"Wake up" Elva groggily opened her eyes. It was at some god forsaken time in the morning, far earlier than they normally awoke. It took her eyes a few seconds to adjust to Neria's face. She was as beautiful as ever, and she'd finally cut her hair. Yet, the sight of her did little to comfort Elva. "What time is it?"

"Don't know, early. Get up, get dressed, we need to go" Before Elva could question her, Neria was gone, out of the room. Elva grumbled softly to herself and sat up in the bed. She glanced around the room; it was Neria's old one. She never found out how exactly Neria managed to move the entire building as far as she did, but it still perplexed her. Basically everything was made of wood, aside from a few 'toys' and other such objects that at least interested Elva. Nothing pink, Neria took the liberty of burning just about anything pink that entered the building. Elva finally stood, stumbling for a moment, before catching her balance and leaning down to pat Zeane softly on the back.

From there, she hurriedly took the first Circle Mage robe she could find and threw it on. Thankfully, she'd grown about a foot, and snugly fit into the Circle clothing. Neria poked her head in a few seconds later, to check on her. "No, not the robe... actually you know what, that's fine, it doesn't matter, let's go" She gave Elva a quick wave, ordering her to hurry. Elva stared as the door closed again. She quickly grabbed the blood pendant from her dresser, lent down to pet Zeane once more, and headed out.

Neria waited outside the building entirely, surrounded by the trees. The house wasn't far from the imperial highway, about at the halfway point between Redcliffe and the Circle Tower. They were allowed to row their way to the tower every morning, which Neria usually did when she wasn't lazily making the boat row itself. Elva emerged from the house, however, and stood staring. She was confused, it couldn't be time to leave already, the sun was barely peeking over the horizon, and in this forest, that meant they were still in total darkness. "Hey, quit staring. I'm really sorry honey, but we have to go!" Neria urged, pulling Elva from her thoughts. Was she eager to go argue with Karoma, as they did more often then not?

She really didn't have the strength to ask, she was nearly falling asleep as she walked. She could have sworn at one point that she did fall asleep walking, only to be awoken when her body realized it was going the wrong way. They'd reached the highway alright, but they were going down it the wrong way, towards Redcliffe. "We're going to be late..." She yawned. Neria looked over her shoulder, smiling. "Then you can stay home today, you'll deserve it once this is done with" But, what exactly is this?

Neria was leading them down the path to Redcliffe, not an unfamiliar place to Elva, just as the sun was reaching a reasonable spot in the sky, illuminating the land. It was then, when walking over the bridge leading into the actual town, did Elva realize that the usual murmur of people was absent. Even at this early time, she expected some people to be going on with their lives. In fact, from what she could see, all the doors to the homes were wide open, as if everyone had just gotten up and left. "... Mom?"

"You don't want to know, sweety" Neria attempted to calm her mind again, which did little more than nothing. Still, Elva got the idea that she shouldn't want to know. She followed Neria absentmindedly over the bridge to Redcliffe Castle, which alone felt like a longer walk that getting to Redcliffe. Though the opened gates, she was not surprised to see once again, no one in sight. And once again, Neria seemed to be completely expecting this. She walked them up the steps to the front door of the castle, and then blew it open with a single Arcane blast, instantly waking Elva. From there, Elva was reluctant to follow, yet did so obediently. She followed Neria, who stomped up the steps to the throne room and then immediately turned to he sitting in the throne.

Connor, the 'little boy' of ten years ago now in his adulthood, sat there smiling. He'd obviously been expecting Neria. "Hello Desiré" Neria finally said, glaring. "Glad you remember me, Mage" Connor spoke, in a voice not his own, before standing. "How'd it go, finding your mother with my help?"

"Mommy dearest is dead" Neria said quickly, as though that were actually witty. The demon was well aware of this however. "So, you know why we're both here. I see you brought your pet" He pulled a small, curved bit of wood from his hip, about as long as his hand. It had metal bits and pieces seemingly randomly scattered into it. He pointed this carelessly at Elva and Neria, at though it were a Toy. Neria made a point of pulling Elva behind herself. "Then i suppose you know it's time for you to die"

"You must have noticed the lack of welcoming committee, Neria. They're all here, waiting for you to make a wrong move so they can tear that girl apart. We can be civilized about this. I'll make you a deal, if you can kill this boy, i will leave your world for the rest of time. If i kill you... well, you wont be around to see it" Neria's eyes flared, and a sword materialized in her hand. It held the same twisted shape as her black one, including the red N, yet this one was of a brilliant white. "That's a neat trick. Do you do parties?"

"My sword against anything you want. Happy? I'm playing fair. Are you ready to die now?"

"All i'll need is this" Connor held up the item once more, and Neria readied her sword, pushing Elva backwards. "You may make the first move" Neria glared, before finally pushing off from where she stood, charging at Connor blindly with the intent to cut him in half. Then, he aimed the little device forward, and pulled the trigger.

Neria stopped on a dime, dropping the sword to the ground and clutching her stomach. "Oh dear, it seems I've won" Neria paid little attention to what the demon was saying, now looking down at the hole in her. She could hear the movement of his hands over the device once more, a few clicks later, a second bullet whizzed out, hitting her in the chest and throwing her to the floor. Elva could only stare, not entirely sure of everything that just happened. Neria wasn't breathing... that easy? Had she seriously just died? Just like that?

"Well, child" Elva looked up, at Connor, who now waved a hand over Neria's corpse. "A deal's a deal, isn't it? I've won... now you lose" Seconds later, his earlier words came true. Multiple skeletons and zombies literally burst free from the walls, the floor, even some falling from the ceiling. Each held some kind of sharp weapon. He waved a hand over Neria's corpse once more, and seconds later, it rose to join them. "Death Magic, oh how it feels so good..." He aimed the weapon forward at Elva, his zombies ready to attack if he missed, and pulled the trigger. Elva vanished without a trace, just before the bullet pierced her skull and implanted itself in the stone wall. Connor scowled. "Find her!" He yelled. Immediately, all of the undead went rushing off in different directions.

Elva was outside already, in the courtyard, running to the bridge. What was happening? Had that really just happened? She'd made it onto the bridge just as a skeleton let out a roar, having spotted her, and she made it about halfway across the bridge before a bolt of lightning flew over her shoulder at the opposite end of the bridge, causing it to detonate instantly. Elva stopped just in time to keep herself from plummeting in the water, and turned. She saw Connor, standing with the undead Neria at his side. "End her" He said simply, and Neria fired another bolt forward. This one didn't hit Elva either, but rather the closer end of the bridge to them. Elva knew why. The bridge started cracking beneath her feet, and soon after, it shattered, and she was sent falling down with it into the freezing water.

All the falling bits of the bridge caused waves, if small ones, in the river, and sent Elva tossing wildly underwater. She only just barely opened her eyes when she saw the skelton of an Ogre, the same Neria had sunk in this river, reaching up and grabbing her. It crushed her in it's fist several times, before it's bone shattered from the decay of time, and Elva had simply been sent down the now flowing river to who knows where.

Many miles later, hours later maybe, she felt herself crashing up onto the shoreline, shattering the pendant around her neck on impact with the stone and dirt of land. She tried to gasp a few times, but it didn't quite work. Her lungs were filled with water, and the sharp bits of the broken blood pendant around her neck were clawing into her chest. 'This can't be happening...' Was all she could really manage to think. Elva tried pulling herself up, at least to get to her hands and knees rather than just laying there. When she tried, she felt the waves pull back, and slam back into her, forcing her to just lay there. She really didn't have the strength to do anything, not unless she went Hybrid right now. And of course, Neria made a point to teach shapeshifting to just about everyone besides Elva herself.

She tried once more to pull herself up onto the rocky shore, and suffered the same result as last time. So, she lay there, half in the water, which slammed into her every so often, and half out onto the muddy shoreline, turning her hair a sick brown and making her nearly unrecognizable. Her eyes closed soon after. She could only rest for now, and pray the water wouldn't pull her back in and end her completely.

(Fishy, you do remember that Karoma had the Highway that stretched over the Lake rebuilt right?, or did Neria simply prefer to row?....I guess it doesn't matter now)

"Good morning First Enchanter"

"It's morning alreadY?, I just went to sleep an hour ago" A figure lifted itself wearily from the desk, the odd book laying abandoned upon it, with about double the number on the floors around and even moreso untouched on the shelves around the walls, plus two large piles of letters of missives and scrolls that all 'require' the First Enchanter's eyes only. As is almost law around here, the pile of unread was three times as larger as those already dealt with. "Sentinal Faren, if you don't stop staring and get me something very hot to drink, you will leave the Tower.... From this floor"

A heavily armoured figure nodded and brought his right arm to his chest as a salute, much like those soldiers salute officers and their lord or lady. Karoma still wasn't used to it, but fully understood why he was staring. She had attempted to actually go to bed last night, only to remember that over half the paperwork was due a week ago and got up again to finish whatever she could before exhaustion took her, leaving a rather tired and rather naked First Enchanter asleep inside her study until now.

Emerging from her study and taking the mug that was in Faren's hand, who was outside waiting. Karoma walked down the slowly filling hallway in her new favourite robes (the black and red ones) even though she was barefoot and walked once around the entire floor to get the feel of things again, something she had started doing every morning now before most of the apprentices and enchanters were awake, mainly to train in hiding the limp in her right leg. "I assume Neria's arrived by the boat and is waiting in the library to argue?"

Faren stammered, his nerves breaking through. "Umm Th..That was why I came to se... see you First Enchanter, she has not arrived" Even for a dwarf, he was incredibly nervous around a select few of the Circle, either because his resistance provided only slight shelter from their spells, or he simply knew these people had many others to do the limb-breaking for them. Karoma right now, had her mind on the other thing. "She hasn't?... that is unlike her, but she is free to do as she wills and might appear later in the day" Faren nodded and went off on his duties, leaving Ferelden First Enchanter to her thoughts. This is most unlike her... she may dislike the Tower, but even if it was merely for Elva's sake, she turned up at the same time every day.

"Sentinal Draysis, I don't think I gave you permission to sneak up behind me" Karoma muttered suddenly, her words being followed by a deep laughing from behind her. Not equipped in the same large plate as the rest of them, Draysis Solarana stood in some form of *elven type armour* that resembled Fereldan Heavy chainmail, lighter but still enough to stop a blade. He also used a rather elegant Dar'Missan, the only Dalish blade that was longer then the daggers they use, but he never revealed the source of his weapon. "If I hadn't a been out of Amaranthine when the attack hit, I wouldn't have been here TO sneak up on you... anyway I think a father is permitted to hug his child, no?"

Karoma couldn't help but smile, thinner and smaller as they may be to humans her father had quite an intimidating posture, his strength surpassing most elven kin, but the gruff demeanor was always shattered by his light-hearted conversations. "Listen, could you do me a favour... there is a house between here and Redcliffe, which is where Neria and Elva are from, you know which ones I mean. They are usually here by now, so could you.."

Draysis nodded, already knowing the question. "I'll keep an eye on things here, just go already" and the laughing continued as Karoma bowed respectfully and headed to the stockroom where the stairs down was located. As Karoma left the Tower, a sudden spray of ice-cold water showered down on her and she literally jumped, a Sentinal by the bridge was helping a wagon up the now muddy ground as the water hit and sprayed the sides of the bridge. "What is happening?!" She yelled down at him.. or rather her, after the horse managed to pull free the Sentinal came up to the First Enchanter and removed her helmet. "Karoma, Ma'am.. the Lake has started to have waves, we have no idea why and the ground is bogging up, mercifully the rocks around the island break most of the impact." Karoma smiled. "Sentinal Maura, you always were one to keep on top of things... I'm heading to the outskirts of Redcliffe, have the relief guard cover for you and accompany me, if you will."

"Certainly Ma'am" and Maura headed inside, reappearing several minutes later with a shield and axe as well as the heavy plate armour. She nodded to Karoma and the two began to head over the Highway towards the other side.

They reached the house that Karoma knew was Neria's, though had never visited. She knocked on the door and waited, for a few minutes at least, before pushing it open. what the... is nobody here?

*(basically, he's wearing Ancient Elven Armour, but made from Silverite instead of Veridium so its more silver and black then what it looks like in Origins)

Deep in the Donarks forest, was Kale's small wooden hut, high up in a large tree. Inside of his hut, there were multiple shelves, and desks covered in books. (Mostly on blood magic, with the exception of one small book with a withered tree on the cover.) As for a bed, there was a small cot next to a a large open space in the wall of the hut, that served as window. On top of the cot, was the now twenty-seven year old Kale. He rustled around a bit, until the bright sun light glistened through the window and onto his face. Kale quickly sat up on his bed and looked around.

Another lonely day...

Kale stood up and walked toward the desk. He opened up a black book that had a red blood drop on the cover. This was his own hand-written spell book. He turned to the next clean page, and began his writing.

Kale lived a rather boring life, he sat up in a big tree all day, writing spell after spell, and practicing his blood magic. However, he knew that one day it would all be worth it. One day he would be one of the most powerful men in all of Thedas.

Not even the Templar will stop me..

Kale was writing in his book when all of a sudden, he felt his heart skip a beat. His pen dragged across the paper, as he grabbed his chest. Kale gasped for hair as he backed up for the wall. He slowly felt his skin become soggier and soggier. Just as Kale was about to take another step backward, he felt as if his foot was no longer there and tripped, falling out the door of the small wooden hut. When he looked up at his feet, (which were above him since he was falling head first.) He noticed that they actually were there no longer. He saw his own blood moving up his legs, and as it did his legs began to disappear. The blood moved from his legs, to his groin, to his stomach, and to his chest.

Kale was nearing the ground now, and he looked down to see about thirty rotting bodies. (He had killed them much earlier to increase his lifespan) The blood moved up to Kale's neck, and soon covered his head. Kale had disappeared.

-somewhereinferelden-

The blood from the now broken Pendant began to twist in the ground, it all came together, and slowly began to rise and take shape. The blood took the shape of Kale, and when it's eyes opened, the blood fell to the floor, and in replace of it, was Kale. Kale coughed a bit, and looked around the new area. He knew what had happened.

"Alright, who broke the sodding-" Before Kale could finish he saw a young girl laying on the shoreline. Kale knew who she was, she seemed to be the only other person for miles, and Kale only gave his blood pendants to two people, and they were Elva and Skyler. This one was clearly female, so it must have been Elva. Kale ran up to her, and turned her over. He could clearly tell that she wasn't exactly breathing.

"Hell." Kale said, as he got on his knees and bent over the small girl. He put his hands on her stomach and gave a quick jolt downward, trying to get the water out of her lungs. He pushed twice more, before unwillingly bending toward her mouth and sending his air into hers.

"Come on.. wake up..." He said, before pushing against her stomach area once more.

-MEANWHILEONSOMEPIRATESHIPINTHEMIDDLEOFNOWHERE.-

"SWAB THE DECK!" Yelled the first mate of the ship, as little Skyler pulled up his mop and began to mop the dirty wooden ship floor. He had lived on this ship for his entire life, he knew not who his parents were, only that his father had given him some sort of blood pendant when he was little. He overheard one of the pirates speaking to another. "So.. i heard we're stopping at Kirkwall next.. Isn't that where we got that little cabin boy in the first place?" Said one of the pirates.

"Think so, i hope we don't get another little rat like him though.. Sodding captain takes favor to the little ones." Spoke the second pirate.

"Shut up mate, i think he can here us."

Skyler just looked at them, and then back to his mop. He continued to swab the deck in silence.

Elva was just plainly unresponsive for a good while. Then, finally, her eyes snapped open, she sucked a good bit of air from Kale's mouth, and after a quick 'click' sound, she was instantly a few feet away, rolling onto her hands and knees. She seemed to be doing a combination of throwing up and spitting up the water. Then, she was rubbing her eyes. She hadn't realized that, being covered in mud as she was, it only served to sting them. She only blinked away from Kale because of the pain it had caused, her only want right now was to get away from everything that just happened.

It was there, sitting idly on the ground and catching her breath, did she finally realize that a broken piece of the pendant was lodged into her chest, and she tore it free with one quick hand. On anyone else, the combination of grime with a wound that'd been opened so long would have meant infection. Elva barely noticed. Only when her breathing finally slowed, did she look up towards Kale. She almost blinked away once again, only to hesitate at the sight of him. "She's dead..." She spoke softly, shaking every few seconds. It was obvious she was trying to be brave. Then, she threw herself back to the ground, and began sobbing into it. "She's dead!"

Kale's jaw dropped when he heard her say 'She's dead'. He instantly knew who she was talking about, and he almost didn't believe it, Neria.. was.. well.. Neria was Neria... He was sure she would out live him. Apparently, he was wrong. Kale ran up to the girl, and knelt down next to her. He threw his arms around her as she cried. It was then that the shock vanished, and the depression hit. Tears filled his eyes, but only one actually fell. After remaining silent for a few minutes, all he could say was "Who did it?"

Elva didn't answer him right away, she just lay their sobbing for who knows how long, until she was sobbed out. Only then did she look up to Kale. The redness of her face the most color it ever had. "I don't know, some man in the castle... Redcliffe..." Her words were barely audible. She was whispering them. "Then, she got back up, and she tried to kill me. He tried to kill me... the dead tried to kill me..." The wound in her chest was covered entirely by her robe, and even if it wasn't, the mud on her kept it covered. If one could see it, they'd see it was already closed. It was for this reason Elva survived. She healed fast, maybe she didn't regenerate blood as fast as Kale, but her flesh healed quickly enough to allow her to live through a slit throat. Suicide was impossible, not that she'd ever considered it.

Then, she said something clearly not Neria. "Take me home" Neria would never have had that. If she saw Elva murdered before her eyes, then had all this happen, she would have wanted to watch while Kale killed the demon. Elva, she'd seen enough. Way more than enough. "Just take me home"

Kale listened to what Elva had to say, and turned to face the direction of Redcliffe. "Connor.." He whispered to himself. "I told her she should have killed that sodding demon.." He said, before turning to Elva to hear her request. "But.. The demon he still lives!" Kale said, before looking back in the direction of Redcliffe. He wanted to go and kill that demon, now. However.. when he actually thought about it.. he realized he'd have to fight Neria, hundreds of undead, and a desire demon. He also didn't want to lose Elva..

Kale sighed. "Fine." He said before turning in the direction of The Circle. "You live in the Circle right?" Kale said, before beginning to walk toward the circle. Karoma's going to love to hear this...

"Well... no..." Elva stared for a time, before hastily standing and hurrying after him. Anywhere was better than here, whether she was done grieving or not. She didn't live in the circle, but this was still the right direction. "I just school there, we live..." She pointed to the forest, on the opposite side of the Imperial Highway to them. Despite it's presence, she was caked in mud, it'd take days before some random bystander would have found her. Thankfully, they were not far from their destination. "Zeane's there too... he'll want to know..." She spoke as though the panther could actually understand her. At this very moment in time, she desperately wished Kale could shapeshift. He'd be able to change her, she could tear Connor to pieces... but it didn't matter now.

"You go to school within the circle, and live outside of it... Times have definitely changed..." Kale said, as he walked on the long stone path. "Zeane.. I miss that old cat.." He said, the tone of his voice was very depressing.. probably because he just found out his wife died. Kale walked silently for a bit, but eventually the silence got to him. "So.. how's the tower life?"

Kale's attempts at small talk were almost insulting, though Elva would never say that to his face. "Actually, it's just me. I'm the only one allowed to leave... And to be honest, it sucks" Yes, she had matured. "I can do things you've never even heard of, i have the power to burn the tower down with a wave of the hand, and i learned it all from my teachers there... but the kids.. oh the other kids..." She clenched her hands into fists at her side. If her body was capable of it, her left fist would have a long scar along it, from a fight. "When i'm safe and quiet, you're going to leave, aren't you. Leave and pray the Tower takes me in. That's your plan, right?"

Kale smiled at the girl's words. He thought back to the old days at the tower, how he loathed the other magi. How he despised the Templar. "Just be lucky you don't have to deal with those sodding Templar." Kale said, without looking to the girl. "When you're safe and quiet, I'm going to slay that sodding Demon, and then I will return to the tower." Kale said before sighing a bit. "From there, I will give you a choice, you can either leave with me, or stay at the tower. Whichever you prefer."

"I'd live with you, but not leave. Never, leave" Elva hopped down from the Imperial road, towards the side with the forest. From there, she started through the trees. "I missed you, really, but i can't leave all this" Elva went silent for a while, now leading the way since Kale didn't know where her home was. She finally stopped, turned and held her hands up, in the same shape Connor's had been with his weapon. "Bang" She said simply. She showed no enjoyment in it, even pulling an invisible trigger. She actually cringed at her own demonstration. "That's what he did... i don't know what it was, but that's what he did when he..." She trailed off, again beginning to shake. She couldn't finish the sentence, if she tried, it'd only hurt.

"I understand." Kale said, as he followed after Elva. "I missed you as well, and I'm not sure if your mother told you, but I am not allowed in Ferelden." Kale continued, as he walked passed the many trees. Kale looked to Elva as she made the strange hand motion. "He.. casted a spell?" Kale asked, he was clearly confused. "With his finger?"

"Well, no..." She looked around for a second, a bit confused herself, before finding a stick of suitable size and shape, and repeating the action. "It wasn't a spell... well, i don't think it was... It wasn't like anything I've seen before" Her own blink wasn't as flashy as other spells, which would explain this one, but it just didn't fit. "It wasn't a spell, it couldn't have been. Don't ask me how i know" She turned and kept going, now both embarrassed and ashamed of herself for not being able to figure it out. It was only minutes later that they came upon the building, in the middle of the forest. Elva eyed the two at the door, preparing to go in. "Hey!" She yelled to them. Normally she would have stepped up to fight, but after today's events, without the knowledge that Neria could protect her, she hid behind Kale. She probably looked like some kind of monster trying to sneak up on the blood mage, being as grimy as she was.

Kale nodded. "I believe you.. The demon must have created some.. device, a killing machine." He said, before pacing around a bit. "Perhaps some sort of crossbow or something?" Kale scratched his chin, he was trying to figure out what the device could be.

Karoma turned as she heard the shouting, from the distance they were at it was hard to tell who it was. "Maura, stay back in case it's a trap" she muttered quietly to her side, then began walking up to meet them. "Hello there, I don't suppose you've seen a woman with long red hair with a little gir...." She had closed the gap enough to make out a girl, even with all the mud, about 11 years old and white hair, then she noticed the lack of mother. This doesn't look good...

"Elva?... Elva!" Karoma began to almost run to meet them when she was certain who it was, when she reached the two Karoma knelt to meet Elva eye to eye and, not knowing if she disliked it as much as her mother, hugged the girl without caring for the mud that would stain her robes or face. "Maker, what happened to you??, Where were you?, where... Elva, Where is Neria?!" Even in front of Maura and Kale, Karoma willingly showed obvious, even if unnecessary, worry and care for the young girl.

(Karoma's comment to Maura of 'you always were one to keep on top of things'... I have only just realised how much of a bedroom innuendo it sounds like, now I am debating to wether the two of them might either have something or shared something in the previous 5 years)

Much like Neria, Elva shivered at the touch. However, for her it was simply because she was soaked and freezing. "She's dead" Elva spoke, before pulling away from Karoma and pushing past both her and Maura, until she stood in the doorway of the building. "I'm going inside, i'm going to wash off, i'm going to bed, and i'm going to pray that this was all some twisted dream" With that said, she shut the door. Her fading footsteps could be heard. Seconds later, they returned, opening the door just wide enough to toss a letter out. "This was on her bed. I don't want to read that" She kept her face hidden behind the door for good reason. Her voice was shaking. Then, she shut the door once more.

Karoma was still for a few moments, the words seemingly struggling to break through to her. No.. She can't be.. She.. Neria's dead? Karoma eventually lifted herself from the ground, approaching the letter and opening it, she read it quickly so she could try and get to Elva before she feel asleep. Even after seeing Kale, it hadn't registered completely yet, the fact he had been gone the past 5 years had made her involuntarily forget a few things.

Going to the door of the house again, she gently knocked several times. "Elva... can I come in?"

(And the letter says?)

Kale looked to Karoma and shook his head. "I- I'm sorry." he said, before turning around. "Look, the... thing that killed her still lives. I plan on ending that." Kale sighed. "Make sure Elva's okay, afterward I should probably take my leave." Kale groaned. He clearly wished to stay in Ferelden, and not be forced back to the middle of a gigantic forest.

Kale looked over at Kale, only then realising. "Oh Kale, it's.. It's good to see you again" and though her voice and mind was shaken, it was sounded quite sincere. Glancing atthe closed door, Karoma reapproached Kale. "How.. How did Neria.." Karoma couldn't even say the last word, her eyes seemed to be darker then what they were, and her skin was sickly pale with anxiety.

"Kale, you might not have to leave again... Look at it this way; the only way I can look after her properly from this day onwards is if she takes up quarters WITHIN the Tower, Elva would be safe and taken care of I can promise, but what I can't is if she will enjoy it. On the other hand she could stay here in the house and journey to the Tower when she wishes, but then there is nobody to look after her on the level she needs. Whatever powers she may have, she needs somebody to be her parent... Right now much more then ever"

Leaving Kale to his thoughts of this Karoma went back to the door and knocked again, still as gently but firmly as ever. "Elva, can I please come in?..." Glancing back to Kale quickly, she added. "...But whichever way, it should be her choice"

"To Everyone

Elva specifically, you know you're not supposed to come into my room. I'd have hoped you to honor that request in my death. Back to the subject... yes, if you're reading this, then it must be obvious now that i've failed. I lost, i died, and the demon still lives. It took me years to figure it out, but i know why the demon didn't want to fight me now. It couldn't win, it couldn't risk winning. If i died, it'd lose everything. The Desire demon wanted my magic... with the power she can take from one undead, she can rise ten more. If you're reading this, she has that power now, and this world is already doomed. I'd find a boat, i'd leave Ferelden, leave Thedas. It's probably the only way you'll live the rest of your lives. Your children will not be so lucky.

But, you were always the stubborn ones, weren't you? Karoma, my best friend. Aedan, my first time. Kale, my first and last love... and the other people i don't really care about. Kale, Elva is yours, i'm sorry i had to lie, but that's not important now. If you truly want to fight, then i wish you luck. You will not win.

-N

P.S. Karoma, do you recall the spell i've been teaching Elva in private, that one you tried to make me spill the beans on? I suppose secrecy doesn't matter now. You may ask her about it. Ask her about the spell Finales Funkeln."

-

Elva pulled the doorway open with a kind of irritation. The mud from her face was gone, and her hair was dripping little brown droplets onto the floor. Her body remained coated in it, however. "What could possibly be so important you'd pull me from my grieving?" She said with a tone of irritation known to be Neria's. She hadn't been joking. She just wanted to get washed up so she could pretend going to sleep would change things. "It's my day off" She stepped back and held the door open, to let Karoma and Kale in. She was ready to cry again, she wanted these people to leave her alone, so she wouldn't have to be ashamed of doing so in front of them.

Karoma almost hesitantly entered, having never been in before, and look around for a moment before finally coming to Elva. The older mage could tell the signs that she wanted to cry "She was you mother, it's not weak to cry.. But we have lost something too, Elva. We know what the hurt feels like, and shutting yourself away and letting it be your only company is sometimes dangerous, the pain can fester and corrupt even the purest soul." Karoma wasn't sure where she could sit, so she crossed her legs and sat on the floor.

Karoma fell silent, looking at Elva with a silent compassion but also her eyes wavered slightly, they were barely holding back tears of their own. "What is... Finales Funkeln?" The Enchanter finally added.

While Karoma talked, Elva had taken a wet washcloth and started running it through her hair and over her face repeatedly until all traces of mud were gone. She could guess the water would still turn brown next time she washed, but for now she was just happy that her hair didn't stick to her face anymore. She froze for half a second when Karoma mentioned the spell, eyeing her. "You're not supposed to know about that... i bet the letter mentioned it, right?" She then ran the already dirty cloth over her hands and feet, still exposed to the elements. The robe had soaked most of the mud up, though only a little bit got onto her actual body. It could be ignored once she changed. "Look, you can stay, but if i show you the spell, can you promise to just... leave me alone? Just stay out here in this room for a little while? I think i deserve that at least"

Kale thought over his options. He wanted to stay with Elva, he really did. He just.. wasn't allowed in Ferelden. Perhaps if no one knows I'm here.. then i don't have to leave... now do i? On that note, Kale walked into the small hut, and looked to Karoma who was reading the letter. Without a word, Kale snatched it out of her hands, and read it to himself. His eyes widened when he read the part about Elva. Kale sighed, as he handed the letter back to Karoma.

Karoma took the letter and folded it up carefully, being unsure where anything was to put it, she slid it into the pouch always tied to the side of her robe. Karoma listened to Elva intently, she had been picking up the same attitudes as Neria over the past few years, she could only assume that if Neria was still here Elva would have continued to become more like her. "You don't need to show me.. unless it's easier for you to do so in comparison to explaining it, and in return I will leave you be until your ready"

Karoma only now glanced that it was a Circle robe under the mud, which immediatly called the question that she had in mind, but it was far too soon to ask it and avoid Elva in a bad mood, instead she turned to Kale. "Will you stay here too for a while, or depart on your hunting for... it?" She had said 'it' not to spare Elva from hearing the words 'the desire' or 'what killed Neria' but because she doesn't actually know and was afraid to ask while still in front of, even after taking everything into account, what is still a young girl.

"There really aren't words to describe it. Wait here" Elva disappeared into her bedroom once more. She stayed there, for a few minutes longer than necessary, before returning. She had a new robe on, and a staff in her hands with two white stripes in the very center. She clearly wasn't used to using the object, it was probably used only for this one spell. And the last thing, a blindfold, already tied over her eyes. "You might want some eye protection" That said, she wasted no time, hurrying outside. Elva just wanted at least a little while alone, so she'd get this over with.

She held the staff in front of her, and released it. It didn't fall to the ground, but rather floated in the air as though she was still holding it. A tiny light appeared on the tip of Elva's index finger, and she pressed it to one end of the staff. That end seemed to pull the light from her, and start it's own glow. Elva's touch also made it start to spin vertically in the air. When it came around, Elva applied the same effect to the other end. At this, it's spin speed slowly began increasing, until it was much like a fan floating in the air before Elva.

Karoma looked at the robe, staff and blindfold with slight amusement. how very Neria-ish she thought to herself, and followed Elva outside. Not bothering with eye protection for the moment, Karoma watched the staff spin in the air, the light glowing at either end. Her curious nature made her take a few steps forward as she watched, recording every detail in interest. "Okay, what does it do exactly?"

"Quiet!" Elva barked. She didn't mean to be mean, but this took quite a bit of concentration. The light at both tips of the staff began to extend downwards, toward the middle, until the entire thing was a glowing spinning fan, except for the small bit of wood between the two center stripes. A bead of sweat actually appeared on Elva's forehead. That little center bit of the staff fired an isntantaneous red beam forward, travelling through multiple trees, but not doing any visible damage. "Eye protection, now!" She yelled. It began humming, louder and louder until it was difficult to hear anything. Elva herself had started levitating, if only slightly. Then, she thrust her arms forward, over the staff.

"Finales Funkeln!" She yelled. For a split second, a light so blinding surrounded the red beam, about the same diameter as the staff. If you could see it clearly, you'd see a variety of colors, yet as it was it was too bright for the naked eye. It was instantaneous, and was gone just as it appeared. Then, the staff immediately fell to the ground, as did Elva, who was clearly out of breath. In front of them, multiple trees had fallen, a clearing leading directly towards the Imperial Highway. Any trees that hadn't been cut through entirely by the beam of light showed the effect. If you looked exactly where Elva was standing, you'd see a perfect circle in the outline of the trees, a partial circle carved into every tree that hadn't fallen. Elva was on her knees once again, breathing heavily. "That is Finales Funkeln. The power of the sun in one instant beam, are you satisfied now?" From the looks of things, any tree that had survived had minor fires around the edges of where the beam had carved through them. They'd undoubtedly put themselves out, but if that's what happened a the edges, it was probably hot enough to melt a person hit directly by it.

Karoma went quiet as ordered, keeping her eyes on the spell as it developed. Unlike both Elva and Kale, she didn't have a blindfold, so the best she could do was lift the heavy hood of her cloak and brought an arm up to cover her eyes. As the humming pounded at her ears, Karoma could only wait as she just made out the words 'Finales Funkeln' and then the light went through the trees.

Maura ahd thankfully had her helmet on at the time, being similar to those of the Templar she only needed a hand to send her sight into complete darkness. Even after this, she closed her eyes shut before the spell was fired and she could still make out the light when it done so.

After a few seconds, they both dared to look out and at the aftermath of the spell. "Maker's breath..." was echoed from both of them, almost at the same time.

"Just don't expect me to be clearing forests for you" Elva sighed, trying to stand. She stumbled a bit as she did, almost falling over. It wasn't quite known if Elva's spells were fueled by mana or not, but if they were, that single spell just brought her from full to zero. It exhausted her, but in truth, she liked it. Elva knew enough about her origins to know that her simply being alive was a sin. It felt good to have such a powerful spell that was unmistakably light rather than dark. "Any others she told you about? Absolute Zero? Slicing Maelstrom? Monsoon? Cataclysm? Get me some lyrium potions and i'll show you those too. But right now, i'm tired, i'm going inside, i'm going to her bed. Don't interrupt me" Elva did as she said she would, and hurried back indoors with a bit of a limp.

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