{Five Years Later}

"Savata, get your lazy bum up! We have got a test in ten minutes! Marysael said that if you are late, you are going to fail and you are going to have to take it again!" I groan, and am pulled out of bed by strong Amazonian arms. It was Amith, dragging me to our yearly skill assessment. She yanks my eyes open and my vision is filled by a head of platinum blonde hair pulled into a high ponytail and flashing bloody red eyes. Her eyes have darkened from the light crimson they once were to the deep red they now are. The same thing happened to Ivalis-her eyes had shifted to a dark, rich purple, much unlike their old shimmery violet. Natairi's eyes have become a dancing silver.

Running my fingers through my hair, I throw on a pale blue outfit that was sewn in the traditional Sorceress style- skimpy on the bottom and skimpier on the top. Then I run out of the room and nearly slam into Ivalis and Natairi. Though she says not a word, the rising of Ivalis' eyebrows is all I need to know she disapproves of my lateness.

"Oh, shut up. Let's just get this over with." I brush past her as she smirks with those cocky plum lips.

"I didn't even say anything."

"I don't care. You meant it." Her laugh is low and husky, sultry in the voice of a 13 year old Assassin.

Walking down the hallway, three boys join us. Me, Ivalis and Amith all smile at our respective partners. Natairi does not have a boy to smile at. I have figured that Marysael wants us to fall in love with these boys, and then have their children so that we will be tied to them. But she does not have one of Natairi. I believe she holds some grudge against Necromancers. For Ivalis she has chosen Raverto, a Barbarian, for Amith, Daquir, our Druid friend, and for me… Pav, a Paladin of the Holy Order.

The only thing we exchange is a smile. Other than that we continue in silence, the space between us growing as we near that dreaded courtyard. We throw open the door and open ourselves to a cold, unfeeling expanses of flower and stone. In the middle of it stands a white gilded throne and Marysael holds her seat there, ruling over all who oppose her. Our faces solemn, we walk to our given positions on the tile floor.

A razor-tipped smile flies across Marysael's face. My eyes narrow in response. Something is not right. That hated woman stands.

"For years I have had you train against dummies. Now you will fight each other. Chose your partners and begin." She turns, ad sit once again on her throne, an evil look upon her face. She may be an Archangel, but she most certainly isn't pure.

Pav and I turn to each other. I nod, and we both go and grab our swords. A strong sense of discord is absolutely oozing from Marysael. I will ignore her. Even though Pav is much more adept at sword-work than I am, if I lose, I will still pass. I have tested this a while ago. Even if we are horrible, Marysael will still pass us.

Pav smiles at me. It is a loving smile, one filled with warmth and compassion, but in Marysael's presence, it did nothing to affect my heart as it would usually. He nods, and we begin our deadly dance.

My sword slashes upward toward his head. He blocks it, and returns with a thrush to my midsection. On and on we fight, neither of us giving an inch. It seems to be a pretty even fight, though I know Pav was going easy on me. After a time of endless fighting and blocking and attacking, Marysael finally calls us of. Pav immediately stops. Internally I sneer at him. He was still such a good boy, still so completely under her control. But I was not.

I lunge for him once more, and nearly take his head off.

"Savata!" In Marysael's voice there is a concern so fake in sickens me. I keep my face emotionless, my eyes cold and unconcerned. She doesn't know. Even after all these years, after all this time together, she still doesn't understand.

She still doesn't know that the way she forced me to kill that dummy so long ago was the same way my mother had been murdered.

But I know. And there was no way I was going to forget it.

I looked around us. Obviously Pav and I had been the last to finish. Not surprising.

"You have all passed." No freakin' duh.

But still I cheer; still I run to Pav and hold him tight. I still act as if I am under her spell like the rest of them. Still I must act as if I were 13, young and carefree, with a heart that was still warm. But as we race to the dining hall for the normal celebratory feast, I feel watched. Stopping, I spin around. The only thing I saw that proved me right was the sight of a pair of soulless black eyes and wisp of long black hair.

I do wonder who that could be.

{The Next Year}

He joins us on our way to the courtyard for our yearly test. Immediately, we are all wary of him. There's just something about him, something dangerous that warns you away…and yet draws you in as well. Maybe it's the glint in his black eyes, or the way his black hair hangs long over his face. He searches all of our faces, finally settling on mine. He stretches out an olive skinned hand, and a grin slides across his face.

"I'm Jae. I've been in training, like you guys, since I was four. Marysael kept me separate though." I notice how his smile becomes sort of pain-filled when he mentions her name. "I've…kinda been watching you. All of you." I grasp his hand, shake, and then let go. His skin is unbelievable warm, much unlike Pav's, and soft, not at all battle-worn.

"So, what are you?" Pav speaks up. I can see anger in his eyes. Confusion spreads in Jae's.

"You know, I'm a Paladin, Savata's a Sorceress, Natairi's a Necromancer….what are you?"

"Oh." He seems to be holding a secret. "I'm….sort of a Devil." His voice grows soft and his eyes are dark and ashamed.

Well that would explain all the black.

Everyone takes a step back. Except for me. If he's here, he's part of the prophecy, which means he's good. I voice my opinion to the rest of our group, and the agree, even though Pav does not seem to like Jae very much. I turn back to him.

"Well it's nice to meet you." I smile at him, and he smiles back. He has a nice smile. It seems to light up the immediate area around us, and I feel my heart give a little jump. "I hope we can get to know each other." A shadow passes across his face.

"We'll only have a year. But I do hope I can know you as well." There is a secret hidden behind those words. If I had less controls over my emotions, I would have blushed. So he joins us on our way down, and I question him.

"How is it possible for you to be a Devil? Aren't all Devils what we're supposed to be fighting?"

His reluctance to answer made me poke him in impatience.

"Hello? Anybody home?" He laughs.

"Well my father was a Devil but Marysael took me when I was little, so I don't really know him."

"Who was he? Your father, I mean."

He remained silent. "I'd rather not say."

Confused, I let it go as we walk through the doors to the courtyard.

{One Year Later}

I found out who Jae's father is.

Diablo.

The same Diablo that we are all tasked with killing.

We also have to kill his uncles, Baal and Mephisto.

This sucks.

Today, we also found out that we are going to be leaving our sanctuary. There is a place out in the world called the Rouge Encampment. That is where we must travel to. We will be given minimal armor and weapons.

This is where Marysael leaves us.

Technically, where we leave her.

And also where we begin our fight against Diablo. Jae's father.

Let us all come out alive.