The Replacement

Since the day began, it had only gotten drearier. It was gradually getting colder and any patch of blue sky there had been that morning was now gone. A black Lamborghini Diablo pulled up in front of the STN-J. Out of it stepped a young woman with long burgundy hair, and light gray eyes. Her entire outfit was made of formfitting black leather, which was long sleeved and ended about at her mid neck. Her black boots clicked on the sidewalk and her trenchcoat flapped behind her.

The woman walked into the entrance hall of the STN-J and was stopped by the doorman.

"Hello ma'am. Can I help you?" He asked looking her stunning figure over.

She pulled out a badge and showed it to him.

" My name is Ravyn. I was transferred from the STN-UK. I am to begin my work here today." She said, with a beautiful British accent.

"Ah, yes. Amon informed me that you would be coming. Wait here, I'll page Amon." He said as Ravyn nodded.

She looked around the entrance hall. It wasn't nearly as beautiful as the STN-UK's. It was actually quite dark and dreary, but it suited her well. She heard a low voice coming around the corner accompanied by a higher, more boyish voice.

"But Amon! Why are they sending a replacement for Dojima?" the higher voice said.

"Because she quit. You know that Sakaki. Besides I heard this new replacement is an Ice craft user, and is very experienced." The voice who Ravyn assumed was Amon said.

Ravyn watched as a tall man with black hair, and a shorter boy with brown hair rounded the corner and approached her.

" You must be the replacement." The tall man said. "I'm Amon, the leader of the STN-JS Witch Hunter team, and this is Sakaki…"

" Ravyn…" she offered her name in return, and held out her hand to shake his and the boy's.

"Follow us." Amon said after he shook her hand.

They walked down a long hallway and then up a flight of stairs. Amon stopped in front of a pair of glass doors. Quickly punching in a code, he led them inside. Sitting behind the desk was a middle-aged man. He stood when Ravyn walked in.

" Ah, you must be our new hunter. What is your name?" He said, with a bit of a flourish.

" My name is Ravyn." She responded.

" Have you a surname?" He asked her. She shook her head. " Ah, very well. My name is Administrator Zaizen, the leader of all STN operations in Japan."

"Nice to meet you sir." Ravyn bowed.

Zaizen sat back down at his desk. He lit a cigar and then quickly studied Ravyn.

" Amon tells me that you are an ice-craft user. I assume that is correct?" He said, lifting one eyebrow.

" It is."

" Would you care to demonstrate for us? I am a bit skeptical. After all, the last craft-user that was brought in here was barely in control of her craft." He said.

Ravyn nodded. She brushed back her burgundy hair and then lifted out her right hand, palm up. She concentrated and then particles of light began to dance on her palm and then meld together. Now there was an ice dagger levitating above her palm. Quickly she lowered her palm, but the dagger remained where it was. She glanced at the wall behind Zaizen and released the dagger with her mind. It was a blur as it flew within an inch a Zaizen's head. Then it neatly lodged itself dead center in the picture behind Zaizen.

Zaizen, Amon, and Sakaki were stunned. It was unnerving to see a user that had that much control over their craft.

"I assume that skepticism about my craft is no longer neaded?"

Zaizen nodded, and then uttered that they were dismissed.

Though he was unnerved by this new hunter, Amon didn't show it. Once again he was leading the new hunter through the halls of the STN-J. The next place they were heading was to introduce her to the rest of the team.