying in seperate beds. "I sent you out to gather ingredient's, and you come back with spouses. Really, woman."

"Grandfather!" Her cheeks flushed furiously scarlet, causing Dain to erupt into laughter once more.

He'd been watering the plants upon the roof, when he spotted the low flying Lurker, and had been there to watch Nahara descend with both men. At first he was a little estranged about the whole matter, but she had done the right thing- the human thing. Just like her mother... He thought to himself as he watched from the doorway. It had been him who'd taken the men to the tub, and scrubbed and basically mended their open wounds. Both Sun and the man with the scar on his face were swathed in bandages, and their skin and hair cleaned of any filth and dried blood.

However, try as he may, Dain could never quite get the man's boots off himself. They actually burned his hands, and it wasn't for a frost spell he would have been severely scalded. But oddly enough, the sheets never caught on fire... so he just shrugged it off. For now... for there was something that did catch the old man's eyes... he recognized the marking below the eye of the oldest... and the marking upon his back as well.

"Yes... interesting indeed." His eyes raised once more towards Nahara. "And your foolish brother? where did he get off to?"

"Well.... he... ah..."

"Heh heh heh." Sitting with his knees folded, Hibon stared at the ground, leaning against the wall. "I wonder if my getting' arrested means that..." His eyes closing he let out a sigh. "Those three were able to sneak in."

True to form, Hibon was inside a cell, his distraction having worked a little too well. "It was nice findin' those guys. Nahara sure has some heart on her." Hibon's eyes opened however, as he began to think more about the two strange men.

"Hmm. That isignia on that guy's face... Was a symbol I've seen in grandfather's books. Is he... one of those people then? Or just one of the faithful? Either way, he's definitely has something to do with that story..." He reached up a hand, scratching at the bridge of his nose. "That younger one seem'ed like he'd seen his share of battles as well. Now that I think about it, they're a pretty strange duo."

Hibon lifted his head, staring up into the ceiling of his cell, a wishful sigh escaping his lips. "I wonder if they're adventurers. People who travel across the continent of Gaia, exploring ruins and finding treasures."

Suddenly a dull clanging broke his chain of thoughts, as the cell door became unlocked.

"I'm free!" The guards stared at Hibon wryly, as he walked out, whistling happily. "Thanks a bunch, now!"

"I appreciate the service."

The voice caused Hibon to turn around in mid-stride, as it belonged to none other than...

"Hibon...."

"Grandfather!"

~~

"Your awake now... right?" Nahara's voice drifted out gently, as she applied another damp cloth to Sunstrike's forehead. Her grandfather had long since left to get her brother, and she'd been left, attending to the two.

However there had been no response from the other man at all so far. It was if he were in a deep sleep.

"Can you speak? Or does it still hurt?"

"Well that's Magister Dain for ya!" Hibon laughed out loudly, as he walked down the street, rubbing the side of his head. "He just says his name and I'm out, no questions asked..."

"Ohohohohoho..." Dain laughed outloud as well, as he followed behind Dain, before suddenly giving a kick square into Hibon's rear. "Fool!" Dain ran a hand through his beard, as he started down at Hibon, passerbys staring for a moment, but not wanting to look rude and stick around. "And here's the grandson of Dain for you: a pathetic delqiuent who ignores his studies... and pranks his way all across town! I don't think you could possibly bring greater disgrace to my name."

Hibon just kept his head hung down, silent under all the nagging.

"However... you did a good thing today. You should start wanting to do something with your life, Hibon. Your life is just starting..." Dain began walking off, heading down towards the East Lane.

"Gramps...." Hibon was seated on the ground, watching as his grandfather retreated back into the crowds of the night.

~~

She felt a small flush to her cheeks, as she cleared her throat, and removed the cloth, ringing it out intot he small bowl she had. "Oh-- he'll be fine. He's always been a troublemaker, and knows how to get himself out of trouble as well. Although one of these days..."

She smiled and shook her head, before looking back to the young man. "So, what's your name? Do you remember anything?"

"Sunstrike?" Nahara blinked, as she let the name roll off her tounge, getting used to pronouncing it in her head, as she listened to him... but even he didn't seem to have a clear idea of what had happened. She frowned a little, as he sat up. "Don't strain yourself..."

~~

"There is no need for escape... my sleeping one."

The voice seemed to drift out of everywhere, and nowhere all at once.

"Who..."

The man's voice drifted out in responce, in this ever present blanket of nonthingness that seemed to bar any possibility of vision.

"All efforts are in vain, for this is nothing but a dream. I am

the ruler of the subconscious plane. What you dream becomes my dream, and

what I dream becomes your world. Now sleep..."

Without warning a bright flame erupted, and lit the darkness faintly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't. At least... not yet."

"That flame..."

"The blazing lifeforce of that avatar flows through my body. I,

have... been having... visions of warnings. Warnings that a great Darkness is coming... Do you have any idea of what I'm talking about? Isn't it the job of the

elemental avatars to protect this world? Why the hell am I getting these messages?"

"Battle theDarkness...? So, Efreet still remains unwhole...

Is this what continues to feed people false hopes, all the while they are

forgetting the truths that lie in the battles fought ten thousand years

ago..."

"What...?"

"Listen carefully, my sleeping one. Darkness is not without

reason. Its place is set in the eternal scheme of the universe. And true

reason is that which lies deep within your soul. Reason that makes you what

you are."

"So if Darkness is reason, then our souls are filled with..."

"To defy the will of my husband is to defy reason. Any

attempt to escape from Darkness is futile. Now that the Darkness

enroaches on your soul, you can hear its voice...and the voice that calls

back... The voice of the Darkness is within you..."

"The voice of Darkness..."

"However, there is no need for despair. Ten thousand years ago

the people before you, too, lost all hope. It is then that I was born here, in the

depths of their will. I am the ruler of dreams, and within my dreams --people can escape the harshness of reality.

Darkness consumes the body, but the soul lives on--it lives on in my world.

If destruction truly is on it's way, there is nothing left for the children of Ava--nothing but annihilation. Now come... Save yourself while you still have the chance... Let go of all you know and enter my world, as have many others... The realm of dreams is a paradise, free of pain and strife."

"Who... are you...How do you know all this..."

"Shhh... there's no more time. My husband is always close. Take heed of my words. You've grown so much...my sleeping...my dreaming...my warrior. It's time for you to awaken... It's time for you to weave your own destiny.

To weave...your very own...dreams."

~~

"It's sad I tell you. Used to be a time, when we could cross, and mvoe along without even so much as worry about losing our goods, let alone our lives."

"I know what you mean... the City's real strapped tho, they sent in requests for additional help from up North... but you know how those people are."

"Yea... way too good for us hard working folk."

Soft murmers were heard, snippets of conversation caught every now and then, as Hibon walked through the streets of Thief's Lane, his hands in his pockets.

"I tell you, they should just send out the militia already, wipe out those vermin for good. We shouldn't have to be putting up with this!"

"It's not that easy you know... I've never seen so many dragons in one place... their supposed to be extinct aren't they?"

"Crazy times..."

Hibon lifted his head and stared towards the side, before letting out a sigh, and made his way towards a tavern.

~~

"Do you mean you came all the way from the North? Is that why all those strange lights went off?"

Nahara was intrigued, as now that she thought about it, the flaming bird had appeared mere moments after seeing the flahsing lights in the sky.. but to come from so far away, so fast...

"Ah?" Her thoughts broken, she turned her head to the unmoving form of Sun's companion. "Yes.. my Grandfather did his best... he seems... alive, but he's in a trance or something... My grandfather said it was reminscent of those people to do when they got seriously injured.. I'm not sure what he meant though."

"Who is he?"

"Well.. yes. Yes and no. I'm a mage in training, really... although my grandfather won't let me attend the Academy. Me and my brother help him run this shop. We lost our parents in---"

"Ohohohohoho... that would explain a few things then, yes indeed."

Dain's voice carried through from the doorway, as his powerful frame filled it, before he stepped forward. "Kyonuske... I haven't seen them in the mainland for ages... ever since they started and shortly abruptly ended their 'school exchange'. Galos Scarknife was from Strata after all-- so of course we are familiar with these people."

Walking on over to where the Kyonuske lay bed ridden, Dain pressed a hand to the man's forehead. "Besides... not just anyone wears the clan marking."

"Grandfather... I didn't hear you come in. Is everything alright? Did you find Hibon?"

He dismissed her questions with a wave of his hand, as he continued checking the man. "Yes, yes... your brother is fine now. Just like your mother, you know." Dain narrowed his eyes, as he peered intently on the wounds underneath the bandages, which had turned into black 'burnt' markings, like the markings one would find on a tiger.

"Ohohohoho-- no, don't misunderstand me. I encountered a few back in my days, and they were quite known, in appearence only back in my younger days... but I certaintly don't go so far as to say I know them personally." He straightened himself back up, a little surprised to see the younger male already up and on his feet.

"Sun-- you shouldn't be overdoing it!" Nahara was right behind the man, hands on his shoulders, as she tried to guide him right back towards his bed.

Interesting lot... these two. "Yes, don't let my foolish grandson, or naive grandaughter worry you." He gave another hearty laugh, to dispel the mood that ahd suddenly settled within the room.

~~

"MWAHAHA! Just beautiful!" Hibon raised another glass of warm milk to his lips, as he leaned back in his chair, one arm draped over the back of it. "Nice little a** you got there, toots!" He exclaimed out, as he patted the behind of a passing waitress.

"Oh my! Hibon, you're such a tease!" The waitress giggled uncontrollably, as she continued on her way. He's so dead.... Her eyes narrowed into intent murder as she walked off.

"Hey Hibon!" The cracked voice called out, causing Hibon to turn his head in the direction, and smile happily, as he saw the propietor of the tavern. "Long time, no see boy..."

"Hey, pops." Hibon said to the old man, as he pulled out a seat opposite Hibon. Seating himself, he pulled from behind his back a small shot glass, and a bottle of liqour.

"Heard you got into it again yesterday."

"Yeah... Kinda." Hibon said, as he placed his glass down.

"You know, it's not exactly easy to get into the Militia. Doesn't being a member mean anything to you?" The old man said, as he closed his eyes, taking in a breath.

"The only reason I'm in it is because my grandfather, Dain, is the regional Magistrate. After all, not only is he head of the Academy... He's one of the greatest wizards this side of the continent." Hibon raised a hand to his chin, and sighed, eyes lazily staring forward. "I, on the other hand, am two years behind the other soldiers. A flunkey."

The old man laughed gently, as he finished off his drink. "Well that's because you're always hanging around places like this."

Hibon waved his hand around. "Nah, it's not like that! I'm just not cut out for it!" Hibon frowned, as he ran a hand through his dyed hair. "I don't even have the body of a fighter. I always end up running away before fighting."

".........." The old man poured himself some more, and took another shot.

"Besides...the whole thing just sucks."

The old man lifted his gaze from the cup, to stare at Hibon.

"My whole life's already been planned for me. All I have to do is what I'm told." Hibon leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head. "That's no kinda life at all."

Hm.. "You sure are chatty today." The old man said, smiling to himself as he stared down at his glass.

"Yeah. I must be a little drunk or something."

The old man stood up, drinking the last of his glass. "You can't get drunk off of milk, Hibon. Even if it is goat milk."

"Right..." Hibon's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Well, take it easy."

Hibon let loose another sigh, as he closed his eyes. "Don't you want to do something with your life? Like be an adventurer?"

"An adventurer, huh?"

~~

"Make it up to me? Ohohohoho... no, if anything it should be my grandchildren you should feel indepted to. Are you two adventurers? Is that it? I was just about to set off for the Northern lands myself because of all the reports of lightd our people had been seeing. We don't much in the way of news out here, but we did manage to catch a news reports on what was going on at that Stadium of yours."

Adventurer... I wonder what it's like... Life outside these walls. Living day by day not knowing what to expect, and exploring... Nahara sat on the edge of the bed, staring at both her grandfather and Sun, fascinated, to say the least.

"Of course, of course..." Dain's eyes remained locked with Sunstrike's for a moment, as the old man seemed to be debating something within the confines of his mind.

"What did you say your names were again?" He asked casually, as he strode over to the wardobe closet that stood in the corner of the room. Opening one of it's doors, he bent in and began rummaging through it's contents.

~~

Hibon was walking up the street, heading for the Scroll Shop, as he managed to catch snippets of conversation.

"Did you hear?! Another shipment was attacked-- people were actually killed this time!"

"When the hell is the Militia going to do something about this?"

"What do we pay them for!? All they seem to do is take in trash and troublemakers like Magistrate Dain's grand---"

They hushed, as Hibon walked on past them, his head bowed low in silence. The men felt a little more than uncofortamble, as they seemingly were embarrassed to continue.

Yea... an adventurer.

The door to the Scroll shop slammed behind him, and not soon after, the men continued their conversation and gossip, like old women.

"Hibon!" Nahara had immediately glanced towards the doorway leading into the room, after hearing the downstair's door slam shut. A few moments later as feet were head coming up the steps, it was indeed the young Stratanian that appeared.

"Eh? What's up with everyone?"

"Their up. Well, one of them anyone." Nahara said, gesturing towards Sunstrike, who was busy making friends with the baskets that lay on the floor.

"Oh- so their not dead?"

"Nice of you to join us, Hibon. You didn't cause any more trouble outside I hope?" Dain said as he walked away from the bed in which the Kyonuske lay.

"What? No-- come on, I just got out of the jails. I just stopped by the tavern on the way here."

"Well you two, I'm going to go get dinner started. Entertain our guest why don't you?" With that Dain walked out of the room, leaving Hibon and Nahara with Sunstrike.

"You alright, Hibon?"

"Yea, yea-- never better." He said with sarcasm as he dropped onto the floor, sitting with crossed legs. "So then... did you ask him about the flaming bird yet?"

"Oh! That's right..."

"Hibon..." Nahara stared towards her brother, giving him a 'Behave yourself!' look, which he promptly replied with a 'what did I do now?!' look.

"No... reports on the radio said that most of their equipment went down, overheated or something. So everyone in town just has the usual rumours to offer-- aside from the usual talks on our problems." Nahara said as she watched Sunstrike actually remove the greaves from his companion's feet. How can he withstand that kind of heat...?

"Everyone in this town takes things for granted too easily. They just sit around, twiddling their thumbs hoping for a solution to literally fall out of the sky." Hibon said, with annoyance as he sighed. "We don't get much in, the form of aid from our neighbors... ever since the civil war."

"Yes... A civil war, between the people of this region."

Hibon tilted his head up, as the powerful frame of Dain filled the doorway, Nahara looking as well. A simple dish rag in his hands, the old man was calmly wiping his hands clean. "This part of the continent wasn't always a desert you know... it became this way because of us. Humans."

Dain's voice was thoughtful, and carried loudly enough for all three of them to hear, as he never moved once from the doorway. "Humans... everything we touch changes. For the better, or for the worse: it is still change. This landscape changed as well, many, many centuries ago. These sands became stained with the blood brothers and friends alike... back when there was still some life left in this place. The grasslands they were known as... and all the races lived in harmony."

His eyes closed, as he paused in the movements of the rag. "However, 50 years ago... The people of the Grasslands went to war with the Lizardmen, their own neighbors. A quarrel over a small toll the Lizardmen were charging others to cross their land grew into a full-scale border dispute. Fighting between the early allied forces of the Stratanians and the Lizardmen became a quagmire with no end in sight."

Hibon lowered his head, silent as he'd heard this tale many times before.

"It was then that someone from the Northernlands appeared. He used his flames to fend off the Lizardmen who had invaded the southernmost reaches of the Grasslands." Draping the rag over one shoulder, Dain placed both his hands on his hips and his eyes locked with Sunstrike's.

"From then on, he became known as the 'Fire Bringer', the Stratanians rallied under him and his friends. United under the Fire Bringer's leadership, they all battled against the Lizardmen army. However, to free a large amount of prisoners being held by the Lizardmen, he traded his freedom, and was incarcerated within their territory, 'Hollow'. Four years later, his loyal followers managed to rescue him, and he continued fighting for the freedom of Strata. After another four years, Hollow sent a massive force into the grasslands, and the war swung into full force."

Dain finally moved forward into the room, walking towards Sunstrike. Reaching behind him, he took from his pocket, what he'd dug up from the closet before leaving to prepare for dinner. They were a pair of goggles... which he was holding out to Sunstrike.

"But then...as the war came to a head and the final battle begun, reports say that the Fire Bringer lost control of his power, and a massive explosion occured, killing countless people on both sides. The intense destruction caused the Lizardmen to offer a 50-year truce, but it also dramaticaly altered the landscape... turning the lands into desert. From then on, the region became known as the Barthavos desert."

Dain turned and continued walking, until he was almost out the doorway.

"...In one glorious instant, the heroes of flame vanished...and the Lizardmen troops fled in chaos and fear. It's an old legend of heroes and battles. 10 years ago, the truce was broken by the Lizardmen. First it started with the sporadic attacking of caravans... then full-scale skirmishes. 5 years ago, the City was under siege... and it was there that my grandchildren lost a mother and a father. They were heroes..."

Hibon and Nahara had their heads lowered in silence, clearly uncomfortable with the current subject.

"Come now... dinner's ready. I'm sure your friend won't be waking up anytime soon, so please, join us." Dain turned his head slightly, giving Sunstrike another cursory glance, before walking out.

"Gramps really knows how to lay it thick." Hibon said, raising his head before eventually standing up from the floor.

"Come now, Hibon... Sunstrike's not from around here, so grandfather just felt he should know of whats been going on--"

"So what?" His voice cut blindly, as he swept his arm to the side. "Those scale heads killed our parents! That's all the reason I need to kill every single last one of them! It's what they want... why else would gramps have gone out of his way to make sure I was in the militia!" He turned around, his right fist clentched tightly. "Even if my life is planned out for me, at least I'll get to accomplish what I want.... Every single one of those cold-blooded monsters are going to die, you'll see."

Hibon left, Nahara just staring after him, before lowering her head.

"....... --- I'm sorry you had to hear that. He... He's not always like that.. It's just... w-we really loved our parents... You understand, don't you?"

~~

Hibon leaned against the wall, outside the room, his head lowered as tears streamed from down his face. Dammit...

"It's just... he feels responsible... as do so many of the other youths. We weren't the only ones to lose parents, let alone loved ones in the battle. It's why the Militia has been able to recruit so many people over the course of a single year... Their rallying to try and go out and meet the Lizardmen head on... but.."

Nahara lowered her head, shaking it. "I just don't see how violence can solve violence. It'll never end... none of it will... unless both sides can come together."

She stood up from the bed, and smiled, her eyes closed, doing her best to bury the touchy subject down for the moment.

"Yes! My grandfather's quite the cook you know."

Running out the door, her bare feet padding along floor as she was sure Sunstrike would follow, she almost bumped into Hibon.

"Hibon!"

"Hey, don't you think we should warn him that gramps food isn't exactly the best in the world?" He said sarcastically, even as Nahara kicked him in the side.

"That's not nice! Just because he forgot you were allergic to mushrooms!"

"Ackk- hey! Hey, come on!"

Both ran down towards another room, where the smell of food seemed to waft out, and upon entering, Dain would be seen on the side, a heaping plate of still steaming rice in one hand, and a large plate of what appeared to be a brown lobster.

"Here you go-- my specialty: Sand Lobster Paella!"

"Ohohohohoho.... Enough yappin'. Have something to eat, will you?"

Dain said, a hearty laughter filling the room, as he went back to the kitchen to retrive the plate of drinks. Both Hibon and Nahara were walking forward as well, bare feet padding laong the floor. Hibon shot a look to Sunstrike hearing the tail end of his comment.

"You kiddin'? Don't you know it's rude not to eat when you're in gramps house?" Both Nahara and Hibon smiled, even as they settled into their seats.

"Ohohohohoh.. that's a good man." Dain came back out from the small kitchen, carrying a plate with three good sized glasses of cow milk, a creamy white liquid produced by female cattle (cows, heifers). It could be drunk straight, heated, chilled, or used extensively in baking, cooking, and cheesemaking. It was also a source of cream and butter.

The whole family was seated at the table, plates of rice for each of them, as well as a Sand Lobster for everyone.Dain used his great hands, cracking the shell of the lobster in half.

"Ohohoho.. who am I?"

Nahara and Hibon both exchanged glances, groaning inwardly. If there was one thing that their grandfather loved, it was telling stories. Hibon was doing his best to crack the lobster like Dain had, while Nahara simply used the untensil provided for just a thing.

"It is said that during the early years of the grassland's reign, a man appeared before the northern gate of Strata. In his arms, he carried a crying babe still swathed in its white birthing robes. He identified himself to the gate guards and that the purpose of his visit was to seek employment in the Militia. The guards laughed with derision for he was not a young man.

The man said nothing and he entrusted the babe to a beggar woman sitting nearby. Then he unsheathed the worn-looking battle-axe that was strapped to his back and silently, purposefully, swung it before the guards could draw their own swords. There was a sound like splintering thunder across a stormcloud-laden sky and the massive oak table, which the guards had used to record the number of entries into Strata, was hewed into two. A table that needed the strength of at least five men to move it.

Just as quietly, Elder Dain re-strapped his axe and after a polite thanks to the beggar woman as he gathered the baby in his arms once more, he then walked passed the now silent ranks of guards, towards the direction of the Militia Headquarters. There, he secured a position as a common foot-soldier but was soon known for his powerful strength and skill in battle. Swiftly climbing the ranks, the rough-spoken soldier, who despite the fact that his beard was now completely as white as new-fallen snow, beat out 14 other younger competitors during the succession trials to become the new Captain.

Prior to his first appearance at the gate, much of his early history was shrouded in mystery. Not once in his life, did he speak of of his wife to others and there were rumors, never confirmed, that the child he had brought with him was not of his blood. But it was obvious to all that the veteran soldier was very proud of his son and both men obviously cared very much for the other. What do bloodlines and lineages matter when compared against the simple pride a father has in his son?"

Dain leaned back, taking a long drink from his glass, before putting the now empty cup down.

"My name is Vaelaron Dain, son to Lysander Dain. My father died, a few months after my own son was born, Malakai Dain. I am the Magistrate of Strata, a title I received after the war of 50 years ago."

Nahara sat back down, staring after Sunstrike, but returning to her food once more, as Hibon finally managed to crack open one of the claws.

"It's alright Nahara, gramps stories always chase away people."

Dain snorted as, he got up from the table. "Now, now-- it wasn't that bad. I could have always told him about the time you found that Chimera..."

Hibon chocked on the peice of lobster meat, before downing a whole glass of milk, as Nahara broke out into laughter.

Dain left the dining room, and walked down the hall, digging a cigarette out from the folds of his tunica and lighting it with a few uttered words. Vahn... That Vahn? He's the man they brought from the Mesas? And with that kind of companion...

The old man rubbed a hand against his temple, smoking as he walked with closed eyes. Could this be fate? It seems too good to be true. Nahara, Hibon. It seems that for the both of you... The true adventure is about to begin. I know just the way to start it off as well...

"Ohohohoho..."

The laughter carried back into the dining room, causing Hibon to nearly choke on his lobster again.

"Is that...fire?"

Several people stared up to the sky, a growing light to the south that steadily increased in radiance, as if coming closer....

"RUN! RUN AS FAR AS YOU CAN!"

The heat began to steadily raise, as a steaming wind swept through the throngs of fighters and lizards alike, a faint outline of a tremendous bird in the skies.

"RUN!"

The flash of light extended outwards, turning all that it washed over into literal ash and salt, all the people gone in the blink of an eye.

~~

Dain had been about to knock upon the door and enter, wanting to speak with Sunstrike, but paused instead, and merely listened. It wasn't until he was sure that the young man was finished, that he opened the door and walked in, clicking it shut behind him.

"Water? Really? I'll have to say I don't quite think that was ever sugegsted by anyone." He leaned against the doorway, smoking away and a hearty soft laugh erupting.

The old man merely let out another chuckle, as he walked forward, until he got to the two doors that doubled as windows and opened up onto the small terrace, leading outside. Standing there and overlooking the rest of Theif's Lane, he smoked...

"Don't misunderstand... Long ago, all the people of this regionw ere united under one banner. One love for the land... However, it's always in human nature to sometimes... ruin things. Many of the younger generation may now be growing up with intense dislike and hatred of those we call 'lizardmen', but the truth of the matter is, their not that far different from us."

He laughed heartily as he turned around and faced Sunstrike. "Does it matter what they look like? Does it matter to a mother what her child looks like? No, no... we are all the same. We breathe, we eat, we speak, we feel, we love, we protect. One may see a villain, but the 'villain' sees only himself. It doesn't matter what you look like or where you come from, what matters is what you do with yourself."

His hands rested atop the guard rail, as his eyes closed. "It's unfortunate, yes... but unfortunately races all have their hardships and folly. However... recent years, things seemed to have calmed down.. the lizard clan held true to the truce.. but then it was broken.. and I can't help but feel that something more... is behind this."

His eyes opened and stared towards Sunstrike. "I can honestly say I bear no malice to any of them. Why should I? It was war, simple as that-- there was no adament hatred between any of them.. but the so called leaders saw it differently. I often wonder... if the Lizards do what they do, because it's in their nature to do so... or if they do what they do, out of no choice."

"So then... it is him? The same name yes... but that name is fairly common." Dain's eyes wandered over the apparently comatose body. "The body may be different.. but what is a body, but a container for what really matters: what lies inside."

He crossed his arms across his chest and took a long drag. "The more I think about it... it may very well be the same Vahn from over 50 years ago. He truly is ageless... whta a horrible blessing."

Dain lifted his head and looked to Sunstrike now. "A sword? Back then, Vahn used a simple quarter-staff."

"The Vahn I knew was someone who was forced to grow up after something terrible happened to him. He would never tell any of us what... Up until then it looked like his only worries were riding his horse and coming back 'home' for supper."

Dain looked over the body in the bed once more, smoking winding lazily from his cigarette. "I have see him lashing out as any young boy would, and at times, acting with more wisdom than even the most battle-hardened. He started with trying to get back at the Lizard Clan, then began blaming himself for some reason. Time after time, I have see him doing the right thing but also still lashing out just like you'd expect a child to do. He was always working his way toward being recognized as an adult so to speak, because of his 'condition'. Before the abrupt end to the war, he had already put aside his personal feelings for both Strata and the Lizard Clan. In the end I'd like to think he knew he shouldn't hold a grudge but still wished the best for everyone. His last words spken to us all...were these: 'Nothing comes

of revenge. It merely results in us losing that which drives us.' He told us all that true power comes from having something worth protecting and that someday we will find that something."

He stroked a hand through his beard, leaning back a little. "Not too mention he was a very strong fighter."

"You seem to know a lot for just a regular companion." Dain said, letting the words just hang there for a moment or two, before blowing out a tuft of smoke. "I truly don't know what to expect now that he's found his way back here... but it does seem like fate."

Dain pushed off the railing and walked forward again. "I suppose you have the duty of protecting him, if anyone else were to find out that the 'Fire Bringer' had returned... a real mess would be made of things... and I'd hate to think how the Lizard Clan might react."

He walked for the door, and opened it, giving a small wave and a word, before shutting it behind him. "Do take the time to rest... you have a busy day ahead of you tommorow."

~Two hours later~

"Ahhhh, that's the good stuff!" Hibon wiped his lips witht he sleeve of his tunica, after downing another hearty glass, hacking a little as his cheeks flushed. "Hey, you! Wait!!" Hibon suddenly reached out and grabbed a passerby, pulling him on over.

"What?!" The random guy yelled out, a little more than alarmed.

"C'mon now, drink up!" Hibon tilted the bottle and forced-fed the man as he held the back of his head. "Hah Ha Ha Ha! It's my party, so enjoy!"

"MRMMF!!" The poor man was mroe than overwhelmed, as the fermented goat milk spilled down his throat, getting him as tipsy as hell, and lurching away, only to have Hibon break out into laughter once more.

"Hey girl, you all alone?" Over at the next table, a drunk layed his hand ont the shoulders of a girl, leaning in, his stale breath breaching her senses. "Why don'tcha have a drink with me?"

The girl was unmoving, trying to simply shrug the brute off. "Please...please stop."

"C'mon lose the coat, honey! Lemme see your body."

"Really, no, I'm fine."

"Why don'tcha just---"

"Will you please stop?!"

Hibon's eyes narrowed as he drank from his cup, turning his head towards the direction of the girl.

The drunk was getting a little more than annoyed to say the least. "Hey baby, you're not gonna bring me down too, are you?"

Hibon pushed out his seat, calmly walked over to the drunk, and simply sent his foot slamming into the side of his face.

"Hey, bub. You're putting a damper on my celebration here." Hibon gave the drunk a 'C'mon and get some' look.

"Your celebration?! Cut the crap!" The drunk angrily tried a few times to regain his footing, slid back to the floor, and then managed once more time to get up. "Why don't you just butt the hell out?!" The drunk lowered his head, feeling a little more than defeated. "Stupid jerk..."

Hibon stood staring at the guy, wondering what the hell was his problem, when a waitress that had stopped to watch spoke up. "That guy's become a regular here recently. I heard that his girlfriend dumped him...."

"Walzting in here like you own the place... What the hell do you know?!" The drunkard angrily exclaimed. Hibon stared the man down, before leaning forward and closing his fist around a bunch of his shirt, lifting the guy from the floor.

"You really are pathetic."

"Can't... breathe..." The drunkard said, wheezing a little, as Hibon's grip tightened, before releasing and sending him thudding back onto the ground.

"I'm....not the kind of person this town seems to think I am." Hibon's eyes stared at everyone else in the tavern, as the propietor smiled behind the counter, calmly cleaning a glass. "For me, every day was the same thing. 'To hell with it all,' I thought. But even so...I didn't giuve up on this town." Hibon smiled and ran a hand through his hair. "Then some new friends fell out of the sky... and now it looks like I've found a way out of this rut."

The drunkard stared up at Hibon, as well as everyone else within the tavern, which had grown quiet.

"Something was missing from my life... And all the milk, all the pranks, all the tricks couldn't fill the void. But that's gonna change! 'cuz now I'm.... An adventurer."

~One Hour Ago~

"H...Hold on a sec!" Hibon raised a hand, staring to his grandfather, who was sitting calmly on the steps of the Scroll shop.

"You heard me. You, Hibon... and your sister, Nahara...are from this day forth to serve as their companions. Furthermore, you Nahara... are bound to serve the Fire Bringer."

Me... a COMPANION?! Nahara stared to the ground with flushed cheeks, while Hibon just was still in plain shock.

"I'm sorry gramps. You can call me whatever you like... But I have no intention of being their companion. I've never even heard of this Fire Bringer until today from you. You never told us that part of the story."

Dain laughed softly, his eyes closed as he leaned his head back. "I didn't quite understand it myself. Nevertheless... my word is absolute. You must obey for this land's sake." His eyes opened and he stared at both Nahara and Hibon. "You are to be.... the companions toadventurers."

"Adv...ADVENTURER?!!" Adv-Adv-Adv-Adventure... Hibon's eyes swirled and swirled in thought, delicious though as he grinned and seemed to foam at the mouth. Adventure!! He saw himself slashing through orc after orc. ADVENTURE!!! He saw himself running through a guantlet of lizardmen, slicing a bloody path through each one. ADVENTURE He now saw himself swimming in a mountain of gold coins and treasure chests. ADVENTURE? He finally saw himself surrounded by a harem of beautiful princesses and damsels in distress.

AM I THE ADVENTURER?!!

Nahara and Dain both stared at the drooling Hibon, who seemed lost in his own little world.

"Has he been smoking something?"

"Not a clue."

Dain cleared his throat loudly. "So, will you please be their companions?"

Hibon continued staring into space, lost in his thoughts.

"...Are you even listening?" Dain said, frowning, at which Hibon finally turned his head.

"What a dillema. It is a considerable request, still..." Hibon said, running a hand through his hair as he huffed out his chest.

Why you condescending little--- Nahara resisted the huge urge to stomp her brother into the ground right then and there.

"ALL RIGHT, THEN! If you really insit." Hibon placed both hands onto his hips. "HA HA HA HA I shall grant them the honor having me for a companion!"

Both Nahara and Dain sighed heavily...

~Meanwhile in Latent~

"Don't you have a home to go to?!"

The voice drifted out from one of the many houses within the Mrrchant Town. Down a particular lane, a small commotion was stirring.

"I'm only asking to see Vahn." Said the elderly bald man, standing in front of the doorway.

"And I've told you, he's not here..." replied the man standing in the doorway opposite the old man. By the looks of it, he seemed to be a butler of sorts.

"No? Then where is he? Didn't he come here after the Stadium was destroyed?"

"Just what's going on here?" The feminine voice rang out, as Mitsuyo came walking up the lane, a few bags of groceries in both hands.

"Mitsuyo!"

"!!"

"Vahn, was killed in the explosion that destroyed the Stadium." Mitsuyo said calmly, to the old man who still faced the butler. After a slightly long moment, the old man turned his head, smiling.

"Oh, is that right? So sorry to have bothered you." the old man turned and made his way down the steps, and continued walking down the lane, until he was out of sight.

"Who was that?"

"Who knows?"

The old man continued walking on down, turning into a side alley, and striding through it, not fearing the shadows at all. A stray dog noticed him and began barking at his direction, growing louder and louder. The old man gave it a annoyed glance, and soon the alley was filled with short yelps from the animal, and then silence. The dog's body lay on the ground, blood pooling around it as a blade was wiped clean.

"So he's not here either... He must be in Strata." Walking away from the alleyway, was no old man, but instead a young man. A very sharply dressed man, whose shoes neatly sounded against the stone underneath his feet, his long length of hair gently swaying side to side.

"SUNSTRIKE!" The voice carried on up from the street below, where upon closer inspection, one would find both Nahara and hibon standing just outside the Scroll Shop, looking up to the roof. Her hands on both hips she waved up to the younger man. "We have an errand to run for my grandfather! We set out in a few minutes...So you should start making preparations."

"All right!!" Hibon threw both arms up into the air, pumping his fists. "WE'RE GOING ON AN ADVENTURE!!"

"Relax, you big lug!" Nahara said, jabbing Hibon in the backside with a foot.

From inside the house, looking out the double windowed doors that led to the terrace, Dain stood. Stroking his beard gently he laughed. "Look, Vahn...If life didn't have these kinds of ups and downs, we'd never know what it really means to be alive, right?" The old man laughed, his chest heaving. "I have no part to play in that destiny. I'm nothing more than a spectator this time. And that's too bad..."

The body laying on the bed was unmoving, eyes shut and chest calmy rising and falling with each breath.

"Because it looks like a most excellent adventure is about to begin..."

"Ohohohoho... just realized that now, eh?"

Still stroking his beard, the old man walked towards the wardrobe in the corner, taking out a slender package. He mused for a bit... as if having second thoughts on the whole thing, but relented in the end and turned around, tossing it towards Sunstrike.

"I think you'll find those to your liking... It's what he used to wear back then. A little cliche, but I'm sure you can find better clothing once your out and about with my grandchildren."

Silently, and one would swear almost revrently, Dain moved back to the wardrobe, and opened both door's for Sunstrike to look inside, if he chose to. Within it's cofines, were a whole set of clothes, and various other items, with something heavily draped over, hanging in the background.

"Now that you mention it..." If it hadn't sunk in by now, the room Sunstrike was in, was obviously the same room Vahn himself had used, 50 years ago. Taking hold of the draped object in question, he pulled it loose from it's mourings, and walked back to Sunstrike, holding the lengthy object with both hands. "...I do not even know how it could have survivedsuch a tremendous explosion, but survive it did... buried underneath so much rubble and overturned top soil."

He removed part of the wrappings about the object, to reveal a slender object. It consisted of a shaft of an unknown metal with two jutting portions of blunt metal, one on each end. Both were oriented in the same direction. The staff part was as long as a normal walking staff apparently, and wrapped with leather in the middle for better grasping. It was a quarterstaff, painted in a vibrant sheen of red, with spiraling flame like decorations along it's ends, the apparent weapon of choice of a Vahn 50 years go.

The weapon is used in the same manner as a usual quarterstaff, thus the reference. Basic strokes are generally aimed towards the sides of the opponent, and as soon as one stroke is completed another can be begun using the opposite end. Though apt in defending the upper body, the user is slower to block shots to the feet and legs, so a wielder of this weapon must be quick on his/her toes. This particular quarter-staff had a longer reach than many weapons, so one did not always have to get too close to give fatal blows.

"How is he doing?" Dain was standing just outside the room, hands neatly placed behind his back, just as another old man walked out.

"His wounds are healing just fine, Magistrate. He should wake up sometime tommorow."

"Ohohohoho... no need to be so formal! You definitely live up to your reputation as a medical genius Professor Leon." Dain's shoulders shook with soft laughter, as he patted the other man's shoulder.

"Not at all. Even with all I know--- There is no way I could have healed him so completely in just one day." Leon said, his eyes closing in thought. "It appears that he has a self-healing ability."

Dain's eyes widened in genuine surprise, looking quite shocked.

"If he continues to heal at this rate-- You'll be able to speak with him tonite."

Dain walked forward, staring into the room, and looking at the motionless body that laid out on the bed there. "Is that so? Hmm-- that's good. Very good..."

~~

"Well, look what we have here!"

The voice rang out, within the more seedy section of the desert town, where one generaly wouldn't want to go, unless they were either foolish or strong, a pair of men seemed to be having some fun...

"HA HA HA...!" The other burly man laughed out loud as well, staring towards the young man before them both. The young man was quiet, even as the length of hair behind him moved ever so gently.

"You've got guts showing up here, 'boy'!!" One of the men leaned forward, the smell of alcohol strong on his breath. "You've come looking for information, have you?"

"Do you idiots know where the Fire Bringer is or not?"

Both men stiffened up, one of the throwing down the bottle of drink, so it smashed against the stone floor. "You've got a big mough, you little---" The man was cut short, as a blinding light seemed to emenate and strike down the drunk, blood splattering into the air. "...Brat...!?!" The man was flung backwards viciously, his body twisting in odd angles, obviously broken.

The other drunk turned his attention bakc ontot he young man, his face a visage of snarling, drunken rage, ready to avenge his friend-- when all that met his eyes were the gaping maws of a flaming serpent.

"Im....Impossible!!" The drunk stuttered out, even as his body was slammed into by the serpent, twisting, and breaking, blood splattering even as his screams echoed out. "AAAAGH!!"

"Someone's screaming!"

"Call the Militia!"

...By the time guards even arrived, the young man would be nowhere to be found, only the twisted, and dead bodies of the two drunks... and on the wall behind, the mark of a serpent, etched intot he stone's surface.

The afternoon had slowly winded itself into dusk, as night began to descend upon the Desert for a second time. However the life in the city never died down, the usual hustle and bustle of everyday life moved onwards, without a hint of ever stopping. In one particular section of the City, known as Thief's Lane, was where the Wasted Wizard, Dain's scroll shop and home was located.

One might wonder, why, if Dain was a Magistrate, was he living in such conditions? Well, the title of Magistrate is almost more like a political title, if anything. A group of clerics, and mages from all across the world, formed the council, and the heads of the various sections of the council were known as Magistrates. However, they were not officialy recognized by the goverments in the world, but respectively tolerated.

Speaking of the Wasted Wizard... the shop was closed early tonight, as old man Dain was busy with a guest...

"How are you feeling, Vahn?" The words echoed out slightly, the pot of coffee placed on the table sending wafts of steam, as both men stared at each other across the table. The air seemed tense, as if something would happen at any moment now... the uncomfortable silence grew until..

"Fine, Dain... Thanks to you." Vahn spoke in a flat tone, his face devoid of emotion.

".........." Dain studied Vahn's face, as if searching for something. "Exactly who-- or what-- are you?" He finally said, wanting to get it directly out into the open.

"Ha ha..! You're talking as if I'm some sort of a ghost." Vahn offered, closing his eyes as he ran a finger along the bridge of his own nose.

"I beg your pardon if my question was too forward." Dain said, cupping his hands together, both elbows on the table. The old man was being as cautious as he could be. "With which group are you affiiated with these days?"

"Even though they no longer exist... I'm still not at liberty to say." Vahn retorted, his yellowed eyes never leaving Dain's face.

"......" Dain reached down, taking hold of his cup of coffee and taking a long sip, before placing it back down onto the table. "I witnessed you causing the explosion that caused the war to end 50 years ago. Can you explain that?"

"As before... I cannot." Vahn's eyes narrowed slightly, causing Dain to feel more than just a little uneasy, but he kept his composure.

"Very well. One final question, then." Dain leaned back, a hand stroking his beard. "Are you evil-- or good?"

"Evil? Good? Ha!" Vahn leaned back as well, grinning a little, as he ran a hair through red locks of hair. "How very funny!" Dain just stared at Vahn, waiting for an answer. Vahn saw this and decided to be serious.

"How about if I just say that I can be friends with anyone... and I can be enemies with anyone." Vahn leaned forward the bandages all across his bare body bending. "But I suspect you won't find that answer acceptable." He finished, with a wave of his hand.

Dain reached for his cup, and lifted it to his lips once more. He took another long sip, as Vahn carefully watched him. Dain emptied the entire cup and then brought it down onto the table.

"On the contrary... I find it highly acceptable." Dain lifted his head and stared at Vahn. "Blinded by prejudice, most people only see the world in black or white. You have obviously moved far beyond such limited thinking."

Vahn smiled as he leaned back in his chair.

"You're the young man I knew alright." Dain said, giving out a hearty laugh, as he got up from the table and retrieved two mugs, pouring beer into them both.

"And your quite the old man, Dain." Vahn grinned, as he accepted the mug, taking hold of it with one hand.

"I have a favor to ask of you Vahn--" Dain stared down at Vahn, his tone growing serious. "--If you are willing."

"I'm willing to listen, Dain."

~~

Nahara walked out from the stables, the small sack of Odea Moss slung securely behind her back as she moved. "I'm glad the rental fee's weren't that much this time."

"Their still crazy... I can't believe they didn't have my baby for me today." Hibon grumbled, as he ran a hand through his hair, before pointing and laughing at a poor passerby that slipped on water down the street.

"Sunstrike-- you alright there?" Nahara, turned and looked towards the young man, her colored eyes shining slightly even in the growing dark.

She'd been keeping her eyes on Sunstrike for a while now, and wondered what was running through that head of his. The day hadn't goen by with too much incident, now did it?

"She's alright... she gets like that everytime she's tapped out from using too much magic." Hibon said with a stifled yawn as he walked along the street, side by side with the other two.

"It... must be strange for you." She smiled gently, turning as she walked backwards, so she could face Susntrike. "You've never been down here before right? I mean... what's it like where your from?"

Hibon waved a hand to one of the girls manning just one of numerous side vending stalls in the street.

"That sounds amazing! Really, it does..." Her eyes seemed to gleam slightly, even as they both became shrouded in darkness for a moment or so. "I hope to meet as many interesting poeple as you someday... Then I can be a famous Magister just llike my grandfather."

Hibon slowed down in pace, turning his head to the side as the trio walked up the street towards the Wasted Wizard. Nightfall had come to Strata once more, and the crowds were a little more sparse tonight. The cool air, and gentle cold from the sea probaly had something to do with that, as it was a very relaxing night, especially after a hard day's work in the sun.

"Yes, this poor kid lost his dad in that battle too." A nearby woman said, as she faced another woman, who held a swaddled baby close to her chest. The two were partly in the doorway leading into their home, conversing and taking advantage of the cool air. "It's really so sad..." The woman reached forward and caressed the cheek of the baby.

"Honestly, I'm fed up with all the fighting..." the woman that held the baby looked down to the child, rocking it softly to sleep. "Even when you win, you lose."

"That's so true."

Hibon turned his head away, stuffing both hands into his pockets as his head lowered. Nahara grew silent as well.

"No... today's when sky makes way for the new moon for the month." Nahara said softly, looking up to the moonless sky, as all three approached the Wasted Wizard's front door. Hibon was the first to the door, and jerked to a stop, pressing an ear against the door.

"Someone's in there..."

"So? It's probaly grandfather." Nahara replied impatiently, reaching for the door's handle, only to be stopped by Hibon.

"Tonight's the monthly Council meeting-- you forgotten already?!" He gripped the door's handle, as he turned to look at Nahara and Sunstrike, raising a finger to his lips. He cautiously opened the front door to the shop, having unlocked it and crept forward, the sounds of movement and dull thudds, heard again and again.

There was a solitary light on within the shop, around the back, and that's where Hibon crept towards. Seeing a stooping shadow, he grabbed the nearest thing at hand, and moved forward, towards the light.

"Stop right there!" He bellowed out, waving the... mop... in the direction of the shadowy figure. The figure seemed genuinely surprised, so much so that it turned around to face... a mop? "Give me everything you've stolen and leave immediately!"

"Huh? And you are...?" The figure pointed out with a finger, making the mop wag back and forth for a bit, still hidden somewhat in the shadows.

"The owner!"

"The owner. Hmm." The figure seemed to leane up and back. "What shall I do...? All I've got is my body." The figure began stepping forward, the mop pushed away until it's hands rested on Hibon's chest. "So in that case... take me!" In the light that was in the closed shop, Vahn became visible, his body pressing against a suddenly flushing and shocked Hibon.. who then started to gag, as Vahn sighed happily. "I'm yours!"

Hibon staggered back, and then hid behind a nearby bookcase. "..... It's you!"

"I told you, I'm not a thief." Vahn said, folding his arms across his chest.

"Stop fooling around mister!"

"Mi...Mister...?!" Vahn's eyes narrowed in intensity. "Oh, he's... defintely got a death wish..." Hibon peered from around the bookcase and stared at the brooding and mumbling Vahn, wondering if the man was crazy.

"You've said an unforgivable thing!" Vahn belowed out, raising his right hand.

"Ha...Ha...! So, what are you going... to about it...?" Hibon said, wagging the mop back and forth again in Vahn's direction.

"I'll kill you..." Yellowed eyes narrowed tightly.

"Don't make me---" Sudden;y Vahn 'vanished' from the spot he had been standing in, only to appear directly in front of Hibon, hsi right hand closing about the younger man's face. "--laugh...? ...!"

"Death..." Vahn's eyes softened, as well as his tone of voice, as his grip on Hibon's head started to tighten. "...Is just a moment away."

"AAAA! AAAA! NAHARA HELP ME! THE NAKED MAN! AAA! SUNSTRIKE! AAAAHK!" Hibon flailed about wildly, screaming at the top of his lungs now, completely freaking out.

Suntrike? "......Sheesh...." Vahn closed his eyes, releasing his grip and flicking Hibon's forehead. "What a coward! I was only joking. I had no intention of killing you, stupid."

"I...I'm NOT a coward!" Hibon yelled out, facing Vahn.

"And your behavior just a moment ago would be...?"

"Humph!"

"He needs to get scared more often if you ask me." He replied, still shuffling through some heavy books, searching for something in particular. Yellowed eyes narrowed slightly, as they came upon something, but disregarded it.

".... Years ago, Sunstrike..." He started up again, staring at one heavily binded book. "..I think it was almost a hundred years ago... I found the body of a dying black magician. Heh...!" Vahn closed his eyes, leaning back a little, in the low candlelight.

"He was a real talker... He bragged about a magical tablet that he had found just before his death." Vahn ran a finger along the bridge of his nose, scratching it idly.

"He said, 'At present, only a man born with natural talents-- who works to hone his skills-- can become a true fighter. But with this magical tablet-- even a mere farmer could reach such heights!'..."

"Ha! I don't know..." Truth be told... those were valid points. The need to get thigns straight seemed foremost above all right now... but he seemed apprehensive in fully agreeing with his companion.

Bigger things were in motion here...

"Funny thing is... that magician was dying because he tested that magical tablet..." Vahn lifted his head up, eyes staring on over to Sunstrike, who was in such a closer proximity now, before the young man moved away towards the windows. "what I do know... is that if those two come back from this tablet alive...then we can be sure that magical tablet really does work."

Eyes widening slightly as he seemed to have found what he was looking for, he reached forward and grabbed a thick, brown leather bound book, standing up at the same time. "In their present state, if Dain's grandchildren continue to follow you... They'll eventually get killed." Vahn's eyes moved towards where Sunstrike was, before he started walking away.

"And... whether they die this way, or that way... It's all the same don't you think? At least this way, if they manage to survive-- they will have profited fromt he experience."

He stopped at the doorway, as if waiting for Sun to follow.

"Well... come on then. You look like you need the rest."

"Now... I'm not that bad of a per--" Without warning, and with much astounding surprise to Vahn himself, he found himself reeling backwards, a spell of dizzyness overcoming him, causing the thick book to drop from his sweaty palm, and his body to go tilting backwards, left hands trailing along the wall.

"Nngh..." He all but nearly tumbled backwards into Sunstrike, who he hoped was more quick to notice this, and actually brace Vahn's fall, which would end up leaving the older man leaned against Sunstrike.

His vision was still blurring, trying to refocus on just staring straight ahead to the far wall. His hands were actually shaking... he felt severely drained.

Weak.

What the hell...was that all about? "S'alright... just not used to walking around a lot yet." He struggled to regain control of his body, but found it unwilling, and therefore had to rely on Sunstrike for the moment. "I'm fine... really, I'm fine." Red locks twisting as beads of sweat fell to the ground, he leaned forward, trying to grab up the book he had dropped.

"Gimme a break... I'm half dead here." Groaning, he pressed a hand against his stomach, on the scar that his own brother had given him, back at the stadium. The past few days had indeed been a whirlwind of events... betrayals on top of utter chaos unlike anything he'd seen, and he had been idiotic enough to just waltz right into the trap.

Never again... I swear it on my life. Never. again. Yellowed eyes cutting to the side, he glanced behind them both, as Nahara watched them from down the hall, before he and Sunstrike eventually disapeared into their room, which was actualy Vahn's old room.

"......."

~~

"A truce?!" The shout carried out throughout the room, as the scraping of a chair being forced back was heard, along with the heavy thudd of a fist upon a table. "The best time to surprise them is NOW, while their command is still shaky!" The speaker turned his head, looking to the rest of the men and women seated at the table. "If we don't act, they'll just rest up, re-supply and then come back to crush us!"

"That's true--" Dain placed back down the cup of coffee he'd been drinking from, leaning back in his chair. "But we've got a lot of wounded and dead on our side too. We also need time to regroup."

"If only...." another speaker piped up, twisting his head to the rest of the people present. "Victory would have been ours, if only he hadn't been there." The speaker stood up, and widened both arms. "That demon appeared like the wind, fought like an ogre-- and in one instant turned the tides against us."

"I hear it's called 'S'aak''... or something like that."

"....." Dain merely watched, hands folded together.

"I'm in favor of a truce." Said the woman nearest Dain. "Fighting for so long has even weakened the morale of our people. As days go by, it's becoming harder on the women too."

Agreed murmering started up, as people talked amongst themselves. "Maybe we should try for a truce, even if it doesn't last forever." Dain offered, extending out a sweeping hand.

"But, Dain, if we settle on a truce... then who will it be that..."

"I have enlisted a very promising young man who just recently vsited our City-- an exceptional lad named Vahn-- to investigate the matter."

"Vahn?" The murmuring once more started up into full gear, as people became generally confused. "Va...hn?" One of them stood up, looking towards Dain. "Excuse me, but... to which group is this Vahn affliated?"

"I will answer that question." All turned their heads, turning to the doorway, to see a young man standing there, long hair flowing gently down the side of his shoulder. He was peculiarly dressed... but in their eyes, they saw one of their own, a council member.

"We are unable to determine either his history, or his affliation. If truth be told, he is a very suspicious fellow."

Leaned back against the wall, it was eerily quiet within the room. The book all but forgotten, the warrior stared ahead, into the dimly lit passage, yellowed eyes adjusting to the darkness quite naturally... or abnormally, however you wanted to see it.

"There's no moon out tonight..."

He was staring out the double french-styled doors that opened up to the small terrace, eyes looking straight up to the sky itself. He lifted his left hand, turning it over a little, as if trying to find something in the palm or along the lines.

"......" He sent a single hand running through his hair, holding his temple. "At one time, I sent shockwaves through the fighting world. Now look at me... running errands like some nobody." Yellowed eyes shifted, staring out the window and straight ahead....

~~

Dain walked down the nearly deserted street, his hands folded behind his back as he moved along, the idle chatter of passerbys heard and then gone as they moved on. What is 'good' and what is 'bad'? Dain furrowed his brows as he stared at the ground for a bit, deep in thought. Who would have thought that these so-called Council members would be so narrowed-minded.

Dain continued walking forward, heading for his scroll shop.

~10 Minutes Earlier~

"This is insane!" the commotion within the meeting room was growing to quite the din, as vocal fights broke out. "How can you beleive this Vahn's words when you don't even know where he came from?!"

"I agree. Since when did the Head Magister begin to listen to the words of a man whose identity is unknown?"

"...." Dain remained silent, merely drinking from his cup of coffee.

"Everyone, calm down. Magister Dain! I beleive we need to investigate this matter a little further." Murmured agreement steadily spread throughout the room.

"I agree. I just can't believe that recent occurences are the work of some fictional demon!"

Scoffed laughter was heard, as one man cleared out his throat, waggling his finger about. "To think that a beast that was completely annihilated centuries ago could be the culprit... This is all the doings of the Lizard Clan! Nothing more!"

"If truth be known... It does sound preposterous."

"...Hmm..." Dain continued to merely watch quietly for now, placing his cup down onto the table.

"I believe the rectn discovery of ruins at the Salt Pans is more deserving of out urgent attention!" Called out another man, looking to the others for agreement, as Dain seemed to refuse to utter another word to these foolish people.

"Then it's been agreed that we will send a delegation to the ruins to investigate the matter. This meeting is closed!"

~~

"Ha!" The short laugh echoed out in the dark room, as his eyes closed, leg moving a bit to lay across the bed. His chest rose and fell with each breath, the silence drawing on for more than a moment, Sunstrike's words still fresh in his mind. After a bit, his voice broke the silence. "We can't go back... not yet. I'd never thought I'd be here again... I mean I ran away the first time. Maybe this is just Fate's way of dragging my butt back to finish my business here."

Eyes opened once more, as his right hand fumbled around the bedding, fingers soon clasping around the slim box he was seeking, pulling a slender cylinder out. Placing it to his lips, he struck a match alongside the box, creating a small flame, enough to light the cigarette between his lips.

"You know about the war against the Lizard Clan?"

I wonder... if he'd still look at me the same way, if he knew... if he knew... Yellowed eyes opened, gazing out the window, towards the moonless night sky. "Yea, well-- Dain asked me to do him a favor."

"It seems the people are going to try for another truce." Thin tendrils of smoke drifted through the air, twisting in and out, as his eyes closed and he leaned the back of his head against the wall. "He wanted you to deliver the signed letter to the Lizard Clan council personally."

Yellowed eyes flashed open and he stared straight at Sunstrike. "It won't be cool, Sun. It will be dangerous... Until the treaty is signed, fighting will go on. And since you're the 'bridge' to both races, some may want to capture you for ransom... Hell, you could even be killed. Which means anyone who goes with you will also be at risk...."

"There are some truths in the world, better left unknown Sun..." He pushed himself forward, sliding off the bed, bare feet landing on the floor. "We'll talk more about it when we get to that point." Lips held his cigarette in place, as he blew a few rings out, before taking hold of it and flinging it tot he side, where it clattered against a wall, then into the trashcan that was there.

"By the way... where the hell is my sword?" He asked, cocking his head towards the younger man, even as he began pulling his shirt up and off his body, revealing bandages upon bandages. He began undoing the bandages, letting them slide off his body and pile onto the floor infront of him, muscles taunt and then relaxing, the artifical light from the streetlamps outside casting soft light into the otherwise darkened room.

His body.

It was hard to consider, if anything, this being his real body.

"Figures..."

No, that body had been left long ago... a mere husk. Even the body that had been badly lacerated, punctured, and then burned beyond recognition in the finale of his battle with Reiko had not been his real actual body.

"...I really can't lost that thing you know."

The real body of Vahn, the original body... was too much to handle, even in this state, without the magical seal that had first surpressed most of Vahn's strength and gave him a youhtful look.

That body itself.. well, that's another story.

The body that was here, right now-- was one made by science and the energies of a young woman named Tellus. It had been devoid of any scars, and was nicely kept cleaned with proper hygiene, but ever since the last couple days at the Stadium had earned him several scars, all across his chest and stomach, and even on the back of his neck. Although it was hard to notice that kind of detail in the low light setting the room was in at the moment.

"Old man gave it to me and all." He grinned in the partial light, running a finger along the bridge of his nose as he stood there, before bending forward a little and undoing the tunica lent to him, dropping them to his ankles and stepping out of them, wearing only his red briefs now.

"I'm gonna hit the shower..."

"I know... what your thinking." He said outloud, his body framing the doorway, as light from the bathroom poured out into the dark room. He remained paused in the doorway. His slim form leaned against one edge of the doorway.

"And don't. What happened, happened for a reason. that's all there is to it."

He lifted his left arm up, his hand waving him off as if to stamp down his point.

"......" Vahn had turned his head to the side, yellowed eyes catching Sun as he fell atop his pillow. Without another word, he walked into the bathroom, leaning against the sink and staring into the mirror.

His fingers tightened ont he marble top of the sink, as he lowered his head; reaching forward to turn the knob and let the water run. Am I really ready... for this? Do I... really have to stop running away? Both hands reached into the basin, bringing cold water to splash against his grizzly face, unshaven as it was, something he'd have to remedy tonight.

Hard to imagine that fifty years ago, I called this place home... He stopped rubbing his face, and looked back into the mirror, before turning the faucet off and heading to the shower, stripping off his briefs and kicking them to the side en route.

Hard to imagine... once more I have to take up that name. He pulled back the curtain to stall and stepped in, hands reaching for the knobs immediately, letting cold wate pour in, splattering and raining against the walls and floor of the stall. Drops of water struck against his flesh, instantly clinging, pooling and running rivets down his body. A body that soon became slick, and drenched, as he leaned forward, letting the water drench his hair, locks of red sticking to his face before he brushed them aside.

"....."

It deep into the night by now. Those who worked and had errands to run, as well as all the children were already soundly in bed. There was only the usual night life of the city around at this time.

Strata was quiet.

Too quiet.

In the distance, appearing on a far rooftoop, a heavily shrouded figure dashed, body bent forward, feet soundless against the tiles and stone of the roofs it sped across. It's entire form was slightly siloughted(sp?) by the artifical street lamps down below, as it tumbled and leapt, towards it's goal. Twin swords were strapped to it's back, it's face concealed with a mask.

A final leap brought it to one particular roof top, as it leapt soundlessy and crouched, as if to confirm where it was. Without another moment to spare, it hooked it's feet onto the roof, and swung down, hanging upside down, and staring into the heavily curtained double doored windows that led into a room...

~~

Singing softly, he picked the razor against his skin, careful not to break the skin. Stopping, he rinsed it out in the open faucet, before repeating the process; always testing the smoothness of his face before moving onto another part.

Yellowed eyes stared into the slightly foggy mirror, stray droplets of water falling from locks of red hair, before the razor was once again rinsed out.

"I'll steal your soul for a second chance..." He ran the razor against his left cheek, cupping his chin with a free hand, as he elimanted all the facial hair that had decided to sneak up on him. "You will die come what may..." Rinsing it out again, he saw a line of crimson, having cut himself a little. Cupping his hand, he let water pool into it, before splashing clean the cut area. "...Your soul makes me stronger..." Lifting his chin up, he brought the razor up and down in fluid motions, rinsing it out every now and then in the hot water that flowed fromt he facuet. "...In a life that breathes no longer." He closed his eyes, as he placed the razor down, leaning forward to dunk his whole face into the water, wahsing away any stray hairs that may have remained. "Fade away in a quest for life--" He shook his head back and forth once more, clearing away the drops of water and reached for his towel. "--Until the end, don't judge me nice."

He turned off the sink's faucet, wrapping the towell about his waist and walked out the bathroom, a right hand pressed against his now smooth and cleaned face. Yellowed eyes narrowed and looked in the direction of the veiled windows...

"What's with that bat-man hanging outside my window?" His head turned to the side, staring at where Sunstrike was laying down, but finding the young man to be apparently sound asleep. "Is he one of your new friends, Sun?" He said quietly, a second towell gripped in his hands, used to dry out his hair as he ruffled it up.

"...I should get rid of that pest..." He let the towell drape around his shoulders, as he lifted his left arm, index and middle finger extended. "...With a little guided flame." The air visibly rippled for a moment, before a small flame was bouncing happily along the tips of both fingers. With a simple swing of his left arm, he sent the small flame shot soaring through the air, and puncturing cleanly through the curtains and windows, elaving a small hole behind as the projectile travelled onward.

~~

The shrouded figure watched calmly, taking note of anything of importance, knowing full well what his mission was. Yes, he took pride in the mission.. nothing but the missio--- hello.. what's this---

"!" A small flame suddenly impacted into the figure's face, instantly setting the clothing on his head and face alight, and causing the poor guy's arms to flail about wildly. "AAAAAAAAGH!!"

Within the room, a soft 'Heh heh' or two could be heard, as the figure dropped from his hanging position and backtracked the way he came, screaming into the night as he burned. "AAAAH! IT"S HOT!! Ooooaaaaaa!!"

~~

"How dare they try to spy on me... Idiots. Who do they think they're dealing with?!" Vahn snapped off the towel from his shoulders, and walked to his bed, promptly falling into it, not willing to admit that even a small feat as the guided flame had drained him considerably....

"Did you come for the sunrise as well?"

The tuft of smoke that furled out into the still dark skies, came from the side of Sunstrike, as Dain leaned forward, hands gripping the edge. The old man gave no indication as to how long he had been on the roof, or whether he had simply just quietly came a few moments ago. It was sometimes hard to beleive that such a powerfully built old man could also be sommething akin to the frail old wizards you see in fairy tales.

"Ohohohohohoho..." the voracious laughter echoed out across the rooftops, as the old man couldn't help himself. It may have seemed quite rude, but then again you should have seen what Dain was like back in his younger days...

"I forget, I'm supposed to be the old man here, right?" A hand stroking through his beard, Dain's shoulders rolled as his laughter subsided, looking away from the young man and towards the horizon.

"It's just that you're always so serious, even when you're dreaming. Keep thinking such heavy thoughts all the time, and you'll be an old man before you know it." Another tuft of smoke made it's way out as Dain looked back to Sunstrike.

"Vahn... Vahn was a very trusting person. Perhaps too trusting... but he would give his life for any one of his friend's. He would always go about loudmouthed as usual, and say 'Everyone should do what they can with their lives on the line, and then say to the next guy: I did what I could. Now it's your turn. If you don't finish it, I'll come kick your a**!'. If it was something that his friends believed in, then it was something he would put his life on tthe line for as well. I look at you, and I see the same spirit in you, that same fire."

Waving a hand about, Dain turned his head to the side and stared out once more. "My people have hope.. and courage, and just want peace. Even at the meeting today, they showcased their ignorance, but in the end I was at least able to get them to agree to the idea of a truce. You see, courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something else is more important than fear. Life is more important right now... as it is for any living thing."

He took another drag from the cigarette before letting it fall to the ground. "You don't need to be a saviour, lad, just have the courage to keep on living..."

"A hero is... Strong.. Noble.. Proud..." Dain closed his eyes, folding his arms across his chest. "Intellectual, kindhearted, and manly. Sword in hand, he is lithe and swift as the wind that blows across the open plains.." The old man then chuckled, as he opened his eyes, and spread out both arms in a shrug.

"In reality, our 'heroes' are like him." He walked down alongside roof, staring out at the horizon. "Our 'hero' wasn't hero-like at all! A flame-user, but built like a child! He was used to combat... but he preferred brawling with his fists like a boxer! He wouldn't hesitate to punch a girl in the face, even though he likes women! He would drown himself in liqour day in and day out, like a thug!" Dain chuckled, old memories coming back to him.

"The young man you came to know- a simple adventurer who would one day become a legendary warrior. The man who earned the name of 'Frie Bringer' by felling the great beast Efreet. Supposedly the greatest warrior in all of Gaia!" Dain stroked his beard, laughing still.

But we both know Vahn is not the man these people think he is! Oh, the thing he used to do... Talk about heroes who are into women and liquor! Even though he fell in love with her, it wasn't enough to change his philandering ways... Come to think of it, I don't think he ever really did sleep with any women... The young man was able to get by, thanks to the love and devotion of the people of this city. It was surely a testament to the miracle of patience.... Oh, I don't ever want to remember what happened that night....

Dain's eyes closed as he faced the horizon, the slowly rising light of the sun coming into view. "I must ask that you keep those two safe... This will--... Their fate is tied with the both of you as well... they have to see for themselves.. they.. have to know the truth."

He chuckled, waving a hand about. "I'm too old to be running about with you young people... wouldn't be that much of a use, so I can't tag along. Their good children... their hearts won't lead them astray and you'll find them useful."

"Your going to be setting out soon, to have the treaty signed. Some final preparations must be made... Enjoy the sights, while you can. I have a feeling it'll be a while before you step foot in this city for a long time to come..."

Dain turned around, stroking his beard as he began walking away.

When something is inflexible, it is bound to break. No matter how strong it seems- it is doomed to crumble.

The room was empty, both beds having been slept in, the sheets a mess, and the floor littered with clothes. The sound of a shower could be heard, coming from the partially closed bathroom, as the light of dawn flooded into the room.

Just as the peaceful river becomes the raging waterfall, so life constantly changes.

The sound of running water was then abruptly cut short, as the sound of a curtain ebing pulled back was heard, followed by the low grunt as someone hit their head. The rustling of fabric was heard then, before the audible sound of someone pissing took place. Half a minute later, the toilet flushed, and then the sink was heard running.

There is a yin and a yang. This world and the next world.

The door to the bathroom was kicked fully open, as a figure came striding in, a towell still being passed all around his head, as he dried his hair off, bare chested but wearing creame-colored pants, a black belt looping and keeping them to his waist. His greaves were already on, those decievingly heavy-looking boots making a distinct thunk-thunk sound as he walked.

The tranquil life does not offer happiness... For death waits at its end.

The towell dropped to the bed, carelessly as the figure made his way out the room, stretching out a little as he made his way down the hall, towards the smell of food.

"Wish I could say I feel great. Sheesh...Hm?" Sounds were coming out from the roof, and he wandered over in that direction to have a look, going up the stairs and poking his head up, all cautious-like. "I wonder if Sunstrike is still sleeping? Didn't see him in--"

"Oooh! Good morning, Vahn!"

The voice, caused Vahn to look behind him, as he saw one of Dain's grandchildren, the girl, come up behind him, waving. The continuos sounds of heavy breathing and footsteps brought Vahn's attention to the roof once more, and as he stared, he found the other grandchild, the boy, apparently training.

Hibon gave out several breaths, as he held his position, before swinging the sword across, forward, and at all angles, as if he were facing an unseen opponent. Vahn folded his arms across his chest, as he merely remained silent, watching and not wishing to disturb the younger man.

Hmm. He's using Dain's old sword-- the acenstral weapon of his family.

"Oh my... Hibon is so diligent... practicing so early in the morning!" Nahara said softly, mildly surprised, since her brother often liked to sleep in late.

I can tell by the sound it makes slicing the air... That he knows the proper technique for using that sword. A slight smile spread across Vahn's lips as he watched the boy. Now if he can just overcome his inner doubts...the world might witness another prodigy.

Hibon gave out several deep breaths, as he finnaly let his arms sag and droop, visibly drained stamina wise. "Huh?" Out of the corner of his eye, he seemed to finally take notice of Vahn and Nahara. "What? Have you two been watching? How embarassing!"

"I just wanted to see how you practice, sine we'll be travelling together for a while." Vahn retorted, arms still folded across his chest, grinning.

"Seeing you train so hard is really awesome. I'm seeing you in a whole new light, Hibon!" Nahara let out, genuinely surprised and satisfied.

".... These next few days will be my first chance to truly test myself. I have to do my very best... I have to.." Hibon stared to the ground, droplets of sweat falling, even as Vahn turned around, heading back downstairs.

"That's the right attitude... but let's go eat already. I'm starving!"

It was well into the morning now, in the city of Strata. The hustle and bustle of the day was underway (ooo, that rhymed) and within the western end of the City, in the more prominent section, a grizzled, black bearded man sat behind a finely crafted desk. Hands folded together he seemed to be waiting for something... when someone promtply then came in.

"Have you placed a spy on the man named Vahn?" The man was one of the men who had been in the council meeting that took place last night, and he had wanted to find out for himself who this 'Vahn' was.

"Uh...that..." The man in front of was a militia member, and at the moment he had his head bowed down, eyes betraying nervousness.

"Is there something wrong?" The official, stared down the soldier, getting impatient.

"I sent one of our elite agents... But he was discovered..." The soldier kept his head bowed, not really liking the fact that he had to admit to failure.

"What?! Idiots." The official, spat the words out, visibly fed up. "Send a different spy tommorow!"

"Yes sir!"

~~

"What the--?!" Vahn was the first to arrive, and saw Sunstrike sitting there, pleased as can be and already eating.

"What's wrong?" Nahara said as she walked in, with Hibon behind her.

"Something smells fishy." Vahn said as he stared at the scene. Dain was whistling away as he cooked the breakfast and kept it coming for them all while Sunstrike sat there, looking mockingly cheerful, despite the fact that all he saw was the boy getting drenched under rainclouds in his head.

"Hmm! You're right!" Hibon said, stroking his chin as he stared at his grandfather.

"Fishy, huh?" Nahara said softly, watching as both men peered at Sunstrike oddly from all angles.

"Um... Is it really safe to wearing those to the table?" Nahara pointed out towards Vahn's greaves, causing Hibon to look down as well, but finding nothing wrong with them. Dain laughed to himself, as he continued scramblign eggs, as Vahn looked down to his feet, then back to the girl.

"Eh? You can see it?" The fighter was mildly surprised, considering that the faint, passive aura of his greaves wasn't visible to the naked eye.

"Yes..." Nahara replied, not sure if the fact that she could see it was a bad or good thing.

"Really? Your not a master fighter... or that high of a mage..." Vahn scratched at the top of his head, genuinely curious, as he leaned in to inspect the girl, causing her cheeks to flush scarlet. "Huh? Maitreyopts?" Staring so close, Vahn could see the nromal hue of colors that belong to the Stratanians.. but he could also see something more in them. "I see. They're maitreyopts. That would explain how your able to see it."

"Mai...Maitreyopts?" Nahara was more than a little confused, as she tried not to let her eyes wander over the man's chest. "What is that? Are you referring to my eyes?"

"Yeah! Your eyes are maitreyopts. Didn't your grandfather tell you?"

"Ohohohohoho... that's because we don't call them maitreyopt's, Vahn. We refer to them as Ava's eyes..." Dain turned around, heading towards the table and carrying heaping plates of food.

"Chih.. come on old man-- they are on and the same. Maitreya's original name was Ava. Religious people beleive that one day Maitreya will return and redeem them." Vahn slid out a chair next to Sunstrike, settling in and letting his arms hang loosely. "They say that the eyes of Maitreya can discern from truth and lies..." He raised his left arm, index finger pointing towards Nahara. "You have those eyes."

"No... What am I looking for?" She looked across the table at Sunstrike, not quite sure what he meant in all honesty. Hibon stared up, his mouth full of toast and sausage.

Vahn stabbed his fork into a bit of sausage, raising it to his lips snap off a chunk with a snap of his teeth. "You're supposed to be a maitreyopts. Can't you see what he is?"

Dain glanced up from his coffee, looking first towards Vahn, then back to Nahara, as Nahara kept staring towards Sunstrike. "Yes... I see him perfectly." She smiled softly a flush coming to her cheeks. "And what I see... through these eyes... Is a spirit who hides his pain with jokes."

Hibon and Vahn continued their voracious devourment of everything on the table, while Dain merely chuckled, holding his cup of coffee up.

"You've gotta be kidding me." the fighter said, his mouth stuffed with bread, and a cup of orange juice in his hand. "All I see is a guy that kept me up last night with his damn snoring."

"And what's that just supposed to mean?" Vahn placed his juice down, grabbing the other man and trying to whar an arm about his neck, while Nahara simply watched the side banter.

"Hibon, don't forget to tell Commander Daus that you'll be excused from all Militia duties, as you have a special assignment to carry out." Dain said, stirring the straw around in his cup.

"I'll be on my way there today."

"Militia?" Vahn turned his head away, forgetting the horseplay with Sun for now, as his curiousty got picqued.

"Uh-huh." Hibon stared across the table at the older man, picking at his eggs as he did so. "At one time... Our family was reknowed for having started the Militia.. my dad was in charge of it. Now. though, even dogs laugh at our family name..."

The mood in the room dropped, getting quiet and sullen, as Hibon stabbed again at his plate. "Humph! That's why I get angry at myself! My father was recognized for his skills and joined the Militia as a lowly soldier... he rose up the ranks."

"......." Vahn stared at the boy, yellowed eyes passively watching.

"I... haven't been so successful." He clentched the fork hard, as he lowered his head, suddenly feeling his eyes get watery as his emotions rose. "I...I... Last night, you called me a coward!!" Hibon's teeth were clentched, as he fought back the tears. "I hate being called that!"

Hibon turned his head tot he side sharply, as he wiped his forearm across his eyes, to prevent any crying in front of everyone. "Maybe you're... right..." He sat sideways in the chair, staring to the floor now. "I was... born afraid." He was obviously oblivious to moments when he wasn't at all afraid... perhaps a side effect of going berserk...? "But... But even... Even I can't stand myself for being such a coward. I was always afraid that my parents had been ashamed of me... and I couldn't stand it anymore! That..." He lifted his head up, looking to everyone else, cautiously, not really feeling like himself. "That's why, I joined the militia..."

"....." Dain smiled to himself, as he lifted the cup of coffee to his lips.

"Ha ha..! I see..!" Vahn leaned back genuinely, actually smiling as he reclined backwards, his chair tipping a bit. "Hey! Are you that ashamed of being afraid?" He said, with a wave of his right hand.

"Of... Of course!" Hibon stared at Vahn, thinking he was crazy for asking him a question with such an obvious answer.

"Ha!" Vahn tilted his head back, arms dangling loosely as he leaned back. "I once kenw a man who was very strong... He was very level headed... Whatever the situation, he was never afraid."

"..." Everyone else was quiet in the room, wondering where Vahn was going with this.

"But you know what...? When he was a child he had a reputation for being a coward. But he was determined to change that." Yellowed eyes gleamed, as a big grin spread out across his face. "Gradually, one by one, he overcame all the things that he feared... even when he was so afraid that tears flowed... so afraid that he peed in his trousers...He never closed his eyes." A dull thudd as the chair landed on the ground, Vahn slowly rising up out of the seat. "And when there was no other fear to overcome..." Yellowed eyes narrowed, as both hands landed firmly on the table, standing as he looked towards Hibon. "..His eyes were looking down at the whole universe!"

"R-Really?" Hibon stared up at the fighter, a little awed by the story.

"Yep!" A peice of toast wa shanging out his mouth, as he picked up his glass of juice. "Listen up!" He swirled the glass' contents around as he smiled down at the younger man. "People consider fear to be a weakness..but harnessing that fear can one day make you a mighty warrior."

"Alright!" The now empy glass came thumping onto the table, as Vahn wiped his lips with his forearm. "I'm going to get my sword."

Nahara, pushed away from the table, standing up as she started collecting the plates. "I have some things to take care of myself..."

"I've got to report to the Field Office.." Hibon said, scraching the back of his neck thoughtfully.

"Ohohohoho... busy, busy." Dain remained seated at the table, calmly eating his food.

"Yea, sure. Come'on and grab your stuff already."

Grabbing, a simple cloak, he continued walking on downstairs.

"How are our plans progressing?"

The voice rang out throughout the confines of the room, pale light gleaming along the walls. The air was slightly stale and musty, giving reason to beleive that this room was underground, away from the surface. Around a feeble table, sat three old men, their faces concealed by golden skull masks, and flowing cloaks upon their bodies.

"Don't worry. Everything is going as planned..." A white beard flowed out from the edges of the mask, doing away with the short lived silence, as the other two men simply watched.

"How can I not worry? If word gets out about our schemes, we're bound to suffer dire consequences-- more terrible than the Gulag." One of the masked men said, standing up aruptly as he grew intense in his voice.

"You really frighten too easily. It's too late to go back. Our plans have already begun." Another of the men responded in kind, signaling to his companion to get back into his seat. "Now... All we can do is look ahead and hope for the best."

"That's true." A murmer of agreement, as one of the men began pouring drinks for the other two. "Soon the war will pick up again... The question is how much time can it buy us to sucussfully implement our plan and---"

"Wait a minute."

Two of the men glanced up towards the speaker, wondering what could be the matter now.

"Have you forgotten about the 'Fire Bringer', Vahn?" It was a valid question, and the othe two men didn't have a problem with it. In fact, they were unusally calm about it.

"You don't have to worry about him. When they escape, Vahn will be given the task of capturing them. And instead of disposing of them, he himself will be the one to die." Grim chuckles erupted from the old man, as he sipped at the cup of tea he'd been offered.

"Don't you remember what he did Fifty years ago?" The man seemed to be stressing the amount of danger involved, since Vahn was about now, but the other two would not have any of that.

"It appears the one who doesn't 'know' is you. The present day Vahn is nothing but a tiger with no teeth." A soft clack, as the now empy cup of tea was palced down onto the table, and a grim smile spread across the face of the speaker.

"What are you saying..?"

~~

"You didn't really need to come you know." A hand rested along the back of his neck, scratching idly as he moved down the street, still getting used to the heat that seemed to love beaming down on him.

His head turned idly, as he looked towards Sun, yellowed eyes a soft hue, as he yawned suddenly. "Feels strange being here again..."

A soft smile spread across his face. But this wasn't Vahn's face... as a water bottle was lifted and pressed to soft lips, the contents slushing around before going down the person's throat.

"Vahn... huh...."

Way up in the sky, literally hanging upside down, as though he were walking on the air, was a young man, with flowing hair behind his back, a simple cloak fluttered out behind him, even as he swished his water bottle around again... before simply vanishing.

He walked to the border of this southern continent. In front of him, all he could see was a desert wasteland of sand and the souls of the dead who wnadered here and only died. He stared at the unforgivign terrian and thought the fastest and best way was to travel upon the back of dragons. Before he summoned themm, he knelt to the edge of the boder in the desert sand. Using the easily cntroled powers of heat, he burned the sand and inscribed a symbol. This symbol, now made a of thick and heavy glass, would teleport him back here usign his Flash Fire technique incase he couldn't survive the hot and sandy land. Satisfied with his work, he pulled out a small, fire-proof container. From that, he a pulled a card from it. He threw it to the ground, and called his beast's name. Neo Salamandra! Once this red and black winged-dragon was summond, he palced the card back int eh container which went into his pocket, and he jumepd into the small compartment on the dragon's neck where he sat. Sally, I want you to fly low here through the desert. IF a storm approachs, we need to go by feet and you need to clsoe yoru wings. Other wise, you won't have them anymore, all right? Great. Let's move! She tooks off with a great start. Soon, she was able to glide easily in th sandy terrian. He flyign left a distinctive long amrk in the sand from her wake. He paid no attention to it. All he was worried about was the length of the desert and how many stops he woudl need.

Sunstrike chuckled ruefully. "If not me, who else? We're all we have here, Vahn. Unless you count Nahara and Hibon...." And they don't even know what I am...hell, did VAHN even know? He gave a side-look to his partner, masked by the goggles he wore.

The red headed man had seen/forced Sun change, once, but that had been under very different circumstances, and Sunstrike didn't think that the form from then, would recieve any warm welcomes from a race of sentinent creatures. Or even be able to comprehend such matters that involved more then just frying things. Admitedly though, this last time...with Vahn's magic, there'd been a change...darker and more intelligent. Maybe more then just the physical aspects were merging then.

He just managed to catch the comment from his friend before falling deeper into his mind to have a look at that theory. The grin flashed again.

"Never doubted it, Vahn. But I recognize the need to get this finished as well...plus I feel more then a little indebted to those kids and their grandfather..."

Sunstrike suddenly remembered an earlier conversation with Dain and laughed outright. An acolyte, taken out of time and moved like a chess piece...

"Like someone's leading you through a maze, traps or no traps, and you don't have the will to go to all the little sidealleys and hide....sounds like you have a higher being problem, Vahn. Someone must really like you <3" His voice was singsongy and teasing, but he had to wonder who his companion was attached to...

Then he shook it off. It was pointless to expect to understand something where there was a totally unknown element. He'd never met any of the true gods here, and was hoping to stay out of the limelight when it came to that. He knew Henry'd struck a deal with some godess, and that there was more then one being out there...which probably meant that another had been left in the dark...

His teeth clicked. Rambling again, he needed to stop that...

It had been about 16 hours since he started his journey in the desert. He could feel the torture of Neo Salamandra's time on this plane. She ahd been through various and random sandstorms, causign ehr to go slowly. HE could feel her about to collapse from exhaustion. Sally, you need to go back and rest. We'll let Trian carry us the rest of the way. With that, he jumped off of the dragon's back. HE pulled out the container again, pullign out two cards, one of them was Sally's portal to this world. HE held it up towards her, as she changed to pure energy and went back into the card. He took the second card, holdign Trian, and summoned him forth. This earth-bound dragon had no wings, and the body of a tortise. HE was all red, with the exception of two alrge black liens runnign parallel don the center of his toop and bottom parts of his body. He walked up to Trian, greeting him. Hey, Trian. Look, I nee- WHOA! He suddenly slipped and fell, hittign his head. Luckily, his thick skull allowed him to stay concious. Apprently, he slipped and fell on glass. What in the- Oh, yea. Trian's body heat turns this sand automatically into glass. How the hell am I going to do this. After a logn contempaltion period, he deicded it was best for Trian to preform his Rollout attack, and he himself ski behind him. He motioned for Train to go. As the dragon curled up, he attached strong, yet thin energy threads to the red beast's body so he could follow behind.

Now all he ahd to worry about was sandstorms.

"Hah! I knew you'd hate that explination...saying you have no fate is too much of a tease, Vahn. Don't say it in any temples, okay? I don't know if I could survive being torched by lightning..."

He sighed and gave the other man a small shove. "You're not half as lazy as me, so don't be daft, I told you before that if it wasn't for you I'd probably have done nothing...as it is I'm probably gonna get in a bucket load of trouble for all this." The smile turned into a wince, then a shrug.

"Too late to go back on my steps now though. And besides...I'm running away from a helluva lot of problems right now that need sorting when we go back. Believe it or not...this is like a vacation for me!!"

"Quit worrying so much... like I'd ever step foot into any place with religion in it. Those people take more gold off people than thieves." Slowing down in his walks, he made his way on over towards the sides of the street, where all the merchants were set up.

Vahn had gold, surprisingly enough. And plenty of it, thanks to Dain. Of course most of it was strictly for supplies...

"Besides... what trouble could you have possibly gotten in? I haven't seen you for a good year or so." Leaning down at the wares, he examined a simple backpack, testing the fabric and such.

He kept runnign at high speeds, almsot reachign Mach 3 with his continued stride. It was about hour 10 when he realized a mistake he made. I forgot food... He kept going for as much as he could, until his Rush faield him and he back to walking, no heavier than a jog. He was breathign heavily. He could almost feel heat now, for his homeostasis was faltering. He kept goign for as long as he could. Just in the distance, he saw an image. A village. He didn't know if it was full of people or barren life, but he was detirmiend to go there anyway. With soem of remainign strength, he shot a large blue flamethrower from his right arm, which schorcehed the sand, making a large, even, glass slide in the desert. Then, usign only weak orange flames he crafter a very crude, yet slick glass slide. He coated the the bottom of it with sand. Then he drew the Chaos Entourage. With the second node shinign, he sent a large gust of wind down his glass chute, covering it with sand, removign most all friction. He placed the slide on the chute, and stepped into in luge style. He put both hsi hands facing outwards behind him, and shot out a red flamethrower from his right hand, and a black flamethrower from hsi left, giving him a large propultion. After 1 minute of doing so. He palced his ahnds in the slide and closed his eyes. The bumpy ride will soon be over.

Sunstrike snorted, his ears picking up the low comment, and he reached forward, taking the packages and placing them into the growing satchal around his shoulder. Normal lives, he'd die of bordum, and love every minuete of it.

Then he realized how much of the stuff they were taking.

"You sure we're gonna need ALL of this?"

"How should I know? The most shopping I've done is wait on line for a burger or something..." Scratching the side of his right cheek idly, he straightened himself up again and looked over to Sun.

"I need to find the armorer or something... I feel naked."

It was partially true... compltely gone was the normal, black coat he wore, along with the protective vest. Not too mention the fact that his sword was still missing, and hopefully hadn't decided to get up and walk away in his absence.

A faint commotion was heard, causing him to glance in it's general direction.

The last comment threw him off guard for a moment, especially coupled with the slight opening statement, and the grizzled fighter was at a little loss for words... and instead found himself thinking things he shouldn't have... at least in the context a perverted person would think.

"Well... we're gonna need bedrolls too, or at least tents. I haven't gone camping in quite a while."

"Your walking around, carrying all that." He grinned, is back turned to hsi friend, as he began walking towards the next stall, which was some sort of jewlery bazaar of sorts, with all sorts of funky amulets and rings for sale.

Jeez... people will buy any kind of crap these days. He thought to himself as he bent down, examining what was placed onto the table, picking a random object up every now and then and giving it a once over.

"How much is this?" He asked, holding up a simple silver chained charm, it's inscription lost and muddied.

"Ha ha! You've picked one as sturdy as you! An excellent choice, Young master!" The merchant, roiled with laughter, as he looked up to the red-headed fighter.

"Ha ha! I know, perfect isn't!" Vahn just laughed along with the merchant, which was eery enough as it is, just to hear him laugh that is. "Eh... What is this thing here?" A finger poked into the side of a small blue box, nudging it over onto it's side.

"Ah, that? I found that on the side of the road, long ago. I thought maybe someone would buy it, but no one has ever asked about it... Honestly I don't know what it is." The merchant responded, eyes snaking up to Vahn, who was busy eyeing the aparently mysterious item with growing greed.

"Oh, I see."

"In all these years, you're the only person who's ever shown any interest in it." the merchant smiled gently, his voice softening to sweet undertones. "So... would you like to buy it?"

HE was havign trouble seeing, but he could here a vendor, the one whose shop Cal broke, yellign at him in such a rage, he barely understood a word he said. Or so Cal hoped. The large vendor picked him off of the ground,a nd threw him into the street on hsi face. He was scraped on his face and right arm fromt he ground durign the fall. It was then he noticed an odd shadow gettign bigger aroudn him. It was black, but it had shimmers of light in it. He almsot though he was losign his eyesight, when he realized it was the large glass slide. If his eyes could shoot open wide, they would have. All he ahd strength for was to summon the last of his energy to formign a sheild on hsi back usign th Atomos armor. When the slide hit, he felt agonizign pain in his back from the impact, but the glss itself broke into thousands of pieces, which all fell around his body. He lsot his sight temporarily, he hoped, but right nwo, he was drained of everything.

HE was put onto a stretcher, now blind and dumb, but not deaf. HE heard the faint voices, but all he could do was mouth words. HE wanted to scream of the thigns he wanted, but he jsut didn't have the strength. All he could do was speak in vain via muteness and wait for his meal. Then he could find his oppenent.

The addition didn't escape notice by the merchant of course, who just as easily smiled and spoke up again, dismissing the earlier tension between him and Sunstrike. "A most excellent choice, young master."

"I'll take all three, if you don't mind." Vahn chimed in, placing down a nice sum of 25 gold peices for the lot.

The merchant nodded, as he took the payment, ringing it intot he small metal box he had by his side, as Vahn picked up the charm, slipping it about his neck, and taking hold of the lavender box, sliding it into the pocket of his pants.

"Good luck selling the rest of your items, old man."

"Thank you!" the old man said cheerfully, leaning back again, as he added in- "I hope you two find what your looking."

Sunstrike grinned and nodded in ascent to the mans wish, then he looked back at the retreating back of Vahn conspiratorily, before laying a few coins down and picking up something else that he'd seen, holding one finger to his lips before the stallkeeper could speak. There was two nods, and then Sunstrike was off following his friend to the edges of town. Clipping the new adornment over one of his strange ears, and slipping the other object into a spare pocket.

The owner looked at the money in place of the small object the other man had taken, and then shrugged. It had been practically worthless as it was, nothing more then a pretty paperweight, but he was damned if he was going to turn down good money for something worthless to him.

Sunstrike looked surprised for only a moment before with a thump the bags landed and he jumped onto Vahn's back, holding on with his knees and one arm around the other mans neck he drove his knuckles into a tousled red head.

"YOU'RE tired?! I've been carrying all the stuff!!! And I-" The smell of food suddenly hit Sun and he blinked, his stomach rumbling. "Do you want lunch?" The mood change was very quick, considering he still had the other man in a head lock.

Maureen and Cal had a very nice conversation. Apparently, she was born here and lived with her mother and younger brother. She never never knew her father. She was a natural blonde and has always kept a clean and healthy diet. HE also found out she was single. HE had to make it a point to coem back here after his buissness. After a while of their small talk and his banquet was finished, while she onlyu ate an apple and a banana, he asked her an important question.

Maureen, since you've lived here your entire life, have you seen any travelers come into town lately? He has a reddish hair color, and he plays this mysterious type usually. I also think he's traveling with a friend.

Well, there are a few red-haired travelers here, youa re on of them, teehee. She laughed at her little observation and he smiled in return, not really caring. Well, I did see one. It was kind of short, and he was traveling with a dark red-haired man, whsoe ahir was rather spiky, but less than yours.

He smield at the news. He found his man. And he was still in town. He could feel it. He got up from his bed, finishign the last of his orange juice. HE kissed ehr on the cheek. Your company and information was very satisfying. He walked over to the window, the bright sun shinign upon him. HE opened the window doors and stepped on the mantle.

Wait! W-will I ever see you again?

He looked back at her, sunglasses catching the sun's ray upon her face. She was standing now, almost worried about something. He told her the barrne truth, but wondered if he could keep it. Maybe... someday. As long as I don't die. With that, he jumped out the window. Apparently, she looked out the window to see him fall, but he was already on the ground. He teleported his way down. He waved at her, and ran off to find Vahn.

Waves his bandaged arms in Vahns face.

"All you have are weapon wounds! I got stabbed, stomped, toasted, AND had all my innards violated.....I'm not sure I'll ever get over the mental anguish of seeing someone stick their hand through my ribcage....I hope he'd washed his hands first...."

Sunstrike hopped off in a huff and grabbed his half of the luggage....and most of Vahns....leaving just a few of the lighter things for his friend, before wandering off towards the smell of food.

Sunstrike wasn't really mad, and any little irritation was gone by the time he found the tiny resteraunt where the nice smells were comming from. If he wanted to be honest, his own feelings mirrored that of his friends (although he was oblivious to the irony of that), about not being there in time...or when he was needed.

Then again had he NOT gone to help those people...to help Lucind, he doubted he would have felt any better. It had been a choice, nothing more nothing less. If he'd doubted for a second that Vahn could take care of himself, things might have been different. But the other man was more then able, and they were both still here, still alive, albeit a bit sore, and so were the people he'd saved from the Destroyer....he hoped anyway.

The whole thing with the traitor Kyonuske had been beyond his control, and Vahn had rescued him, full stop. He owed a great deal to the other man, and wouldn't let him down over the small matter of preventing a war. He shook his head and sighed. Hunger made him think too much. He turned and grinned at his companion, faltering only a little when he saw such a serious expression before lightening again.

"How much gold you still got...treat me?"

Sunstrike grinned and threw a friendly arm over Vahns shoulder as he came close, patting him on the chest consolingly, he could tell that something was a bit down about his friend, and worried vaugly that maybe he'd gone too far with the guilt trip earlier.

"Relax boy-o, this place looks nice enough...though I think they'd be hard pressed to fit a whole cow into it..." Sun gave it the once over, then shrugged and let his bandaged hand slip down Vahn's arm to the hand, pulling the other man like a child would a reluctant friend.

The interior was cool compared to the outside, like most of the places in this city. And plants were abundant. Sunstrike happily led them through some of the patrons tables to an empty two seater. People looked up only for a moment at the strange pair before going back to their respective meals and drinks.

"O.O!!" Whump. Sunstrike blinked as the ground was suddenly a lot closer. Once the stars went away he realized that something was squishing him.

"Good grief are you okay, Vahn?! Sorry sorry," He turned over, still half under the other man and picked him up comically by the face, squishing his cheeks. He really was worried about his friend, no matter how silly he acted though. "I didn't realize that you might miss that step..."

Too daft again Sunstrike...why can't you ever find a happy medium that most normal humans have?! His own cheeks took a red tinge as laughter washed over his ears, it wasn't hurtful, but it was rather embarassing to be making such a fuss. He looked down. "Sorry..."

Sunstrike sighed softly and got up too, getting into a seat, his embarassement seemingly forgotten as he looked at one of the tiny alchoholic drinks menu curiously, before the waiter came by with the actual much larger food list. Humming to himself as he looked it over...a lot had crushed ice in it which made him shudder, there didnt' really seem to be anything warm...ah.

He pointed to it so the waiter could see. Said waiter raised an eyebrow but shrugged. "Your stomach lining..." Was the comment, which made Sun look back at the description....it didn't seem that bad to him, of course....there were a lot of strange words that he didn't know...but he just figured that was for marketing appeal to foreigners.

"Vahn..." Sunstrike looked at him from across the table, once the waiter had their orders, and then back down at his hands. "Have you been getting weird feelings? I mean over the past coupla days I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched...s'giving me the creeps."

Sunstrike made a face, and rubbed his chest thoughtfully, the stiches itched. "Maybe I'm just too damn paranoid then...your rubbing off on me...must be an old age thing." The grin was wry as he stared at the other man from across the table.

Internally something was growling though, it had started, Sunstrike noticed, around the same time Vahn had awoken and hadn't stopped. It was as niggling as the stiches that were healing all over his chest. Maybe one of these nights he'd do a little scoutin-

A drink was gently placed in front of him and he grinned happily, even though most of the patrons and the waiter gave him a weird look. No one had really been able to stomach what was called the "house whiskey" since before war times, it was rumoured to be made out of many things best left to rumour....it smoked...

And Sunstrike just calmly began drinking it in front of at least fifty people who'd ended up either under the table or in the hospital for three nights. It was a real anti-climax to watch him just sipping at it and talking aimiably with his friend as if it were water.

"Max," One of the old time customers, Joe, turned back to the owner and bartender, who's face had turned a few shades past white. "Tell me you've watered that stuff down...cause if you haven't..."

"Shhhh." The hush was more then a little frantic. "Give it a bit, maybe it just needs a bit more time...to, y'know...settle...."

"Max...he doesn't look different, Max...in fact, he was pretty weird looking to start with..." Max looked at his compatriot cutting him off before he continued. A few of the other patrons looked a little TOO interested in this conversation. Both had the scars of oldtime veterans...both had seen first hand what that drink could do to bigger men then them. Then the bartender sighed and muttered very quietly to the other man.

"Strange times we be livin in, Joe. Never fancy I'd see anyone that could drink "Lizards Bile" and still stay seated and out of the infirmary..."

Joe just wordlessly turned back to his drink. "Aye Max...strange times indeed."

Sunstrike looked at him in surprise and then looked down at the drink. "S'just coffee...isn't it?" His cheeks WERE a little red tinged, but he was no where near out of it. He grinned. "Makes me warm!!" In fact it'd made him warmer then most coffee ever had, which was nice. He had to raise an eyebrow at the kissing comment though.

"Hah, thought never entered my head, Vahn..." His grin was hidden behind the cup as he finished the last of the warm liquid. It actually tasted a lot like liquorice mixed with other spices, it was nice. "Though if you'd like me to get a breathmint at the next stall and have a go, I'm all yours. I gotta warn you though, I'm not a "one kiss" kinda guy..."

And their food came, interupting any other elaboration Sunstrike would have given about what "kinda guy" he was.

Sunstrike rolled his eyes. "Ahhhh I get it, you're allowed to scare a boy in the dark with offers of your body, and I'm not allowed to scare you by accepting the offer...right?" He was actually really enjoying this word game, it'd been a while since he'd seriously flirted with anyone, and Vahn's discomfort was more then a little obvious.

He'd just ordered something light, a fruit salad of some kind. He took a strawberry and ate it absently, not paticularly hungry, but not wanting Vahn to feel left out.

"S'all well and good for you to tease Vahn, but something like that can get you into trouble. What if the poor guy has a crush on you now? Bad enough his sister already does <3" His strange eyes were hidden by his goggles as they stared across the table at the eating man...he really shouldn't have been looking to get a rise out of him, but his curiousity was niggling at him.

Sunstrike tried really hard not to crack up. "And the boy?" This was almost too easy. Sunstrike would get the answer he wanted as well as making Vahn uncomfortable. "Hell what about me...technically I'm older then..." Sun paused and changed what he was about to say quickly. "well, older then the boy anyway..."

A grape danced along his fingers before getting eaten. "Or are you just not that way inclined? I mean, I understand if that's the case..." Go on then Vahn...answer that one. Sunstrike dared him mentally, although outwardly he looked just the same, calmly eating what he'd been given...and never looking more the opposite to his ravenous friend then now.

He grinned and decided to let him off the hook a little. "Gah, what am I saying, you're known throughout the northern towns for having a girl on each hip, should you wish it. I mean, hell, even here your known for it. Guess that answers my question for me."

What the hell did that mean...

Sunstrike looked at him a little suspiciously, and grinned, watching the tinge spread across his friends cheeks. Well that answered his question somewhat. He leaned back, chewing thoughtfully on the last of his meal.

"That's good to know, I was afraid for a bit, you always get so angry and standoffish, s'nice to know you "like" all kinds of people." It would have been nice to know if people included humanoid too...but then that got all weird and technical and way too obvious about the answer he was searching for.

This vacation might turn out to be a bit more fun then he'd originally imagined. <3

"You'd best pay so we can get out there before dark...s'gonna take a while..."

"V-Vahn?!" Gods...how much...one...two...oh erm that, probably wasn't good. Sunstrike sighed and picked up the belongings as the other man placed the currency on the table.

As he moved most of the people in the place held their breaths, waiting to see if that was the final jar to get the drink he'd had settled. Then there was a collective sigh of disbelief and slight admiration as he collected everything and made his way out the door with his slightly tilty companion.

Max shook his head. He'd been at the meeting a night ago...Dain had never mentioned what companion the Fire Bringer had brought...and he decided he'd keep it to himself as well. At least til he knew how everything managed to turn out. He looked at Joe and they both nodded to each other. Interesting times....

"W-wait Vahn, oh good grief...." A can rattled by and Sunstrike sighed softly. Enough....was enough. He had to get Vahn out of here before he destroyed more then a few trashcans...his body wasn't well enough to handle the pounding it was going to take.

Dumping a few of the more uneccessary bigger items, he suddenly advanced on the drunk man, took him by the arm and pulled him into a standing position....or as standing as one can get while tipsy. Carefully taking the now very empty bottle from Vahn, he placed it down, before hauling the other man into a firemans carry. The cheers from the crowd were really uneccessary, he thought as they walked out the gate and into the desert towards where the sword had been left.

He promised himself never to pry too activly into Vahn's sex life around alchohol again.

Sunstrike followed the other man silently now, debating with himself...

How much can I tell them without...without it all going so wrong... Without realizing he mirrored a thought of Vahn's from before. How would he look at me...if he knew...

Sunstrike shook his head. I can't tell them everything...but then again, I don't need to tell them anything other then my relation, do I...? That was settled then, he'd tell them everything they needed to know, other then that, he'd just be vauge again. Not like that was unsual.

He wasn't even sure he should let them know everything about his father....he could see it now. Erm, yes, I'm actually a god from a different place...stuck here as punishment by another god who created me to be his son...cause I tried to kill the b*****d while I had the chance... Oh yeah, that'd seriously go down well. They'll have me institutionalized before I could blink.

So he passed the gate behind Vahn with a little black cloud of depression raining on him.

Sunstrike jerked his head up blinking as Hibon sailed past in a whoosh...a foot imprint on his face. "Eh? What happend? Did I miss something?" His face broke into a smile that made Naharas blush deepen, even as he bent down to study her blush too. His eyes swirled with life as they searched hers.

"S'nice to know that not everyone thinks my looks are all that unattractive." He said softly and cheerfully, and, daring the wrath, he planted a small kiss on her forehead. "Thankyou." Was the simple statement, before he was wandering off again, in the direction of the shop.

Sunstrike watched as Hibon opened the door, listening to the conversation with a curious ear. He took in the teenagers appearence, and then looked sharply at Vahn, remembering a previous conversation about using something...a tablet. He looked away, not really sure what to say about it all, and definately not sure he approved...even if it did give them the edge they needed.

He stepped through the door after the others, closing it behind them before moving to go up the stairs, and into the bedroom that he shared with Vahn. There he sat, better to probably say half collapsed, down on the floor beside his bed, pulling the tunic over his head and letting it drop in a dusty pile beside him.

Then he looked up as Vahn walked in and blinked sleepily. "Who gets the shower first?"

Sunstrike stopped breathing for a few seconds, and something inside his head went snap. It was all...just too damn much.... Why? Why should he show any kind of restraint, when someone said something like that?

He got up, brushed himself off absently, and then advanced on the tired man. One fist slamed into the door right by Vahns head and the other gripped his shoulder, pushing him back against the wall. Then he leaned in, shirtless, covered in dust and blood, and took what he wanted, mercilessly squashing the small feeling of guilt over taking advantage of someone so tired.

The kiss was rough, just this side of brutal really, filled with all the anxiety of the day and a kind of desire that had been hammering at him since...since...Since he saved your silly little life in the arena, you stupid lizard... no, that was too recent, this had probably been in his mind since he'd first heard that angry voice....since he'd looked over the wall into two yellow eyes, half expectant, half amused...

At first he thought the knocking he'd heard was his heart in his ribcage...then he realized it was a soft tap against the door that his fist had just made an impression in.

"Sunstrike? Vahn? Is everything okay? There was a bang..." Sunstrike left Vahn's personal space so quickly that it almost seemed as if he hadn't been there at all.

"S'okay Nahara! I just tripped over something...can't see in the dark very well." There was a soft giggle from the other side, and it wasn't long before she was pattering down the stairs again.

Sunstrike's hand opened the bathroom door. "I'll take it first then..." And it closed behind him, lock sliding into place almost painfully. The impression of a fist glowed faintly in the wood of the door...still burning.

Sunstrike sighed and rubbed the back of his head, wondering what the hell had made him do something so stupid....then he blinked and looked at his hands. Oh no?! He looked at the locked door for a second, and then reached over to turn the shower on.

This completed, he began to unravel the bandages that were over the right hand first. There had been stiches and scars there before...the stiches were still there, but when he ran his other hand down them, they all came away, nothing more then ash. Sunstrike sighed and repeated the process with the other, looking at both hands as if they weren't even his own.

"Traitors..." He mumbled softly. He was going to change soon if he didn't stop getting built up to do magic...he'd been too reliant on the supply being drained...on no magic being there at all...now his guards were going haywire, reacting with his emotions instead of the power source.

He was too tired to worry about it at this point though, as he took the rest of his clothes off and stepped in. Be concerned tomorrow seemed to be the popular choice.

~

It was sometime later that the redhead poked his head out the door, wrapped in a towel and carrying the rest of his clothes.

Sunstrike winced at the akward position his injured friend had gotten himself into.

"Don't you care about yourself at all?" He sighed and dumped the clothes, then moved to stand over the almost lifeless form of Vahn. Carefully he reached down and took off the greaves, much as he had before when they'd been left on, their first day here. The heavy shoes off, he rolled the other man over onto his back very carefully.

Then he left for a second, digging about in the bathroom, and came back with a bowl of warm water and a cloth. Settling this by the bed he took stock of the injuries of his friend, pulling over a discared bag and taking out some of the bandages he'd packed. He worked by a few candles he'd dug up, wincing when he realized he could light them without matches now, cleaning the worst of the wounds first, wrapping it up, before moving on to Vahn's hand.

In stark contrast to the kiss before, he was nothing but gentle as he helped out his eshausted friend, wiping off most of the dust, grit and blood on the exposed body. Finally finished he went back to the bathroom and dumped the water, almost stumbling when he came back in. He blew out the candles, covered Vahn in the thin blanket, and then stood for a second in the dark room.

"...?" The matress sagged a bit as Sunstrike sat down on Vahn''s bed again in the darkness. Reaching out, he placed one of his hands against a cold forehead, brushing back the hair there. He didn''t know what kind of dreams someone like his friend would have, but he could guess.

"Hey, Vahn...c''mon boy-o, wake up. S''not real..." His words were soft and he reached for a shoulder, shaking it gently to bring Vahn out of it. Sun had to brace himself with his other hand to keep from falling over the other man as he reached out, wearyness causing his body to shake a bit.

"Ack?! Vahn?!!" Sunstrike was tired, strung out...and overall unprepared for Vahn to actually hit him. He fell over and off the bed with a thunk, his head knocked hard by the forearm.

I didn't...I didn't think he'd be that mad about it... He realized with a sinking, cold horror how much he must have freaked Vahn out earlier. You idiot, why didn't you think more...still...did he really have to hit so hard?

He tried to get back up, but the ringing in his ears and the pounding headache kept him from moving too much. I just wanted to get some rest....

He rubbed his eyes. Oh...

Sunstrike pulled himself up rubbing his head where it had hit the floor.

"There's no one here but us, Vahn, you were having a nightmare...remind me to leave you to it next time...or at least wear some kind of protection." He suddenly lifted the covers and roughly shoved the other man over, climbing into the warmth.

"I'm going to sleep...now...cause my head hurts. I know this is your bed, mines too far away right now, and besides, your warmer. I suggest you get some rest to, lest you end up punching something else that you don't mean to...I'm gonna have a bruise tomorrow ."

And with that, he rolled over and fell asleep, not caring in the slightest that his friend might have issues with a naked lizard humanoid sleeping next to him.

There was a yawn, and a soft cute sound as Sunstrike turned over and cuddled up to the warmth of the other man, oblivious to any sort of problem he caused. Being with someone else in the dark meant security and warmth when he was this tired, and morals went out the window. His own comfort was all that really mattered, which made it really hard on people that weren't used to sleeping with a body half over the top of them.

This all probably had a lot to do with the creature that he was sharing a mind with. Though it was fire based, the salamander still was like most lizards and or snakes that search out any kind of heat, sometimes resorting to whole caves just piled up with coiled bodies resting in a cold night.

It could also be some kind of revenge for all the temptation piled on him earlier by Vahn...

Sunstrike didn't object when Vahn shifted akwardly, just curled up a bit more against him, his soft breathing never changing from the slow even rhythem of sleep.

In actuality, he'd done this for a better reason then as a tease, or anything else for that matter. Now Vahn had other things on his mind other then that nightmare. And if he could just get over the fact that there was a member of the same sex sharing his bed with him, he'd probably sleep much easier then he had previously. There was also the selfish reason that if Sun was with someone else he probably wouldn't have his own nightmares.

Sunstrike was warm, lazy, and addictive. It wouldn't be too long before his easy going nature would transfer through to the other body. If they'd been more awake and less exhausted it might have come over differently, but there had just been too much stuff to happen over the past two days for either of the them to go too far in that direction.

It had been quite a while since Sunstrike had last woken peacefully tucked against another warm person. So once his consciousness returned from the murky depths of his mind, he treasured the luxery. The sunlight of morning streamed in, throwing panels of light over the bed they shared, and the bodies that lay therein. Only then did Sun open his eyes, staring at the sleeping face inches from his own.

Any other movement would probably jar the arm across him, waking Vahn and ending the moment entirely, so he stayed put, just watching and thinking. Maybe this time will be different...he thought to himself. This time...this time I'll stay with someone, and be happy, and selfish...surrounding myself in the light, rather then hiding in the shadows...

And then he chuckled. Tch...what am I thinking...I'm not here to be happy. I'm here to learn and just...exist. But maybe...maybe I could taste it, for now. Just have a feel of what it would be like. I'm sure that once it's all over things will change again, I just have to last through that transition phase again...that little bite of lonliness...and I'll forget this morning, and his face, and go on just being myself. But for now I'll look and touch, and be happy, because I can be.

I wonder if this is how a heart breaks?

I...am not like you.

Vahn's eyes opened slightly, feeling something bothersome on his eyes, and finding that it was the morning sunlight itself. A groan left his lips, as he felt more than sweaty, also had a numbness going through much of his left side.

Turning his head to the side, he saw why, as his body was wedged in and against Sunstrike's. Last night flashed back into his head and he only tilted his head back once more, letting out a sigh.

For the first time in a very long time... Vahn wanted a cigarette.

What...am I?