Over the course of the next three weeks Cloud, Dawn and Rain get integrated back into city life getting involved with their newly positioned jobs, Alisianna gets the guest quarters inside the castle as she visits seeing Cloud most of the time and getting ready for a much deserved wedding with Cloud. Artanis keeps to himself but sneaking in to check on things every once in a while as well as starting a guild of his own, Dawn has a higher spot in the Temple church as well as second in command to running the cave temple in the enclave that keeps her quite busy. Cloud and Tristan do routine checks around the towns nearby, and are shocked at the continuous participation Namor gives them in accompanying them on the excursions. Asking to be trained in weaponry and military combat from which he has done exceptionally well, but having gloves forged magically to adapt to the skills he needs and keeping them a secret from everyone it’s no surprise. Elanee seeing a more physical aggression done on Namor’s part begins to add him to her life, more and more around the areas of helping her with problems she went to Rain for in the past. Rain, seeing the change in him and her affection for Namor growing keeps his distance again as he did before making excuses as she asks for his availability with certain things to keep himself elusive. Adding to the already high end affairs at hand Rain is starting to receive bad dreams in the nights through the darkness of his shuddering eyes, his feelings on matters small in scale seem to amplify and grow like a tainted plant. Awakening night after restless night Rain is left with no answers or remedies for the continuing disturbing thoughts.

Hearing the door open to his chambers does Rain not even look up for he was expecting the interruption, “Just put the books on the table Jacob, I’ll get to it when I’m able” Rain said writing on some parchment while cross-referencing some information, he didn’t hear the books land to the table or him leave and wondering Rain raised his head from his work to see why, “Jacob did you not…Alisianna!” Rain said shocked to see her standing at the doorway with a look he could only think was not a good one. “Do you need something?” Rain asked

“An explanation” she said back

“Well then I’ll need to know the question, there are lots of those” Rain said proceeding back to his work room when her words stopped him dead still.

“Why didn’t you tell me about your feelings for me?” she asked

“I’m going to kill him” Rain said softly to himself knowing how she found out, “Because I chose not to”

“You mean it’s true…you love me?” she inquired to him and with a silent glance to her Alisianna stood shocked, she didn’t know what to think from his hidden confession. Alisianna’s stomach started to turn circles and with it came an aching discomfort; she was lost for words thinking how this would play out, marrying one brother when the other who saved her from Shadowell held feelings for her heart as well. “I’m marrying your brother in a weeks’ time Rain, why didn’t you tell me, show me a sign…anything!” she ended with a worried snap to her voice.

“Why does it matter to you?” Rain said back turning around “You’re marrying my brother, thoughts of other men’s feelings shouldn’t even enter your mind”

“They do when the act could rip apart a family Rain!” she said starting to shake at her hands, she just couldn’t believe where she now stood, a problem that held no solution, except one.

“That won’t happen” Rain said back half calm

“Maybe not at first Rain, you’ll fight it as you have done everything else, but after time your feelings will turn to hate every time you see us together…and I won’t let that, happen. Your lives as one family are much too important to cause any rifts now…I’m going to leave the group, it’s the only way”

“No Alisianna you can’t, my brother deserves your love, he’s earned it”

“So have you” Alisianna said back coming close to take his hand, but Rain pulls away from her touch, “I won’t let my brother suffer with rewards for my own personal battles, time will heal my feelings for you, I’ll admit they won’t wane away fast but I’ll come through it” Alisianna looked at him with a face of pity shaking her head “Why…why didn’t you just act Rain”

“Because he was the one you picked” Rain bolted at her

“I didn’t know I had a choice Rain” she battered back at him

“It was a Sorcerer against the heart of a holy knight, and with what you look like the solution was pretty transparent”

“So you just gave up, Rain I didn’t even know you had feelings for me” Alisianna harped

“Not like it would’ve mattered you still would’ve chose him”

“No I wouldn’t have, I liked you first” She barked and then grew her eyes to the door, Rain went silent as he watched her shut the thick oak for no one else to hear them.

“You liked me first” Rain gestured with shock and she nodded her head, Rain held a small chuckle “Guess I missed out pretty big huh…oh well it’s not like my chances were great with a muscle brute in the other corner”

“I’m not lying” she barked

“Alisianna creatures like me don’t get girls like you, perfect in every way possible especially looks; you only wish to have that in return”

“Man I ought to slap you for that insult” Alisianna bolted “I know about your book analogy Rain and I hold a big exception to it, I don’t care about the looks Rain I never have”

“Please, if we both were the same you would’ve sided with him because of them”

“I don’t switch men to gain more from one than the other, if I was with you I would’ve stayed with you…I’m no power gripping slut”

“I know you’re not Alisianna that’s why I liked you…I don’t like many girls so take it as a compliment”

“Then why didn’t you take a chance…”

“Because I don’t deserve it…I didn’t deserve you”

“That is not you choice to make Rain”

“Well then you would’ve made the wrong one, because you deserve better than me”

“You’re wrong there Rain, you’re the same as your brother in your passions I can see it, just a different course is what you took”

“Yeah the lone road”

“Rain I tried to stay with you but you kept pushing me away like you had lost to him from the start…no I won’t stay with you on that action cause I didn’t feel wanted” she bolted again “Look we could go at this all day and I wouldn’t stop either…I came to beg your word that this won’t destroy your love to one another” she stared to him and looking back he give up.

“It’s fine!”

“Rain…”

“I said its fine alright! Now go I have work to attend to” Rain said going to his room and plopping into his chair hard, she came to his doorway and said softly,

“Rain I still do care for you”

“Pity isn’t an emotion Alisianna” Rain said not looking at her

“No it isn’t but dedication and strong will is, and that’s what I see in you” Alisianna says leaving his sight.

Dropping the corpse with his sword Cloud looks around at the dead goblin and smiles at the fact of not losing any life of his men, against the process of stopping the raid to yet another caravan traveling to the city with trading goods. He looks to Tristan who assisted and then to a bloodied face Namor who was now in light battle armor and a sword in his hands

“I got to hand it to you Namor” Cloud said “You’ve really stepped up these last few weeks to address problems shall we say more directly, and in so doing I have lost far few man on stopping raids with your continuing assistance”

“Well what can I say I just got tired of sitting on the side lines while certain parts of my life passed me by” Namor replied and after gathering and burning the carcasses of the raiders they headed back to the city.

Rain saw the group coming back from his window and watching an anxiously awaiting Elanee who ran to her man, embracing him again after worrying for his safety.

Rain looked to them kissing each other as well as Alisianna kissing Cloud; he closed his eyes as if to tame the violent thoughts on the surface of his mind going from the window to bury his head in books.

“Damn it” Rain said slamming down yet another book to the table

“Nothing in that one either eh” said a fellow scholar helping him find references on the sword Elanee described to him after the city battle.

“It’s like this sword doesn’t even exist as a whole…as a whole…wait that’s it”

“It is?” the other scholar said confused

“Yes the sword must have needed to be put together to make it, it didn’t just come in one piece, Damn ...why didn’t I think of that earlier” Rain said thinking very fast to himself

“Maybe because you’ve been thinking about-”

“Don’t even say it Camden”

“But you have been having thoughts about her off and on you can’t deny it Rain you like her”

“Well like Cloud told me I have to move on and I am, sometimes I get a weak moment but only for a second, then it’s gone, and their getting less frequent so she’s almost gone from my head anyway, stop distracting me we need to concentrate Damn you”

“So sorry, I know how my babbling can get you sometimes” Camden says rolling his eyes and saying it in a laughing sort of way, he gets a quick glare from Rain, losing his laugh he looks to a book. “So what exactly happened when you to were at Shadowell, if you do not mind me asking”

“We were there to retrieve my brother, sister, Alisianna and Cynn” Rain said to him

“Well I know that I meant what happened to you two…You and Elanee!” Camden gestured on, Rain explained about the tests they needed to endure and getting to the last one Camden almost fell out of his chair, “So what did you do?” he asked Rain completely engulfed.

“I got her drink, and then we danced” Rain said walking to the window ledge again to see her with her hand clutched tightly to Namor’s, Elanee then looked up to see Rain in the tower window and firing her vision back to Namor with not even a returning smile did Rain close his eyes in a defeat.

“And then we kissed” Rain finished opening his eyes again to see her moving slow, Rain could tell that she was fighting an erg to look up at him again and again.

“You kissed her” Camden replied with Rain nodding to it, “Well how was it…the kiss” Rain closed his eyes again to answer with a clear thought.

“It was just a kiss Camden” Rain reinforced

“Just a kiss, Rain please from her it had to be more” Camden pushed, opening his eyes again to see her Rain focused on her hair blowing in the heavy breeze and watching it cover half her face did Rain reassess “It was like I was in a trance for an endless moment Camden, and nothing else was there in it; only her…right then if she was to ask the world of me I would have given it to her on a plate of gold Camden” and just hearing the softness in Rain’s voice describing it grew a smirk upon Camden’s face “She’s the one Rain” Camden stated

“The one what” Rain replied

“Your hearts match mate, it’s her; Elanee” Camden said to him

“Who, Elanee; Camden please gather your eyes and see we have nothing here” Rain stated

“Rain the signs of love are hard to see sure, silent most likely but linking you both together, unquestionable” Camden went on sternly

“I do care for her Camden but love her…I don’t know if that strength is there”

“Rain you know it’s there and true to the bone but your move is next and what you do with it is up to you” Camden said and staring outside again Rain shook his head of the deep topic,

“Well let’s not dwell on things not within our grasp, back to work” Rain said grabbing a book and seating himself down again at the table.

Kneeling in her preparation room given to her, Dawn starts to pray in her own solitude, Artanis sneaks inside and goes quietly in the room to see her not making any noise

“You’re not supposed to bother me when I’m praying……Artanis” she says smiling not even looking to him or opening her eyes.

“How did you know it was me?” Artanis shockingly asked

“Lucky guess, plus I have a silent detection spell put up to alert me in my head for an opening of the door” she replied in a soft voice

“Sneaky” he grinned to her back

“Why are you here” she asked

“I’m here for confession on my soul” and taking a breath as if to jump an impossible jump he continues “And because I haven’t let my heart be honest for a while now, about you that is”

“Artanis please don’t finish” Dawn interrupts him turning around looking at his face “For I already know what you are going to say; I have notice your attempts, but I was hoping that you have notice me noticing and not acting on them too. And don’t get me wrong I do have feelings for you but; they aren’t as strong you would have them returned to me”

“So there’s nothing there then?” Artanis inquired half defeated in tone

“Our souls have not bonded in a way for me to love you intimately, and for that I’m sorry but I need the love of a soul to love true…. So no Artanis what you seek is no to be had” Dawn said with a tear to him “What you had to do for your heart must have been brave, and for your efforts on rekindling the path to truth and wisdom. I wish that we’ll always be friends; close friends and I don’t want to lose that for a chance to be closer ok”

And smiling to her he said “That will never happen my dear priestess, right now I would like nothing more to stay unchanged than that” and walking out to leave her finish praying she stopped him for a second.

“Oh and one more thing; never call me priestess it’s still Dawn to you” and smiling again he then bowed to her and disappeared.

She then finished praying and went out to the training rings to join Elanee with some free time just watching the men practice.

Rain on his way to the guard house with more about the encounter with Colossus passes by the training rings with two scholars at his side, watching for a quick moment up to one ring that has Namor fighting a guard from Silverspire. Shortly, Rain sees the guard drop to the ground and a roar of applauding explodes. Taking a drink of water Namor sees Rain at ring side.

“Think me a worthy opponent now Rain” Namor shouts to him “How about a quick match of wits if you’re man enough that is, for fun of course”

“But of course” replied Rain and motioning to his fellow scholars that he’ll meet up with them at the guardhouse in a little while, he sends them off and climbs up to the ring to enter it. Gripping a practice battle staff he sets it to the side while he takes off his robe. Namor seeing that Elanee and Dawn are at ring side watching pipes up to him “How about some incentive Rain, to the victor; a kiss from the lovely ladies” he suggests pointing to the girls and looking over to them Rain stares at Elanee

“You what Namor, beating you will be thanks enough to me” says Rain getting into position and nodding Namor does the same. They start combat and for a while it’s a stale mate of blocking each other’s strike attempts, finally Rain is hit first and goes down from a blow to the side of the face. Wiping the blood from his mouth he looks to Namor who smiles a bit with the satisfied hit “You know I heard you have a speech to give today, maybe we should stop before you are too beat up to make it there” and jumping to his feet Rain then advances an attack to him to keep the match going.

“Guess not then” Namor says blocking the moves and this round they each add some martial moves to the stick fight and Rain is hit a couple times more, fighting to stay on his feet he continues to give Namor a challenge while moving around. Rain is hit hard to the stomach and leaning over to breathe Namor then swiftly strikes up hitting Rains face and standing him up straight and spinning around sliding the staff to the ends of his hands and thrusting it hard. Namor smashes the staff against Rains chest cracking it in half sending Rain plummeting to the sandy ground face up. Namor then takes a breath and throwing his head side to side cracking his neck bones, he then walks up to Rain’s side and tossing the half of staff still in his hand away he looks down to him with a grin.

“Just so you know Rain; I always get what I want one way or the other” and walking passed him, Rain turns over to just see Namor grip Elanee by the waist and unexpectedly lays a big lavish kiss on her lips in plain sight of Rain’s vision.

Getting up and spitting out blood from his mouth again he watches Namor get out of the ring.

“That’s enough for me today guys” Namor says to the guards watching and clapping at his victory. And with Elanee tightly latched to his side he turns to Rain one more time “Oh and Rain just so you know you got a little something in the corner of your mouth there, you should clean up before your speech today after all, you want to make a good impression right” he laughed and walks away with Elanee looking back to Rain with a sorry look on her face.

Getting to his feet Dawn enters the ring and goes to Rain, “He’s getting good isn’t he”

“Oh yea a real class act” Rain said and casting a detect magic spell to his eyes, they now quickly glow with a faint blue tinged and looking to Namor he sees that his hands are glowing bright white. “He cheated me” Rain snuffs

“What?” Dawn questioned

“He’s wearing magical gloves” Rain added looking at her and shaking her head with a look of disappointment to her face she spoke sternly to Rain.

“Now I know you don’t like him Rain, but he has been very noble since his return and more involved with what we’re doing here, he has trained very hard and long to get this far and you haven’t trained in the ring since we got back, your out of practice and he beat you, but don’t smash him down because your jealous” and reaching to his side she goes to heal him

“Jealous!” Rain snapped and pushed her away from him “One thing I’m not is jealous of that overdressed piñata” and putting on his robe he looks to her “you know what, believe what you want you’ve always been naive about what’s going on anyway, looking for more good in people than they actually have…even me, and suddenly your healing doesn’t even seem that appealing to me, I’ll heal naturally this time” and he storms out of the ring toward the guardhouse.

“Rain” Dawn cried out but not looking to her he leaves the ring area, lowering her head with frustration she climbs out and goes to the temple again.

Going into the guardhouse Rain was met by Cloud and Alisianna in the middle of a kiss. Seeing them startled Rain and he turned to leave, Cloud stopped kissing and called to Rain.

“Hey wait! Rain what happened you look like hell”

“Yeah well I just got my ass handed to me in the ring against Namor” and smiling Cloud looked at him with a small grin.

“Yeah he can beat about half of my elite guards too, he’s getting pretty good” Cloud replies and about to tell Cloud that he’s cheating Rain stops “Yeah, yea he is, so why don’t you get in the ring with him and kick his ass back to reality that he sucks”

And laughing Cloud says “No, I only fight for a challenge and if I let him beat me his head might explode with his ego growing too big, and I was being serious are you ok, I mean you look worse than just getting a beating, how are you sleeping?” he asked

“Not good, I’m still getting those dreams” Rain says

“What kind of dreams?” asked Alisianna?

“Weird ones, there is a flash of light and I’m in a swampy area and I go into a cave, I don’t want to but I do anyway and then I see this thing with three glowing eyes and then nothing…I just wake up, and feel so drained” Rain concluded

“Huh that’s strange” said Alisianna

“Yeah tell me about it, I’ve tried finding anything on such a dream or nightmare but nothing of any sort comes up” Rain says tired and wore out from thought,

“Maybe you should see if Elanee can get it out of your head” Alisianna suggests

“Hell no, I just need to keep my distance from her and her oozing over MR. HERO!” Rain sarcastically spates

“Hey Rain, look I know you’re trying to get over Elanee and staying away from her is a method of losing her from your mind but, don’t shut her out of your life, she is still a part of our side in this whole fight. Maybe you should give her a chance to help you, I know she would if she could, after all she has done a lot recently to show she is more powerful than we give her credit for” Cloud stated and changing the subject Rain talks to him about the encounter with Colossus and wanting to know more about the amulets power around their necks. They talk through the rest of the day and when night fall comes Cloud and Alisianna depart from the guardhouse. Rain stays behind to think a little more about it adding for him not to stay up too late, Cloud leaves with Alisianna, with thoughts running through his head for almost for three hours Rain then starts to fall asleep.

Combing her hair getting ready for bed Elanee gets a knock upon her door, she rolls her eyes as she goes to answer it saying in her head my god Namor can’t you spend one hour away from me when you’re here, but opening her thoughts rush away. “Dawn!” Elanee said surprised

“Elanee is this bad time”

“No but it is late” Elanee reassured her

“I’m sorry just had a busy day and I have only been around guys all day…need some girl bonding time” Elanee smiles and motions for her to enter shutting the door behind her,

“So what’s going on?” Elanee asked

“Actually my question was what happened; between you and Rain in Shadowell” Dawn said seeing Elanee get a little uncomfortable.

“What do you mean; we went there to save you”

“And grateful you have no idea but also curious on the how part was executed? Look if I crossed a private line…” Dawn eased out

“No; in fact I was needing to tell someone else about this for a time and this is better than any I have thought up” Elanee said going to her bed and sitting heavy on it did she go into detail about the evening the two had as well as the tests they needed to pass. Dawn laughed at the part about the drink he interrupted from the other Drow saying that was pretty much a trait he held high…rudeness.

“And then we had to dance with one another, that was awkward I thought he knew how to dance”

“He never thought to learn, how did it go?” Dawn asked

“Messy at first but as I implemented the steps to his mind he learned fast and grew a very good rhythm, better than most I know of” Elanee complimented “And then we had to kiss each other”

“I’m sorry did you say kiss, as in with lips” Dawn asked and nodding did Elanee talk about the first little peck she received and how embarrassing it was not to mention it didn’t pass the test, Elanee then told Dawn of her slap and voicing insult to him which got them laughing for a short time, but stopping Elanee then said.

“And then he griped me with a spin and kissed me again”

“And” Dawn waited dangling like a worm for the next few words to hit her.

“And what” Elanee said smiling

“Well how was it?” Dawn bolted

“It was…different” Elanee stated and getting a pushing on look from Dawn Elanee then explained her feelings, “It was as if everything around me disappeared and all that remained was the feeling and his touch, I couldn’t even think of anything and then feeling…I…felt like I was flying” she ended with Dawn having her hands supporting her chin while lying on her stomach engrossed with the description.

“Wow!” was all Dawn could say to it at first “Didn’t think that he was capable of that”

“Is it true he has never kissed a girl” Elanee asked

“Not like that anyway, me and him have kissed but I was seven at the time and it was a dare; not the same effect though I’m happy to say” Dawn said “So he’s a good kisser?”

“Very, very good” Elanee said almost getting aroused at the thought of it again. “So what’s going on with you and Artanis” Elanee says to her stopping her intense thoughts, Dawn told her about the incident that occurred that day and Elanee was at first stunned.

“Dawn I thought you liked him” Elanee sparked

“I did”

“A lot” Elanee said again

“I do”

“So…” Elanee motioned now with her dangling for more.

“It’s just complicated” Dawn scampered for an answer

“What part?”

“All of it, well none of it (Elanee gives a confused look) I just need more time to get over things that’s all”

“Like him being evil and you good, Dawn he’s not evil he just had a hard start that’s all but don’t let that stop you from giving him a chance as well as yourself one too” Elanee voiced out with Dawn giving her a look that knew she was right” the girls went on through half the night talking about guys and relationships enjoying and sharing the time well spent.