CHAPTER ONE: AZALEA

"They say if you receive a black vase full of azaleas, it's a death threat."


"What will happen if I fail?" a young woman asked, her voice calm but hinted with slight worry.

"Then we kill you to prevent you from becoming an abomination." Her templar companion replied in a way that made the female look to her feet with a dull look.

"Well, don't hold back with the reassurance now, good Ser."

"Hmph, I'll try to make it hurt less than I intend." He stated coldly after a scoff could be heard from behind his mask. Not seconds later she felt the air get chillier and vaguely she wondered if she just made things worse. Probably. To a templar even a simple sneeze was enough to brand a mage as an abomination which gave them the ability to kill them freely without much friction from other parties. It was the destroying a possible threat, they would say, it had nothing to do with fear at all. No matter the case the mage was always the bad guy and everything they did was a crime.

Even living was a crime against nature.

"Well, I suppose I should at least thank you for the thought. Even if it wasn't much of one." She said then but all the templar did was give a low gruff much comparable to an ox.

Quietly the two wandered down the grand hall of the circle tower, eyes ever vigilant on what lay before them. Not a single soul was in sight as the templar and his mage ward made their way to the top of the spiraling tower. The woman rarely spoke to the templars and for good reason at that. Such serious mage-haters didn't approve of being teased by one and she valued her days of living as much as the next person, even if they were spent only reading books and longing to be free. A simple and unlucky life but that was the will of the Maker and they had to abide by it. Of course there were always those who defied the Maker and his chantry and became apostates but that was too much of an exciting life in her eyes. Any day she'd rather take her books and longings over being on the run forever or worse, dead. Even right now was as much excitement as she wanted. Despite her calm aura she was beyond nervous for now, right now, she was going to take her Harrowing. Every young mages worst nightmare.

Most mage apprentices successfully went through with it while others who had the most unfortunate of luck didn't make it. Those who were too afraid of it were made tranquil and quite frankly that wasn't much of an option. They looked placid and perhaps even at peace with their "life" but they were beyond eerie. Most people didn't enjoy being around them and made sure to stay as far away as possible but in this girl's case she felt sorry for them rather than afraid. From afar she would watch them and wonder just how it was that some wished to be that way. They were so lifeless, so full of nothingness. Even though the life at the circle wasn't very fulfilling it still was a life and with life came many reasons to live. To want it all gone out of fear was just... perplexing really. It kept her up some nights trying to find some reason behind such choices.

Suddenly the two came to a pair of large doors and almost immediately they were opened to reveal a bunch of people waiting patiently. It was a bit daunting especially with all of the templars around.

"If it were a party," the young lady began as she wandered closer, staring at everyone with a bit of a smile curling her lips. "I would have dressed a little nicer or brought some cake. Now I just feel rude."

"A mage with a smart mouth. How nice."

The girl needn't turn her head to know whose lips those words left. Knight-Commander Meredith had little tolerance for mages, even more so than the templar who just accompanied her here, and despite how daunted she was the girl couldn't help but smile still. Her way of dealing with nerves was to pretend everything was all right and make light of it. Besides, it looked like the room needed to be lit up a little anyway. It was so dark and dreary it was a surprise that strange fungi didn't grow about everyone.

"Ah, young Rose. You must forgive the Commander, we're all a little nervous. The Harrowing can be a trying thing."

The girl turned then to see the First Enchanter staring at her. The elven man looked sympathetic and as she stare at him she found herself losing her thoughts. Only occasionally had she seen the man, once did she ever converse with him, and that in itself was no more than a few words. He was a busy man and rarely did he have time to speak with lowly apprentices like her. However that didn't stop the girl from admiring him from afar.

But as they held one another's eye among the group of templars who waited patiently to start her Harrowing she began to laugh. It wasn't a loud laugh, just a low and quiet thing almost that of a chuckle but still a laugh nonetheless. Those around them turned to look at the laughing mage in a strange way, confused by this sudden outburst of emotion. The Harrowing chamber was the last place someone laughed and in response the first enchanter stared at her a bit unsure of what to say or do. Thankfully she spared him by explaining herself seconds later.

"I'm not Rose," she said, her expression soft and sympathetic as her eyes danced upon the man before her. "I'm Lavender."

His eyes grew slightly wide as he became nervous. Awkwardly he began to apologize for his mistake and began to tell her how sorry he was for getting her name wrong. However he was once again confused by her sudden laughter but this time it was a little more amused than last.

"Oh, it isn't Lavender either it's actually Rosy. I just wanted to see what you would do. Call it... repayment for getting my name wrong?"

"You're a cruel lady," he answered in response, calming down then as a smile curled his own features. "I fear for whatever demon you'll encounter in the fade."

"Speaking of demons and the fade," Meredith's irritated voice cut in then "I would suggest we get this over with, Orsino."

"Yes, you're right. Come now, let us see if you're quick wit will see you through the fade."

The two mages wandered toward the bowl and the girl's rain colored eyes stare at the glowing light. It was an intriguing and intense color that Rosy found herself being distracted by. She nearly missed the entire explanation staring at the bowl. However the Enchanter's voice kept her from completely disappearing into her thoughts and even perhaps disappearing into the clutches of fear. It may not have appeared in such ways but currently at this moment she was terrified of what should happen during this secretive test.

"Now don't be afraid. You will face a demon and it will try to coerce you into a deal but prove to us that you have the will to prevent yourself from becoming an abomination and you will be able to call yourself a true mage of this circle. Just have faith and -"

"We're running out of time, first enchanter." Meredith hissed, cutting the man off with an irritated reminder.

Rosy's eyes flicked from the bowl to her enchanter and he nodded his head in her direction. "All right I believe it is time, as the Commander insists."

Together they walked over towards the bowl and with one last look at one another the female braved the glowing liquid. Her long fingers traced the surface and as they dipped into it and cupped a little in her hand, her eyes began to grow heavy. Before they closed entirely the last thing she saw was the blue and felt someone's hands catch her. It was a soft but firm clutch that lulled her into the waves of sleep.

The first thing that was different had been the smell.

It no longer smelled of rain or damp soil but rather salt and a faint hint of flowers. The young female's eyes moved beneath her eyelids and seconds later they opened to stare up at the strange sky. The fade was a difficult place to comprehend and always she felt herself uneasy while being there. Of course now that she was partaking in her Harrowing it was even more difficult to deal with. And as she removed herself from the ground, she let a sigh escape her lips while her eyes traced her surroundings.

Quickly getting a move on Rosy began to search the place. The path looked pretty straightforward and in silence she followed it. Of course she kept her guard up and wits about her but still she knew it wasn't enough. The Fade was dangerous but there were also good things about it, she had heard. Good spirits who would help her but in the back of her mind she vaguely wondered if they would help her or if they could be trusted. Somebody always wanted something, good or ill. And spirits always, always, always wanted something regardless of their alignment.

Still as she walked the smell of flowers and salt had become more potent. Almost sickening in a way with just how dense of a smell it was. The strange surroundings had finally begun to look like something and for a moment as she stood to try and make it out she began to realize it was a place she had been familiar with as a little girl before her time at the circle began.

"Lovely place, isn't it?" Something asked and her eyes flicked towards a creature among a vast array of flowers.

"A suitable word to describe it I suppose, for the Fade that is." she answered with a smile but watched the being with careful guard. The person looked normal with normal brown eyes and normal brown hair with a normal welcoming smile but underneath that something seemed... quaint, for the lack of a better word. Still she smiled at the woman that stood among her flowers who held out a hand to beckon Rosy closer.

"Are you here for your Harrowing, sweet child?" the woman asked then as Rosy inched closer by one foot length daring not to get closer nor openly refuse just yet. She wanted to see just how far this creature would go out of her way to keep her around.

"I believe you already know the answer." the girl responded as they stare one another in the eye. The other woman looked no older than twenty-five or so and despite her rather plain features they were pretty in a way. Alluring almost.

For just a moment the creature looked away and for a moment Rosy too looked around. She didn't move her head, just her eyes, in order to make sure it was just them for right now. Maker only knew what would happen should the circumstances turn unfortunate with the arrival of another demon looking at her as small prey. Still her eyes quickly returned to her company only to find she was holding a black vase full of the same beautiful pink flowers that grew abundantly on the ground.

"Would the sweet child like a gift?" she asked and extended her arms out, offering with the utmost of innocence.

But as Rosy stare she felt her lips curl upright in response. "I know it's wrong to refuse such a beautiful gift, and I assure you those azaleas are beyond lovely, but I don't accept death threats. Forgive me if I turn such offers away."

For a moment the girl nearly believed the act of pain that the other woman feigned. She pulled her gift back slowly, eyes a little glossy as her lips quivered slightly. Rosy kept her stance though and watched with strange intrigue as tears threatened to fall down the woman's cheeks. However the fact she quickly dropped the vase and let the smashed pieces nestle among the beautiful toxic pink plants indicated she had been right to not accept. "Alright clever child, tell me, how is it you plan on returning home? I know you desire to return home, to wait for your parents, hoping they return to you."

Suddenly no longer feeling as smart Rosy began to feel a tight knot in her stomach. The woman's chocolate eyes danced with a sudden power as the young mage felt her one and only secret lay broken and exposed between the two. Realizing that the smell of salt that lingered in the air was that of the ocean that her home lay on the coast of. As a child the ocean and the smell of it connected her to her parents.

"The circle is my home now," she replied then, firm with no smile on her lips but still watching her every move. "and I plan on returning to it once this is over with."

Now Rosy would have gone and walked away from this knowing trouble was ahead, but that's if she could have. Suddenly this woman began to laugh and it was a deep and haunting sound the resonated through the soul like a plague. There were warning signs going off everywhere but the girl found herself finding it extremely difficult to leave. There was something compelling about her that drew Rosy in, that ensnared her. The brown-eyed woman's laugh became a purr-like sound as she neared the girl and gently let her fingers entwine pieces of the little mage's ink black hair.

"I can offer you a way to go home, to your real home." she whispered gently into her ear "I can give you a way to go to your parents."

For a moment Rosy let herself get lost in that thought. The last thing she remembered about her parents had been the garden her mother had and the fish her father would catch. A simple life with simple things, much unlike the hard trials of the circle with it's constant troubles from the templars and the people who backed them out of fear. A quick moment she thought to her elder sister and the times they would play in their mother's garden and wait for the evening when their father would return with supper.

For just a moment, she wanted that peace and serenity back.

"I..." she began, tongue becoming heavy as her limbs numbed.

"Go on, say it," the other woman purred "Tell me you want to go back and I will give it to you."

"I...will not be your toy."

Breaking away and moving as far away as possible broke whatever spell that the demon put up. The creature glowed and like leaves on trees her skin fell off and rotted the ground beneath her. The flowers withered away leaving nothing but a strange purple-skinned demon looking a little hurt and amused in it's wake.

"Such a shame, really. You were so close to your dreams."

Rosy's features lit back up to their usual happy state as the thing spoke.

"I've been told before that I'm a cruel lady. I suppose it's true?"

The demon merely twisted it's features in a bored way and with such quickness it vanished. It was a fast thing, the way the demon had come and gone. For a moment Rosy wondered if it were truly over and among the strange nothingness the girl stared off into the sky. But then, just then, she closed her eyes and darkness was hers.

The ground had been cold and stirring slightly her eyes reopened to reveal that she was back in the real world with the Harrowing Chamber slowly coming into focus. Stiff and slightly out of it she merely lay on the ground struggling to awaken fully.

"There there, don't strain yourself. You're all right." a familiar voice said and to her right she turned to see the first enchanter coming to her side with a few templars in tow.

"Is she possessed?" one of those templars questioned.

"No, it's just her, thank the Maker." Orsino responded as he helped the sleepy Rosy up. "She's just a little tired from her encounter in the Fade, that's all. We should take her back so she can rest."

A groggy smile lifted her lips as she leaned into him due to weak legs. Her eyes were still a little heavy from just waking but she could clearly see the man's happy facial features as they gazed at one another.

In the back of her mind she couldn't help but to think of how lovely he had looked.

He really did have a lovely smile.