A New Home

[black shadow]

Black Shadow led Lexi through the gates of Ixian Castle. A few days before he had rescued this little girl from an abusive merchant. Now he was going to show her around her new home.

She smiled, happy to he away from that dreaded marketplace. Her black hair flowed in the soft breeze and her violet eyes almost glowed from the reflection of the sun.

"So this is the Ixian Castle? It's beautiful." Lexi said.

"Wait until you see inside." Espoir said, following behind her.

Black Shadow led them into the castle, the halls big enough for twelve men to stand side by side. It was huge, and now the site of Lexi'a nomes home.

"Dad, can we show her the dining hall first? I'm hungry." Espoir said, tugging on Black Shadow'a shirt. He nodded. "Thank you!" She shouted running in the direction of the great hall.

[black shadow]

Espoir ran through the door, Lexi following close behind. Lexi stopped as she entered the room, amazed by what she saw. On each side of the room was four rows of tables, each to miles long. It was like nothing she had ever seen before.

"Come on lex!" Espoir shouted, grabbing her arm. Lexi snapped out of her amazement and followed Espoir, realizing she would have to walk nearly two miles just to reach the food lines.

"This place is huge!" She said, laughing as the two made their way through the hall.

Black Shadow picked their seats, waiting for Espoir and Lexi to bring him a plate. When the two girls made it to the seats they placed the platters of food down and began to eat.

Today the hall was serving turkey, mashed potatoes, and corn. This was a rare and flavorful meal. The food in the castle was always good, but few times had they had a meal such as this, and Lexi had never had a meal even close to this good.

She ate fast, an obvious sign of what she had gone through all her life. Black Shadow felt bad for her, ad when she finished her plate, he allowed her to have some of his meal.

"I think I'm going to like it here." She said happily.

[black shadow]

The next stop that Black Shadow showed Lexi caused Espoir to sigh. She apparently did not want to set foot into the training room when she had off.

Lexi also sighed when she entered the room. The weapons all along the wall reminded her of her days in the market, selling swords for that evil man. She did not want to be in the room at the moment.

"Ah, a new student." A woman's voice came from another room.

"Oh great, the lunatic is here." Espoir whispered into Lexi's ear. The two girls broke out into laughter.

The woman was Mrs. Gralla, the fighting instructor for ages 3-7. She was fifty-five years of age, and had been teaching young children for years. She had always used a high pitcher voice and treated everyone like they were two. This was the reason that Espoir did not like her.

She was a smart young girl and acted more mature than she really was. Espoir was a smaller build, but Black Shadow encouraged her to learn to fight.

"Espoir, would you mind showing your friend what she will learn in her time here?" Mrs. Galla asked.

"Yes ma'am." She said, grabbing a sword from the wall.

[black shadow]

Espoir placed her left foot infront of her right foot, turning her left shoulder towards Mrs. Galla, and held her sword down her side, tip touching the ground.

"Espoir, did I ever teach you to fight like that?" Mrs. Galla asked, putting her sword down to her side.

"No, but this is how I feel comfortable in a fight." Espoir answered with a sassy tone.

"Fine, I will allow you to fight like this this one time." Mrs. Galla said, getting ready. "I will make the first move."

Mrs. Galla sent her sword down in a slashing motion, Espoir easily blocking the move. She may have been small, but she was smart and fast. She took a step forward and attacked quickly. Mrs. Galla blocked her attacks and sent a few counters her way, but Espoir easily took care of them.

After a few attacks coming from both Espoir and Mrs. Galla Espoir decided to use a few of her own moves. She attacked low, causing Mrs. Galla to bring her sword low. Espoir then sent an elbow up high, colliding with Mrs. Galla's face. He stumbled back and Espoir tripped her. She then stepped forward and placed her sword to Mrs. Galla's neck.

"I never taught you that." Mrs. Galla said.

"Nope, I sort of just made it up." Espoir said, smiling.

[black shadow]

Their next stop caused Espoir to not just sigh, but say out loud "oh, we are here now?" School was not always her favorite thing, Black Shadow knew this, but he did not know it was this bad. He hit her softly on her shoulder and have her a look. "What? I'm off school, I don't want to be thinking about it.

"Ah, so we have a new student? What is your name?" A man asked, walking up to the three.

"My name is Lexi. What is yours?" Lexi asked.

"Ah, very polite. You were raised well. My name is Dr. Archie." The man said. "I am the skills instructor here."

Lexi smiled and shook his hand. She was not raised well. Yes, she knew manners all too well, but everything else? Being beaten almost every day, starved half the time, it was not what you would call being treated well.

Dr. Archie could tell that something was wrong just by looking at her. "I am sorry if I brought any bad memories back to you." He said, hoping she would cheer up." Here, have a lollipop. He said, creating a sucker in his hand.

Lexi smiled and took it from him. Maybe she would like this class after all.

[black shadow]

"This is the briefing room." Espoir said smiling. She had been in this room only once, and it made her the happiest girl in all of Althanas.

She was requested to join the briefing with a few other selected students to perform a special mission. She was selected to be the leader of a "monster hunting mission." There was a snake that had been terrorizing the dogs in the cathedral yard, and they were sent to kill this snake. She was very proud of their work.

Black Shadow walked Lexi through the room, showing her where each head, such as Jensen Ambrose of the Wetworks team, would sit during a meeting.

"You there. I'm going to have to ask you to leave. We have a briefing in two minutes." A man said. Black Shadow nodded and led Lexi and Espoir out of the room.

[black shadow]

The next room was the war room. During times of war, such as the war on Eiskalt, the heads of the Ixian Knights would gather hear to discuss their war plans.

Black Shadow walked over to the circular table and pulled Lexi up, putting her into one of the chairs. She smiled.

"One day, Espoir, you are going to be siting in one of tear seats." Lexi said.

"Thanks Lexi. I will try just for you!" Espoir said happily, stepping into the chair next to Lexi.

[black shadow]

A meeting had been called, so Black Shadow led Espoir and Lexi into the meeting room. A man walked out onto the stage and began to give a speech.

After the speech, Black Shadow walked up to the stage with Espoir and Lexi, showing them the view from the stage. It was a great view. You could see the entire room from their. The room had nice arches along the top made of solid stone. The walls were lit up with torches, light crawling up the walls.

"This is where I want to be when I get older. Giving a speech, sending my clan to war." Lexi said, smiling. Little did she know the consequences of war.

[black shadow]

"Wait... Are we." Lexi began to say, walking up to the desk in the next room. On the desk was a name etched into a metal plate. It read "Sei Orlouge."

"Oh my gosh." Lexi said, her eyes widening. She began to scream. She had never in her life expected to stand in Sei's office. She was so happy to be in her dream space.

"Listen Lexi, Sei is a busy man, and you should not disturb him unless it is very important." Espoir said.

"Okay. I'm just glad to finally be in here!" She said smiling.

"Now lets go to your room."

[black shadow]

The three walked into Lexi's room. It was small with pink wallpaper. "Oh, it is perfect!" Lexi shrieked. "I never ha one before."

"What? A room?" Espoir asked.

"Any of it."

The room grew quite. Black Shadow walked up to her and knelt down, giving her a hug. Espoir joined in too.

"Well you have all this now. Welcome to the family."

[Quentin Boone]

black shadow receives:

959 EXP
110 GP


Congratulations!

[Lye]

EXP & GP Added.