"You are as good as you are going to get with the time we have. I think that you are ready for your final test. In a few days time, a message will come to you with my seal.
When you open it - and you had best open it as soon as possible - you will be brought to your final proving grounds."

Philomel's words were ringing in his ears as Nevin stared down, contemplative, at the rolled envelope he had been handed last night by a rather hurried man. Normally Nevin would have just tossed it aside, had he not rolled it over first, and seen a gold embossed lily stamped onto it, sealing it closed. Turning it further revealed a rather disturbing skull beneath it, glaring out at him from underneath the petals of the lily. This then, was the message that Philomel had sent to him - or, considering what it would do, for him. Nevin took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

He knew that, if he had any hope of holding his own for even a short time against the Faun, he would need to not hold back in the slightest. So it was not just his crimson drakescale breastplate, or his barbed whip that he put in place. His belt pouch filled with hard tablets - thin, flat plates about the width and height of his hand- was hooked into place. He held Stare's vial for a moment, then put it down. Seeing Philomel's soul for a short time might be useful, but he would rather keep the memento of his dear friend.

Into his bag went the vials that he had collected just recently - potions of blood, gained in battle against a twisted deer. He thought it mildly amusing that he might use Vitality stolen from a deer to fight a Faun but that was just an errant thought - nothing more. He placed them in carefully, towards his back - it wouldn't do to have them being struck, even if they were in a protective case.

He swept his cloak up into place, obscuring most of this, and nodded. He was as ready as he could get. His threads hummed beneath his skin in anticipation - mirroring, displaying his tension. This would be the first fight that he had gone in to where he actually knew there was going to be a fight, and that made him very tense, almost afraid.

But also, excited. He was looking forward to a chance to prove himself, to finally not be caught off guard by every little thing that happened. He drew in a deep breath, steadying his nerves, and opened the scroll. It began to glow, a vibrant blue hue, and he tossed it on the ground - and a shimmering vortex spiraled into life in front of him. Nevin stared at a moment - before nodding and stepping through.

Gut wrenching, twisting, spirals, it felt like he was being spun around like a top - and then he was out, on the other side, stumbling a bit as he looked around, taking in the bizarre and amazing view. A city hung from an enormous tree branch, bathed in the clouds. Then he saw her, still as impressive a figure as ever, dressed for battle. He swallowed.

A battle with him. Oh crimson, was he really ready for this? One hand tightened into a fist. Yes, yes he was. He was not going to back down, not here, not now.

"Lady Van der Aart." He bowed.