First Fanfic evah, yays! Enjoy.

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CHAPTER ONE: "A Cheerleader"

"That's all the guy is right?" Sahnk laughed in his speech, soon to be accompanied by the other warriors training with him. The head of the spear that Kemah had just thrown smashed into the ground ten feet from the bull's-eye target down range. His hand was trembling at what he overheard; with surprise, fear, doubt, shame, fury…? He did not quite know. There was a very blank stare plastered upon the Paragon's visage as he remained somewhat bent over after his last throw. Slowly, Kemah assumed regular posture and without changing his facial expression, tore the crest that adorned his forehead from its place. He looked deeply at it with the same expression he had been wearing for a few minutes now.

"This grants me power… yet it's made from glittering dust—GLITTERING DUST, DAMNIT!" Kemah's fist violently closed around his crest amidst another hearty raucous behind him, no doubt raised from another joke about his profession… his life.

"A Warrior! Now that's what a true Sunspear is!" Sahnk declared with a sword slash that decapitated the training dummy he was working on. With it, yet another round of yells and cheers erupted from his companions. From across the grounds in Churrhir Fields, Kemah felt that he had trained enough for the day. It was not long after slipping past his persecutors that the dejected Paragon wandered through the main gates into Kamadan; Kamadan: the Jewel of Istan. Yet all the splendor of the bronze stones that it was built from nor the magnificent harbors holding ships going to and fro distant lands could inspire any feeling within him. It was then he met up with a long-time friend.

"Kemah!" a familiar voice shouted from the crowd bustling to the side of him. The Paragon's head immediately perked up and turned to face his caller. "Kemah, what's going on? You looked a little down from over there."

"'A little down' seems to cover about half of it," Kemah answered mildly, still reeling from what he had overheard.

"I know what could cheer you up, how about getting some lunch? My treat! I just got my military stipend for the month." A smile snuck onto Kemah's face as he agreed.

"Amai, you always seem to be just what I need." The Mesmer smiled happily.

________________________________________

The Sunspear pair directed themselves towards an open-air café hugging the wall that surrounded Kamadan. After their orders were taken, Amai barely had a choice but to ask the question. "So what's wrong, Kemah?"

"I… I overheard some of the other Sunspears talking about me while I was in Churrhir Fields."

"Overheard what?"

"Lieutenant Sahnk."

"And his cronies?"

"Oh, yes."

"Well… first off, this can't be good, but I suppose I need some more specifics."

"He was insulting Paragons again, specifically me."

"Oh, Kemah…"

"No!" Kemah punched the stone table they were seated at. He raised his fist to discover that he was bleeding… and that the table had a small crater. His eyes became very blank again as he glanced at his hand.

"Kemah, you can't let things like that get to you," Amai said softly while pulling out a handkerchief and wrapping a very indifferent looking Kemah's hand. "You know how many times people make fun of me for trying to slay large beasts with no back-up by using something like Empathy? I absolutely need assistance when fighting otherwise I could easily get hurt… and you're the kind of person that often comes and helps me out." She realized that her hand was still holding Kemah's. Quickly retracting it, she continued, "We all have a purpose. You just can't let things like that get you, promise?"

Kemah remained silent and moved handkerchief covered hand back down to his side. "I know, I know. But… he's right you know."

"Kemah!"

"No! He's right!" the paragon looked up at her with eyes full of fury and shame. "What do I do? I go out behind people like Sahnk and yell commands… maybe throw a few spears, but nothing else! Sahnk's right… I'm a cheerleader." His head slowly sank down with his shoulders.

"Kemah, you can't see yourself like that! I don't see you like that!" Amai frantically encouraged her teammate.

"Then… what do you see me as?" Kemah asked quietly raising his head up slightly.

"I…,"

"I see you as a guy who has puts wa-a-ay, too much stock into what other people think of him." Kemah and Amai both turned to the table behind them to see another of their Sunspear comrades. "You know that you're the best of the best when it comes to the Paragons in our ranks, and you have a purpose on the battlefield that no one else can fill," the Ritualist said to the pair, looking at them through the band covering his eyes.

"Syuushin! See, Kemah, he's got my back!" Amai chimed in.

"Thanks guys, but… I—I dunno."

"Enjoy your meal, you two," the waiter said upon his arrival. The plates clinked down onto the stone tabletop to greet a worried Mesmer and a Paragon who had clearly already lost his appetite.

As the waiter moved out of earshot, Amai leaned into to continue the conversation. By now, Syuushin had moved to their table as well. "This isn't just about your importance on the battlefield is it?" Kemah remained silent. After a short silence of her own, Amai spoke again, "What made you want to be a Paragon?"

Kemah bit his lip, "Maybe… maybe it was because of all the legends I heard when I was a boy… about Sologon and the Paragons that guarded the Primeval Kings, ya know? All that. Maybe it was because my father was a Paragon… at least that's what my mother would always tell me. Hell, for all I know he could have been an elementalist."

"Kemah, why would your mother lie to you?" Syuushin asked almost laughing at the absurdity.

"I don't know!" Kemah shot back, "Maybe, I'm just regretting my choice in life."

"What else… what else would you have done?" Amai asked sheepishly.

"I dunno. It seemed like the military was my only way out," Kemah sighed. "My mother was having enough trouble supporting my mother and little sister with our father gone. I had no real schooling or way to make any money. And after I had enlisted, they asked for any specialties I had. I told them that I didn't really have any and to put me where ever they needed me to be. They said they were a little short in new recruits for the Paragon Corps so… I'm a Paragon now."

"And a damn good one," Syuushin smirked with a thumbs up.

"Kemah, everyone has a place in life," Amai began again. "You were put here for a reason. All of our lives would be completely different if you weren't here. For better or for worse, I haven't the slightest clue, but you're here and… and I'm glad about it."

The paragon lifted his head slowly and again, a smile crept across it. Bright eyed once more, he looked gratefully at his friends, "Thanks, guys." A soft rumbling could be heard from beneath Kemah's armor. "Well, I guess I have my appetite back," he said with a slight blush. The friends laughed in each others' valued company for a bit before Syuushin jumped in.

"And we all know that that Lieutenant Sahnk is a pretty big prick!"

"Ha-ha! A rather accurate description!" laughed Kemah in agreement.

Syuushin resumed, "Yeah! For all I care, he can take that sword of his and shove it up his—!"

"Syuushin!" scolded Amai.

"—Leg!"

Kemah and Amai both looked at Syuushin rather awkwardly and then at each other. They all grinned widely and shared in another good laugh before starting their lunch.

A/N: So… yup… feel free to comment… in fact, doing so would be awesome-sauce. Also, since I'm in college, my life is eaten by homework and the like. I have part of the story already done and I'll try to release it every few days or so… maybe a week… dunno. Anywho, just if it gets to be a long wait, blame higher education, not me. :D