It was a quiet night in Velderah as Te'ijal landed firmly on her feet in the midst of the city square. Not a light was to be found, signaling that she was safe to be wandering around without her cloak. Without delay, she started through the city streets, making her way towards the nobles quarter of the city. She couldn't help but let out a small giggle at the fact that Mel was living among the snobby nobles that she had despised for so long. Not only that, but she was now technically one of them. Oh, the fates and their irony!

It didn't take long to find the right house, as it was the very farthest of them all. Not only that, but there was a pink-haired darkling sitting on the roof, keeping watch. It was Mel's personal darkling servant, Yemite, if she recalled correctly. No sooner had the darkling noticed her, she flew down from her perch.

"Ah, Lady Te'ijal! It is good to see you again!" Yemite greeted her excitedly. "Master Gyendal has mentioned you quite frequently as of late. I believe he misses you."

Te'ijal raised a brow at that statement. Her brother missed her? "Somehow I find that hard to believe," she stated. He wouldn't just miss her for no reason. There had to be something more behind it. "Regardless, there is a matter I wish to discuss with him. Is he awake?"

Yemite shrugged. "I am not certain, but I shall go check."

The darkling disappeared into a puff of smoke, leaving Te'ijal standing there in front of the door. She was half-tempted to just let herself in and surprise her brother, but she decided against it as she didn't want to annoy him too much.

After a few moments, Yemite returned. "Master Gyendal will meet you in his study," said the darkling, reaching up to open the door for her. "Come with me."

Te'ijal followed the darkling inside, through the living room and into her brother's study. As always, the walls were lined with rows and rows of books, a collection of his that had been amassed over the centuries. And in the center of the room was a huge mahogany desk with a big chair.

Seeing it, she couldn't resist the urge to make herself at home, sitting down in the chair and kicking her feet up onto his desk. She could see why Gyendal would like it. There was something about a big fancy desk and chair that made a person feel powerful and important.

"Are you purposefully trying to make my life miserable, sister?" Gyendal asked as he stormed into the room dressed in nothing but a red robe, his long black hair messed up from sleeping.

"Well, it seems that somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed," she teased. "Human or Vampire, you're still a grump when you don't get your beauty sleep."

Gyendal rolled his eyes, dismissing Yemite with a wave of his hand as he approached Te'ijal, shoving her feet off his desk. "What do you want? I take it you didn't come just to visit."

"Quick to get to the point, as usual, I see. I always liked that trait about you," she complimented him. "You're right. I've come because I need a favor of you."

"Cease your flattery and spit it out. I want to get back to bed before my daughters decide to wake up and start wreaking havoc again."

Te'ijal let out a sigh. She wasn't entirely sure how he'd react to this, or if he'd even agree in his current mood, but she had to try.

"There was an incident a couple of days ago in Thais. Cer'iq lost control of himself and nearly killed the young prince," she started to explain.

"And how does this concern me?"

"He unintentionally summoned a ring of purple fire in the process."

That certainly woke Gyendal up. His eyes widened, beaming with pride, the same pride he usually reserved towards his own children when they impressed him with their magic.

"He's a dark mage?" he asked with a bit of a chuckle. "I imagine that silly husband of yours must be trying to dig his own grave right about now."

Te'ijal rolled her eyes, ignoring the later remark. "Cer'iq wants you to train him, and is quite excited about the prospect."

Gyendal didn't make any reply at first as he appeared to be deep in thought, mulling things over. He was not one to make decisions lightly. He was always considering the advantages and disadvantages of each situation before he acted. It was part of what made him such a lethal adversary.

"I will agree to take the boy as my apprentice, teach him the basics, as well as some of my own personal tricks. In addition, I will put in a good word for him at Shadwood, so that, when the time comes, he may train at the best school there is."

Te'ijal nodded her head and was about to open her mouth to speak when he cut her off.

"However, I will request a favor from you in return," he added.

She should have known that would be the case. As fond as he was of his nephew, Gyendal was not one to do something simply out of the goodness of his heart … Well, at least not ordinarily.

"And what is it that you desire from me?"

"Immortality."

His reply didn't surprise her in the slightest, having suspected that was what he truly missed. In a way, she missed that too. She missed the good old days when the two of them would race each other across the Wildwoods and back, feeling as if they were on top of the world … Before everything had happened with the Darkthrop Prophecy … Before the infamous stakings that caused him to turn his back on humanity …

She wanted to return to that … But was it possible? By turning him back into a vampire, would she be reawakening the ruthless Lord of Twilight? She didn't want that to happen, yet at the same time, she didn't want to watch him grow old and die either. She didn't quite know what to do.

"I assume you're aware of the impact it would have on those around you."

"I have discussed it with Mel and she understands that I do not wish to remain a human. She is considering joining us when the girls are a bit older," he explained. "And of course, we would have to move, something that we have been thinking about doing anyway. Mel is less than pleased by the … neighborhood …"

She was still a bit reluctant, but upon further consideration, she decided that she might as well agree to it. He had received Mel's approval to do so, keeping in mind the well being of his twin daughters, Uma and Nox. Besides, she knew that he would just go off and find someone else to turn him back if she refused. The least she could do was spare him the shame by agreeing to do it herself. At least this way she would have some control over him as his sire if she felt he stepped out of line.

"Very well then," she relented. Rising from her seat, she stood face to face with him, extending her hand. "I will agree to your terms. Come to Thornkeep in three night's time and I will fulfill my end of the bargain by whichever method you choose."

With a nod of his head, he took her offered hand and shook it, sealing the agreement between them.

Retracting her hand, Te'ijal bid him a good night and turned to take her leave, but stopped as he spoke again.

"Thank you for your cooperation, sister," he took her hand and shook it. "I look forward to regaining the powers I have so missed these past years."

"Perhaps we can race each other through the woods once they return … for old times sake?"

Gyendal smirked, "I would like that. It's been a long time since I've beaten you at something."

She smirked back, "We shall see."

Then she was gone.