Author's Notes: Well, I'm back form my vacation! It was a lot of fun—I'm glad I went. So many experiences…I'll never forget it ^.^ As for Arelle…I have great plans for it! I've already partially planned out the next big storyarch thingy. I'm still deciding whether I'll stick another long storyarch on the end of this Saga, which would probably make it a little over 20 chapters, or if I should do something smaller. Well, I'm still working out the details, but it's a lot of fun thinking about it.
I just want to say that I really really really really appreciate all the people sticking with Arelle! I know several updates have been missed lately, and I know Arelle is only normally updated once a week as it is, but I'm trying my best. I know I'm not doing that great, but at least I'm trying. And I'm so so so so so grateful to those who have read Arelle, and ESPECIALLY to those who have left feedback! I really appreciate it. You guys make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside ^.^ Thank you so much!
Have a great week! Enjoy the chapter!
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"But first of all, you have to decide on a class—then you can get a teacher or guild from that class and learn all the spells of the class. Have you decided what class you want to be, Arelle?" Lilliah asked.
Arelle paused. She looked at Lilliah, smiling. "Cleric…of course!"
The next week passed very pleasantly for Arelle. When she asked Moren if he could be her mentor and teach her in the ways of the Cleric, he had been very excited. At first he had questioned her on it—if she was really ready and willing to be a Cleric, and not just doing it because he was one. She had to choose her own path to follow, he had said. But she had told him. She had told him how badly she longed to be a Cleric—to be able to help those in need with her powers. That's what she had always wanted. What could be better than saving someone's life with your own power?
After he had heard her out, he was convinced of her dedication and agreed to be her mentor. He hid it well, but Arelle could tell he was very excited. Of course, he wasn't half as excited as she was. This is what she had always wanted! To be a great Magic User like her legendary grandfather, Asheetino—to bring honor to the Mah'Alimah name while doing what she loved for most—helping others. No greater joy could she find then helping those in need. To be useful—to have a place—these are what she always wanted. She would do any kind of tough training for this. She would spend endless years for this. This is what she wanted to be, and once she had set her mind on it, there was no way anyone could've convinced Arelle to be anything but a Cleric.
Of course, Arelle was exasperated when she had her first Cleric-in-training lesson with Moren, where she realized that just as when she had first come to Moren to learn magic, they were now learning the very basics of being a Cleric. How frustrating! Just when she had mastered her magic, and now she back at basics again. These long lessons, just taking in information and learning basic principles—they were as boring as Lore class was when she lived in Felwithe. But although Arelle disliked the basics so much, she was so determined to become a great Cleric that she tried her best to ignore her annoyance and just listen and learn. This is what she had to learn to become a Cleric—there was no way to skip it! She would bear it, and become a magnificent Cleric. Her determination would pull her through any difficulties. And there would be more difficulties than just having to sit through a boring class, that's for sure!
"And so, now you know some of the basics of the Clerics. We'll end here since it's getting close to dark, and I see your attention wavering," Moren said, smiling at Arelle, who sat on the ground, her head drooping slightly, eyes half closed.
Arelle shot up. "I was paying attention!" she exclaimed defensively.
Moren chuckled. "Yes, yes…you just looked like you were taking a little nap," he said jokingly.
She glared at him jokingly. "Well, I may have looked asleep, but I was just resting my eyes. I've taken in everything you've said. See, ask me anything about what you've said, and I can tell you," she challenged.
"All right, all right! Let's just let it pass. I'm starving, and I can smell Lilliah's cooking all the way out here…" he said, rubbing his stomach as if he hadn't eaten in weeks.
"Ah-ha! Now we find the true reason you want to quit for the day, eh? I should have known smelling Lilliah's cooking must have been the real reason," Arelle accused, a smile at the corner of her lips.
"Ok, ok! So I'm hungry! It's getting late anyway, let's quit and go eat. Come on, you don't really want to keep studying when the food is ready and waiting for us, do you? We wouldn't want to keep Akinen and Lilliah waiting," Moren said.
Arelle giggled as she stood up. "Well, if you put it like that…"
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Arelle stepped into the clearing where they were camped and smiled. Sitting by the fire, resting on the hilt of his sword, was Drahkin.
"Drahkin! You've returned," Arelle said.
Drahkin smiled as he got up, facing Arelle. "Greetings, maiden. I have indeed returned for a little, to trespass on your gracious hospitality once again," he said smiling.
After saving Arelle from Respitas and the Cutthroats, Drahkin had stayed with them for a day or so and then returned to Felwithe to get his bounty for Respitas. Arelle hadn't been expecting to see him again so soon—only a week after he had left. Well, it was ok, because she was discovering the more she was around him, the more she began to trust him. She had had a bad impression of him at first, but Arelle knew he had a good heart. He was like her uncle Akinen—he had a good heart, it was just covered by a rough exterior.
"It's good to see you've returned. How long are you staying this time?" Arelle asked.
"Only for the night, maiden, then I fear I must go," he said.
"But look what he brought us, Arelle," Lilliah said, suddenly bringing attention to herself. She gestured to the pie on the small wooden table and the pork roasting over the fire. "Isn't it nice to have someone bringing us goods from Felwithe?"
Arelle smiled. "Indeed it is," she said.
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Arelle sighed as she fell onto the matted ground, turning to look at the top of the tent. It had been a very good supper, and afterwards, she had become so involved in a conversation with Drahkin and Moren, she had stayed up later into the night, making her very sleepy now that she lay down on her mats. She glanced over at Lilliah, who was already in a deep sleep, breathing heavily. Arelle watched her as she took heavy breaths in and out and watched as her expressions changed in her sleep. A rather unhappy expression was plastered on her sleeping face, which Arelle found unusual, considering what a happy-seeming person she was. Was Lilliah having a bad dream?
Arelle rolled to her side to get a better look at Lilliah.
"Upsilon…" Lilliah muttered in her sleep, her brows furrowed.
Arelle looked at Lilliah in surprise. Upsilon? Who was that? Someone from her past, perhaps?
"Upsilon…Don't leave…don't leave…me…" Lilliah said drifting off so that the last part was nearly unintelligible.
Arelle stared at Lilliah, surprised. Who was this Upsilon? Arelle tried never to dig up unpleasant pasts, so she really didn't know much about Lilliah. Still, now she was really curious about this Upsilon person.
Arelle sighed, rolling onto her back. She tried to push the thought from her mind—it would do no good to think about it. If it was important, Lilliah would tell her about it when she felt it was right. If it wasn't important, Arelle really didn't need to know, anyway. She shouldn't pry. Arelle sighed, closing her eyes. She wondered what she would learn about Clerics in tomorrow's lessons…
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Drahkin turned on his side, staring into the dark forest. As much as he wanted to, he could not sleep. He slowly sat upright, glancing at Akinen and Moren, who were both sound asleep now, resting by the dim fire. Drahkin turned and looked at the tent where Arelle and Lilliah were. They were no doubt fast asleep by now, as well. Still, his eyes gazed at the tent, as if inside were something special to him—part of his past.
"My dear sister Linnira…Though every day I push the past from my mind and concentrate on living the present, at night the past becomes clear and vivid. Especially when I see her face—Arelle. She reminds me so much of you…" Drahkin said, sighing, looking down.
"I promised Mother…" he went on, "I promised Mother I would protect you. And I did. But foolishness blinded me. I made so many mistakes. Mistakes that cannot be mended. I lost Mother and Father, but I still had you. I lived for you. I lived to protect you, to keep you safe. Why did I leave you so foolishly? A treasure I valued as my life, and I left you unprotected.
"I'm supposed to be able to handle it now. I've faced my past, and I say I've overcome it. Yet even now, it haunts me. Oh, Linnira…Is it your ghost that huddles above me, filling my mind with the painful past, or is it just the regret and guilt that's built up for so many years that haunts me every day?" he ended, staring into the dying embers of the camp fire.
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Ah-ha! We finally get to find out more about Drahkin and Linnira. Drahkin's gonna have a big part coming up soonish. A whole storyarch devoted to him, just like the last one was basically Akinen's. Oh, and I forgot to mention in my Author's Notes—I have a new Poll up on the Arelle site! Go check it out! This time it's "Who's your favorite female character in Arelle?" Yes, yes, I know, it's lame. But after having a "Who's your favorite male?" I have to have a favorite female one. Plus, I'm really curious to know who are everybody's favorites. The last poll really surprised me—Akinen beat Moren! Akinen got 3, Moren 2. I can't wait to see this poll's results! To vote on the poll, click on my author name—Amai no Tenshi—above this fanfic. Check the bottom of my Bio for the linky. Thanks!
Blue the Echidna: Poor Moren, he needs much hugs. Ha! I know she wouldn't leave! Hehe can't wait for more of the story. :)
Amai's Reply: Aww, poor Moren…I agree he needs a hug—a hug from Arelle! Wee! Err…*clears throat* ANYway… Thank you for the review ^.^ Thanks for sticking through Arelle, even through my tardiness and lack of updates!
DEbig3: i absolutely hate coming across stories like this.. i end up spending an hour or two reading it, then i run out of chapters, and realize that im doomed to checking back every week to finish it.. great writing, pretty engrossing stuff..
as for the screwed up sleep schedule, waking up at 11am is nothing, i dont go to sleep until then sometimes ;)
Amai's Reply: Wee! A new reviewer! I'm so glad to hear from you. I know what you mean—I hate it when you come to the end of a great story and realize you'll have to keep checking back for updates. ESPECIALLY when you're just clicking the "next" button and don't see the end coming, and then suddenly you run out of 'next' buttons and realize that's the last chapter they've written! Ah, such a terrible thing… ^.^ Well, I can't really write up the rest of Arelle for you to read right now, but at least I can say that Arelle at least updates once a week! Thanks for all the compliments—it's really encouraging to hear you say that! This kind of review is what makes me really happy I started Arelle ^.^ As for your messed up sleep schedule—I must admit defeat as far as really messed up sleep schedules go! But it's cool to meet other people who have messed up sleep schedules… Who wants to be normal, anyway? ^.^ Thank you so much for your review! I really appreciate it ^.^