Reesa felt a shiver of excitement run cold up her spine. She stared down at her hands. Soon enough, the monk training would kick in. The morning breeze blew gently through Ascalon City. She leaned against a tree, waiting for Aria to arrive, just outside the city gate, the town crier on his perch.
She fiddled with her shirt. It was a grayish blue and made out of cotton.
Unlike most of the women in Ascalon, she wore no make-up whatsoever. Her skin was pale and white except for the blue tattoo on her head. The sides of her head were shaved, but the top was pulled into two cone-like buns on her head. Metal crescent moon-resembling objects were attached. What hair she did have was dusty brown. She remembered when she was five; they had shaved her head and tattooed it with the symbol of the monk. It wasn't as bad as the necromancer tradition. Their tattoos were on their face. She grimaced, imagining the pain. But then again, necromancers knew and welcomed the pain. That's what being a necromancer all was about.
Reesa heard footsteps nearing. She looked up to see Aria in full ranger glory. She had the traditional ranger face mask on that covered the nose and mouth. It was a nice shade of violet. And even though her mouth was hidden, Reesa could tell by the way Aria's silver eyes were twinkling that she was smiling. Reesa grinned, relief flooding through her. Aria--or Aria of the Forest as the other rangers called her--was tall and slender with a long neck and high cheek bones. Her hair went past her shoulders and fell on her back in locks of reddish-brown. Reesa at many times envied the curls. A braid went across the back of her head and was threaded with purple flowers. Her outfit of leather consisted of all shades of purple and brown. The sight of Aria was a soothing comfort on top of all the worry-filled thoughts that were built up in Reesa's chest.
"Look at you!" Aria squealed, rushing over to Reesa. "You look so much better in these clothes than your old trainer ones!"
Reesa couldn't help but smile. "You've upgraded to leather, I'm still wearing cotton," she laughed.
"And what be thy point?" Aria responded in her deepest voice. She was impersonating their elders. "Reesa Thymothe, you have no right to degrade yourself by speaking in such a way." The elders always spoke with old lingo. Both girls burst out laughing.
Suddenly the town crier called out to them. "You two! You wouldn't happen to know Aria of the Forest and Reesa Thymothe would you?"
Reesa and Aria stopped laughing. They turned to the crier.
"That is us," Reesa replied.
"Marvelous!" the crier exclaimed. "I have a message for you. Some good news, actually. Sir Tydus requests to see you two. He's in Ascalon City right near the gate."
"Please pardon me for speaking out of place, but, why does Sir Tydus want to see us?" Aria asked.
"All I know is that he's looking for you two," the crier replied. "I can't be certain as to why."
Aria and Reesa looked at each other, the confusion overwhelming. Reesa turned to the crier.
"Thank you, dear crier," she said, bowing deeply. "We are joyous to hear this news. May the gods fall in your favor." She returned to her upright position and held her head high. "We must depart now, Aria. We must not keep Sir Tydus waiting for whatever means."
"I agree," Aria answered. "Let's go see what he wants."