The Tower

Aquarius stepped up to the chain in the middle of the arena and gave it a hard tug. "Show me a troll!" When the smoke cleared both Aquarius and Astraea groaned in disappointment.

"A goblin?? He's not even worth your time," Aquarius stated disappointedly as she clocked the green monster in the head with her staff.

Astraea laughed at her friend's sad expression and walked to the center of the arena to try her luck at the chain pulling. "Aww come on Aqua, gobby's aren't that bad."

"Yes they are!" Aquarius protested as Astraea went about killing the three hell rabbits she had summoned. "But they're not the worst. You want to know what are?" Aquarius' voice lowered secretively as her eyes widened. "Cave dwellers!"

Astraea turned to face Aquarius after killing the last monster. "A cave what? I've never heard of them before."

"Ughhhh, they're awful! All eww and gah and just so, ugly!" Aquarius put one finger below each eye and pulled down, exposing their whites as she bared her teeth at Astraea. "Pink skinned, beady eyed, teeth gnashing, putrid smelling monsters!"

Astraea covered her mouth to keep from laughing too loudly at Aquarius' impression of a cave dweller's face. "Oh dear, then I hope I never the pleasure of meeting one."

Aquarius suddenly laughed and pointed a mocking finger in Astraea's direction. "Haha! Guess who has divinity over them!?"

It was Astraea's turn to groan.

"Ah don't fret my elvish friend." Aquarius grinned, clapping Astraea on the shoulder. "The mines where those are, are definitely level 18 and up. You won't be goin there for awhile, but when you do you'll be good enough to only have to stare at their ugly face for a few seconds before wham! its dead. Which reminds me, what level are you up to now?"

"Um, 12," Astraea replied a bit absently as she tried to land a solid blow on the unusually agile troll she was fighting.

Aquarius tugged on the end of her auburn braid thoughtfully. "Hmmm, I think a trip is in order."

"Trip?" Astraea echoed with interest as the troll let out a dying scream.

"Yeah, you probably haven't seen much of the world yet have ya?"

Astraea shook her head disappointedly. "I've only been between Terra and Duskan, but even then I was running and didn't get the chance to see much on the way."

"I thought so. Ok grab your things, we're taking a road trip!"

* * * * * * *

"We're lost."

"Naw."

"Aqua, we're lost."

"No we're not!"

Astraea crossed her arms. "You should have stopped back there and asked those people for directions."

Aquarius hmphed and sat down on a fallen log that lay in the middle of the forest clearing they were in. "Hey for all were know those guys coulda been pkers, and then we'd both be running for our lives, so you should just thank me now in advance."

When Aquarius saw that Astraea wasn't laughing she coughed nervously, glancing around the clearing. "Ok, well I know the Sylvan road is around here somewhere, trust me. I just haven't been in these parts for awhile so everything's kinda... fuzzy."

Unexpectedly Astraea laughed at Aquarius' embarrassed expression. "Well where are you trying to go anyway? Maybe I can help."

Aquarius raised a dark eyebrow. "I don't think so, I mean you said yourself you've never been anywhere else except Terra and Duskan."

"Please? I just have a feeling I might be able to help out." Astraea pouted sadly at Aquarius and the red-head laughed in defeat.

"Alright alright, I guess it won't be much of a surprise anymore then. I was trying to take us to another city south of here called Trollheim. It got destroyed awhile back in a pretty massive battle, but people have started going back and are rebuilding the place. It'd be cool to see some of the old stuff before they finally tear it all down."

Astraea turned around slowly, facing the three different directions they had the choices of traveling in. After a moment she paused, then looked at Aquarius. "I think we should go west from here. We'll have to go south on the trail not long after, and then we'll find the road. But to Trollheim... isn't there another way?"

"You mean through the swamps?" Aquarius asked in surprise.

"I... think so. For some reason I can see a path in my mind, and it doesn't take us to the road you want to get to." After a moment she nodded decidedly. "Aqua, please let me lead. I think I know how to get us there."

Without a word of protest Aquarius nodded and stood. Astraea smiled her thanks, then turned to face the eastern path of the trail. The two of them plunged into the forest a second later, Astraea leading them down a twisted path that snaked through the green forest. With each step the air grew more humid and thick with moisture until suddenly they were in the swamps, and Astraea still continued to run. She never missed a step as they ran, traveling past monsters and obstacles Aquarius was sure they'd have to deal with. But instead the assassin merely sidestepped them, finding a way around that Aquarius herself hadn't been able to see. She chanced a brief glance at her leader, only to see a look of intense concentration on Astraea's face, her gaze focused inward as though she was following a map in her mind and completely unaware of the land around her.

Suddenly Astraea stopped though, causing Aquarius to almost run into her from behind. "Woah, what's the hold up? We're still in the swamps."

But Astraea's gaze was fixed on a fountain nestled among the plants, the statue of a woman as its centerpiece. "Why do I know this place?" she asked softly, her eyes never leaving the face of the stone woman.

"I dunno," Aquarius replied, coming up to stand beside her and join Astraea in staring at the statue. "This place is kinda well known. Not only a memorial to a great woman, but also a place where travelers can rest and heal before continuing on. Maybe you heard about it town from some other peeps?"

"Perhaps..." Astraea murmured, though she didn't sound convinced. After a moment she shook her head, clearing it of whatever thoughts had been there. "Well we better go, I think we're just about there."

Aquarius smiled and waved down the southern end of the path they were standing on. "Lead on."

A short time later the two travelers arrived at the gates of Trollheim and were greeted by a sparsely populated city, at best. The streets appeared mostly deserted, perhaps one or two shadowy travelers crossing their paths before they disappeared into a building on either side of the street.

But instead of entering any of the dark, unidentified buildings Aquarius continued down the main avenue, finally stopping at the foot of a tower that rose out of the center of the city, several stories in height and looking even more ominous then any of the other places they had passed by so far. She stepped up to the door, casting a disarming smile at the guard who stood just before it, and beckoned Astraea to follow.

With a slightly more hesitant smile Astraea hurried past the guard, stepping inside the base of the tower just behind Aquarius. They began climbing up the rickety wooden staircase that began just inside the door, their ascent taking them higher and higher until they reached the 4th, and last floor of the tower.

It was a miserable sight to behold at the top. Wooden beams lay haphazardly across the floor, a large portion of the roof having collapsed in on itself some time ago. A massive, tarnished looking throne stood at the far end of the tower room, its surface blackened beyond repair and tipping precariously to one side. Large windows that had once held beautiful stained glass were now empty, the colored remains of their panes laying strewn out in pieces on the floor beneath them.

Astraea stepped forward, her eyes roaming over the unfamiliar room. "What happened here?" she asked Aquarius, turning to face the quiet monk.

"Well from what I've heard this was the tower of the demon king that took over Trollheim, the one who caused that whole war that demolished most of the city. They were finally able to storm the tower and get rid of him in the end, but this place was just left to rot and crumble."

"I see. But why did you bring me here?"

"Well, that's cause of more personal reasons. See, I had a friend a while back, and you kinda remind me of her. She used to love to come to this tower at night and just lay on the floor looking at the stars. I just thought you might like to see the place." Aquarius smiled, if not a bit sadly, and turned away to look over the room.

"What happened to her?" Astraea asked softly.

"Not sure," Aquarius replied, crossing her arms. "I think she's around, somewhere. But yeah, whatcha think of the place?"

"It's... mysterious. But I can see why your friend liked to come here, the view above is wonderful. I don't think I'd mind spending a few nights here myself." Astraea smiled.

"Hey, I doubt anybody'll stop you. This place is always deserted."

Look at all the stars...

Astraea looked about herself surprised. "Did you hear that?" she asked uncertainly.

"Hear what?" Aquarius asked, oblivious to the soft voice Astraea alone had heard.

Ah look! A shooting star.

Where? I didn't see one...

Astraea turned around, looking for the source of the two voices she was hearing. A light giggle floated past her ears, soft and melodic, and almost familiar. "You... don't hear them?" she asked Aquarius again.

Aquarius shook her head, now eying Astraea with concern. "What're you hearing?"

"A woman's voice, and a man's. They're..."

See, its come to earth, and fallen right beside me.

*a light sigh*

You're so wonderful. I love you, so much.

I love you too...

"Astraea! Hey you ok!?"

Astraea opened her eyes to find Aquarius staring down at her with concern, both of her hands on Astraea's shoulders. "What... happened?"

"God don't scare me like that! First you start talking all funny then the next thing I know, you're keelin over and just missin hittin your head on a sharp beam of wood. What the hell happened?"

"I'm... not sure," Astraea replied, sitting up slowly and shaking her head. "I thought I had heard something... but I can't remember now."

"You and hearin voices," Aquarius shook her head and chuckled as she helped Astraea to her feet. "God I haven't been scared so bad since the last time you fell over like..." Aquarius suddenly stopped though and clamped a hand over her mouth.

"What did you say?" Astraea asked slowly, staring Aquarius straight in the eye. "You were going to say something, about my having collapsed before. But how can that be, this is the first time that's ever happened with you... isn't it?"

Instead of answering though Aquarius just shook her head. "Forget I said anything..."

"Aquarius," Astraea interrupted sternly, grabbing her friend by the arm. "What did you mean by that? We've never met before this, so how could I have possibly..." Astraea's voice trailed off though and she stepped back from Aquarius in surprise.

"You know something, don't you? About why I don't remember anything..."

Aquarius sat down heavily on the floor, her gaze lifted towards the open roof of the tower. "Astraea, my old friend, she didn't just love the stars... you're one of them."