Gabel followed after Brother Joseph to the courtyard. Dust scurried around his feet as he walked into the training area. A grin on his face, as thought of how much fun he was about to have, while he took in the kids. They looked like they didn't know the first thing about fighting in combat. And how would they? None of them had ever had to face a real a battle, to have their lives on the line. They could never understand it - what it meant to face death; the fear of not knowing if you'd see the next day.

He knew Darius would be upset with him, but truth be told, he didn't give a damn. He wanted to see what the little Keeper was capable of. Also, despite what he told Darius, he was feeling a pull towards her as well. He'd waited for a long time to find someone to guard, putting his skills to use. As a warrior mage he had pent up energy; the need to protect someone burned into every fiber of his being.

Gabel stopped in front of Alexus and pulled his sword up, pointing it at her. He stared into her eyes as he spoke.

"I will be working with you today."

Holding her gaze, he waited for her reaction and saw the disappointment that passed swiftly over her face. If he hadn't been watching for it, he would of missed it. He only caught it by the slight twitch in her eyes. His smile got even wider, showing his teeth in a boyish grin. This was going to be fun indeed.

I will make you pay for that.

He bowed down and waited for her to do the same. When she reluctantly bowed they locked eyes again, trying to get into each others mind. Both straighten as they walked in circles around the other, looking for weaknesses. With each step there was another to retaliate. Their eyes were watchful of each others' foot work to see if one had put more weight on one than the other. He could tell she was studying him just as he was her- taking in the calculations of where to strike and where to pull back.

Finally, Alexus went in for a strike with her sword raised high at the last moment. He was quick to match it with a block, moving his sword up in a sideways slant. The clash of steel against steel rang through out the quiet court yard, which was quickly gaining an audience. His arm didn't even buckle under the force of her sword.

The fight had begun, for every strike there was a block. And vice versa. They were going at it for awhile, staring at each other, not letting any signs of weakness to be shown on their face. Out of their peripheral vision both watched for the slightest movement to give away the next attack. Sweat begun to drip from both of their faces as the heat of the sun radiated down on them.

He was surprised to find Alexus kept pace with him despite the exhaustion and the heat. She was stubborn, maybe just as stubborn as Darius. That thought gave him a laugh.

Darius, you're gonna have your hands full with this one.

He caught her coming in for another strike, this time aimed at his legs. He quickly lowered his sword, catching hers in a block as he stepped back. He knew her arms took the brunt of the vibrations, but better that than his leg. She'd looked up at him, and he saw the realization pass through her eyes.

That's right kitten, I've just been playing with you.

Her pace quickened and her foot work was more agile. He saw that she was lighter on her feet as she pivoted, the movement more graceful. She swung the sword over her head in an arch and in one fluid motion she brought the sword down, aiming for his neck. She had followed through with the momentum of her body as she stepped into the swing.

However, he had seen her feet, the slight change of weight shifting from the balls to the front of her feet, and had his sword in place to block. She was fighting harder; he could tell she didn't like him holding out on her. A quick glance to the side and he saw the bystanders watching in awe, their breaths were held in, waiting for the outcome. They were stuck in an elegant dance. Every thrust was met with the glint of steel clashing on steel.

He knew the exact moment Darius entered the room, his eyes lighted with mischief. Alexus had glanced over at him, breaking her concentration. Gabel took that opportunity to strike.

He moved quickly as he brought his sword down on hers, knocking it out of her hand. He had her flat on the ground, both swords in his hands. The fierce determination in her eyes took him slightly aback, questioning himself if this was really a wise thing to do. However, she got back up and yank off her robe, tossing it off to the side, heedless of where it landed. Her long sleeve violet shirt, now revealed, flapped in the wind. It brought out the purple in her eyes, making her look that more dangerous.

Surprised at first, since he'd never seen anyone removing their robes, he quickly recovered and handed her sword back to her as the surrounding audience gasped in dismay. Ignoring them, they continued their fighting. He watched her soak in everything, using it to her advantage. Smirking slightly as the air began to cool, he knew Darius anger must be rising. He risked a glance over at him and saw his eyes zoned in on him, glowing. His fists were clenched tight at his sides.

Gabel knew he'd be getting hell for this later when they were alone. He didn't have much time to worry about that, however, as his sword was knocked out of his hands - Alexus, her face covered in dirt and sweat with her sword pointing at him, was bearing a triumphant grin.

He smiled, she was a determined little thing and he admired that. He also knew he was in trouble with Darius, not because of the fight, but because he knew without a doubt that he was looking at his Keeper. It was an oddity that rarely happened. However, over the centuries there had been reports of it - this Keeper had more than one Guardian.

Gabel thought back to when he was a child. He'd grown up with Darius - running wild in the forest, hunting, and pulling off pranks together. As a hunted race, they were forced to live in small clans hidden deep in the Syla Forest. And as such, they'd gotten everyone wrapped around their little fingers. They were mischievous boys; boys that everyone loved. They'd brought life to their clan; happiness. Their boyish smiles got them out of more trouble then he'd could count.

For the most part they were free to roam as they wished. The forest was very dangerous for outsiders to travel through - the wood nymphs could be quite impish. They would take form of beautiful maidens, luring you to your doom over a cliff, or in the deep waters that ran through the forest. Not to mention all the deadly and poisonous plants and flowers that grew there. The forest lives - it remembers the pain shed on its land. No one knows for sure what all lies within its deepest reaches; a mystery that perhaps was left better undiscovered.

When he was nearing ten years, Darius and himself were daring each other to step outside of the forest to see who was braver. Hesitant at first, they'd both goaded each other until they both had stepped out into the sun, smiling at each other with huge grins. The sunlight beamed down on them, no longer protected from the foliage. And that was when they noticed a shadow had loomed out before them, stretching towards them like death's ghost. They had traced that shadow to its source - a group of travelers.

A hunting party, a witch with a group of twelve warriors, stood before them. True fear shone in their eyes as they'd looked at each other, wondering what they should do. They were no match for men of steel - let alone a witch. If they ran and were caught, they'd face severe punishment. Witches of the Court were known to be viciously cruel. Gabel looked at Darius, who was the clever one, the thinker between them, with questioning eyes. He was always the rash one, thinking of the consequences only after the fact. Darius had given him the slightest shake of the head, and so they'd stayed put.

It had turned out that the hunting party belonged to a Queen, their captor. She had the witch sense out what talents they'd possessed. The boys were separated; Gabel was sent to live in the barracks, while Darius was sent to learn the ways of love making.

The time spent in the barracks would forever be etched in his mind. He'd never known such suffering, such evil in the world. They were penned together - the new recruits with seasoned warriors. Their cages were made out of bars of steel with open slatts in between. The roof was made the same. Boys and men alike were forced to endure the rain, the cold winters with bitter winds, and the heat of the sun in the summer. They'd to sleep on the hard ground, letting the cold seep to their very bones. There was nothing to protect them from the elements save for the rags they wore as clothing.

They were thrown morsels of food every so often, and like the caged animals they were, they'd have to fight each other for the measly scraps of food - it typically lead to someone's death. The Queen had wanted to weed out the weak. She wanted her warriors blood thirsty; on the cusps of the killing edge. Gabel did what he had to to survive, in the barracks there was no room for remorse or self loathing. He'd killed and maimed - all in the name of the Queen he served. During that time, he was able to shield his soul, kept it hidden and intact so he wouldn't go insane, biding his time until he could find Darius.

His hand reached to his neck, rubbing where a chain used to lay. The chain that had bidden him to the Queen's wishes, spelled by the witch. Reaching for the chain had snapped him to the present. He looked down at Alexus, thinking maybe things are bound to get better. Maybe, after all this time, he'd dare to let himself hope.Gabel followed after Brother Joseph to the courtyard. Dust scurried around his feet as he walked into the training area. A grin on his face, as thought of how much fun he was about to have, while he took in the kids. They looked like they didn't know the first thing about fighting in combat. And how would they? None of them had ever had to face a real a battle, to have their lives on the line. They could never understand it - what it meant to face death; the fear of not knowing if you'd see the next day.

He knew Darius would be upset with him, but truth be told, he didn't give a damn. He wanted to see what the little Keeper was capable of. Also, despite what he told Darius, he was feeling a pull towards her as well. He'd waited for a long time to find someone to guard, putting his skills to use. As a warrior mage he had pent up energy; the need to protect someone burned into every fiber of his being.

Gabel stopped in front of Alexus and pulled his sword up, pointing it at her. He stared into her eyes as he spoke.

"I will be working with you today."

Holding her gaze, he waited for her reaction and saw the disappointment that passed swiftly over her face. If he hadn't been watching for it, he would of missed it. He only caught it by the slight twitch in her eyes. His smile got even wider, showing his teeth in a boyish grin. This was going to be fun indeed.

I will make you pay for that.

He bowed down and waited for her to do the same. When she reluctantly bowed they locked eyes again, trying to get into each others mind. Both straighten as they walked in circles around the other, looking for weaknesses. With each step there was another to retaliate. Their eyes were watchful of each others' foot work to see if one had put more weight on one than the other. He could tell she was studying him just as he was her- taking in the calculations of where to strike and where to pull back.

Finally, Alexus went in for a strike with her sword raised high at the last moment. He was quick to match it with a block, moving his sword up in a sideways slant. The clash of steel against steel rang through out the quiet court yard, which was quickly gaining an audience. His arm didn't even buckle under the force of her sword.

The fight had begun, for every strike there was a block. And vice versa. They were going at it for awhile, staring at each other, not letting any signs of weakness to be shown on their face. Out of their peripheral vision both watched for the slightest movement to give away the next attack. Sweat begun to drip from both of their faces as the heat of the sun radiated down on them.

He was surprised to find Alexus kept pace with him despite the exhaustion and the heat. She was stubborn, maybe just as stubborn as Darius. That thought gave him a laugh.

Darius, you're gonna have your hands full with this one.

He caught her coming in for another strike, this time aimed at his legs. He quickly lowered his sword, catching hers in a block as he stepped back. He knew her arms took the brunt of the vibrations, but better that than his leg. She'd looked up at him, and he saw the realization pass through her eyes.

That's right kitten, I've just been playing with you.

Her pace quickened and her foot work was more agile. He saw that she was lighter on her feet as she pivoted, the movement more graceful. She swung the sword over her head in an arch and in one fluid motion she brought the sword down, aiming for his neck. She had followed through with the momentum of her body as she stepped into the swing.

However, he had seen her feet, the slight change of weight shifting from the balls to the front of her feet, and had his sword in place to block. She was fighting harder; he could tell she didn't like him holding out on her. A quick glance to the side and he saw the bystanders watching in awe, their breaths were held in, waiting for the outcome. They were stuck in an elegant dance. Every thrust was met with the glint of steel clashing on steel.

He knew the exact moment Darius entered the room, his eyes lighted with mischief. Alexus had glanced over at him, breaking her concentration. Gabel took that opportunity to strike.

He moved quickly as he brought his sword down on hers, knocking it out of her hand. He had her flat on the ground, both swords in his hands. The fierce determination in her eyes took him slightly aback, questioning himself if this was really a wise thing to do. However, she got back up and yank off her robe, tossing it off to the side, heedless of where it landed. Her long sleeve violet shirt, now revealed, flapped in the wind. It brought out the purple in her eyes, making her look that more dangerous.

Surprised at first, since he'd never seen anyone removing their robes, he quickly recovered and handed her sword back to her as the surrounding audience gasped in dismay. Ignoring them, they continued their fighting. He watched her soak in everything, using it to her advantage. Smirking slightly as the air began to cool, he knew Darius anger must be rising. He risked a glance over at him and saw his eyes zoned in on him, glowing. His fists were clenched tight at his sides.

Gabel knew he'd be getting hell for this later when they were alone. He didn't have much time to worry about that, however, as his sword was knocked out of his hands - Alexus, her face covered in dirt and sweat with her sword pointing at him, was bearing a triumphant grin.

He smiled, she was a determined little thing and he admired that. He also knew he was in trouble with Darius, not because of the fight, but because he knew without a doubt that he was looking at his Keeper. It was an oddity that rarely happened. However, over the centuries there had been reports of it - this Keeper had more than one Guardian.

Gabel thought back to when he was a child. He'd grown up with Darius - running wild in the forest, hunting, and pulling off pranks together. As a hunted race, they were forced to live in small clans hidden deep in the Syla Forest. And as such, they'd gotten everyone wrapped around their little fingers. They were mischievous boys; boys that everyone loved. They'd brought life to their clan; happiness. Their boyish smiles got them out of more trouble then he'd could count.

For the most part they were free to roam as they wished. The forest was very dangerous for outsiders to travel through - the wood nymphs could be quite impish. They would take form of beautiful maidens, luring you to your doom over a cliff, or in the deep waters that ran through the forest. Not to mention all the deadly and poisonous plants and flowers that grew there. The forest lives - it remembers the pain shed on its land. No one knows for sure what all lies within its deepest reaches; a mystery that perhaps was left better undiscovered.

When he was nearing ten years, Darius and himself were daring each other to step outside of the forest to see who was braver. Hesitant at first, they'd both goaded each other until they both had stepped out into the sun, smiling at each other with huge grins. The sunlight beamed down on them, no longer protected from the foliage. And that was when they noticed a shadow had loomed out before them, stretching towards them like death's ghost. They had traced that shadow to its source - a group of travelers.

A hunting party, a witch with a group of twelve warriors, stood before them. True fear shone in their eyes as they'd looked at each other, wondering what they should do. They were no match for men of steel - let alone a witch. If they ran and were caught, they'd face severe punishment. Witches of the Court were known to be viciously cruel. Gabel looked at Darius, who was the clever one, the thinker between them, with questioning eyes. He was always the rash one, thinking of the consequences only after the fact. Darius had given him the slightest shake of the head, and so they'd stayed put.

It had turned out that the hunting party belonged to a Queen, their captor. She had the witch sense out what talents they'd possessed. The boys were separated; Gabel was sent to live in the barracks, while Darius was sent to learn the ways of love making.

The time spent in the barracks would forever be etched in his mind. He'd never known such suffering, such evil in the world. They were penned together - the new recruits with seasoned warriors. Their cages were made out of bars of steel with open slats in between. The roof was made the same. Boys and men alike were forced to endure the rain, the cold winters with bitter winds, and the heat of the sun in the summer. They'd to sleep on the hard ground, letting the cold seep to their very bones. There was nothing to protect them from the elements save for the rags they wore as clothing.

They were thrown morsels of food every so often, and like the caged animals they were, they'd have to fight each other for the measly scraps of food - it typically lead to someone's death. The Queen had wanted to weed out the weak. She wanted her warriors blood thirsty; on the cusps of the killing edge. Gabel did what he had to to survive, in the barracks there was no room for remorse or self loathing. He'd killed and maimed - all in the name of the Queen he served. During that time, he was able to shield his soul, kept it hidden and intact so he wouldn't go insane, biding his time until he could find Darius.

His hand reached to his neck, rubbing where a chain used to lay. The chain that had bidden him to the Queen's wishes, spelled by the witch. Reaching for the chain had snapped him to the present. He looked down at Alexus, thinking maybe things are bound to get better. Maybe, after all this time, he'd dare to let himself hope.