Orphen and company had just arrived in Malori. The city was beautiful. It was a harbor city and so boat makers were in high demand. Thier shops littered the streets. Apartments rose four stories high. Kids played in the street not knowing the trouble and corruption that could be happening around them. But the most beautiful thing about it was it's view of the sea. Totakanta was a town near a desert so Orphen had not seen much water in a while. It brought back memories of when Lycorise had won tickets on a cruise ship and he and Majic had to work while Lycorise and Cleo enjoyed themselves. In Contrast, Kevin hated the ocean. It had swallowed many of the people he cared for. To him it was a monster. But like all monsters he was not afraid of it. He hated it yes. but he was not frightened by it one bit. Majic was indifferent to the sea. It was just there. It helped to carry ships from one place to another easily and quickly. But it did make him think of ships which made him think of the time where he almost fried a ship while using a spell. The whole ship went ablaze because of him. Cleo loved the water. It brought back memories of the first time she had seen Orphen. It also calmed her. That is why on restless nights in totakanta she would walk to the only lake near there and swim. On one such night she saw Orphen for the first time atop the tower in the middle of the lake. He had looked like a hero standing on the tower with a long cloak and moon behind him. She remembered wishing at that time that he would save her from the melancholy of her town. Kevin sat atop Trigga and looked to Orphen.

Kevin: Do you plan on using a ship? If so I must try to disuade you. A dangerous storm is brewing out there.

Orphen: No. I dont plan to use one. Just gonna rest here and then go west to Hermind.

Kevin: (looking at Cleo while Orphen is not looking. He winks at her.) What a coincedence I was going that way to. Besides that, you interest me Orphen and if the invitation is still offered I would like to travel with you.

Orphen: Stay as long as you like. You interest me as well. I feel as if I know you.

Kevin: I don't think so.

Orphen: what was your master's name?

Kevin: He told me to call him Master.

Orphen: I see. Makes sense.

Kevin: That is what you have Majic call you right?

Majic: yes it is.

Orphen: It's a subject of respect ya know?

Kevin: Yes I do. I take it that Majic repects you as well.

Orphen: Let's find an inn.

Cleo: Orphen, can I go shopping?

Orphen: Do as you wish, Just don't try to con me into coming too.

Cleo: Whatever. Kevin you want to come.

Kevin: Ok

As Kevin and Cleo leave Majic spots a jealous look on Orphen's face. He smiles.

__________________________________

It had been two hours since Kevin and Cleo had gone off, and Orphen was worried. He kept thinking what if Kevin and Cleo had decided to leave him and Majic and go off for some different kind of action. He tried to fight it, but realized that it was no use fighting his mind. He still reasoned though that he just cared because of the money offered him to escort her. To reassure himself he was wrong he kept looking out the window to the stables. Trigga was still there and Orphen asumed that Kevin would not leave without his horse. The door opened and Majic stepped in.

Majic: It is three o'clock master.

Orphen: So?

Majic: Three o'clock is the time for my lessons everyday.

Orphen: Oh right. What did we work on yesterday. Oh yeah Objective.

Majic: But we did not finish because of the attack on Cleo.

Orphen: Ok. I'm gonna make up a situation and you tell me what your objective is and what spell to use.

Majic: Yes master.

Orphen: You are attacked by a school of knife fish. They attack you in a pool with you on the center island.

Majic: My objective is to kill the fish and I'll use Pinnacle of the sun.

Orphen: But knifefish attack too quickly for you to power it up much. No. The best spell was Shield of Water. That way thier attack is reflected on them and they are dazed so you can power up Pinnacle all the way.

Majic: I see. Wow Master I never would have thought of that.

Orphen: That's why your still the apprentice. Now light those candles on the table while standing against that wall.

Majic: Yes master.

Majic stood against the wall facing the candles. he held out his hand.

Majic: O fire!

Two of the four candles caught flame but it faded quickly.

Majic: No fair. The wind blew them out.

Orphen: The wind had nothing to do with it.

Orphen stepped against the wall and held his hand toward the table.

Orphen: Hand Of Pyro!

Orphen's hand began to glow an intense flaming orange. He brought the hand to his face and one by one a tiny flame grew from his fingertips. He curled the thumb into his palm so that only the four fingers remained visible then he quickly and gracefully flung the hand out and each flame left its fingertip resting place and flew forth onto each candle. Orphen kept his hand outstretched and the flames began to dance. They floated from one candle to the other as the one that was there floated to its next candle. After watching the flames dance for a while Orphen placed his arm at his side and the flames stopped dancing but still burned brightly on the candles. Orphen walked to the window that was only slightly opened and opened them the whole way. A gentle breeze entered the room but the flames were not affected. Orphen raised his hand again.

Orphen: Winds of the Hurricane!

Orphen's hands glew once again, this time a bright white. Orphen spread his hands a little wider and a intense wind flew from his hand. The wind raced towards the flames and upon touching them the flames vanished.

Majic: Wow! Master that was awesome.

Orphen: And someday you will be able to do it. _________________________________________

Kevin sighed as Cleo came out of the dressing room with the 35th dress she had tried on today. They all looked beautiful on her but that was because she was such a beautiful person. She could wear rags and still win a beauty pagent. Why couldn't Orphen see this? The one she wore now was a black skirt with just a black bra and a jacket over it.

Kevin: I am sorry, but you look like a brothel girl in that.

Cleo: I didn't like it either. But men like to see it all right?

Kevin: Some, but others like the mystery of what could lay underneath. I think Orphen likes mystery. Him being such a mysterious person himself.

Cleo: Yeah I guess. It is getting late. I'll buy these 12 that we liked and then we can go.

Kevin: Have you got enough money?

Cleo: Yes, this time my mother gave me tons of cash to go the journey.

Kevin walked out of the store and waited across the street. As Kevin watched through the window he saw that a few men in the store looked at Cleo's purse as she payed for her things. As she left they followed. Kevin Walked up to her as the guys attacked. He knocked her out of the way gently and punched the first guy in the nose. Then he kicked the second one into the store window. He raised his arms at the third and forth. Then he raised his hands higher aiming at thier heads.

Kevin: Dragon Bite!

Two dragon heads appeared near the ropes that held the store's sign up. At the same time they bit them. The ropes snapped and the sign came crashing down on the two oppurtunistic thugs.

Kevin: You alright, Miss Cleo?

Cleo: Yes. Thank you again.

Kevin: Be careful next time where you show your money.

Cleo: Let's get back to the inn.

Kevin: Ok

______________________

Kevin and Cleo walked through the door to Orphen's room. They were laughing and smiling. Orphen didn't like the looks of it. "So what they had fun. Doesn't mean anything. " His mind told him.

Orphen: You guys have been out for a long time.

Kevin: Sorry. I didn't know we had a curfew.

Orphen: You don't. So did you two have fun.

Cleo: Yeah. Lots of it. Kevin even saved me again.

Hearing of Kevin's deed made Orphen flinch visably. Once again he had not saved her and someone else had done it for him.

Orphen: How were you attacked?

Kevin: Just a bunch of guys who thought they could pick on a defenseless girl. They did not know the girl had a saviour nearby.

Orphen: I see. So you are her saviour?

Kevin: (taking a hint) Only when you are not around.

Orphen: what?

Kevin: Then I shall allow you to play the knight.

Orphen: I am a mage. Never a Knight.