Tyrin's Story

8:32 p.m, Kuo Suites, New York City, U.S.

Marina laid her head on her desk, yawning. She had just finished another long meeting - her father had given her another presentation to create, forgetting how much she dreaded them, or remembering and deciding to keep her from going to her school again. "I'll start it soon… I promise. Can I just go?" She wasn't sure if she even wanted to go to school at that moment, she had been in at least three meetings throughout the morning and she was tired of it.

She just wanted something else to do with her days. She wanted more than all of these meetings, endlessly lining up in her schedule. Maybe, when she finally got home, she'd get to working on the dress that she had been wanti-

"Marina, go home and sleep, sweetie. They really put you through the ringer this morning." Her friend Anna put a cup of coffee on her desk, giving her friendly smile and a chocolate muffin before going to wander through the office once more. Marina gratefully grabbed her food and coffee, needing no excuse to stay any longer.

Her father saw her leaving, but even as he yelled at her to stay, she knew he wouldn't fire her. After all, Marina was her father's best worker, even if she was his daughter. She may not like business, but she had the unfortunate habit of being good at it.

The train ride home was uneventful, and as she took the steps out of the metro station, the night air filled her lungs. She smiled, breathing deep, and decidedly walked towards her apartment door. After work, it was always nice to get home and breathe the night air, and just…relax. It seemed she never had the time to relax anymore.

Opening the door slowly, she found her Eledise sitting just behind the door, barking happily. Marina pushed her way past the puppy and closed the door, leaning down to hug Eledise. She was sitting on a package, and had to be pushed off it so that Marina could read what it said.

"Marina Kathleen LaRousse… Huh. No one uses the full thing anymore." She stared at it, but put it on the counter so that she could give Eledise her dinner, before turning back to the package. "Haven't ordered anything. So what…?"

She tore off the white package, and found her beta disc of Aramnia, complete with a letter from the company which was immediately thrown away. Her computer - always running, even when she left - was in the living room, and she quickly loaded her game, excited that she had been chosen. However many betas she had signed up for, she was never actually chosen.

"Come on, come on…" Marina breezed through the character creation screen, as she always did, quickly picking whatever looked nice and going with it. What came out was Favorin d'Aegis, a celestial being who was taller than she could ever hope to be, happily standing in the battle arena with her golden staff. She watched quietly as Favorin moved around the screen, randomly practicing spells and smiling the whole time.

Marina looked down at Eledise, and gave her dog a loving pet. She knew that she would be too absorbed in this game for the next few hours at least, and the poor dog never got much attention anyways, when she wasn't home. Her boyfriend never gave outside of what was necessary to anyone. Her eyes flitted back to the screen, and she pressed 'Enter World' with a happy laugh, before seeing black all around her.

4:32pm, Anchorage Alaska, US

Gezel had been driving all day to get home. She had been at Mount Everest for a week hiking trip to the top. She had been saving up for the trip for awhile, and she was a little sad when it was over. It was a bittersweet parting for her, for now she knew she would be able to climb the himalayas. Hiking and climbing mountains was her career. She would go up and take pictures and videos for documentaries and companies advertisement. She was hired a lot for the simple fact that she was young and fearless. SHe could handle the climbs and wasn't afraid to explore.

Arriving home she sighed in relief. Her driving was done and she could go in and relax. She parked her car and all but sprang out of her car. She grabbed her mail and bounded up to the door almost tripping over the package there. It was labeled "Gezel Ann Grim". She picked it up and took it inside with her. Rifling through her mail she tossed the adds and sighted at the bills. "I didn't sign up for any of this adult business, twas all thrust upon me." she said to herself giggling. Setting them down on the counter she picked up the package from where she set it down on the floor.

Feeling an instant nudging at her legs she looked down to see Magic, her pet cat, and picked her up. "Alright you attention whore lets open it together. Maybe it's my new camera I ordered." She tore open the package and just stared at it for a second. It was a disc with the word Aramnia on it and a letter. She quickly glanced over the letter and just as quickly threw it away still trying to remember why she would have a game sent to her. She scratched Magics ear and then it clicked. "That's right Magic, Dan signed me up for the beta testing of the game, telling me I need more inside time." she laughed.

Grabbing the disc she walked over to her computer and booted it up. Within moments it was on and ready. She had to have a fast computer to edit and go through her photos. She placed the disc into the disc reader and waited for it to load. Starting up the game as Magic jumped into her lap she sighed. "Here goes nothing, wish me luck Magic. Wait I should text Dan let him know I got chosen and to come one in when he gets here." she said shooting him a quick message and turned back to the computer and started up the game. She had never played a game like this before so she took her time creating her character letting her imagination run wild. Her end result was Analia, a melee fighter. Pleased with her work she pressed enter world and everything went black.

Coming aware of her surroundings Analia patted her lap with the feeling that something should have been there. Shrugging it off she lifted her sword to finish polishing it up before she went into the arena to strengthen herself. She held Kill Rune close to her lovingly. It was a gift from her father when she set out from home in search of adventure. It was her familys sword and she wouldn't part with it until death took her or a young one of her own, when she had them, was worthy of it. Sighing she looked around town. She was waiting on something, though she couldn't put her finger on it.

7:32 p.m. New Orleans Louisiana, U.S.

His ears were filled with a wall of sound as his headphones produced staccato melodies accompanied by accented lyrical tones. And although his head was busy bobbing up and down in time with the music, his ears managed to detect a muffled knocking. Taking off the phones Mike peered at the door to his apartment with a raised brow. He certainly wasn't expecting visitors, he lived alone after all. Naturally he needed to investigate.

He looked through the peephole only to spy the same distorted vision of a wooden door on the other side of the hall, surrounded by a bland beige painted wall that was slowly being peeled off by time. Opening the door he was greeted by a small brown box covered in stamps, and a large sticker with something written on it. Mike squinted a little before he realized it was his full name penned by someone with terrible handwriting. Shrugging, he brought the package inside.

It certainly wasn't difficult to open, though Mike was quite curious about its contents since he hadn't ordered anything, and gave him a mild feeling anticipation. When the prize was finally revealed, the man had to stare at it for a moment, trying to decide whether or not this was real. He knew he signed up for the game, but to actually be chosen for the beta was at best a one in a million chance. Mike's jaw dropped a bit in astonishment, “Awesome!” he proclaimed.

He hadn't been this elated in a long time, and just couldn't wait to pop this sucker in. When the game loaded up his jaw became ajar once more, he had seen screenshots but they didn't do it justice. Mike's PC was built to handle most games, however it was no monster, yet with the graphics he was looking at he would have expected crap for framerate. “Must be optimized pretty well,” he muttered.

Mike spent quite a bit of time on his character tweaking everything just to his liking. He chose a member of the “Daefling” race, as he had always been attracted to “outsider” characters to play. As per usual he rolled a spellcaster, being that it was a new game he went with what was most familiar.

Not wanting to waste a second longer he clicked “Enter World”. That's when all sensation in his body ceased.

"Funny... I remember the Temple being on the left last time." Favorin stretched her arms above her head, yawning. The Arena was busy as usual - all of the new people, including herself, coming through only to find their way into the wilds - and she could see everyone's life path in front of them.

...Since when have I been able to do that? She thought for a while, and finding no logical explanation, decided to wander through the Arena herself. After all, what good was a shop without gold? There was nothing she could do for now, as she had spent all of her gold on a small snack earlier. "Celestial beings sure do get hungry...."

It was a glorious mess. She could see through the Arena's windows - layered in three levels, with windows like doors every three feet - the bright blue sky, waiting for her to reach up and return home. Though Favorin doubted that anyone would be waiting for her if she returned home. Everyone had left; they had let her alone, with her staff, and with a future before her.

Out of all the futures she had ever seen, the one she had never known was her own. No matter who in her clan shared her ability, they would never tell her the future that she held. None of them could have seen them. Whatever had she done, that no one else had, that could prevent her own life from being shown?

She was lost in her thoughts, stumbling around the townspeople, waiting for a purpose. Nothing had ever seemed right to her; she had always been waiting for someone to show her the path. And now, she had no one.

"I need something to get around faster." She would not be able to find anything, she knew, but couldn't a poor girl hope?

Favorin looked up just in time to stop herself from running into another woman. She stopped, staring at her hair, trying to puzzle what she was about. Her hair reminded her of a phoenix - long and running, with a fire-colored tint to it, Favorin felt a small envy come from the shade.

She looked closer, trying to see what she could not see. The halo around other people's heads - the one that showed their future, their past, their present - was gone. Missing, just as mine...

"Why are you here?" she whispered, leaning on her staff to get a closer look at Analia.

Analia looked up startled out of her semi trance, up at the woman in front of her. She studied her a minute hearing her whispered question "Why are you here?" It was an odd question for someone to ask her out of the blue. The sun had come out of cloud cover by then and her hair was shining, giving it a fiery look. She noticed the girl staring at it.


"Such an odd question but I shall answer it. To put it simply I'm here to battle in the arena, to grow a little stronger and sharpen my skills before setting out on my journey." she held out her hand to the curious looking woman with the staff. "The name is Analia. And you are?" She tilted her head to the side slightly still trying to size the woman up, to see what she hoped to gain, and maybe, just maybe, make a friend of her.

Favorin didn't quite realize how rude she had sounded until Analia responded. She blushed, backing up slightly, though there was nothing to do - she had to finish the conversation she now started. Of course, if she did something rude enough, would the other walk away? She wouldn't know. Unless she tried. But should she try?...

"I... That's not what I meant. Forgive me. My manners have failed me, spending much time in solitude." She stared at Analia's hand, and once she determined what she was supposed to do, slowly shook the other woman's hand. What a curious custom.

"Perhaps we have set off on the wrong edge, my friend. I am Favorin d'Aegis, formerly of the Stars, but I find myself with mortals today." She pondered for a second, trying to look for something else to say. "You are setting on a journey, you say? What destination do you have in mind?"

If she was lucky, maybe she would find someone else who was destined to be in the Battle for the West. The concept seemed nice to her - after such a long time that she had wandered alone, if she could truly find someone else who would fight with her, and for her.... Someone who would walk besides her, laugh with her...

Someone she could trust.

Someone I could call a friend.

She shook her head softly. She wouldn't get her hopes up. She quietly reminded herself that her future was a mystery, and for all she knew, she could die by a wild goat stabbing the next morning.

But, just maybe...

Analia smiled, her hope of making a friend had risen even higher, like the Himalayas. Wait a minute? what are the Himalayas? she pondered a moment to herself. Turning her full attention on Favorin her smile widened and her golden eyes sparkled "Ah a celestial one, It is a pleasure to meet you. I don't have much experience with magics but I have always wanted to see it done. As for my adventure, I'm not sure yet, I had planned on going wherever the wind would take me as they say."

She looked around and up at the sky thinking of something else to say. Maybe she would accompany me, it might be fun, heck she might even have a destination or quest. Taking a deep breath trying to gain confidence she spoke to Favorin. "Maybe you could join me? It might be fun even. You can pick where we go, I don't mind." she said all in one breath.

It was slipping from him, whatever it was he knew it was important. The more he concentrated trying to recall it though the further it got away from. All he knew for certain was the feeling of everything being simply wrong. Tyrin's face visibly seemed to strain from the effort, but eventually the feeling had nearly dissipated completely to the point where Tyrin now wondered why he was standing in one spot for no apparent reason.

Wait, where was he standing anyway?

Tyrin looked around, seeing simple folk going about their business around a massive elliptical structure- the Arena- he remembered. That's right, he'd heard that this place boasted a great market of items such as spell tomes. No, that's not... he pondered. Why did that feel more like a justification than a reason? Like he was remembering something wrong. Yet again however this feeling subsided as he began to browse the area, though trying to be discreet of course. After all Daeflings weren't exactly welcome in most places.

After a while Tyrin found himself disappointed by the selection of wares most of the vendors had, nothing of interest to him. He did however two individuals that seemed to stand out from the crowd. One was a fiery haired woman that seemed particularly well armed for a simple patron, more likely she was an arena participant. The other with her though, seemed to hold herself much differently, like she was in alien surroundings yet had an odd eagerness about her.

They seemed to be holding a conversation, though Tyrin couldn't make out what was said. It was just as well he supposed, not really his business anyway . Rather deliberately he walked around them, as although he couldn't be sure, they seemed like adventuring types. And adventuring types were often curious of mysterious figures that took a full moment observing them.

"Come on, I think I found another we can recruit to your cause Favorin. Who better to help than someone who looks like a knight!"

Favorin let herself be dragged along, and as she followed Analia, she couldn't help but giggle. Such a care-free place to be; and to have friends, it was such a joyous place to be. It reminded her of a life that she used to have; one that she never truly had the chance to do what she wanted to do, and now she had the chance to do what she wanted to do.

Haven't I always been able to? I left the Heavens on my own whim... When have I ever not been able to? She shook her head softly, and continued to run after Analia with a smile on her face. When at last they met the knight, she couldn't help but giggle as his history flashed before her. She saw the small child running alongside his grandmother, and she bowed deeply to him, rising slowly.

"Um, sure."

"We have a...quest. A quest that we are both destined to go on, one that I fear is crucial to this realm. For if we fail, the realm will surely fall." She looked to Analia for a moment, and back to Liotche. This was the reason that her clan never sent her on negotiations. "I look at you, and I see that you, as well as us, have no destiny set."

"We cannot do this quest alone. While I first thought I would be alone in the Battle, there are many in this arena, that would join us in our quest. I extend the peace to you, dear knight - our quest is to travel to the Battle of the West. This will set the destiny of the realm. While there will be many tribes who may join us in the fight, champions are required to do what they cannot." She smiled at him, her head raising slowly with an old pride. "I can see that you, too, are also longing for an adventure. After all, who of us in this arena are not? And thus, I ask you, friend, will you join us in this Battle? I cannot promise you will walk away from it. I can, however, promise you that it will be an adventure worthy of the stars."

She did not mention that she had no wish for adventures anymore; a small part of her was longing for the home that she did not know of. One in which she led a different life...

Analia smiled brightly. "It couldn't hurt. Oh, by the way, you have a beautiful sword." she grabbed their hands and rushed towards the man in robes that Liotche pointed out. Excitement was on her face as she approached him and tapped on his shoulder.

"Excuse me sir, might we please have a word with you?" her golden eyes were shining and the wind had blown her hair to the right. She let go of the two in her party's hands and extended her hand. "I'm Analia, just hear us out please?"

"You really need to work on your sales pitch, but I'm in." She blushed softly, knowing he was right. Again, the precise reason her clan never sent her on reconnaissance missions... "You'll probably need more people, though. You want to try that guy next?"

Her eyes had just found Tyrin, but Analia was faster. "It couldn't hurt." Favorin let herself be pulled along, not wanting to cause any problems, though she felt that Analia was much too energetic for her to handle. Perhaps when they were fighting down a river, against a horde of orcs, her enthusiasm would be appreciated... but she would rather find one of her elders sitting atop a pillar of reason at that point.

Beyond that, she watched Tyrin carefully, trying to see what he was watching. As far as she could tell, he had been watching them first, but she could make no such judgement yet. "Perhaps you may be of interest to this quest. For I can see that you have already taken a budding curiosity in us." If she had any chance at all, she would leave the talking to Analia.

The morning had already scared her well enough. She had found two people to join her quest in what seemed to be just short of a few minutes, and while they may all be there to search for an adventure, she had highly doubted the chance that so many people randomly join them. Then again, many things had been confusing her of late...

Damn, Tyrin mentally cursed. He had been right of course they definitely had to be adventuring types, no other kind of person who looked like they do would bother. The man wasn't looking forward to turning around, for as soon as he did they would give him the “look” once they had an unobstructed view of his face. It didn't matter if it was a farmer, a priest, or a small child, the reaction was almost always the same. Tyrin just had that effect on people.

He turned, and the gaze of man with clearly inhuman eyes fell on his inquirer. His expression was that of expectancy. “Very well, what is it that you want?” he asked. He half expected them to “pardon” themselves before quickly finding something that was infinitely more intriguing that holding a conversation with a demon man. “And before you ask, no, I don't eat babies. That would be disgusting.”

She watched carefully as Tyrin turned around. Something about him told her that he was not interested in speaking with them, though she would hold her ground against him, knowing that while he may not join th-

Wait. He's...kind of like me.

"Forgive me, friend, I had not meant to offend you." Almost immediately after he had turned around, she dropped into a bow, her knees just about gracing the ground. She arose slowly, listening to him. "And before you ask, no, I don't eat babies. That would be disgusting."

Favorin hid a disgusted look herself, frowning. "That would be beyond disgusting. An inexcusable act for those of us who breathe and claim to stand for good." She blinked softly, watching him. His history made her suck in a sharp breath, the soft heart that her clan had claimed to have suddenly wounded.

"You have no reason to trust me... I see that you hold hatred. The stars have blessed you with the strength to carry through this. You will no doubt be of great help in our quest." She was whispering softly, barley aware that she was speaking. Her voice trailed off into a soft mumble as she lowered her eyes, speaking of the magics she had learned, while forgetting that she was to be working on recruiting.

Tryin's stance betrayed genuine surprise by the reaction he got. That baby comment was meant as a snide remark about a common phrase he was used to hearing about himself. However not only did she take the comment for what it was, she saw the truth behind it. In fact she seemed to have an innate ability to see through him as well. Tyrin hadn't had a person disarm him like that since...Mother...

A closer look at her revealed something he felt he should have picked up on earlier. Though of human shape, she clearly wasn't that. Her speech, her posture, even her eyes were a dead give away. An elemental perhaps? No, their attributes are far more overt. Certainly isn't elvish. Thinking on it, the man found it best to readdress them.

With an exhale he spoke, “I... I mean, lets try that again. They call me Tyrin Raxius. No doubt you've gathered I'm a mage either wise you wouldn't approach me for a quest. You'll have to forgive my lack of manners, most people I meet offer me very little of that.”

He paused for a moment before continuing, “You have my attention, although I'll need more specifics about this task before I agree to anything. Also, if I may be candid, what exactly are you? I've seen many different races in Aramnia, but haven't encountered an instance of your kind. I can tell for certain it isn't human.”

Perhaps I have found more friends than I would have originally asked for. Ancestors bless me, I never would have thought...

Favorin gave a smile to him. She was more than happy that he was considering joining her, as she knew that she would need his help. Such powers would be invaluable to her, and while she did have such herself, she knew that above all she needed someone to be like her. She needed his help more than anyone else's.

"They call me Tyrin Raxius. No doubt you've gathered I'm a mage either wise you wouldn't approach me for a quest. You'll have o forgive my lack of manners, most people I meet offer me very little of that." She bowed her head in accordance, knowing many stories of the mortals who would walk over their own mother's corpse before lending aid to others.

"...Also, if I may be candid, what exactly are you?"

Favorin stiffled a giggle. She had certainly never heard anyone be so forward, let alone one who did not know of the celestial beings. Though, after such a long time in the heavens, is such a concept so bizarre? Certainly not. Humor me, Tyrin...

"My elders have blessed me with the name of Favorin d'Aegis. My race is known by many names; celestials, star-walkers, or simply spirits of another kind." She sighed softly, deciding to explain the quest herself, knowing how horrible that would be. "Forgive me for being indelicate with this, as I fear I was never meant to be the one to speak. I was not granted with such gracefulness.

"Our quest is one of great peril. I cannot say that you will make it alive; for not even I can see that future. It remains hidden to us all, as does the outcome of this Battle - The Battle for the West, the one that will mark all of our lives. For if we fail," she paused to gesture around at the Arena, "This will no longer be. The shadows will take this land and if there is a soul alive to see it there will be much peril.

"I cannot say that I know how to lead us. I cannot say that I know where this quest will take us; or when we will fight. All that I know is that we will fight alongside the many tribes who have sworn themselves to this quest, and that we will need all help we can get." She looked at Tyrin. Truly looked at him - staring into his eyes, she bowed her head softly. "Will you join us? There will be no hatred should you decline; I daresay, I find myself want to return to the stars."

Analia smiled and held out her hand to Tyrin. "Hi, I'm Analia. It's a pleasure to meet you! Even if you don't decide to help us." her golden eyes were warm and friendly as they always were. Her excitement was a contagious thing and she was practically exploding with it.

I'm making frends. Real friends, that I can call my own. she thought to herself, her smile never wavering. This is almost as good as my new camera I'm waiting on. wait, what is a camera? she thought to herself.

Liotche had been standing to the side while they talked; keeping half an ear out for the conversation while he looked around to study their surroundings. He had been wondering whether this place was the same as his village, but he hadn't seen enough to compare them properly. So far, it seemed to be pretty alike, only more items were sold. Maybe he should keep a notebook to record the places or something...

Liotche's face remained absolutely still when he head Favorin was a celestial. Inwardly, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. He hadn't heard of celestials before, only of beings such as elves and orcs and dragonics. That explained the whole 'I can read your destiny!' thing. Yup, definitely finding a notebook and pen now, this was too interesting to forget.

After Analia spoke up, Liotche neutrally introduced himself. "Liotche," he said dryly, a direct contrast of Analia. "It'll be exciting and it's more fun and safer to travel with a group instead of alone." he added, feeling like he should help Favorin out.

Arcedies glanced down from the arena, Watching multiple people conversing, Arcedies, Of course, Wanted to fight more then anything, But he had a bad feeling about this Colosseum, He felt that he should probably enter with a group of people that he was well accustomed with.

"That would be fine...If I knew anyone here..." Arcedies grumbled, He would walk on top of the Colosseum walls, Thinking...I should probably start taking action, Instead of just doing nothing, Arcedies then stopped and then lied down, Positioning himself in front of a small crowd of people. "Heh Probably". And drifted off to sleep, With Nivues on one side and his katana on the other.

Liotche scratched his head awkwardly, wondering where he could find something to write on. Maybe the shops would have one...

"Hey, There's something I need to get before we enter the Coliseum, so I'm going off first." He said to the group, jerking his thumb towards the direction of the shops. Turning around, Liotche strolled away from the group, mentally calculating how much he had. It wasn't much, but if the price of items here were the same as his village he could probably get a notebook and pen with cash to spare.

Then again, considering how things were the cost of paper in this area would probably be more than he could afford. Or the only paper they had were pink and covered in fluffy unicorns and looked as though it was designed for five year old girls with an obsession with all thing girly, or there was no pen (which was fine since he could use charcoal sticks) or they had just ran out of stock and needed to wait next month, or -

Ok, this was getting stupidly depressing. He hadn't even reached the store yet, why was he thinking like this? Frowning deeply, Liotche increased his pace in an effort to get the thoughts out of his head - and promptly stepped onto a puddle of soapy water.

This morning, Ken Shiner was tasked by his mother to throw the dirt bucket of soapy water used to clean the house. He was on his way to chuck the contents of the bucket into a drain when someone bumped into Ken, causing him to spill the dirty water onto the ground. His mission of emptying the bucket (she never asked where to empty it) accomplished, Ken shrugged and went home, unaware that he had created a death trap of epic proportions.

It had already claimed six lives this morning. Liotche was the seventh.

With a shout, Liotche skidded across the slippery floor, his arms waving like a windmill. People ducked out of the way as he tried to regain his footing, only to fail as his foot came in contact with the slippery patch on the floor (it was a really large puddle). Loosing his balance even more, Liotche slid forward, his arms frantically trying to find something to hold onto as his face came dangerously close to the ground. Desperately, he tried to regain his footing again and much to his relief, his foot found dry ground. Staggering forward, Liotche mentally cursed the person who made the puddle and tried to move back into an upright position.

Moving a few steps forward in a manner which resembles a drunken man, Liotche stepped on a katana sheath.

With a horrible certainty that nope, he wasn't going to be able to stop himself from falling this time; Liotche fell forward. In a way which almost seemed as though he was moving in slow motion but was actually pretty fast (like how a few seconds can seem to last forever when you see and realise what's going to happen but can't move quick enough to stop it), almost as though time had stopped to let his brain realise what was going to happen, Liotche could see the scene like his soul had gone out of his body and was watching like one of the crowd.

He was falling face forwards towards the ground, directly above a young man with white hair sleeping on the ground beside a wolf and the katana he had tripped over. If the white haired man stayed in the same position, Liotche's stomach area (the place where the abs were) would land on the man's torso. His chin would hit the ground like a brick from the sky and even more importantly, it would hurt. A lot.

Then time sped up, his soul went back into his body and Liotche was falling forwards, his arms spread out in an attempt to stop his fall. 'Oh bugger.' he thought, gritting his teeth and bracing for impact.