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Nagiciam sighed throughout his lesson with Sohac, ruining yet another potion.

"Good GODS Nagiciam! Must you ruin everything before I can stop and correct you?"

"Meh…"

Noticing that something was wrong with him, Sohac sighed and magically pulled a chair over to the space next to Nagiciam who was also spacing out. "Want to talk?" he asked quietly. "I've noticed although you might not have, that you and that Blue Eye girl have been getting closer and closer. Like you were in the war. And now with all these new events happening, I'm sure you've been having a hard time. So?"

Nagiciam sighed a she sank further into his hand. "As usual master you are correct." He said glumly. "I have been thinking about those matters."

Sohac only sighed and placed his wand on the table. This was the first time Nagiciam had ever seen his mater without his wand in hand at any time.

"Nagiciam I have to tell you. I was worried at first when I sensed something evil and dead inside that girl. Even when she was just arriving, I felt something. But she is kind. Even her evil side has seemed to be quelled by someone other than herself. It's interesting really. But now about the Queen. It was a heavy loss that's no surprise. But now the Elves will need to pick a successor. And the only one who is next in line is Citlec the Elf."

"Citlec!" Nagiciam cried as he stood. "You mean that Citlec is the King of Elves?"

"That's right. And he'll have to look for a Queen for a heir."

Trying to say words but finding only sounds, Nagiciam angrily paced back and forth in the room. "But…I…him…you…Ley…King?"

Sohac grinned. "Ah to be young and jealous again. If I were only a hundred years or so younger."

"MASTER!"

His red eyes glinting with mischief, Sohac continued grinning at his student as he turned to him. "I have no intention of looking for a mate now Nagiciam. I've decided to look around that path. But you, you are started on the road to glory! To adventure! My time is over, or at least, is too old. Take your chance before Citlec does. Take a step into the unknown." Then with a hint of sadness, Sohac added, "Or you'll regret it."

Nagiciam sighed. "But Master…I…what if…?"

Closing his eyes, Sohac's grin faded a bit. "Instead of today's lesson, I'm going to let you have a three day vacation in light of these events. However, in doing so, I want you to master this one trick I'm going to show you once and not explain it at all. If you can master this, then I'll let you have the vacation. Fail, and you'll work extra hard to make up in light of the events."

"Yes Master."

"Now watch carefully. I'm thinking of someone I…knew."

Twisting his fingers in the air, Sohac quickly folded his hands once, twice, and then on the third time, he suddenly opened his hands and his eyes, and instantly, a string of red began to appear from his fingertips. Slowly, the thread turned and twisted, weaving in and out, its glimmer shining brightly. Finally when it was finished, a perfect picture had appeared of a young girl sitting on a bank of a river and held a long staff in her hands. "Now you try it."

"Ok…" Nagiciam thought to himself as he cracked his fingers a bit. "Here we go…now think of someone you know."

The first thing he noticed was that he forgot to lift his index finger to meet the together and they slipped. Then he realized his eyes were open. And then he couldn't see, so he opened them a tiny bit. But then after he opened his eyes all the way, a red thread sadly wriggled out of his hands and made its way across the air. When it finally stopped, a sad image of a girl appeared. It was only her head, but it was quite visible who it was. Nagiciam prepared for the worst.

"Hm…not too bad for a first try Nagiciam." Sohac concluded as he studied the image. "And because I can tell who it is, I'll let you have the vacation. Congratulations."

Happily, Nagiciam closed his hands making the image disappear. "Thank you master!" he cried as began for the exit.

"Nagiciam!"

Stopping and turning, Nagiciam looked at Sohac. "Yes master?" he asked weakly.

However, Sohac was grinning. "That spell isn't just for people. It can also be used for things and it can make a strong barrier to keep in or out anything. Make sure you remember that."

"Yes Master I will!" Nagiciam called as he ran out and down the hall.

Sohac smiled to himself as he listened to the footsteps of Nagiciam run away. Then, silently, Sohac performed the same trick he had just done; the image of the girl appearing again. "I didn't tell him…" Sohac sighed. "Most magician's only learn magic from passed down generations. It is very rare that you'll find one that can make their own magic. But I made this one by myself." Looking at the picture of the girl, Sohac sighed sadly.

"In memory of her."

***

Otes sighted impatiently as he waited for White to return in the courtyard. "Damn it, where is he?" he growled. "I don't like waiting."

Finally, as a rustle of bushes was made next to him, Otes grinned. "You're late." He said in an urgent whisper.

"Sorry father, but security is tight around here and especially now. It's not like you can just waltz out into the open anymore." White said on the other side of a huge bush talking urgently. "Besides, I did what you told me to anyway and got away with it didn't I?"

Otes nodded. "Yes…now all that's left is the King. But he won't be a problem. The problem will be the new king, Citlec. He may be young, but he will be trouble. So we have to get rid of him somehow."

White blinked. "How? I mean, the people of the court and around have been whispering why none of us have been killed lately. Any why the Spellcasters have been untouched as well."

Otes thought for a while. Then, after a silence, he said, "Well…you could kill them in the fight. A fight would be perfectly legal and you could have some fun before it's all over."

White shifted uneasily. "A fight? But father…I…"

"What?"

Coughing a bit, White turned his glance elsewhere. "It's just that…Ley or rather Yami has been hanging out with that guy a lot and…I think…"

Otes snorted and snarled; "Listen boy. You will challenge this boy and you will kill him! Do I make myself clear?"

And without another word, Otes got up and walked away.

"Stupid boy…" Otes thought. "He has no idea what I'm trying to do. To get any wish I want…even bring people back from the dead. Immortal life. Whatever I want. And what I want…is more important to anything in the world. Even more important than my own heirs…"

***

Citlec sighed as he stared down at the pool of water that was the fountain that he sat at every night thinking about what he was going to do. However, try as he might, all he could think about was what he had said to Yami before.

"You know, just because you think that you're so brave and right doesn't make it so!"

"I'm NOT YOU! I'll never stoop down to as low as that! You're so pushy and rude, no wonder you're stuck in some body of another!"

Sighing, Citlec brushed the water with one finger. "Was I really that bad?" he said to himself.

"You're nothing but a snotty, stuck up, bragging, know-it-all heinous BITCH!"

"Yeah…I was that bad."

Meanwhile, above him and unknowing, Yami sat on windowsill, watching him with an expressionless face and in silence.

"Yami?" Ley asked in their mind as she sadly watched Yami in their mind pout. "Aren't you going to go talk to him? I mean, White did challenge him to a fight. And he might need your support. He is all alone, and reinforcements won't be here until at least two more weeks. Please?"

"No."

"Yami!"

"No, Ley I won't. If he want to be alone, then let him."

Angrily, Ley clenched her fists, and then without warning, grabbed Yami's shoulder and with one fluid move, punched her across the face. "Are you just going to keep running away!" she screamed.

Shocked, but not hurt, Yami staggered back a bit. "Just keep running away?" she asked out loud. "I…" Then turning to look at Ley, Yami stared into silver eyes, staring back with sadness and anger mixed into one.

"I'm not running."

***

"Citlec?" asked quietly as she approached him.

"What do you want?"

Trying to keep her temper under control, Yami's eye twitched slightly before she continued with, "Well I saw you out here and I was wondering if you were alright. That's all."

Citlec slowly turned his head to her and then quickly turned back. "You know you shouldn't be the one who apologizes." He said quietly. "I know what I said was out of the line and I want you to know what ever I said…I'm sorry for."

Shifting uneasily, Yami reverted her gaze elsewhere. "Yes, well…it wasn't all your fault you know. I am to blame as well. And I want to say…I…am…s-sorry."

"You're sorry?" Citlec gasped as he stood and faced her. "I never knew a millennia year old spirit could be sorry."

"Well get used to it for a while." Yami said as she flipped her hair and looked at Citlec in the eye. "I can be anything I want to be."

"Really?"

"Yeah. But that doesn't mean I'm going to do a performance for you or anything." Yami grinned. "It's my choice who I want to be."

Citlec grinned back and nodded. "It should always be." He responded.

A silence.

"So…" Yami said trying to revive the conversation. "I hear you're going to fight White tomorrow. Are you scared?"

"NO."

Citlec growled a bit before he turned away and stared off into the distance. "I…I don't want Ley to hear this…" he said before she turned back to Yami. "I think it would hurt her and I don't want her to be hurt, nor do I want Nagiciam to come after me for doing so."

Yami nodded as she closed her eyes for a minute. "Alright." She said as she opened them after a few seconds. "I have broken my connection with her so as of now, she can't hear anything we say."

"Alright." Citlec said as he nodded. "I was investigating my…mother's room last night. I found White's footprints all over the floor. I think it was he who is murdering everyone in the castle. And I think he is the one who took Neeces and my mother's life from me." Angrily, Citlec clenched his fists and closed his eyes. "When I get to him tomorrow…and be able to fight him in the real ring where I can kill him…"

"Did you love her?"

Surprised, Citlec looked up. "Huh?" he asked as he stared at Yami. "What?"

Her arms crossed and an expressionless face, Yami asked her question again very slowly. "Did you love her?" she asked quietly.

Citlec let out a small sigh as he looked down and away. "In a sense yes." He said sadly. "She was my friend and my ally. I overlooked the fact that she was a half-blood and I accepted her as a real mortal person that she is."

"I see." Was all Yami's reply. "Well Citlec, I must admit, I'm glad terms are better with us and I am glad you are my friend. However, I have to give you this advice: There is always a time for everything. A time to give up, a time to break down. A time to love, a time to hate. A time to remember, a time to forget. The problem is when to tell when the time is. So don't forget it."

Then without another word, Yami turned and began to walk away, Citlec's eyes following her, the feeling that she was turning back into Ley coming over him.

"A time to forgive…"

"Wait, Ley…"

It was Ley who turned to face Citlec who looked at her right in her silver eyes. "I don't want Yami to see this…I have a feeling I'm going to lose. And I don't want her to see me fail her like this."

Ley nodded slowly and sadly. "So you're fighting for her?"

"Yes. To prove myself that I'm not as weak as she thinks."

"Alright."

***

Immediately Citlec was thrown back as he landed on the floor of the training grounds. They were fighting on the dirt packed ground with four poles making a square around them and between each of the poles were two tightly strung ropes. Around the ring, people who were commoners and servants shouted hoarsely at the two fighters.

"Da-damn…!" Citlec swore to himself as he felt a trickle of blood come from his mouth.

Above him, White grinned as he realigned his knuckles. "Had enough yet?" he asked Citlec as he watched with sheer glee. "You should've known I was too powerful for the likes of you."

The fighters both had leather gloves on and the same brown boots and tan pants. No need to get nice clothes bloody in a hurry. However, Citlec did have a light brown tank top on while White had no sort of shirt at all. And frankly, the ladies in the crowd loved it.

Turning to the audience, White held up both hands in the air as the crowed cheered for him. However, in his mind, his thoughts were not on victory, but business.

"I have to get him angry enough for him to attack me with a sword!" White thought anxiously in his mind. "Or else, father will be upset. And then he might…no! I can't think about that right now! He already got rid of his servants' wives when they failed, and I can't think of what he might do to Ley if I fail."

Turning to Citlec who was struggling to get up, White grinned again and picked him up the hair. Then, once he was at full height, which was a few inches above White, White punched Citlec over and over, once again knocking him to the ground.

The crowd cheered.

***

Nagiciam sighed as he listened to the cheers of the crowd outside. "I'm so glad Ley can't see this…" he said as the crowd roared again. "And I can't believe this is legal. Who can up with this damned rule anyway? A fight…what a moron the dragons are. I mean, this may be our land, but can they really enforce the laws of theirs when they are on ours? Even though the negotiations have slowed due to the murders, I can't believe everyone is still here."

"Nagiciam?"

Nagiciam slowly turned to see Hitomi and Ley standing beside each other, both with very sad faces on.

"Brother…" Hitomi asked as she stepped forward and looked at Nagiciam sadly. "Citlec will be alright…right?"

As the crowd cried louder than before, Nagiciam winced a bit. "I guess…" he said trying to reassure her. "Listen, go with master and get him to make you a pretty dress or something. I don't want you to see this ok?"

Hitomi slowly nodded as she left. "I hope he wins." He heard her whisper. "I don't want that dragon to win."

Sighing and turning his attention to Ley, Nagiciam tried to crack a smile, but a big "Ooh!" from the crowd outside stopped him as a cry of pain echoed through the air. "I hate this…"

Sitting down next to him and putting an arm around Nagiciam's shoulders, Ley nodded. "I'm sorry…" she said sadly. "I'm sorry for all of this. I'm sorry Otes banned anyone from interfering. And I'm sorry…"

But Nagiciam shook his head and closed his eyes. "It's not…your fault. You didn't know and Citlec knew he was going to lose. I just hope he can take it."

Minutes or what seemed like hours passed by and Nagiciam and Ley just sat there, knowing there was nothing they could do. Finally, it was Ley who snapped.

"That's IT!" she cried getting up. "King or not, I am going to STOP THIS FIGHT!" Then without another word, Ley took off down the halls.

"Ley! Wait!" Nagiciam cried going after her. "Don't! You'll be punished for this!"

But it was too late.

Ley had already flew down the halls and out the door where Citlec lay on the ground bloodied and badly hurt. White stood triumphant over him, his knuckles bathed in Citlec's blood, running down his fingers and onto the ground.

"CITLEC!" Yami screamed in Ley's mind as she saw what was happening. "Damn it Ley! Let me out! I'll kill him! I'll KILL that DRAGON!"

"No Yami!" Ley cried as she forced her back. "This is my brother so this is my fight! I'm going to deal with him my own way! Just give me a chance."

Reluctantly, Yami glared down at Ley. "I'll let you slide this once Leyline. But mark my words, if he lays another hand on Citlec then he's a dead man!"

Focusing back on her intended target, Ley slowly walked up to the ring as Citlec struggled to stand and White stared in shock at his sister.

"Ley!" he protested. "Get back inside! This sort of thing isn't for people like you!"

Not listening, Ley slowly made her way to the edge of the ring where Citlec lay. "Brother…" she said as she looked at him. "He's done. Let him go. You've won."

Angrily, White shook his head. "Our laws say that once you enter the ring with you opponent, only one may leave. It has been a tradition since the dawn of time!"

Still ignoring him, Ley gently knelt down to Citlec who struggled to look at her. "I…I…" he gasped. "Y-…Yami…"

But Ley shook her head and took his hand in hers. "Not Yami…Ley. And she has seen everything Citlec. I'm sorry."

Staring at the even more defeated face of Citlec, Ley felt a great sadness as Citlec bent his head in shame and embarrassment. "What…what does she think of me now?" Citlec asked as he felt tears of disappointment come. "Now that she's seen what a loser I am?"

Ley grinned as she closed her eyes and Yami took over.

"Y-you…!" Yami growled angrily as she stared at Citlec as he grinned at her. "Y…you stupid…!"

Citlec sighed as he felt his blood drip down his face. "I know…" he said sadly. "I know…you're mad at me aren't you? Go ahead Yami. So say it."

"Why?"

"To prove myself…to you."

Gasping and staring in shock, Yami felt more tears run down her face. "You idiot!" she cried as she buried her head into Citlec's hand. "You goddamn idiot! Whatever made you think you had to 'prove' yourself to me? You idiot!"

Then looking up at Citlec, Yami glared deeply at him and growled, "If you ever do this again, I will kill you."

Suddenly without warning, Citlec sat up and with a gentle force, touched Yami's lips with his.

Too stunned to speak, Yami stared for a minute before relaxing and "I'm somewhat enjoying this…"

However, at that point, Nagiciam had caught up to Ley and Citlec at the worst time.

"…L…Ley…?!"