Author's Notes: Eek! Sorry I'm so late this update, everyone! I'm so bad . The reason was, yesterday I was reeeeally busy, and so I didn't get to write much on it, which means I had to write most of it today, but with school and all...Yeah. It was tough. So, here it is, 4PM, as I upload it. I just hope, though, that FF.net doesn't take to long to publish it. I'm sorry about this...I'll try to be better!

Oh, and also, my proof-reader, Tess-san, was busy today, so this chapter was never proof-read, which means that mistakes abound in this chapter. Hopefully she can go over it later this week, and I can repost it or something, if I made any huge mistakes. Oh, and btw, I know I said I'd end Saga I with 17 chapters, but it's taking longer than I thought. I'm not sure if I'll end Saga I next chapter, or maybe the chap. after. Well, enjoy!

Arelle - Chapter 17: A Debt Repaid

(Note: Arelle is updated every Wednesday, for those who don't know)

Last time on Arelle: Drahkin, the bounty hunter who was after Akinen's hefty bounty, has vowed never to hurt Arelle, Akinen or any of their party. And then:

"Speaking of Lilliah, since when was she able to cast spells?" Akinen asked.

Arelle and Moren looked up at him wide-eyed.

"She what?!"

"What do you mean, 'since when was she able to cast spells'? She never could!" Arelle said.

"Well, lass, I don't know much about it, but I do know that she did cast a spell," Akinen said.

"That's for sure," Drahkin chuckled, rubbing the burnt spot on his stomach. "And she's quite a good Caster, for all that this burns!"

"Oh! You're wounded, aren't you? I guess we could heal you…since you promised not to kill us and all. One good turn deserves another," Arelle smiled.

"Allow me," Moren said, facing Drahkin. Moren closed his eyes and his lips moved as he silently recited a spell. As he recited it, his hair and tunic began to float upwards magically, as his hands began to give off a glistening silverish blue glow. He opened his eyes and focused on Drahkin's wound, and suddenly the wound began to heal itself. Soon there was nothing left but a faint scar.

Drahkin touched where the wound used to be and smiled at Moren. "I thank you, good Cleric," he said.

Moren smiled and nodded. "My pleasure,"

"And Lilliah did that?" Arelle asked, looking at the faint scar on Drahkin's stomach. "I thought she was a Barbarian Warrior!"

"As did I," Akinen said. "When we knew each other, I don't think the lass had those powers—she was just a Warrior, as far as I knew."

"Well, let's go ask her ourselves," Arelle said, heading towards the camp.

********

Lilliah turned from the wooden bowls she was pouring full of stew to Arelle, Akinen, and Moren who were coming out of the forest. When she saw Drahkin with them she flinched slightly.

"Hello, everyone," she said as they drew nearer.

"Hello, Lilliah," Arelle said, facing her. Arelle saw Lilliah looking at Drahkin, and hurried to explain. "This, as you might have heard, is Drahkin Mah'Cahlk. He's umm…Joining us for supper…" Arelle said.

Lilliah cocked an eyebrow at Arelle. "He's what?"

"Well, he's joining us for…supper," Arelle said.

"Didn't he just try to kill Akinen? Isn't he a bounty hunter?" Lilliah said.

"Yes, well, he said he gave up on Akinen's bounty. Oh, and he promised not to hurt us," Arelle said.

Lilliah stared back and forth between Arelle and Drahkin. "Very well," she replied, taking an extra bowl out of the tent and pouring some stew in it.

The tension was intense as everyone sat down at the campfire. Lilliah obviously had something against Drahkin, and Akinen didn't seem too fond of him, either. Likewise, Drahkin seemed to be somewhat less kind to Akinen and Lilliah, though Arelle was surprised he wasn't acting worse, considering he had just called Akinen a "dirty rogue", and Lilliah had scorched his stomach with her flames.

Arelle laughed to herself thinking of the situation. What an odd predicament—they were eating supper with the very man who had just tried to kill her uncle! How'd they get in this situation?

"Well, I suppose we completely missed our lessons today, Arelle," Moren said, sighing.

Arelle sighed as she realized he was right. "That's true," she said. "I suppose we'll have to start again in the morning."
"Lessons?" Drahkin asked.
"I'm a Cleric-in-training," Arelle replied simply.
"Ah, I see! That would make sense. And Moren's your teacher?" he asked.
Arelle nodded.
Again, there was a silence, where everyone ate in quiet.
Finally, Arelle spoke up again. "So, Drahkin, how long have you been a bounty hunter?" Arelle asked.
"Six years," Drahkin replied. Arelle was a bit surprised, seeing how he couldn't be older than 25.
"Really?…I see…" Arelle said, trailing off.
"This is very good fish, lass," Akinen said, changing the subject.
Lilliah beamed a smile at him. "Thank you, Akinen!"
"Even if it's a little, erm, 'well-done'," Moren put in, quietly.
Arelle tried to hold back a laugh, but failed.
Lilliah tried to glare at them both, but failed, and smiled herself. "Well, I can't help it that I was rather busy somewhere else at the moment, instead of watching lunch!" Lilliah said, defending herself, but smiling.
They all chuckled.
"True," Arelle said, "That is a pretty good excuse," she said, smiling at Lilliah.

***************

After supper, everyone sat, warming themselves by the campfire. After a while, Drahkin got up.

"Well, I must say, I enjoyed supper very much," he said.

Drahkin turned to leave, when Arelle stood and spoke up. "Drahkin, why was it you wanted to eat supper with us? It doesn't make sense—you just called Akinen a dirt rogue, then you turned around and asked to eat supper with him and his companions!"

Drahkin turned to face Arelle, and stood in silence for a moment. "To tell you the truth, I found you all intriguing," Drahkin said.

"Intriguing?" Arelle asked.

"Yes…" he said. "First, it was your Shaman, Lilliah. 'You don't even know Akinen…he's a good man, inside' she said. I had never thought that anyone with a bounty on their head could really be a 'good person, inside'. I've run in with many evil men in my past…" Drahkin continued, "I just thought of them all the same. And then Arelle, too—She protected him. A Cutthroat, she protected. Everything you all said intrigued me. You remind me of my sister. She used to say things like that," Drahkin turned again towards the forest.

"It was interesting eating with you and your group, Arelle. I will never forget it," Drahkin said. "I should go now. Farewell, Arelle, and farewell to the rest of you," he said, slowly walking into the forest.

"Farewell, Drahkin," the group said, all still taking in what he had just said.

"Go in peace," Akinen said.

Once he had disappeared into the shadows, Arelle whispered quietly, "I hope you soon find your peace."

**************

Arelle pulled her furs around her to protect her from the early-morning air.

"For a while now, we've been feeling the flow of things around us—trees, animals, people—but now, we're going to try something a little harder—we're going to feel the flow of the air," Moren said. "Are you ready, Arelle?"

Arelle nodded.

"Ok, then close your eyes, and feel the flow around you."

Arelle closed her eyes, and concentrated deeply.

"Feel everything around you…" Moren said. "Concentrate on the air all around you, without opening your eyes. You should be able to feel the light flow of the air around you. The air is ever moving about, and unless you're very good, it's very hard to feel the flow of the air well. But it's there. Can you feel it, Arelle?" Moren asked.

Arelle reached about with her mind, trying to find the flow of the air. Was there really a flow to the air? She couldn't feel it—all she felt was an emptiness. She concentrated harder, and then sighed in frustration. "Are you sure the air has a flow, Moren?" she asked.

"Yes, of course the air has a flow," Moren said, "it's just harder to feel."

"Well, I don't feel it at all," Arelle said.

Moren paused, thinking in silence. Arelle waited patiently for a response.

"Ok, instead of concentrating on the air, this time I want you to concentrate on yourself," Moren said, to Arelle's surprise. "Do you feel your flow, Arelle?"

Arelle concentrated. She found her flow pretty easily. "Yes, I feel it."

"Good. Now, open your palm slowly, not losing your concentration, and hold it out in front of you," Moren said.

Arelle did as he said, opening her palm slowly and raising it in front of her.

"Now concentrate on finding the flow of the air, and also, combine it with your feel—feel the air surrounding your hand. Do you feel it? The air coming in contact with your hand? Do you feel it, Arelle?"

Arelle paused, hand outstretched, concentrating. She felt the faint breeze blow across her cold fingers, and felt the chilly air bite into her warm hand. As she stood there, eyes closed, she began feeling the air's flow coming in contact with her own flow. She was giving out a flow! Like s barrier around her, every bit of her skin gave off her flow. Was this an aura? She had never realized it before, but she felt it clearly now. Her flow came touched with the air around her, the clothing wrapped around her, and the ground she stood on.

"I feel it, Moren. I feel my flow, touching everything around me," Arelle said.

Moren smiled. "Very good. And, do you feel the air's flow?" he asked.

Arelle concentrated on the air that was touching her hand until she could see it's flow clearly.

"Yes, I see it, Moren," she said.

"Well done, Arelle!" Moren said as she opened her eyes and smiled at him. "Well done! You've progressed so much—I hadn't expected you to be able to feel the air's flow on your very first attempt!"

Arelle smiled at him. "Moren, I'm getting pretty good, now—don't you think I can control my magic now?" Arelle asked.

"Well, you can certainly control it better than you could before, Arelle. You've learned a lot. But you still can't control it fully," Moren said.

"I see," Arelle said, sighing.

"Come Arelle, let us go eat lunch. I'm sure Lilliah has cooked us something great to eat!" Moren said.

"Speaking of Lilliah, I think we deserve an explanation from her. With Drahkin distracting us, we never did find out how she became a Caster!" Arelle said.

******************

"Lilliah, how come you never told us you were a Caster?" Arelle asked, as the group was sitting down, eating lunch.

Lilliah looked up at Arelle in surprise. "Well…Because you never asked?"

Arelle raised an eyebrow. "Lilliah!"

"Well, I never said I wasn't a Caster!" Lilliah said. "Have you ever actually seen me fight before today?"

Arelle paused, thinking. "No…" Arelle replied.

"Well, I never had any need to fight when I was around you all before today. You all do all the hunting, and I cook. I was never needed to fight," Lilliah said.

"But when we knew each other before, lass. You didn't know magic then, did you?" Akinen asked.

"No, Akinen. At that time I was just a warrior. I became a Shaman later," Lilliah said.

"Why, lass?" Akinen asked.

Lilliah sighed. "After Akinen helped me escape from the Dervish camp, I left for my homeland. That was what he had told me to do, and that's what I though I wanted to do. Many things happened then—I realized many important things. I realized what was most important to me. But also during that time, I found an old lady who was convinced I had great magical abilities. I thought she was crazy at first, since I had been a Warrior all my life. But, finally she convinced me to go through the Shaman training."

"As a Warrior, I lived for battle and loved to fight. But, during that time I spent in Halas, I realized battle was nothing but bloodshed. So now I only fight when it's necessary. And that's why you've never seen me fight before now," Lilliah said.

The party sat in silence, taking in what they had just heard.

Then Akinen cleared his throat and turned to Lilliah. "Well lass… I suppose you're free, now," Akinen said.

The party looked at Akinen, surprised and confused.

"What do you mean, Akinen?" Lilliah asked, confused.

"You saved my life," Akinen said.

"Well I guess, and so what? You're my friend, of course I would!" Lilliah said.

Akinen looked at her. "You've repaid your debt, Lilliah. Remember? I rescued you, and you came to find me because you had to repay your debt," Akinen said. "You have repaid it, now. You're free."

***********************

Oh, and just on a side note, this isn't the last you'll see of Drahkin ^^ Heh heh heh...

And in reply to my comments, which I appreciate so much...

Blue the Echidna: You have an account at Elfwood?! Cool, I visit that site all the time. Its good to know that my reviews are encouraging. ^_^ I look forward to next wednesday when the next chapter is uploaded!
Amai's Reply: Yes, I do have an Elfwood account, here's the link here , but if you can't see that (FF.net strips a lot of html), you can check out the link in my Bio under "Links". Leave a comment there, if you feel lke it :)

Lady Aniviel: This is a really good story i cant wait to see where it goes please post another chapter soon
Amai's Reply: Thanks! I'm so glad you like the story :) Oh, and I post a new chapter every Wednesday, in case you didn't know. Thanks for the comment!

Amari (Godsdisciple28@hotmail.com): This is a very intrigueing story. I can't help but wonder where its going to go from here. Well you've done a good job with your characters and I say, good work! I hope to see some new chapters up sometime soon.
Amai's Reply: Hey, thanks for the encouragment ^^ I'm glad you think I did a good job with the characters! I think the characters are a lot of fun. Thanks for the comment!