Chapter Two

As summer break came she travelled home. Pleased to see her father, she ran to his arms and realised how much she had grown.

Her eleventh birthday was spent quietly on a picnic with her father, they talked and laughed. As they packed away the remains her father spoke. "Shiama, have you read your mothers notebook yet?" Shiama shook her head. "I was too afraid to.. " He held her in his arms a moment then spoke again. "I think now is the time, your mothers' notebook contains many things she was planning to tell you when you grew older, but now.. as your elementalist powers have shown themselves it need not wait any longer." Shiama looked at her father waiting for him to continue. He smiled. "Her words will tell you better than I can, my darling daughter."

The rest of her visit was uneventful and too short, and soon she was waving goodbye from the guardrail on the boat. Her thoughts were slightly troubled as she journeyed back to the monastery, and as soon as she had a quiet moment she removed the small book from the carved chest and began to read...

" ..My darling child " it began "you are but a moment old yet I feel the magic is within you. At this moment in time I cannot tell what form it will take or when only that it is there. My own skills are small and have never come to anything but I sense that fate has more in store for you.

Shiama read the small neat handwriting until the daylight outside grew dim and she had to light a lamp. Her mother had elementalist powers too, but would hers be weak as well? Only time would tell. The notebook contained small spells, but also cautioned Shiama not to use them until she had been properly trained.

So... her life took another step forward

-oOo-

Shiama frowned, "why do I seem to get so muddled?" Alaia smiled and watched her friend. "Shiama, did you read carefully the casting times and attributes of the spells?"

"Erm, well I suppose I did skip over the details maybe too fast" Shiama picked up her textbook and checked. "Oh bother, no wonder... that spell is counteracting cos I cast it too soon." She gave a wry grin. "That will teach me not to be in such a hurry." Placing the book down she tried again and was rewarded with a certain amount of success. Alaia clapped and smiled. "Enough for today, I need to check in with Doz and Arcadia said he would help me with my new build."

At the mention of Arcadia's name Shiama asked, "may I come?" Alaia grinned. "Sure, we are meeting at the guild hall, lets go."

Shiama loved the guild hall with its dragon carvings, the bridges over the stream that lead from the waterfall to the sea, and the beach at the far end of the training grounds next to the dock. Her new friends had shown her the plunge pool area next to the dock, great for warm sunny days, no one minded if you stripped to your undies and jumped in, in fact … the more the merrier.

The two of them were greeted with enthusiasm, and the conversation soon got down to the discussion of which spells were best for which build. It was hot and Shiama had had enough, she sighed. Oh to go swimming... but the others were too busy in discussion to notice. She slipped down the steps to the stream and paddled, pulling off her tunic and leggings, she splashed happily. Alaia spied her and giggled, the guys were now discussing drill and commands, it was getting all too serious, calling down quietly to her friend she beckoned Shiama to her side and then whispered. "Oh my, should we?" Shiama asked and her friend nodded. Alaia stripped to her undies and the two girls put on guild capes and stood to attention just to one side and waited...

giggle Arcadia looked round, and laughed. Doz followed his gaze and smiled. "The hall is ours at the moment, lets join the fun." The lads stripped to their trunks and put on capes and joined the line. Realising what a strange sight that they made it was hard not to smile.

"OK" said Doz. "Now what?" At that moment guild leader Ryuu appeared and for a split second was lost for words.

"Troops ready for inspection sir!" called out Arcadia.

"I trust our underwear meets regulation sir!" Added Alaia.

Ryuu gazed at the line-up before him. Well it certainly was a first in his lifetime and he tried to hide a smile. At first glance you noticed the four youngsters, three of which were in brand new underwear, the fourth was a little more grey. "Trainee Doz, your underwear is not up to spec!"

"I've been travelling sir, they are dusty sir!" Doz quickly replied.

Ryuu noted the coloured thread used on Arcadia's garment. "Is that ladies underwear your wearing trainee Arcadia?"

Arcadia was just a quick. "Necessity sir! I got them off an old lady for 10g sir!"

(*for those of you not familiar with guildwars, elementalist underwear is white with purple trim for both male and female characters, necromancer underwear is grey)

For a split second there was silence then everyone one laughed. "Trainees, that was the funniest thing I've seen in a while." Ryuu smiled. "But now I believe its time for you to prepare for evening meal." Knowing they were dismissed, the group dressed quickly, and after taking their leave from the guild leader, headed back to the monastery.

That evening Shiama made notes on the spells and builds the others had discussed, they might come in handy. She smiled to herself as she remembered the look on the guild leaders face and thinking at that moment that they were going to be on report, but it had all turned out alright. Turning to the golden chest she took out her mothers notebook and searched for one particular spell she remembered and cross referenced it to her notes. With a feeling of satisfaction she closed both books and put them away in the chest, then prepared for bed.

-oOo-