Author's Foreword

To those who had read Hunt For Power, thank you so much for bearing with me and now I redeem myself with the new story I have created. ^^ Now, it will be AGES before I update this to Chapter 2 so don't expect much because this story is still in the writing block and well, it's not finished per se. With all my assignments and final projects forcing their way through my door, yea, I won't have the time, so bear with me for that period.

NOW I GIVE YOU THE FIRST PREVIEW TO MY LATEST STORY, ENJOY! -^^-

Chapter 1

A pair of absent minded cobalt blue eyes gazed across the green fields before them whilst a soft breeze blew past, ruffling his soft, ruffled silver tresses. Christophe Toussaint was in a relatively good mood today, something that doesn't occur too often. His head was clear and he could enjoy the scenery, unlike the past few days which he had spent mulling about having to hunt down the ruckus producing Denizen. If only it hadn't been so weak that its presence was so difficult to sense, it was also sneaky and caused a whole lot of trouble by destroying things and sapping existence which had to be replaced with torches. Christophe admitted he hated replacing human lives with just torches, but there was nothing else he could do since he was not capable of fully restoring their lost existence. He sighed, his thoughts had strayed again to the negative things in life, not that he really had any left. He was supposed to have given it up the moment he made a contract with Heaven's Azure Hand, Celio. It was not to say that he missed his old life, he didn't really. Who would miss being a mad man. If not for his meeting the right person at the right time, he seriously would have remained mad. Now he could better himself and do something else that is, well, better than what he did before. With only a single goal of protecting the balance of the world, there are no other complications other than the fact that there are evil Denizens running amok and the organization famous for causing havoc is the Bal Masque. Christophe closed his eyes, savouring the last bits of the cool breeze before it left him, trying to empty his mind once more. Too many memories, none of them wonderful to remember.

"Thinking too much again Chris?" He looked up and saw a pair of deep red eyes staring into his, twinkling in the daylight.

"And you would know?" Those red orbs laughed at him with a merry tune.

"Of course I would, I recognized that melancholic expression from a mile away. You're not fooling anyone, what is on your mind?" Chris rolled his eyes and turned away from the pair of staring eyes.

"One would think that the Flaming Haired Blazing Eyed Hunter would have better things to do other than pestering her companion," Mathilde laughed at him.

"I did have something to do, but it's finished and now I have nothing to do, so yes, I will pester you if you don't mind."

Christophe sighed in defeat. "It was meant to be a rhetorical question Mathilde, not meant to be answered."

He was not surprised by the laughter that rang in the air. "I knew that, the reason I answered anyways. You always get irritated so easily, learn to laugh a little. I haven't seen you laugh before in my life, smiling yes, on occasion. Come on, laugh for me," Christophe raised a brow.

"You want to hear me laugh?" She nodded exactly the same way a child would. Christophe sighed, pulled a smile and then laughed, to which Mathilde's face suddenly scrunched up.

"That isn't even a real laugh, it sounds like the scraping of one's fingernails against the glass, and so fake."

He tossed her an evil look. "Then next time don't ask me to laugh you witch."

Mathilde huffed and then pulled a full smile on him. "Hah, like I'll give up, one of these days I'll get a laugh out of you, a real one, just you wait and see."

Sighing, Christophe got up and looked down at her. "If you can which will not happen, not likely, not ever. And the way you act is as though you never had a childhood."

"Hah, unlike you, I don't want to gain wrinkles just by frowning all the time ~ I have the better mind to smile and laugh and act young since youth is measured by the cheerfulness of one's heart ~"

The twinkling look that Mathilde gave him made him feel ill and somewhat insulted. "As though a witch like you could possibly have a heart."

Mathilde pouted. "Pig, just you wait, you won't be calling me a witch by the time I'm done with you."

"And when will you be done?" He asked, walking away from her.

Mathilde jumped up and rushed after him. "Well, let's see, I've spent three years with you already, travelling together, and now, I think it will only take a few more years, months if I'm lucky."

"Aren't you sporadic, at this rate, you'll never succeed."

"Pessimist."

"Witch."

"Warlock, when are you going to start using your actual powers instead of your sword?"

"Like I said, sporadic and I don't feel like using it so as to not reveal my true identity."

"Aren't you sneaky, why not?"

Christophe stared at her, halting their progress. "Because unlike you, my flame is not all that a unique colour and one would just think it's a normal blue flame but if I use that, tell me who wouldn't recognize me?"

"Everyone would," She added with a laugh. "But your powers are so beautiful, if only you could use it to do something here, it would be really pretty. It looks odd without some, well, you know," She looked about the plain green meadow.

"You find a lot of things odd Mathilde," He said with a sigh, walking onward.

"If I didn't, this world would be boring."

Christophe had no idea how long he tolerated her babbling, but he did not mind it really, after three years that is. At first he had found it rather annoying and it was no surprise that he did tell her to shut it quite often. However, after one long look at her after so long, he found it no big deal, a bonus to her sporadic characteristics. Talking, for her, was good, why, because it seemed that she understands people merely by what they say, rather than them having to actually outright say it. She was a reliable friend that way and one hundred percent trustworthy, if compared to others. Her babbling would sometimes produce something actually worth listening to, if one would take the time to actually listen. Her Denizen was also nothing short of wise, he being one of the great lords of the Crimson Realm.

"Where are we headed to this time little witch," He asked, ruffling her hair.

Mathilde pouted. "I'm not little and I'm no witch either, but we're heading north of here. If this map is right, there should be settlements ahead and maybe a lord's castle."

"Remind me again why we're going there?"

Mathilde sighed at that, red eyes glaring at him. "Please remember it this time since this is the third time I've told you already. We are looking for a candidate for a Denizen friend of Alastor's as per a favour owed."

"I will. It's just that I thought you would be kind enough to tell me who the Denizen is."

Mathilde groaned. "You could have just asked that specifically instead of going in a roundabout circle."

Alastor laughed just then, a low timbre voice reverberating from the ruby ring she wore. "It is for the Illusionist Crown, Tiamat. She has been without a Flame Haze for too many a year and is now pining for a new one."

"I take it that the last one was a spud?" Mathilde glared at Christophe for that comment.

"Don't be mean. If it's your time to go, you go. No need to insult him or her."

Christophe smirked just then. "If that is so, then Tiamat will need someone far more skilful than the last to make up for it."

"Agreed, the Illusionist Crown did mention it." Alastor added.

"Was he male or female, her last contractor?" Mathilde asked curiously as she and Christophe trod on.

"Male."

The Flaming Hunter saw the look of surprise on her companion's face. "Why so surprised?"

"I mean, well, it's rather effeminate a skill isn't it?"

Mathilde snorted. "You're being biased."

"He's being masculine!" A new voice joined them. It sounded like that of a little boy's, coming from the blue ring on Christophe's right ring finger.

"That coming from a Denizen that sounds like an underage kid," She replied with a chuckle, even Alastor could not resist the urge to laugh.

"Take that back Omer!" Christophe rolled his eyes as the banter between his Denizen and Mathilde prolonged.

Their loud and boisterous chatter continued on until they arrived, much to Christophe's decaying tolerance for the noise. The fortunate thing was that they decided to cool it off the moment they did arrive. The streets were bustling with people going about their daily business. Christophe wondered what it would be like to be ignorant once more. Not knowing about the Crimson Realm and all that, just disappearing and dying when one's time is up. Mathilde however, had other thoughts. She scanned the crowds, looking for someone who would stand out, someone that even Tiamat would find interesting. But her eyes caught something else that stood out. She ran off, leaving Christophe to his thoughts as he too wandered about aimlessly, just watching the people. Give or take, several minutes after that, he was pounced on from behind by the same person that had ditched him for those several minutes.

"Can you pick a less painful way to get my attention?" Christophe muttered disparagingly.

"I can't, you're just a tad bit too tall for me," Mathilde replied with a laugh as she slid off his back. Only then did Christophe realize that there was something extra there. A white cloak with a large hood now billowed behind him. "Wear it, it looks good on you."

Christophe stared at the cloak a moment longer before smiling at her. "Very well, if the little witch says so," The pout that was elicited from the redhead made him laugh.

Mathilde's pout melted away in an instant. "Well, now I'm done with you, haven't I? I've made you laugh."

"Don't get cocky, this is just one time, let's see how many more times you can do it, especially when I'm having a bad day."

She managed to get her smirk to match his. "We shall see now, won't we? I for one would," She paused in mid-sentence when her eyes caught something. "Chris, turn around, looks like someone is sneaking away from there," She pointed towards the large castle, a small tiny dot of a horse riding in the distance.

"Well, it does seem odd for one to ride at that speed when there is no urgency."

"Let's go hunt out our hooded rider and see what we get since this one stands out. Besides, this place here has plenty of talented people, the reason I came here. They have pretty good fighters amongst their ranks."

Christophe sighed. "Tiamat doesn't need fighters, she needs dancers for goodness sakes. It's obviously not a man she's looking for."

Mathilde pouted as she and Christophe tried to catch up to their mysterious rider. "Whoever said fighters had to be men! Look at me!"

"You're abnormal, and a witch," Celio laughed at the comment.

"Pig, hurry up or we'll lose the guy."

"She just said guy!" Celio added with a triumphant laugh, much to Mathilde's growing irritation with the childlike voice of his.

"Hush, we're near," Mathilde scolded in a harsh whisper. Celio's laughter died down as they approached the rider. Hiding behind a large group of shrubbery, they watched silently.

"Now what," Mathilde poked Christophe upon hearing his query.

"Stop asking stupid questions, we wait and see if this guy or girl is interesting enough to be worth considering as a candidate. Plus, Tiamat wants someone spirited, not power hungry."

"A power hungry Flame Haze is not likely to be born unless a smartass Denizen decides he wants to try it. But honestly speaking, none of them are hardly stupid enough to act like smartasses since they won't have control over the Flame Haze, the reason they prefer their current standing of eat when I please with humans as the main course," Celio replied sarcastically.

"You're one noisy midget."

Celio huffed angrily. "Who you calling midget you witch?" He gritted out.

"Hush Celio, I think he's doing something," The Denizen remained silent at the order of his contractor.

The mysterious rider pulled out an arrow from the quiver at the side of the saddle and stringed up his bow. For several long moments, the rider remained that way. He then released the bow string, the arrow flying into a tree quite a distance away as something fell from it. Mathilde and Christophe chased the rider as he rode off in that direction, hiding behind bushes and trees to mask their presence. They watched their mysterious rider jump off the horse and grab the fallen item.

"Indeed, this activity certainly outdoes my sister's chatter over men," A soft voice spoke, the fallen item, an apple, being tossed about in the other hand. "Unfortunately, if I hunt a deer and come back bloody, they will reprimand me for it, again."

"I knew it was a girl," Mathilde said joyously in a hushed tone.

"Sure you did, witch," Celio commented sarcastically. Mathilde glared at the blue ring.

"Stop it you two," Christophe gritted out. "It's getting too noisy to hear what she's muttering about."

Just then, she pulled the hood off, revealing the delicate features of their target. Her pink tresses were tied up in a neat bun as a tiara sat elegantly at the crown of her head. Her bright red eyes glared at the apple in her hand as she bit into it with a vengeance. She trotted back to her mount to pull a book out from the saddle bag and settled herself comfortably against a nearby tree.

"She really sounds irritated," Mathilde said bluntly.

"Stop saying the obvious. The important thing we should note now is that she is not suitable."

"Why not," Those shocked red orbs stared into his own blue ones.

"The tiara is a sign of royalty. No one would give up their lavish life for a life like ours."

Mathilde considered the statement for a moment. "But we won't know if we don't ask."

Christophe paled. "You're not serious about the asking part, are you?"

"Well, we could infiltrate the palace, get to know our target better and then decide if she's a good candidate," The stare she was being given was not the least bit comfortable, if awkward. "Besides, it'll be fun, so no harm in trying her out, is there?"

"Alastor, talk some sense into this woman."

"Hmm, there is reasonable argument in both options. What do you think Celio?"

"Well, I would usually agree with Christophe, but in this situation of picking candidates, I see no reason why we cannot stick around. Perhaps we may even find others more suitable than this young lady in the future time we remain here."

Mathilde produced a cat-like smile. "Good choice, and to think even the midget can say such wise things."

"Who are you calling a midget?" The Denizen had quite forgotten that they were not the only ones there.

"Who's there?"

"Oops," Celio realized his err.

"Too late for that now," Christophe muttered.

"Run!" Mathilde grabbed Christophe's arm as they made a dash for it. They stopped when they were sure the other girl wouldn't catch up to them. "Wow! That was fun, let's do it again."

"Alastor, what kind of person did you pick as a contractor? She's insane," Christophe muttered exasperatedly, panting heavily from the running.

"I have no comment on that matter," Mathilde laughed haughtily at hearing Alastor's answer.

"Comes to show how great I am, ne?" Christophe rolled his eyes in irritation.

"She's got an ego the size of her, you know what," Her expression turned deadly at Celio's random comment.

"You're one perverted little midget, aren't you," Celio could only laugh nervously at that.

"I didn't think you'd understand my meaning."

"Pity, I do understand."

"All the more is the pity," Christophe wondered how he ever came across such acquaintances, but he wasn't complaining, not really.

"What are we to do now? If we're going to infiltrate the castle, we'd best do it before nightfall."

"Point taken, so, I can be a maid and Christophe can be a man wanting to join the army's ranks. You'd fit in nicely."

"You as a maid... Doesn't that sound nice? Maid Mathilde, or witch maid, or maid Omer, which one sounds nicer Chris?"

"You'd best stop while you're ahead Celio," Mathilde warned.

"I will go and sign up now. You'd best make your request to join as well," The Flaming Hunter nodded in agreement before they parted ways.