Snippet #2410412

"Again!" a husky voice cut the early morning air, followed by a series of fiery blasts and then the quick swoosh of water. The pattern repeated several times over the next hour until the final husky call, "Again!"

This time another voice answered, a bell-like voice. "No, Altan. We've been doing this since before dawn. It's time for a break."

"But, Lyra, the trials are coming up and we need to get everything right."

"Yes, the trials are coming up, and that's all the more reason to get plenty of food and rest, so we don't burn out. Now come on!" The owner of the second voice, a pale young woman with a waterfall of blond curls tumbling down her back, sprayed a final spurt of water into the face of an awkward-looking young fellow with a darker complexion and long black ponytail.

He spluttered and shook his wet head like a dog. "Hey!" The girl only gave a chuckle at the young man's lack of composure. He didn't look amused, but those who knew the young man understood he was never amused. That didn't mean he was of sour or grouchy disposition. Altan simply didn't understand humor. 'Well, I better not get sick before the trials. I'll blame you."

"I assure you, you won't get sick. I made it my job since we were partnered to prevent that. If it weren't for me, you may have killed yourself already. I'll never forget what happened four years ago."

The young man dropped his head and plastered his palm to his face. "You won't let me forget either," he mumbled.

Lyra sighed and reached up to touch his shoulder, since Altan was half a foot taller than her. "Really, Altan, calm down. No, I don't want you to forget, but not to make you all miserable. I want to keep it from happening again. Passing out wouldn't be any good in the trials either." She gave him a somewhat rough pat on the back and pulled away with a smile. "Soooo... I'll get you a towel and then we'll get something to eat." Altan sighed and gave her a nod back as he left the training ground and reached for the jacket left on the ground next to it. Even though it was summer in the mountains, he still felt a need to wear a jacket. Summer in the mountains didn't compare to summer in the desert he came from. Besides, his head was just doused with water, which isn't the best way to warm up.

The blond Lyra, actually Talyera, disappeared while he was pulling his jacket over the cloth tabard he preferred to wear while training, and reappeared a few minutes later with a plain white towel. She tossed it to him and he roughly dried his hair, before flipping the same towel over his broad shoulder. "Much obliged, so you ready?" Talyera nodded and started toward the dining hall on campus. She debated taking a trip into town, but decided against it after realizing she'd probably get too distracted with gadgets to find a place to eat. Unlike other students she was infatuated with Mermin technology and whenever she got a chance she would try to replicate or improve on what already existed in Skyguard Keep. She even invented some things herself, like a hand-cannon she built some time ago and was still trying to figure out a way to carry it in flight and keep the metal contraption from harming Altan, her Sentinel partner.