It had been three days sense Kane had left, and it already seemed so much emptier to her. She glanced at her white and sky blue robes. She wore this attire every day when she went back for training, if not for Kane's persuasive and demanding argument, she would probably be with the rest of her class mates. She knew the basic healing spell like most priestess there, her current rank according to her master, Lady Unix, she was at cleric level in less than three days of training. Her master continued to explain that Yalin had a natural knack for these things, praising her for her magical power. Yalin told her that it was simply her practice, but her teacher said she knew better.

Yalin was just finally glad it was Sunday; she didn't have to come to the Chapel today, unless she wished to worship the Goddess Uphena. Yalin had come to believe in the magical powers but still had her doubts about the Goddess. She still found it hard that Kane had spoken to Delega, though he wasn't any sort of god, according to Yalin's text book, he was a powerful spirit, mentioned in a brief paragraph.

Eliba starred down at the thick wall her band of warriors walking towards the guardsmen.

"Eliba, I assure you, his last set of foot prints a mile off, point this direction, and its closest refuge for miles, if he's any were he's here." Galivan spoke up.

"Your names' and business." The guard spoke up.

"Eliba, and Galivan, and our band of Warriors, we seek a night at the inn." Eliba announced.

"Alright, let them in!" the guard said.

The band of warriors walked into the village, pauldrons over their shoulders. Their armor underneath their orange coats was a light Kevlar breast plate over black chainmail. The marry group started their search for Kane Reuben, Eliba giving orders for them to search. It was hours later when Eliba found out that Yalin had worked at the Chapel of Uphena, waiting for their group to meet at the tavern that night.

"I found a lead men." Eliba announced.

"As did we," The twins announced.

"Share with the group," Eliba commanded.

"We heard that the last group to enter the city was a group of nights going on a hunt with Baron Ile, who had given a house to a knew man named Vance Alston, with his sister." The twins said, half witted.

"You fools, ye have no lead!" Galivan shouted.

"I found a matching description of Yalin Vibe, the woman works at the Chapel of Uphena, I think it's worth checking out, rather than terrorizing a house of some poor fool." Eliba said.

"I agree, with thee." Galivan replied.

The twins lowered their heads, as the rest of the group raised their mugs of mead in final agreement.

"Then we set out first thing tomorrow men. Bring your swords, if the woman won't talk, then she is of no use." Eliba announced.

Yalin glanced into the dark ceiling above her bed; she couldn't believe that today was yet another day without Kane. She silently hoped that he would return by the time she made it home tonight, but knew it unlikely. She rose out of her bed, to simply put on her chapel clothes. It took the young blonde woman a few minutes to be at the chapel, as she talked to her master, Lady Unix.

"Hello there, again Azura, How did you sleep?" Master Unix asked, smiling at the young lady.

"Very well, Lady Unix; what will we be learning today?" Yalin replied.

"Today we will be learning charms, and protection spells." Lady Unix answered.

Lady Unix placed her arm forward, suddenly a magical shield seemed to produce as half sphere around her body. The blue aura glowed against Yalin's pale cheeks. Yalin's eyes light up watching her master perform the beautiful spell.

"Focus, and clear your mind first, like I have taught you. Second, focus your energy to the palm of your hand, is if you heal someone, then imagine someone who you would never want to be harmed, and protect them. Close your eyes if you have to." Lady Unix smiled.

"Alright, I'll try," Yalin replied.

Yalin closed her eyes, forgetting that she was in the training room as she cleared her mind. Her thoughts ran to her mother, and father, how she wished she could have protected them. In moments, a giant shield formed from Yalin's palm, of a deep red energy, forcing the object in the training room to fly back. Yalin opened her eyes to see the red energy form. Her teacher glared at the force field in amazement.

"Who did you lose, my darling?" master Unix replied.

"My father and mother," Yalin said, holding the magical spell.

"This is the most powerful ward I have ever seen, when your magical energy glows red, it is a sign of a loved one lost."

Yalin released the ward from her grasp, saving her energy for what was next.

"My darling, that type of ward is just as powerful as it is deadly. The red magical energy is harmful to all those you consider unfriendly. I would implore you not to use that spell again, in this chapel. Try again, except with someone close to you still alive."

"Alright," Yalin replied.

Yalin closed her eyes once more, taking each step as she did before, except thinking of someone else. Kane Reuben, her guardian. As the blue aura came out of her palm, it covered a small area compared to the one before, just barely rapping around her own hand.

"Very good, Yalin, most people can't form such a ward at their first try. You certainly are special." Lady Unix complemented.

"Thank you Lady Unix, but I assure you it has to do with practice." Yalin replied.

"No, my darling not even I couldn't do such things on my first try, and I read the textbook twice before I got to this place. Not only that, but I practiced every waking hour, I was born a daughter of Uphena."

Yalin smiled as nose was heard from the hall. Suddenly a group of orange coated warriors walked into the room. It was the warriors of Delega.

"Yalin Vibe, oh how have you been? Before this gets violent, tell me, where is Kane Reuben?" Eliba said, stepping forward, in-between the twins.

"Eliba, why are you here? Is this about the sword of Delega?" Yalin replied.

"Precisely, I need to prove my worth in order to take the sword."

"Is this about honor or pride?" Yalin shouted back.

"Honor or maybe perhaps both," Eliba smirked, "where is Kane?"

"I honestly don't know."

"You lie the man wouldn't even leave your side, where is he now!"

"Leave Azura alone," Lady Unix said politely.

"Galivan kill the annoying self-riches woman." Eilba said as Galivan stepped forward, "Now tell me where Kane is or I will kill you."

"I don't know Eliba, if I did I would tell him, so he could kill you." Yalin said with hatred in her voice.

"Maybe he will come to us, if we kill his precious little sister!" Eliba said as she walked forward to kill her.

He raised his sword to kill master Unix, slashing down at her. The woman drew her dagger, repelling the attack, but staggering over the force of the blow. Galivan dropped his sword pulling his battle axe off his back, smile at the woman.

"Parry this!"

The women leaped over the axe as it swung in the air, Yalin stunned with unbelief. Suddenly Eliba jabbed forward towards her chest. Yalin dodged to the side, slamming her knife into the warriors back. The knife pierced the jerkin, but soon fell down, causing no harm to the woman warrior. Yalin glanced to her side, as she watched the battle axe hit the side of Lady Unix. Yalin's eyes watered, as Eliba came down, striking at the crying girl.

Suddenly a read aura swarmed the training room, in a complete sphere; the magical energy was so powerful it evaporated the warriors of Delega. Yalin rushed over to her master, trying to heal the deep wound on in her side as she died. The woman lost conciseness, and soon her last breath, as blood dripped from her side and mouth.

"No, Lady Unix, master..." Yalin said, crying over the dead body.

Yalin had been too late; the woman had already died, as others rushed into room, with bruises and cuts. It took only seconds for them to see what had happened. They glanced around the stone room, finding the pile of ashes on the floor, and the only witness the blonde girl.

"Azura Alstone, you are banished from the chapel of Uphena, all harmful spells are on a strict no use, and you have broken such rules."

"But I was trying to save her life! And in the process saved my own," Yalin pleaded.

"No excuse harmful spells, show no love, only hate. If you can perform such acts, how can you love properly?"

Yalin lowered her head, knowing it was useless to argue the facts and points. How could a Goddess of Love expect such acts as trying to save another, wrong? Yalin whipped her tears as she tried to compose herself properly, walking through the small crowd outside into the open. How was she going to tell Kane about this?

"I saw what you did in there, young lady." An old woman said.

"And I assume you're as sick of me as the rest?" Yalin replied.

"No, actually intrigued, I'm a witch, I can train you in more powerful spells." The old lady answered.

"A witch, aren't they supposed to be bad?" Yalin questioned.

"Only to those who think us that way, like you, Yalin Vibe." The old woman smiled.

"How do you know my name?" Yalin said intrigued.

"I can read your mind, but most importantly, because the warriors were looking for you. Will you be my pupil, and allow me to train you?"

"I see no harm in it." Yalin replied, "But how can I trust you?"

"Ah, well, you can't." The old woman said, "But you'll never know until you give me a chance."

"True enough. I see no other alternative." Yalin final said, "Lead the way."

The old woman walked as the blonde girl followed. They were a distance from the crowd, men in armor appearing at the sight. Yalin glanced back, and then forward, choosing to ignore the scene as she started to cry to herself once more.

"This way," The old woman crooned.

The stone path seemed to fade into a dirt path, as she fallowed the woman into a junketed side of the city, to the far south west. The grass grew higher, around the small game trail as Yalin followed the woman. Slowly the age of the woman seemed to fade with every step, her back straitening out, and her hair gaining a vibrant blonde golden color. Soon the cane she walked with dropped to the ground as the woman fixed her posture. Old abandoned house appeared to left and right, with chest high grass. Yalin looked back in front of her, as the old woman was no more, only a young vibrant woman, with an unplaced age. The woman suddenly stopped, as she waved her hand in the air. Slowly, a tree appeared which had seemed out of sight before. The tree was thicker than most the surrounding houses, and slightly taller, with a giant root running down towards the witch. Carved in the roots of the tree, was a stair way leading to a black double door.

"Come," The sweet enticing voice said.

"Where you not just an old woman," Yalin asked.

"Isn't magic lovely?" the woman said with a voice of an angel.

"Your voice is lovely, you're perhaps the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, is this all just a spell?" Yalin inquired.

"Ah, no, this is what I really look like; the old lady was my disguise. While my age is rather irrelevant, I know you'll ask, I'm a hundred and nine, ten starting tomorrow." The witch smiled.

"Amazing," Yalin said in awe.

"Magic again, I say is lovely." The woman smiled, "You can call me Ellixa."

"You only give me one name? Is it true that it's even your real name?" Yalin asked.

"Wiser than most, even at a young age, Ellixa is my birth name, and I only have one name; regardless, if it was or wasn't, would it matter?"

"Don't names hold power in magical spells?" Yalin asked.

"Indeed they do, so you're more trained than I expected, can we finish this talk inside?" Ellixa said as placed her hand on the purple iron nob.

"I see no reason why we can't." Yalin replied.

Ellixa twisted the nob, as the door opened, revealing a dark and homey place. The red carpet on the blackened wood floor, and the potion brew's smoke brushing the ground all added to the home. The enchantress table lay to one side, only visible through a cracked door. And a lovely door lay straight ahead. In the center of the room, atop the carpet was a lovely carved wooden table. Though, dark, the place screamed home.

"Welcome. I would say the sun bothers me, and will apologies for such. The tree is completely hollowed, and or carved out."

"Why does the sun bother you?" Yalin asked.

"A story for another time, perhaps, once you have learned to trust me." Ellixa replied.

"This is a far place away from my house, how am I supposed to come here every day?" Yalin inquired.

"You don't dear, you simply go home on the weekends, this training is much more intense, and will require more intense supervision." The pale blonde woman replied.

"I can't I have things I have to take care of, not to mention someone to come home to." Yalin replied.

"Ah, a husband, no a brother, or perhaps neither a lover nor relative; it must be a friend?" Ellixa said cryptically.

"What does it matter?" Yalin replied.

"Because he won't be back for months, sweetie," The voice replied tenderly.

"How do you know?"

"I assumed, and you confirmed." Ellixa smiled.

Yalin looked at the floor, "What if he comes home early, wouldn't he be worried if I wasn't there?"

"Indeed... I could read your fortune, and confirm the truth if such is your desire." The witch taunted.

"Will it be painful?"

"Not at all, all I need is your hands."

Yalin stretched for her hands, placing them on Ellixa's long slender fingers. As her finger tips touched the witches skin, she shuttered, she was as cold as winter, to the touch. Quickly the witch rapped her hands around the young woman. She closed her eyes as she began to speak.

"You are destined to become a powerful sorceress, and a queen to a people, in a different world. If you don't die first, that is. Kane is to be your right hand, in the commotion, but to take the throne you must sacrifice that which you hold most dear. Kane is to be of absence, for a time. The man holds great power within him, and will use it to defeat the Spell Bound soul."

"Who is the Spell Bound soul?" Yalin inquired listening intently, "And what will I have to sacrifice."

"That is unclear." Ellixa replied.

"You don't even know the Spell Bound soul?"

Ellixa opened her eyes, "A soul in torture and a man that can't be killed."

Yalin's eyes widened as she realized the red color pupil and black iris Ellixa had.

"What's wrong with your eyes?" Yalin asked.

"A story for another time," Ellixa replied, turning her head.