AN: so i know i said i would update more...but i just wanted to wait a bit until i was actually graduating. Which is today. well, tonight. I felt i should release a chapter. Sorry that I have not done that in a while. I was also busy trying to get enough credit to gradutate. Doing past assignments and projects.

But yeah, im gonna enter the working world after today...and im freaking out. I kinda want to learn a new language and be a translator, probably korean or japanese...chinese would take way too long...i think this suits my interests and skills. Imma fast learner. Ah, im ranting. So, here is the chapter, another filler. Just one more to go before i can get things moving more. Remember to rate and review. also, me gradutating means more boredom and time for chapters....so, yay?

And once you read the chapter, know this: I kinda wanna ship them, so i may have embellished his view of her a tad bit. eye of the beholder and all that.

Editing will be done later.

EDIT(July 13): If any new readers make it this far, then i ask that you leave a review, please. This is a more recent chapter so i think this is a good place to place this

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Sara lived in one of the dorm rooms of the school. The previous place that she and a few others had lived was nice, but at the time headmaster Loki didnt expect so many students at his school and so when he ran out of rooms he had some others constructed within one of the buildings that already had been built. The building was so large, full of long, confusing halls, that this was really no problem.

It was truly castle-like, and the rooms were located in the upper levels. But because they didnt like the idea of sleeping in ordinary rooms headmaster Loki, after much nagging from the students which had led to one of them being turned into a toad for several days, had decided to use certain methods to increase the space inside the rooms without really changing its outside.

Meaning the the rooms were much larger within than they were without. Basically the insides were like small pocket dimensions, similar to what would be found in interspacial rings that were common in the Higher Planes.

Whats more, the students could personalize the rooms in whatever way they wished.

Sara had made it into a place that was large, with many book shelfs and other, more antique, items. The room she was currently in had several shelfs to hold various books, the walls white and one of them holding a large "window" that led to the view of the pink-colored leaves that bloomed year-round from the trees outside. Her room was neat, with a color scheme a mix of dark hues and lighter ones that gave an air of sophistication and maturity with hints of a more girlish after-taste and carrying a faintly sweet aroma like fruit.

It was a very well-kept room but there were clothes thrown about the place in odd places. Sara wasnt a messy person, she was just a bit careless at times when it came to her own room. Still this much was acceptable.

Other than that there was some stairs to the side which would lead to a study, filled to the brim with various things that she had her family acquire pver the years for her to study. She had avid interest in history, particularaly pertaining to the Higher Planes which was incomparable old. It seemed that every era of the Higher Planes would make its transition with a bang, leaving little clues about its history behind.

It was far older than the current ruling gods. Every pantheon right now, when compared to that place, could be considered young. Finding the history of this mysterious place was what Sara had loved doing for a long time now.

Sara had been sitting on her silk-covered bed, laying upside down while reading the bestiary that their new teacher, Roland, had provided them. It was very extensive and the writing seemed to be by hand, a majestic sweep to every little corner. Calm, yet bold, restrained yet a bit care free. Powerful, and maybe a little cruel, but somehow not exactly evil either.

Though these were obviously not done directly by hand for each book, they still carried hints on the author's personality. They gave a compicated impression of the person in question. As learned as Sara was, every word here gave her insight into the personality of the author. The author had to be that rather mysterious new teacher of theirs, right?

She liked how the drawings were done. They almost seemed alive. Like they would jump off and come at you. Sara had seem a few of the creatures, but they didnt seem as threatening as the ones in the book. Maybe because the ones she had seen were not yet fully mature.

As engrossed as she was, she completely wasnt prepared for the meteor-like object that had currently been traveling towards her location.

Rubbing her eyes, she layed the book down on her bed and got up to stretch while letting out a long sigh as her muscles and bones creaked a bit, warming up. Sitting down for such a long time left her a bit sore, if truth be told.

As she was doing this, she heard a strange sound from above, folowed by several loud crashes.

Boom. Boom. Boom

The noise got louder. Just what...?

And then, as she was looking up, the roof of her room came crumbling down in a spray of dirt, fire and stone.

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When Aries felt the first impact he had already used all the power he was ablt to muster in that short time to lessen the force with which he fell. But being thrown out of a portal when it crashed into such a strong barrier was really no laughting matter.

As he came head-first into the top of a castle-like building, he felt his bones shake. Shit, what was this thing made of, diamonds? No way normal stone was this hard!

The air left his lungs as his body was still not stopped, beings hurtled straight down. He felt a slight tearing. Like the ripping of clothe.

He knew that he must have been hitting some sort of special barrier...it was like he was tearing apart space. Aries understood that these rooms he hit were probably bigger than they should be and that they had likely been created using a very sloppily done spell that gave the rooms extra space.

Aries was no expert in magic spells, but even he knew that a spell that carried this effect should break this easily....it would at least last a good twenty seconds longer!

Loki...that guy must have just thrown this together at the last minute.

As he carried thoughts of his friends, Aries hit several other rooms, coming down on their rooms and exiting through the floors while leaving

Finally, the last one came. He didnt know when he stopped. But he did.

Opening his eyes, he came upon a strange sight that made him blink. There, standing over him, was a cool, bespectacled beauty pointing a sword at his throat.

She had a slender yet curvaceous figure, enticing and erotic in the flimsy pink and black nightgown she currently had on. Her hair was dark, with highlights of reddish strands that gave it a lustrous sheen. The hair was free to fall in gentle waves down to her shoulder blades, a bit curly and framing her delicate face.

She stood there with a firm footing, her posture excellent and her bearing bursting with a inner nobility. There was a maturity to her, a bookishness. Her black-framed glasses rested gently on her face as she stared down at him.

Aries had sen many beauties in his long, long life. But not many had left him any deep impressions. But...this one certainly did. It was more than her outward apearance, more that her physical beauty. No, she had a certain calm and mysterious countenance to her.

At first glance she was merely a very beautiful young woman. But upon closer observation one would find a haziness about her. A dream-like quality that would undoubtedly linger in one's heart long after they left her presence. She seemed utterly in control of herself, comfortable in her skin and uncaring of others' opinions.

But what made him most enamored was the way she looked at him. It was a piercing look, examining him with a calm and analytical eye while at the same time showing traces of disdain and anger at his intrusion...yet for all that she also seemed to see through

him, past him, and gazing at some far-off goal. What that goal was, Aries didnt know. Perhaps she didnt either.

And there was something else he instantly noticed that left him a bit in awe. It was the way she held her sword. Gently, like a lover's hand, yet firm. She obviously knew how to handle the sword, knew how to use it. But there was one other facet that left him speechless: When he looked, he couldnt tell at all where the woman began and the sword ended.

It wasnt like she had reached some pinnacle realm in sword skills, like he, Roland and Mephisto had. He knew she was far, far weaker than him. Couldnt even compare, really. But this went past skill with a sword.

It was like this weapon was destined for her, like it was meant to be in her hands. It seemed as if a part of everything that made up the woman's identity was imbued into the sword. And when it was in her hands, it became a part of her. Like two halves making a hole, almost.

The sword, a simply done rapier that was slender and elegant, with a silver swept hilt that protected the wielder's hand. It blade was long, slim and double-edged. It was a pale white but held an almost golden light radiate from it that let out a flowery fragrance.

It wasnt odd, for blades to have such unusual aspects to it. But they really only did so when created personally by people like Hephaestus who made divine weapons that were beyond anything a mortal being could accomplish.

Whats more, this sword seemed to have its own soul, and it even appeared to have a bit of intelligence to it!

This sword....this design....the cold, cruel beauty of it, who was it that could....

He felt sure that he knew this blade's maker, but he couldnt he sure who it was, exactly....

No, this distinctly majestic aura, those strange makings along the blade, the way the hilt seemed to be built for both beauty and practicality....it couldnt be....Goibinu, could it?

As he was thinking this, he was roused from his thoughts. "And just who are you, hmm?" A soft voice reached his ears.

Aries smiled a bit. Such a pleasing sound.

Seeing her press that sword against his neck, seeing her cold expression, he felt his blood start to boil a bit.

His eyes flashed in a sudden red glow.

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When Grace woke up the next day, she was in a panic.

She didnt hear her mother saunter into their home only minutes before, didnt see the flush to her cheeks and gentle smile that was reminiscing about something good.

Morrigan was sighing to herself. After that red-haired brat had interrupted her and her husband from reconnecting, she was thrown out. Truly lamentable. Though, at least he isnt really against the idea of them being together in truth anymore. Even if he felt like not doing so because he knew it wouldnt last, he still reacted to her advances, which was a good sign.

She would have to smack the girl next she saw her. Also, who the hell was she to him anyway, to be able to approach his room like that? The barriers of his didnt stop her at all....

At the time, he wouldnt have brought them down. He usually did when he was awake. As strong as he was, he ddint feel much need to have the barriers up all the time.

So, distracted as he was, he shouldnt have disspelled them when she arrived.

It couldnt be that she was his....currently lover, right?

There was another girl she had seen the other day, a gold-eyed one, but she didnt seem to make Morrigan feel threatened at al--

" Mommy!"

Coming at her at a breakneck speed was her adorable daughtert, Grace, who latched onto her arm and started pulling.

"Hurry, we have to go!" She urged.

Morrigan tried to calm her. " Easy there , little one, what has you so--"

The girl made an annoyed sound." No talking, just hurry! We have to go find dady, or he might disappear! Please, lets go already!" She began to pull harder.

Morrigan felt pained. "Grace, dear, be at ease. Didnt he tell you he wouldnt do that? Didnt he say he would stay with us? And how could he bear to leave this precious angel of his--"

"No! If we're not by his side, he might...he might...!" Her little face shone with irrational fear and her eyes were starting to water.

Morrigan couldnt help but feel affected by her daughter's emotional state.

As she was rushed out of their home and exited the building that were reserved for staff members, Grace sped up until Morrigan was nearly dragged by her.

They had alread been halfway from their place to Roland's when a large portal opened up above them.

Morrigan looked up, stopping her daughter. "Grace, wait." She halted her.

"But, we have to look for...." Grace trailed off, noticing the sight above.

Remembering the woman from the other day who had arrived the same way, her heart beat a bit faster.

"Mommy, those are..."

"Dont worry."

A moment later, One landed far away. Then in another moment there was a second ball of fire that looked like it would collide with the main building of the school. The last one fell somewhere to their left, near the library.

The ground trembled.

" Lets go. " Morrigan frowned.

Concerned over this unexpected developement, she and Grace continued to search.

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Roland and Reina arrived at the main building just as a strange golden light had erupted from the roof.

Followed a moment later by a red light.

There, in a red mist-like aura, was a very familiar figure slashing madly at a young woman who held numerous small wounds along her body and torn pieces of cloth around her that may heave once been a full nightgown.

The two floated in the air, exchanging blows at a speed that would have not been picked up by people of Reina's current abilities...

Aries had a wild grin as he mercilessly used his finger as a blade to bite into the woman's--Sara's--skin.

Sara was breathing rough, he could see. The sword in her hand, a rapier with a swept hilt, was surprisingly fast. It moved like lightning and shot out beams of light to attack Aries.

But he only grew more violent as the beams came at him, not even choosing to dodge, not having a need. He took them head-on. But what was strange was that instead of being broken, the beams went through him.

Roland couldnt help letting his mouth fall open a bit.

Either he had gotten much weaker than last Roland saw him, or that sword was special. Though he was obviously toying with her, not using even a tenth of his actual power, there was still no reason for him to be injured by a regular attack coming from someone who didnt even specialize in combat, like her.

Aries coughed out blood, laughing a bit.

Then, ignoring the wounds, he came up behind the woman and grabbed the blade with a palm.

Roland felt something then, a static in the air, a certain crackling.

This cant be good...

He thought.

Then he saw that Aries was acting weird. He froze, staring at the girl who was glaring at him with disdain and hatred. Roland saw his eyes flash red.

He held the rapier in his hands, the blade biting into the man's flesh.

Roland knew something was wrong with this picture. Reina felt it too. She could feel a charge to the atmosphere that was growing by the second...then, the sky darkened.

It was only for an instant, and not many would notice it if they werent already paying attention, but it was certainly there. Aries stared at Sara with an odd glint in his eyes, grinning as if he had found something interesting.

Then he let go of the blade. Sara, having been exhausted, dropped from the sky. Aries frowned.

Then he vanished and reappeared below her as she fell, catching her in his arms.

Aries looked at the girl in his arms with a complicated expression. This woman made him feel....strange. Despite having a bit of good impressions toward her, he felt bitter at being attacked so suddenly. Although, he didnt exactly dislike it...still, if it was a fight she wanted, Aries would have been happy to oblige had it been a battle of a different nature. One that would have been enjoyable for both sides.

He found that this woman had a bit of skill, too, which increased his estimation of her. She didnt have any great achievements with a blade, but she used the powers of that sword to great effect. Before they took the battle outside she had displayed great prowess at manipulating the energies within the weapon.

He felt that she had a firm grasp on the fundamentals of the sword's powers. Still, she didnt seem to be a warrior. Rather, her abilities were more suited to a mage. And she did appear to be the more bookish type.

Yet she didnt cast any spells...but she did use a few items that caused him a bit of distress earlier. When they were still in her room she had even used these strange cube-like things to restrict his movement for a bit, and used a scroll of some kind to send waves of chaotic energy run through his body, making him clench his teeth. Artifacts, most likely. He wondered if she specialized in the usage of them. Yeah, that seemed right.

"Hmph, damn woman." He chuckled almost affectionately. "Attacking me like that, your're certainly a fiesty one. But that isnt good, a woman shouldnt be so trigger-happy. A few scratches wont do you harm.--" He began.

"So, what do you want to take the punishment for, attacking a defensless woman or attacking one of my oh-so-precious students?" An easy-going, almost care-free voice entered his ears.

Hearing this, Aries smiled widely...though he also forced down a shiver.