Terra

Masenai listened to the sounds of the silence around the empty room. He very slowly turned to look at the fire, then at a kettle that was filled with water as he slowly went towards it and lifted it up and looked at several other items on the table near him. Another kettle that wasn't filled with anything, a measuring spoon and a jar filled with crushed tea leaves. Masenai set the kettle of water over the fire on a hook and slowly looked at the jar and the empty kettle and the spoon.

"What the heck am I supposed to do with this?" Masenai muttered to himself as he pondered as he held the spoon. "Not a very good weapon this is.... what is it supposed to do?" As he said this he realized several of the castle servants had peeked into the door of the room to observe this strange man looking at the tea set and one motioned for him to dip the spoon into the jar and put the contents into the empty kettle. Slowly the confused warrior put several spoonfuls into the kettle. The smell of the tea leaves entered Masenai's nostrils as he took a deep breath and slowly thought of at any times he would smell such a smell. It took him back to a small village, a man and a woman kneeling at a table, and about to settle down to drink cups of this stuff before all of a sudden something outside sparked attention.

Masenai was about to reach for his head as the pain of the memory was so great, until the boiling water in the kettle whistled for his attention. He took a hold of the kettle of boiling water and poured it in the kettle with the tea leaves. All at once he felt the headache go as he breathed in the scent of the warm tea. He slowly gave a calm smile and muttered only one word that felt most connected to whatever strange thing he just concocted out of curiosity.

"Mother?"

"Ah, but is your breakfast all you have to lose...?" came from a voice that neither of the table's inhabitants could exactly pinpoint where. Though, suddenly, they both realized that a third person had joined Calvin and Saxton at their table. He looked to be very feminine in his facial characteristics, dark azure hair reaching down to barely touch his breast, with pale light green eye. He wore a black, almost silk looking, shirt, with cuts and tears running through it, revealing silver chainmail armor underneath it, as well as matching black pants that seem to be made of the same material. Over his pants are silver plated gleaves and matching sabatons, which are armor pieces for the lower legs and feet respectively. Over his right shoulder, was a medium sized bag that seemed almost full. The man was apparently writing something down onto a small notebook-like object, before placing it into his bag. "The Demon of Grimes, eh?" he whispers as he turns to Saxton. "I foresee death in your future, though not necessarily yours."

"You foresee death? I hope you're not talking about me." commented Calvin. "But then again, I've encountered many "magic men" that say that load of crap, but none of it is ever real." Calvin continued. "Alright Saxton, we have places to go, no need to bother our time with this gypsy trash." he stated, signaling Saxton to leave. But as much as Calvin wanted to leave the building, he was intrigued at how this person had not fled when they heard the name "The Demon of Grimes". Calvin was wondering to himself why this? man? seemed to have an interest in Saxton; cause any normal person, would flee from hearing such title. Again, there was a silence in the room, only this time, a slight feeling of unease filled the atmosphere. "Hmm, this might be time to maybe test my cannon, but then again, its still not fully operational without Saxton's magic. Who knows, maybe i can intimidate this person way." Calvin thought to himself, then reached in this inner coat pocket to grab something. The pocket was empty. "What?!" Calvin thought to himself. "Where is it?!....oh wait....its still in my room!! D*** it!" he shouted in his mind. Calvin kept a straight look on his face, and waited to see if Saxton would give a reply.

"Death? Death is in everyone's future yours, mine, even the royals. No one can avoid it the old the young even immortals see death even if it isn't themselves." Saxton stared at the new stranger then began to speak again "Death is a natural part of life that we all will see, if death takes me soon it will be welcomed, it will be the peace I've been seeking for these past four years." Saxton stood up and stared at the door to the inn then let out a sigh "Well that took them faster than I thought it would" Poorly dressed men started to walk into the inn, each holding a sword or dagger. The one that appeared to be the leader of the group stepped forward and smirked pointing at Saxton then spoke
"Demon of Grimes huh? You are pathetic looking when I heard that the Demon of Grimes was here I thought you would look more demonic and more cruel" The leader laughed and so did his men "Alright "Demon of Grimes" you will come with and my men preferably dead so we need to kill you now to bad if you looked more demonic then I would of hired your to work for me" Saxton stood staring at the group of bandits then looked at the floor "Are you listening to me Demon?!"
Saxton looked up his eyes glowing red then he drew his sword "No I'm not listening to you only cause this is the same thing that has been happening to me for most of the past four years" The bandits stared in confusion then the Leader shouted "Attack!" The bandits charged at Saxton pointing their swords at him aiming at his heart and head. Saxton deflected the first bandit then used him to protect himself from another attack "One" He stabbed the second bandit in the stomach then picked him up tossing him towards the other bandits "Two" The third bandit attacked from behind and Saxton stepped out of the way the bandit missing Saxton but his sword hitting another bandit in the head "Three" Saxton stabbed the bandit then picked him up throwing him at the leader "Four of your men went down how many will die because of your greed?" The Bandit leader stared in shock then order the rest of his men to attack "The rest of course" Saxton eyes turned black and a black fire consumed the rest of the bandits and the leader, the fire slowly went away and Saxton's eyes returned to normal and he fell onto the floor passing out.

Tayia nodded sadly. How could she find a man whose been hiding for so long? who no doubt has a bounty on his head? How could she get him to come to the palace if she could find him? Surely, he holds no loyalty to this court or any other for that matter but Grimes and Fernain are known allies. He would probably see little difference. She raked her brain. Then it struck her.
"I have an idea but I can not speak on the details." She told the Queen. Then went the Queen asked for food, Tayia nodded. "Oh, Of Course. Whilst you eat, I will see about my plan but again, I can not tell you the details in which how I'll find this Demon of Grimes. My home is yours. I'll have a chamber prepared for you as well as supper." She told her and then excused herself.

She instructed a guard to retrieve a chambermaid and alert the chefs that the Queen of Grimes was ready for supper and the made her way to Masenai.

He could locate the Demon of Grimes. The Crystal blessed her people with his assistance so prehaps he would assist in this search. She would accompany him of course. She'll have a doppleganer to take her place while she scoured the land for the Demon. Prehaps even take out a few demons herself like she'd been wanting to since the day her brother died. She stopped short just at the door again. She had to go in. No one else knew he even existed let alone was in the Prince's chambers. She had to.
She placed her hand on the door and pushed.

The scent of her brother filled her nose and her heart. She didn't even know she had her eyes closed until she opened them. She looked around. Everything seemed relatively untouched. She could be in here for hours she realised and the irony in that tickled her a bit. She avoided this room for so long but now that she entered it, she didn't want to leave. She looked up to see her brother standing over a tea kettle.
"Tavin?" She breathed, her eyes blinking rapidly. Finally her vision corrected itself and Tavin's image morphed into that of Masenai.
Tears had fallen down her cheeks before she could even think. "I'm sorry. I-I..." She stammered embarrassed by that fact that she'd called Masenai her brother, that she thought he was there,standing before her the way that he did when he was curious. She felt sick in her stomach and she wanted to crawl in a hole and waste away. Some Queen she'd be.

Masenai turned to look at Tayia. She was a bit shocked from the mistake she made, that was for certain. But the way the tears had fallen, he assumed she mistook him for the former occupant of the room. Her own brother. "Tayia. Please don't feel terrible over a mistake in identity. You're still in mourning." He said. "You still have a family to weep over. Whilst any I might've had, is lost to the ages." as he said this he took two cups and poured the tea into each cup.

"Let us talk first, of what you were in a hurry to tell me about, and also what do you wish of me to do, as your guest, or rather, as your bodyguard?" He asked as he sipped from a cup. "Hm, Seiryu leaves. Or whatever the plant is called now." He stated with a hint of surprise. "Haven't tasted such a sweet tea as this in a very long time." Masenai gave a great sigh as he sipped the tea again. His mind wandered for a few brief moments before realizing he was still talking to the Princess.

"Beg your pardon, I was daydreaming." He apologized. "The fact of the matter is still on us. What did the Queen of Grimes wish to speak to you about?" he asked in all honesty. "Is the threat of the demons encroaching the Elven borders as well?"

Tayia stood shaken for a moment. It felt so real. Him being there but it wasn't real. He was dead. He wasn't coming back. She blinked away her tears and looked at Masenai as he poured the tea for them. He took a sip and commented on it's sweetness and how long it's been since he's had it. She allowed herself a quick but sad smile. "It was his favorite." She murmured and Masenai apologized for daydreaming. She too was lost in a dream for a moment. She took a cup into her hands but never drank the contents. She nodded and began. "She wanted to assist us in this war. Her people were the victors of a 10 year war to which she ended. She told me about a man, well, an elf rather. He is called the Demon of Grimes as when he weilds his magic, his eyes glow red. She tells me he was shunned, ostracized by the people of Grimes and his family slain. She feels terrible about that and wishes to apologize.

"She also believes that he is here in my kindgom and that if we should find him then he may be able to help win this war." She told him and sit the cup down. "I ask of you, Masenai, Will you accompany me on my search for the Demon of Grime? I wish to pleaded my own case to him but I do not believe I can go at it alone." She said, watching his expression. Most times, when a royal asks a person to do something, it was merely a formality, What they asked was to do done, there was no choice in the matter however this was not the case. It was a true question to which he could decline or accept. She would understand if he decline given the nature of the task and that he'd only been awaken jusy recently.

The man simply looked on, his facial expression unmoving, even when Saxton began his massacre of the bandits. ”Hm, the Demon of Grimes is as grand in magic as I thought...” Even though he is looking at Saxton's unconscious body, Calvin feels as if his words were directed at him. ”May I ask what you have planned for him, simply a question for my studies.” He spoke as his notebook returned to his hands from its waiting place within the bag.

Calvin noticed Caled grabbing a notebook. "May I ask what you have planned for him, simply a question for my studies.” Caled asked. Calvin look at him in astonishment. "A Scholar? Researcher? Magi?" He questioned him, then looked at Saxton. "Never mind, doubt it matters that much at this point anyways." he continued. "One moment." Calvin went upstairs and came back down with his gear. He picked up Saxton and put his arm around his shoulder. "We are going to Fenarin, heard some interesting stories about some things going on there." He walked over to the door. "Here." Calvin said, pulling out a map and tossing to Caled. "Not sure how familiar you are with the area around here, so hopefully this helps you." "Never know, maybe we'll see you there."

"A Scholar? Researcher? Magi?" Calvin questioned him as he began to write in his notebook. "Never mind, doubt it matters that much at this point anyways." He paused, but only for a moment as he began writing again, not even hearing Calvin request a moment as he went upstairs and gathered his things. He finally put the notebook away as Calvin picked Saxton up and put him around his shoulder. "We are going to Fenarin, heard some interesting stories about some things going on there. Here." Caled caught the map that had been tossed to him, examining it before placing it inside his bag. "Not sure how familiar you are with the area around here, so hopefully this helps you. Never know, maybe we'll see you there." Caled nodded as he gave his thanks for the map, watching them as they left the inn. He would later go to the inn-keeper, pay her for his room, and depart as well; albeit in a different direction than Calvin and Saxton had left.

"A magi?" Masenai asked, "sounds interesting, I'll do it, but at least give me a chance to make certain Everything about me awake, whatever that is, is in perfect order." With that Masenai got up to look at A mirror near the bed that he would probably be sleeping in, and upon examining his own armor, found something that allowed him to slip out of the top half of his armor. In doing so he exposed much of his torso and back as he looked at the toned muscles throughout his body.

However, he didn't notice the large scar upon his back. The scar started from the top of his back and trailed down his back until it hit the tip of his hip. It seemed to be the source of Masenai's back ache as he rubbed his back again wearing a pained look. "By all that is above my back is aching, must've slept on it the wrong way." He stated. "Anyway I'll help you hunt down this Magi for you. When do you want to depart to look for this... Demon of Grimes?"

The rain was pouring; the sky was dark; and the atmosphere was gloomy. "As much, as I like the rain, I do hate getting soaking wet." Calvin said to himself, still carrying Saxton. "Thank the maker, this coat of mine is thick, or else this would be bad for all my work. That would be catastrophic, right Saxton?" Calvin said, then looked over to Saxton. There was a pause. "Oh right....you're still out. Must be losing my mind; trying to make conversation with a sleeping person." Calvin dragged Saxton over to a very small cave, away from the thundering rain. He sat Saxton against a wall, then sat down on the opposite side of the cave from him. He took supplies from his coat; set them next to him; then took off his drenched coat. Revealing more of his long sleeve vest; barrel cuffs and chain mail. Revealing, his brushed forward, but spiky tipped hair. "Looks like, we'll need to camp here for the night. I hope he wakes up soon. All the wood outside is drenched, there is no way I can start a fire with that...besides. the sooner he awakes, the sooner I can continue my project" Calvin said, then sighed. *Sigh* "Again...I'm talking to myself...Maker."

Saxton watched a village burn to the ground, soldiers killing everyone in sight soldiers who had a thirst for blood killing anyone trying to stop them. "Why is this happening? The war is over? Why would our kin our brothers and sisters kill us?" A soldier walked up to Saxton swinging his sword to strike him down.
Roar of thunder and a flash of lighting woke Saxton up as he looked around "My head hurts I'm soaking wet and in a cave with someone I just met a little while ago" Saxton got up and stretched "So Calvin before those bandits attacked you wanted my help with something? Is that why you carried me to this cave?" Saxton walked out of the cave for a few minutes then walked back with a pile of wood. Saxton put the wood on the ground and started a fire. "Before you tell me what it is you want help with. I want to know who you are Calvin, yes I know your name but besides that I don't know a thing about you." Saxton watched the fire "And after that you can learn the full reason why I am know as The Demon of Grimes, if you wish"

Calvin was sitting there, meditating, when Saxton woke up. He noticed Saxton say a view sentences, and then left the cave before he even got a chance to reply. "Okay then." Calvin thought to himself. A few minutes later; Saxton came back with a pile of wood in his arms, then threw them on the ground. "Don't even bother that wood is dren-" Calvin was interrupted by a roaring fire. "Right...you're a mage. You can do that. My apologies." Calvin continued. "Before you tell me what it is you want help with. I want to know who you are Calvin, yes I know your name but besides that I don't know a thing about you." Saxton watched the fire "And after that you can learn the full reason why I am know as The Demon of Grimes, if you wish"
Calvin stared at Saxton for a moment, then looked into the fire. "If you wish, I guess that's only fair enough. Since I would be asking a great deal of you." Calvin replied, then paused for a moment. "Now...where do I begin..."