I do not own DA

(Kirkwall – Amara – age nine – seventeen years until Fifth Blight)

Even young she knew instinctively how to fade into the shadows. It was easy to glide through them without being seen a skill she knew was due to Dumat. That didn't concern her family, they took pride in the fact their daughter was so skilled and talented. She sometimes wondered if the truth might change that pride. It didn't really matter since they'd never learn the truth but the thought still lingered. Sometimes when she lay awake at night she hated not knowing where her soul siblings were; even though her blood siblings were with her.

Being away from them caused her a little stress, after all, they all knew that something was going to happen yet none of them knew when. Still, that didn't stop her from preparing. From politics, a basic Aristocratic subject, to swordplay she learned it all. Her teachers worried she might be pushing herself yet no one tried to stop her; mainly due to her stubborn nature. The only people she'd been seen to obey were her parents and grandfather although for different reasons.

She loved her parents, they were good people if a bit strict, but her grandfather was the only person she truly respected. While not a warrior he was strong. His spirit was unbreakable and his moral code was something that synced with her own. Every story he'd ever told her was enough for her to know this world wasn't good; most stories ended in tragedy. Once upon a time, she'd have argued there were saints however her grandfather was candid enough to tell her that for every good person there lived five horrible people. If someone was good, pure, and honorable then they deserved to be protected. His lessons on morality echoed her own enough that she'd trust him with her life.

Maybe that was why she had no issue with her betrothal to Sebastian Vale. Her grandfather would never find her a bad match and she knew he'd call off the marriage if she asked. Still, it was hard to like Sebastian. Personally, he wasn't her type. Not only was he reckless but he was a player. At fourteen he'd already shown he wasn't above dating and breaking up with women once he'd gotten what he wanted. His promises to change once they were wed had no truth to them; something that they both knew. Still, it was an important alliance for their families. She also had fun beating him into the dirt something she was currently doing even as her mind wondered.

The daggers in her hand were blunt yet he still yelped every time she struck him. If not for the frustration and anger on his face she'd think he was humoring her at his lack of ability. Resisting the urge to smirk as he fell onto his knees was a bit challenging. His pride must sting after being beaten by a girl four years his junior. Sheathing her daggers, she turned away already knowing that he'd take the opportunity. Shifting her heel as his growl echoed behind her it was laughable how easy he was to predict. Flipping him over her shoulder, she didn't hesitate to press her foot against his throat daring him to try something.

Raising an eyebrow at his furious glare she waited knowing exactly how stubborn he could be. Their parents thought training together might make them closer, all it really did was show her how inflexible he could be. He never learned, not even when she beat a lesson into him. Frowning as his muttered submission reached her ears, she turned away from him. Rolling her eyes, she released the older boy before brightening as clapping filled the air.

Standing on the outside edges of the training area was her family although her mother seemed a bit worried and her father was sending a warning glance at Sebastian. Her grandfather on the other hand was clapping slowly yet his face was blank. His silent pride in her achievement settled what little hesitation she'd had about beating Sebastian. Obvious approval radiated from her brother who grinned. While he might not have much skill in battle he knew how much effort she put into learning. Her sister on the other hand rushed into her arms with a cheer. Spinning the brown-haired girl around she ignored Sebastian's radiating annoyance. What did he expect when he'd been bullying both of them at every chance?

"You were amazing!"

Smiling at the praise she cuddled her sister closer. Having a little sister was more fun than she'd thought it would be. Ruffling her brother's hair when he moved closer to her gained a pout from the adorable boy. Tugging him into the hug before he managed to get away, she'd do anything to keep this moment.

Flora, her little sister, was an adorable mousey girl with short hair and wide eyes. Every time she smiled the room lit up as if turning on a light switch. Although the girl didn't have any real combat ability, she had more than enough time to learn. Grandfather had pushed them all to have some sort of skill to defend themselves even if it was something small like a throwing knife. Brett, her little brother, had the same brown hair and eyes Flora did although his hair was more of an earthy color. Where her sister was shy he was outgoing. Both of them were precious to her. Although she had no idea where her own scarlet hair had come from considering both her parents had brown hair. It was something that the other Aristocrats whispered about yet none would dare to argue their families honor.

A large callused hand brushed through her hair softly as her grandfather stared down at her fiancé who was still glaring. His pride was going to be an issue in the future. No matter how many times she'd beat him into the dirt he still didn't respect her nor did he value her opinion. She was thinking of asking for the betrothal to be canceled however she held off for the moment. As long as he didn't do something stupid, she didn't care what he did. Turning his eyes from the boy to the pride of his house, her grandfather ruffled her hair gently.

"Impressive for your age."

"Our daughter's a real prodigy," her mother stated with a hint of wonder. Grinning at the woman it was easy to see the fears in her gaze.

They all knew that being skilled made her a target for recruitment from both the templars and the city guard. She had no interest in either of those. After all, she was going to change the world being tied down to this city wasn't what she wanted. That didn't make her parents worry any less. It'd help if her soul siblings would give her some kind of sign but that most likely wasn't going to happen any time soon.

"A freak."

Stilling at the mumble from Sebastian who was trying to slink away with his proverbial tail between his legs, she narrowed her eyes. Yeah, she wasn't going to marry him. He might change in the future but right now she didn't want anything to do with him nor was she willing to wait for him to grow up. She might be a child but he was older than her, physically at least, the boy should act his age. Deciding to ignore him, there was nothing she could do, she gave her siblings one last hug before going to change into something a little more appropriate for a Chantry visit.

Once a week her family made the journey to the Chantry for evening service. She might not believe very much in Andraste or the Maker, but her family did. Dumat hadn't said there were only Tevinter gods anyway. For all she knew the Maker and his wife might exist; she'd never turn into a zealot. Being super religious seemed like too much work. Politics were one thing, but religion was a topic she wasn't going to touch ever if she had her way. That wasn't to say she didn't understand the appeal. It was easy to turn to a higher power, even one that didn't exist, to draw strength in troubling times. She just hated those that used their religion as an excuse to harm those they saw as different.

Making it back to her room, she undressed before slipping into the warm bath her servants had prepared. Having servants took a while to get used to, but she'd learned complaining did nothing but cause widespread amusement and confusion. Plus, the warm baths helped soothe her aching muscles so she couldn't really say anything. At least they left her alone to bathe. Humming at the lavender scent radiating from the water she relaxed as she washed her hair. Hopefully, the scent would stay with her during their time at the Chantry.

Closing her eyes for a moment she leaned back against the rim of the tub, which seemed to be the size of a tiny pool. Even if her soul siblings contacted her they were still physically children. She hoped the Blight could hold off until they aged enough to inflict change. Their patrons wouldn't throw them into a situation doomed for failure. She believed that with all her heart, maybe that was why it was so easy to relax and have fun in this new life.

Getting out of the bath only when the water turned cold, she dried off before changing into an outfit fit for the Chantry. The light blue dress brought out her eyes and wasn't tight enough to prohibit her movement. Braiding her still slightly wet hair she curled it into a bun before leaving to join her family. The approval in her grandfather's eyes was enough to bring a smile to her face. Her self-sufficient attitude wasn't one Aristocrats usually took. Offering him a small smile she extended a hand to both her siblings who didn't hesitate to cling to her.

Hightown wasn't completely safe but during the daytime, no one dared to cause trouble. After all, the guards would put down anyone without hesitation. It was best to stay on their good side. However, that didn't mean she'd let her guard down. Despite her skipping siblings, and her own relaxed smile she was still tense. There was no reason to trust the fake safety that this place exuded in a way it was more dangerous than the outright hostility of Darktown. Even those of Lowtown hid their intent, although with a bit more difficulty.

It was only for an instant but shivers traced down her spine causing her eyes to glance at the darkness of the ally a few feet away. Rich chocolate brown eyes pierced her own as the man stared her down. Everything about him was dark: his skin, his hair, his eyes. There wasn't a hint of Kirkwall in his posture either. His clothing didn't seem to belong nor did the gemmed dagger on his belt. Stilling, completely it was hard not to shudder as he studied her just as intently. This was a dangerous man. Tightening her grip on her siblings, she couldn't stop herself from glaring at him. His smirk told her the action was a mistake.

Tugging her siblings along, she stuck close to her family despite the growing dread in her stomach. No matter how much she wanted to look back at the man, she knew he'd be gone. Glancing at her grandfather who'd been the only one to notice the exchange, it was hard to read his gaze. Still, the man shifted to stand behind her in a protective action that went unnoticed by everyone else. Laying a hand on her shoulder it wasn't easy to relax even as their destination came into sight.

The Kirkwall Chantry wasn't the biggest, but it was one of the most important buildings in the city. As such it was guarded both day and night by the city guard and Templars making it the safest place in the city. Stilling, she allowed her parents to pull Flora and Brett to the front while she turned all her attention to her grandfather. She wasn't foolish enough to think that man was going to walk away quietly, nor did she think she was skilled enough to deal with him on her own. Everything about him had screamed confidence from his stance to wearing such an expensive weapon without fear of thieves. Although she was curious, she could ignore the feeling.

"Did you see that man," she asked softly. The question was for his ears only not the gossiping Aristocrats around them.

"No, I only noticed your reaction," he stated. Laying his hand on her shoulder, he guided her to the front bench. He was more than ready to destroy anyone who scared his granddaughter. Leaning down under the guise of pointing out a seat he asked, "Do you have any weapons?"

Shaking her head, she sat down beside her sister allowing him to take the seat at the end. She hadn't thought to bring anything to defend herself with; that decision seemed to be the wrong one. Nodding slowly he ordered her to stay close before turning his attention to the Revered Mother. If it came down to it, he'd ask some of the guards to escort them home. Leaning against him as the service started Amara allowed a small smile to appear on her face. She might not believe in the Maker, but she didn't mind the Revered Mother. It was hard to disapprove of someone who had such a warm smile.

The issue with the Chantry service was that it lasted three hours. To a child that was torture, even she had begun to squirm by the end of the first hour. Flora and Brett didn't even make it to two and a half before they were sleeping curled up against their parents. She didn't fare much better. Her mind might be an adult but her body was that of a child. Blinking slowly she tried to stay awake by holding onto the dread she'd felt earlier but it was hard when the Revered Mother had a voice that seemed designed to induce sleep. Covering her mouth to hide a yawn she noted the shining amusement in the woman's gaze; yeah, she was doing that on purpose.

Pouting she was more than a bit relieved when the service ended. If she had the energy she'd be jumping for joy right now. Standing slowly despite how wobbly her legs were, she resisted the urge to huff in annoyance at how easily her grandfather stood. Her parents had the same grace in their movements. Relaxing as they picked up her siblings gently, she reached out to grab her grandfather's hand. There was no way that man was standing outside waiting on them to leave, still, she was more than a little relieved when her grandfather requested an escort.

Forcing her legs to move she walked beside her grandfather as they moved slowly through the street. It was dark now, the dim lights making everything seem more dangerous. Even the guards were on high alert while the only thing she could do was rub her eyes. Shifting closer to him, she eyed the shadows warily but there was no sign of the man who'd caught her attention earlier. He was probably gone, after all, what reason would he have to bother with an Aristocrat child.

She was on high alert for one person, that was her mistake. It wasn't him that came rushing out of the shadows but a group of kidnappers. How did she know they were kidnappers? Simple they yelled about taking either her or her siblings for ransom. Scowling she slid between them and her parents who'd frozen. The guards rushed forward to deal with the threat in a manner that caused her instincts to bristle. Not a single one considered that there might be more in the shadows instead they rushed forward without hesitation. Every single one of them.

Allowing herself to be herded against the wall of a house alongside her family, she eyed their surroundings even as her grandfather stood in front of them. He wasn't a warrior they all knew that if he was attacked then he'd get hurt. Expression darkening she was too caught up in her own panic to notice the echo of footsteps until it was too late. A glint of silver shinned in the moonlight for only an instant before the pummel of a dagger was hitting her grandfather's temple. Diving forward she reached out her fingertips grazing his arm.

Then she was tugged away into an ironlike grip. Screeching she kicked out hoping to do any kind of damage. Given that she was a child it didn't really help, if anything her fighting back caused them to laugh. Panic drifted through her father's eyes as he screamed for the guards who were too busy fighting to notice. Hating the bitter stinging tears that burned her eyes, she stilled. Deadly calm rushed through her blood driving away the rampant panic. If she got free now it might place her siblings in danger. Studying her captor, she noted the dagger on their hip as a retreat was called.

Taking a deep breath, she played terrified little girl as she was carried through the streets. Her captor would either make their way to Lowtown or Darktown. All she had to do was wait for a chance, then she'd tear them to pieces. Her terror wasn't all an act. She wasn't afraid of being caught; she was afraid they'd hurt her grandfather. They needed him alive to pay her ransom, but mistakes happened especially in high adrenaline situations.

It was Darktown. Refusing to flinch as the slum dwellers moved away to avoid getting involved, she noted her captor's relieved sigh. That was all the signal she needed. Snatching the small dagger she lashed out leaving a bloody line across their arm. It was easy to roll away as she was dropped. Her grip on the weapon was tight but this wasn't a fight she wanted or needed to participate in. This man was wearing full leather armor while she had on a thin dress. Escape was her best option. Flipping the weapon in her hand she threw it at his face.

The second he moved to avoid the weapon she took off. Kicking off the flats she'd worn to the Chantry, she rushed through the alleyways trying to follow the path they'd taken to get here. More than once she almost tripped over her dress, but she didn't dare slow down. Sharp stone scraped the bottom of her feet however she didn't care. Any injuries could be healed later, right now she needed to get away. Some of the Darktown dwellers raised an eyebrow at her bold action yet none moved to stop her. Just because they weren't going to help her didn't mean they'd block her way.

Darting past a shadow she almost screamed as an arm wrapped around her waist dragging her into the darkness. The hand pressed against her mouth was the only reason no sound left her lips. Grabbing the arm holding her, it was her effort to draw blood with her nails that caused her captor to hiss. Taking advantage of their slacking grip she slammed her head into their face. Landing roughly as she was tossed further into the shadows, she heard laughter.

It was him!

Staring at the man who held his nose with clear pain in his eyes she had no idea why he was laughing. Scowling she almost growled at him, it was hard to keep her aggression under control. Lowering his hand, he studied her for a moment before flickering his eyes to the entrance of the alley then back to her. Just whose side was he on anyway?

"Well aren't you aggressive," he teased. There was no tension in his shoulders, nor was he particularly worried about being attacked. His accent was strange.

"Move."

The order caused him to brighten. Leaning against the wall he blocked her path even further. Cursing internally, she almost winced when a shout reached them. Almost as one, they looked at the entrance to the alley. From the voices, there was more than one. Still, he didn't make a move for his weapon, instead, he reached out offering her his hand. Eyeing it with obvious distaste she winced as the thundering footsteps drew closer.

"Looks like you're in trouble little lady," he stated as if she didn't know. Smirking at her, the easy offer fell from his lips, "shall I kill them?"

She didn't trust him. That caused her to hesitate in taking his hand. He might be worse than those hunting her, but that was a problem for later. Right now, she needed help and he was the only one here. Grinning with a radiance that could rival the sun, he shook her hand once as if sealing a deal. Releasing her as her pursuers finally caught up, he turned to face them with an easy confidence that terrified her. Laying a hand on the hilt of his weapon he stood between her and them without fear. She'd been right that he was dangerous.

"Move!"

Shifting as he thought about the order he couldn't keep the wicked grin from his face. This was going to be fun. The little one behind him had been the only person in years to notice him; there was no way he'd give her up. Especially not to low-rank kidnappers with no sense of self-preservation.

"No," he stated enjoying the way they all tensed. Unsheathing his dagger he buzzed with silent excitement. Their reaction was predictable.

She couldn't breathe as he rushed into the fray using the tight space to his advantage. The way he moved and fought was so different from anything she'd ever seen. Every movement seemed to make the shadows curl around him as if he'd been born to them. It was beautiful. Despite the blood covering his weapon, there wasn't a single speck on him as he finally slid to a stop. Straightening as he turned back to her there was part of her that shied away from the violent smirk on his face; she shoved that part as far down as possible.

"Teach me to do that," she ordered. Throwing back his head with a roar of laughter that shook her to the bone, he didn't notice her shiver at the sound. Grinning at her once he'd regained control he wiped his dagger on one of the bodies before sheathing it.

"Sure thing little lady."

Stepping toward her it was easy to notice the brilliant flame-like quality of his bright eyes. He was strong; the kind of strong she needed to be. Sparing with Sebastian was fun but this man could teach her so much more. Offering his hand once again his grin softened as she took it slowly. She was still afraid, there was nothing that could be done about that, but he hadn't hurt her yet. Lowering to his knees, his hand was gentle around her own. Staring at the man who kneeled before her as if it was the most natural thing she refused to react. At that moment he looked more like a knight than anything else.

"My name's Amara, I expect you to use it," she ordered like the noble lady she was in this life.

"Graviel Cavallero, little lady," he stated outright refusing her order.

Pouting at his action she yelped when he picked her up. Holding her gently he easily carried her over the bodies left in his wake. Running her hand over the thin fabric of his robe she frowned. This was a material that she'd never seen. Blinking at the man who offered her a soft grin, she idly wondered where he was from. If possible the people around them shied away from him even more than they did her kidnappers. It might've had something to do with his overwhelming presence. She'd never fight him or stand in his way.

She would've asked him to let her down, but she was tired. Her feet hurt too. Leaning against him, she frowned a bit as he slipped through the alleyways around the guards who were running around like headless chickens. Rolling her eyes, she decided to never ask them for help. Trying to memorize the path he used caused her head to spin earning a quiet chuckle from the man. Before she knew it they were outside the Harrimann manor and he was knocking on the door. She probably should've warned him about her father's habit of overreacting.

Upon opening the door, the man let out a sound reminding her of a dying goose as he snatched her from the man. Wincing as he held her tightly, she allowed him to hold her close hoping it might calm her down. It did nothing but cause him to cling tighter.

"That's enough."

Landing on her feet the instant she was dropped she stumbled at the sudden action. It was only the steadying hand from her…friend/ally/teacher, that kept her from falling. Brightening at the voice she moved before realizing what she was doing. Throwing her arms around her grandfather she clung to him tightly. Even if the world were to fall down, she'd hold onto him until her final moments. Laying a gentle hand on her head, he eyed the stray she'd brought home for a long moment. Then he smiled.

"Thank you for returning my granddaughter," he said causing the man to chuckle.

"The little lady's a fighter, even if I hadn't helped she'd have made it home," he said without hesitation.

"That doesn't change the fact that you did help while our city guard were useless."

Pulling away, she winced at the bitter tone. Glancing between her grandfather and the man who still waited on the doorstep she took a deep breath. Stalking back over to the man she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside; they both knew he was humoring her. While her parents seemed ready to forget this event ever happened she refused to. Just like she refused to allow anyone to interfere with her plans. Meeting her grandfather's eyes she squared her shoulders more than ready to fight for what she wanted.

"This is my new teacher," she stated daring her family to argue. The grin from her grandfather was enough of an acceptance to make her tense shoulders drop. All she had to do now was get stronger, and find a way to drop Sebastian but getting stronger was her main priority.

(Neer – Terrence – age eight – seventeen years until Fifth Blight)

Even if he didn't have memories of a past life, he'd realize something was wrong with his father. Of course, he knew the story between his parents, none of the villagers kept it from him. Praising his mother as a hero didn't make it any easier to grow up without her. It was hard to not be bitter about not having his mother or about what his father had done. Thedas justice was a little hard to swallow for a former police officer. Given he was one of the only children in his generation he was more than a little lonely as well. At least his father had started training him. Mostly on how to survive without anyone's help but it was still teaching. He was also being taught about the world outside this village.

A world that confused him on more levels than simply that of the justice thing. There were four races: human, elf, dwarf, and qunari. He apparently was a qunari. It was strange to be something so huge and foreign to the world he left behind. Not only that but this village was made of races living together in harmony whereas outside that was hardly ever the case. Inequality had always been an issue in his old world, but not to this level. He had no idea how to feel about the way humans treated the other races, yet it caused something inside him to twist so tightly it felt as if he was being crushed.

Either in a city or in Dalish caravan's the elves were seen as worse than second-class citizens. It didn't make sense, nor did he like the idea of them being hunted outside his village. At the moment there was nothing he could do. His body while larger than that of other races was still that of a child. Playing hero was only going to get his people killed; he'd wait until the Blight began before tossing himself into the flames. That didn't mean he was happy about it. His village might not even hear a word of a Blight since they were so isolated.

He hoped they didn't this isolation was to keep them safe. If it kept them safe from the Blight then he wasn't going to complain. Still, he'd need to find the others when the Blight started. If leaving was his only option then he'd leave. Staying here while there were people less fortunate wasn't an option anyway. Just because he'd died didn't mean he'd stopped being a good person. Getting stronger before he left was his current goal; that was the reason he'd snuck out of his room in the middle of the night, stolen a practice sword, and rushed off to the hidden cave beside the village.

A very creepy cave.

Eyeing the spider webs with more than a little distaste he tried to keep relaxed. The weapon in his hand wasn't what he was used to; it was doubtful they had guns in this world. Still, he moved through motions he'd seen his father practicing. Or he tried to. It didn't feel right. Even the balance of the sword was horrible. Given this was the first time he'd held a blade it was most likely his fault that it was so awkward. He'd have to get over it. Waiting to start training until he was older wasn't an option, not when the Blight could start at any time.

Pushing back his annoyance he tried to force his body to move with the same ruthless grace that his father had displayed. It didn't work. Instead, it was awkward and clunky; like a baby deer just trying to walk. From the laughter that followed his action the world around him agreed. Wait…

Tensing he stared at the chuckling woman watching him struggle. She was one of the people the ferryman brought in last week. A human with dark hair and calloused hands. Her eyes were a piercing grey that made him more than a little uncomfortable. In a way the glint in her gaze was that of his old partner; the one that took his life. In another, it spoke of loss and pain. The drive to kill was reflected in those eyes yet he didn't sense any malice. Her amusement at his failure did annoy him but he knew she was stronger than him. Her hair was a dark brown that fell just short of her ears and while she didn't wear armor, she did need it to show her power. It radiated in every move that she made.

"Good evening," he greeted with a forced smile that caused a grin to bloom on her face. Moving to stand across from him with a bounce in her step, the woman motioned for him to attack her. Raising an eyebrow he rolled his eyes when she groaned with a fair bit of impatience. Obliging he lunged.

Sidestepping even with the long skirt she wore, the woman chuckled. Furrowing his brow, he repeated the motion getting the same result. She moved fast enough that he almost didn't see her. Where his movements were unrefined, she was dancing. Every single attack was far enough away that she felt nothing but amusement. The grin on her face never faded even as his breathing became labored. Holding her hands behind her back she hopped in place waiting for him to recover.

"You throw too much weight behind your strikes."

Catching his wrist when he lunged again, she pulled the weapon from his hand with little effort. Sighing as she tossed it into the air only to catch it again he rolled his eyes at the easy arrogance. Then she was moving making it all too obvious that he was nothing more than a pebble in her path. Both the footwork and the momentum she wielded were impressive; even knowing nothing about swordsmanship he could tell she was skilled. Even more eye-catching was how she switched the sword between her hands so naturally. She used two blades.

Her movements were vastly different than his father's. Where she was fast and agile his father was raw power. Part of him thought it was the racial difference however he didn't want that to be the case. Narrowing his eye as she came to a stop, he refused to pout.

"Your body doesn't have the power to support heavy movements," she stated with a hint of amusement. He was starting to despise her smirk. Still, he needed to get stronger.

"I can't afford to wait," he stated earning a raised eyebrow. For a moment she eyed him closely then she turned away with a huff.

"Go, home kid."

Biting his lip as she walked away, he wanted to argue. Instead, he took a deep breath, even if she didn't want to help him, she'd still given him a hint. His body wasn't strong enough to fight like his father so he needed to focus on what he could do. Sliding into an all too familiar stance, he began running through the brawling fighting style his old partner had taught him. The man might be a total ass but he'd been a good fighter. That didn't change the disgust he felt at using the fighting style of the man who shot him in the back like a coward.

Forcing his body through the clumsy movements he ignored the eyes burning into his back. She might've taken the practice sword but he didn't need it. Hours later as he dragged himself home, he pretended not to see her watching him or the way she rolled her eyes at his efforts. That didn't change the fact that every night she supervised his training or that she tossed him bits of advice every time that he had trouble. After about a month of dealing with her passive-aggressive comments, he'd started comparing her to a beaten dog too afraid to trust. In that way, she was a lot like him.

It became a schedule to wake up, go through the half-hearted schooling system of the town, then meet her for training. Despite the fact she didn't let him anywhere near the practice sword, she wasn't cruel. That wasn't to say she was supportive either instead she hovered and snapped at him. Still, she didn't scold him for mistakes or claim his efforts were in vain. If anything she seemed more afraid of getting attached to him than actually training him.

"Level out your elbows!"

Jolting at the advice he threw her a smile before following her order. It was easy to see the tension in her shoulders as she turned away from him. Part of him wondered who she was before coming to Neer, after all this kind of caution didn't come from nowhere. Had she been betrayed like him? Either way that didn't matter when he needed her help to get stronger.

Throwing another punch, he froze when it hit her palm. She'd moved without him noticing. For once she wasn't simply watching instead she was staring into his eyes with a cold clarity that he'd only seen once. It was like looking into a mirror.

"Why do you need strength," she asked softly. It was so unlike her that he frowned, where was the gruff woman that snapped at him.

"You wouldn't believe me."

"Try me."

"There's someone I need to find and protect."

Tilting her head she eyed him before smiling; however, there was something mocking in the expression.

"Fighting for someone else is nothing short of stupid," she stated with enough confidence to make him bristle.

"It's not just for them, I want to be strong," he admitted earning a laugh.

"Then prove it," she taunted.

Letting go of his hand she stepped back before tossing the practice sword at him. Catching the weapon, although he fumbled for a moment, he narrowed his eyes as she simply eyed him. There wasn't even a hint of emotion on her face much less amusement. Had he said something to set her off? Currently, he didn't have the ability to beat her so this was a test. For some reason, she'd gotten tired of watching him and decided to deal with the situation. He had no idea how to pass this test, however, he wasn't about to back down. Straightening, he met her gaze with his own.

Crack

Even watching her, it was hard to block the kick aimed at his chest. The spiderwebs crack that formed on the metal sword was more than a little worrying. Throwing a punch at her face, he paled when she simply leaned to the side enough to dodge. In every way, she was better than him; which was expected. Still, that didn't mean she was invulnerable, it simply meant he was weak. Lashing out instead of falling back he winced when her fist dug into his stomach. Falling to the ground it was hard to breathe much less block the kick that sent him rolling.

He was screwed.

That fact didn't stop his lips from stretching into a grin. This was the power he needed to protect them. Shoving off the ground as the woman reached for him, he noted the way her eyes widened as the practice blade brushed against her cheek. In less than an instant, she slammed her palm into the blade breaking it in half, then her hand was wrapped around his throat. That didn't stop him from trying to stab her in the neck although the blade bounced off. Were those scales? Eyeing the skin-colored scales on her neck he didn't notice her dropping him until he landed.

"What a greedy kid," she mocked with a grin that matched his own. Stilling, he froze a bit when her hand landed on his head. Eyeing the woman as she gently ruffled his hair, he knew he'd passed her test. Beaming at her caused a flush to cross her cheeks; it was obvious she hadn't received much positive affection. If that was the case, he'd used the knowledge to earn the best training possible.

"Your strong," he praised just to see her reaction. Turning away from him with a huff, she didn't bother to respond yet he noted the red tint to the tips of her ears. Laughing, he leaned back on his hands. Although he'd lost, easily lost, that didn't dull the feeling of being one step closer to his goal. It wasn't going to be anytime soon, however, he'd get strong enough to challenge anyone who threatened his family. When that day came, he couldn't help but wonder what they'd think of him?

"Well, let's go tell your dad about this."

Wait… what?

Eyeing the woman closely he silently wondered if he'd heard that right. When she simply smiled at him, he paled. Yeah sure telling his dad that he'd been sneaking out of the house to train was a great idea. Standing he refused to whimper or whine as she grinned at him. Of course, she knew he didn't want to tell his dad, however, she was also silently threatening to abandon him if he disagreed. Clever, he'd use the same method if their situation was reversed.

"Sure."

(Kalcult – Joseph – age seven – seventeen years until Fifth Blight)

He'd wanted to be human instead he was a fucking dwarf. At least he was only a half-dwarf making his height issues a little less apparent. Eyeing the latest group of fools his father was scamming he smirked a bit. His father was clever to make use of their desperation. Honestly, it wasn't as if they were hiding their intent to go back on the deal to give twenty percent of their findings once they returned. The fake maps his father handed over were the best option given the expression the men were throwing his mother.

It was obvious they wanted to die.

If he was older he'd force them to watch as he cut off their hands before throwing them to the Darkspawn. Too bad he wasn't strong enough to deal with them himself. Calming when his mother ran a gentle hand through his hair, he sighed internally. The woman was too kind he'd know that even if he didn't have memories of his past life. Anyone who dared touch her was going to bleed. Smiling at the fools he didn't bother to hide the bloodlust in his gaze. He wanted to see them die. Shivering the human playing knight looked away unable to meet his eyes.

Watching them walk toward the entrance to the deep roads, he didn't flinch away from his father's eyes. Somehow the man always knew when his anger got the better of him. Instead of scolding him, the man patted his shoulder. Skipping back to her lab, his mother didn't notice the matching darkness lingering around them. It was ironic how creatures of darkness were always attracted to those that shinned the brightest.

"I sent them down route four."

Following after his wife, the man didn't bother to worry when his son stepped out the door. Route four was right on the path of a couple of Darkspawn camps. In about a week they'd go down and collect the weapons and armor left over; however, that didn't change the way the fools had looked at his mother. He'd wait a bit then go see how they were doing, after all, it wasn't any fun to simply wait for news of their deaths. Seeing the light leave their eyes as they begged to live was an amazing sight he didn't want to miss.

"Josh! Are you coming to the bonfire?"

Eve.

Just like his mother the dark-haired girl in front of him was able to wipe away his anger. Only two years older than him, the elven girl was so childish. Smiling he nodded. Playing around for a few extra minutes wouldn't change much. Walking in the opposite direction as the Deep Rhoads, she fell into step with him easily. The girl was nothing if not predictable. Bouncing beside him like a puppy, she chattered about everything that caught her interest with an innocence that only children could have. If it came down to it he'd slaughter anyone to keep that smile on her face. He'd do it with a smile too.

"Do you think those humans will come back," she asked softly.

"Of course," he stated with a smile. Nudging her shoulder without the slightest amount of guilt, he watched her fears fly away. Lying to her was easy; lying had always been easy.

Escorting her home although she didn't know he was doing that, he didn't regret lying as she hugged her older brother; Ash. Offering the teen a nod, he took the chance to vanish while she was distracted. No one stopped him as he vanished into the Deep Roads entrance. Some people like Eve's brother were smart enough to know he wasn't any good; however, they also knew he would protect this place with his life. Then again he'd always been good at killing.

Tracking the fools was easy. They didn't seem to care that they were leaving a trail for anything to follow. To normal people, the Deep Roads were dangerous especially in moments like this where they were going into Darkspawn territory. For him this place was nothing. After all, it was easy to avoid the Darkspawn when he could sense where they were. He supposed this was that bastard dragon's connection with the vermin. It made sense that such a rat of a dragon had the ability to sense other rats. Fucking dragon was still messing with him even now. At least this let him avoid the Darkspawn by taking side passages.

Did the other three have this ability too?

Given that all of them were chosen it was possible, however, the idea of Red getting this power was unsettling. She was a kid, which was a bit strange coming from a man that had murdered hundreds before his twenties. Still, that girl was different from him. She'd either be tainted by this world or come out shining brighter than ever; he wanted to know what she'd become. Meeting the other three again was going to be more than a little weird; he didn't understand how they'd recognize each other. At this point he assumed Red was going to be the one to find them first; she was after all the only one who knew the future of this world.

Taking a side passage that he knew led to an enclave a little above the path the fools had taken, he wondered if his father knew about these little passages. They were hidden almost completely, however, stretched around the main passages easily. Stopping at the edge of the little enclave overlooking the main passage the fools had taken, he eyed the carnage below with dull eyes. The idiots had walked straight into a darkspawn camp without hesitation leading to their current situation.

Flames clung to the floor as the Emissary flung spell after spell at the remaining humans. Letting a dark smirk cross his lips, he settled in to watch the show. It was hilariously easy for the dark spawn to control the situation below in a way that let him know they'd win. There were only two remaining warriors, including the one who'd looked at his mother, fighting for their pathetic lives. Their struggle ended the instant the Hurlock Alpha stepped forward although they had no idea yet. Leaning back against the wall, he eyed the blade wielded by the Hurlock with more than a little distaste. It was a toxic black that seemed to drip with green poison. No one could survive being hit by that thing.

The duel-wielding warrior fell first, his body being torn in half by the Alpha who relished the action. A dark grin that honestly looked disgusting formed on the creature's face as it held up the top half of the body. His brutal action was enough to draw a low chuckle from the half-dwarven boy watching. Hiding the smile behind his hand Joseph turned his attention to the remaining warrior who'd somehow heard him. Wide pleading eyes met his own however they did nothing to change his decision. Tilting his chin up, he dropped his hand allowing the man to see the pleased smile on his face.

"You!"

Flinching when the Hurlock stepped in his direction the man's hands shook violently. A sharp chuckling sound was drawn from the Hurlock who seemed to enjoy not only the man's fear but the way his whole body trembled. Meeting the human's eyes the creature side-stepped the wild sword swing before grabbing the iron plated wrist.

"Stop!"

In a single move, the Hurlock severed the arm holding the sword from the man's body. Screeching the human dropped to his knees trying to press his other hand against the wound; it did nothing to stop the blood flowing onto the stone. Whimpering he scrambled back pleas falling from his lips that only excited the dark spawn around him. It wasn't enough for the man-turned-boy watching.

"Hold."

The order filled the air stopping every movement and sound in the tunnels. Stilling the dark spawn turned their attention to the half-Dwarf whose eyes seemed to shine with a toxic green light. Eyeing the hope that filled the human's eyes, Joseph wondered if the man was truly foolish enough to think he was saved. From the expression on his face, it was true. Well, that opinion wasn't going to last long.

"Help me down," he ordered with a cold clarity that didn't match the youth of his face. Stepping forward an ogre reached up allowing him to step off the Enclave and onto its shoulders. It was nice to know he could control Dark Spawn, just another gift from that rat-bastard of a dragon.

Disregarding the ogre the instant he touched the ground, he relished the growing horror on the human's face. There was a dark and twisted part of him that not only loved this but craved it. Waving away the Emissary that stepped forward with a soft clicking sound, he grinned at the cowering man. This was the same human who looked at his mother with those eyes, so maybe he needed to take out those very same eyes. Glancing at the Hurlock Alpha he raised an eyebrow at the creature who seemed more than a little displeased with his actions.

"You want to keep your prey?"

Tightening its grip on the sword the Hurlock shifted on its heels. Chuckling Joseph nodded slowly before holding out his hand for the creature to wait. Kneeling before the man who watched him with condemning eyes he tilted his head slightly. So this was the man who thought himself able to not only venture into the deep roads but also view women as toys. Grabbing the man's chin he couldn't keep the dark grin from his face; he didn't even try.

"Is this glory enough for you?"

Shoving him away before the man could answer, he nodded to the Hurlock who matched the grin on his face with a much more vicious one. This power over Dark Spawn was something he could use. Maybe that dragon had been good for something after all. Stepping back as the Hurlock stepped forward, he didn't care that the creature was the enemy of life itself, all he cared about was the fact he could use it.

"Make it painful."

The order wasn't necessarily something the Hurlock needed, however, hearing it caused the human to scream. Wildly grabbing for any sort of weapon he looked even more like a fool. Crossing his arms as the human snatched a dagger off the ground, he wasn't worried when the man lunged for him rather than the Hurlock. Tilting his head back he noted both the Ogre and Emissary moving to stop the human, however, they stopped when he raised his hand.

Anger warred with hate in the eyes of the man who'd looked at his mother like a common prostitute it was nothing compared to the blade that severed his wrist from his arm. Hot blood splattered against his clothing and face as the man fell forward onto the Hurlock's sword. Gasping for air the man looked down at the weapon in his chest before meeting the eyes of the boy in front of him. Twisted satisfaction glinted in those green eyes that shinned with cruel power. Choking as the blade in his body was pulled out slowly the tears that stung his eyes were enough to draw a laugh from the boy.

"M-monster…"

Rolling his eyes the boy nodded to the Hurlock who grabbed the man by the hair. Yanking his head back the creature almost purred as it pressed the sharpened blade against his throat. Sliding the sword across the man's neck slowly yet not deep enough to cause death the Hurlock chuckled in the man's ear making sure to drag it's tongue along his skin before dropping him. Crashing to the ground the man gurgled trying to breathe around the blood filling his lungs. Slamming his foot onto the man's head the boy savored the moment the man stopped breathing. He'd missed this.

Taking a deep breath to drive away his lingering blood lust, the boy glanced down at his body with slight annoyance. Stepping away from the Dark Spawn, he moved toward the discarded supplies that the fools had been carrying. One of them had to have something to clean off this blood before his mother saw it. Luckily the idiots hadn't even managed to drink any of their water before they became prey for their hunters. Washing off the blood as best he could, the boy hummed softly. Already the Darkspawn were proving useful.

Due to the creatures, there were untold treasures in the Deep Roads, with this ability claiming those treasures would be easy. Not to mention he could use them to hone his combat skills. Still simply calling them by their classifications wasn't going to do. Turning on his heel he eyed the group of Dark Spawn closely. There were five genlocks, two of them archers, he supposed learning to use a bow with these creatures as live targets was a good idea. The Ogre and Emissary who hadn't taken their eyes off him in the last few moments; there was a keen intelligence in the Emissary's eyes. His real prize was the Hurlock Alpha who was having more than a little fun carving the human corpses to pieces.

Not bad.

"Gather," he ordered causing the Hurlock to grumble.

Smirking as the creatures moved to stand in front of him there was part of him that wondered how much they actually understood. Either way, they would obey or die. Moving to the Genlocks first, he eyed them before tilting his head. One of them met his gaze then looked down quickly causing him to grin. Motioning it forward he silently ordered it to stand beside the Emissary who barely glanced at the creature. At least these tools couldn't talk back although that meant they wouldn't be much help in more advanced situations.

"Kneel."

Eyeing the four creatures it was a bit amusing when the Genlock almost fell to its knees. Holding back a chuckle he raised an eyebrow at the Hurlock who took a moment to consider the order before sliding gracefully to its knees. Ignoring the Alpha for now he turned to the Emissary who seemed both intrigued and happy with the order. The disappointment when he decided to deal with the Ogre first brought to mind the image of a scolded puppy.

Laying his hand on the Ogre's shoulder he had no idea that his eyes were glowing a burning green or that he was the first of his soul siblings to discover the abilities left behind by the old gods. All that he knew was the fact these creatures belonged to him from now until the moment he discarded them.

"Tank."

The name hung in the air for a moment before the creature grunted its eyes never leaving the ground. Moving on to the Genlock who trembled under his touch.

"Lance."

Briefly meeting his gaze again the Genlock seemed to relish the name as the other Genlocks chattered with discontent. Turning his gaze on them it was a bit amusing to watch them fall to their knees in hopes of earning mercy. Rolling his eyes at the creatures he moved to the Emissary who purred the instant his hand landed on it's shoulder. Eyeing the Dark Spawn mage he felt the joy pouring off the creature.

"Flare."

Snapping its head up to meet his eyes the creature seemed to study him before lowering its head once again. Letting his hand fall off its shoulder, he turned to the Alpha who'd been watching him with a challenging expression. If it wanted there was no doubt in his mind the Hurlock could tear him to pieces easily. Instead, it waited and judged his actions. Rather than touching its shoulder as he had with the other, the boy held out his hand before pressing it against the top of the Alpha's head. Partly to show dominance and partly to test how much the creature would allow. Never looking away from him the Hurlock waited with dark eyes. Both were unaware of the dark threads that spun around them binding them together until one of them perished.

"Carnage," he stated causing those dark threads to snap into place with cruel certainty. This creature was his sword until the time he could wield his own. Slowly Carnage lowered his head accepting the name.

Releasing the creature he stepped back unaware that his eyes had lost the unnatural green glow. Brushing his hands over his pants he waved his hand motioning for them to stand. He'd have to get rid of them before the Blight began however until that moment he'd enjoy using them as he pleased.

"Hold this position until I return," he ordered before turning on his heel. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that these creatures would obey his every order. The chirp from the Emissary that followed caused him to glance back offering the creature a smile.

Following the same path back to the surface he finally allowed a dark laugh to pass his lips. The men who objectified his mother were dead leaving their supplies for the taking. He'd return in about a week to gather the supplies and mark his first excavation target. Soon he'd make a name for himself as a treasure hunter and maybe his soul siblings would find him. Although it was fine if they didn't either way he'd have enough money and fame to influence the world.

Exiting the Deep Roads he slid the gate back into position with practiced ease. The setting sun heated his back for a brief moment before he turned only to meet unreadable grey eyes. Ash stood at the mouth of the cave entrance with his arms crossed. Raising an eyebrow, he allowed the teenage elf to study him expecting judgment. Following the other boy's eyes to his shoes, he sighed at the blood clinging to the leather of course he hadn't gotten all the evidence off. Instead of speaking the elven boy tossed a bag in his direction.

Catching the bag, he blinked at the change of clothes that waited within. Part of him wondered how the elf got his clothes before deciding it didn't matter. Shrugging he moved toward the darkest part of the cave while Ash kept guard. The other boy had to be doing this for a reason since any other child would run off shouting by this point. Tugging off his clothes Joseph idly wondered how long it would take this body to be covered in scars. Although the thought lingered, he changed into the clean clothing before shoving the evidence into the bag. No matter the elf's reason he owed him now.

Stepping out of the cave, he found the elven boy sitting on a small rock beside the entrance. The boy's dark hair hung over his shoulder as he sat staring at the village they shared. Glancing up at him the elf's forest-colored eyes seemed to darken before he sighed.

"Are they dead?"

"Of course."

"Eve's waiting by the bonfire."

"I'll get going."

Nodding the elven boy stood and motioned to the bag in his hand. Letting the boy take it, he watched the elf walk away without trying to stop him. While there might be a chance that Ash might tell someone he didn't think the elven boy was going to say a word about his actions today. Running a hand through his hair, he idly wondered why exactly the elf had helped him before starting toward the bonfire. Right now, Ash's reasons didn't matter. If the other boy ever needed his help, however, he'd be more than happy to repay this debt.

(Denerim – Clair – age six – seventeen years until Fifth Blight)

Crimson eyes stared out at the street below with barely concealed contempt. Today had been her last day at the orphanage she'd been left at. The lovely matron had decided that she needed to be with her own people at the Alienage, a decision that she rejected. Instead, she'd gathered what little she had which turned out to only be the clothes on her back, and vanished into the darkened alleyways. Her plan was to leave the city meaning she'd need money. In her past life she wouldn't have even considered stealing now it was a necessity.

Singling out a limping man from the crowd, she slid from the darkness joining the quick-moving group. His cloak was a rich night colored black without even a single hint of dirt on the fabric above the knees. Even if he was injured this man had enough money to hold onto such an expensive item of clothing. Ignoring the rumble of her stomach, she used her messy hair to cover her elven ears knowing that she wasn't supposed to be in the main plaza. Trailing behind the man with silent steps – they were necessary when living in an orphanage full of people more likely to beat her than feed her – she tried to see if he had any weapons.

Either he was a noble which wasn't likely given the way he slipped easily into a darkened street or he was a mercenary. She'd rather steal from a runaway noble than a mercenary however this man had the most expensive-looking clothing and he'd been alone unlike how nobles usually moved. Pushing away the way her stomach twisted, she caught sight of the dark sheath attached to his hip. Did he use daggers, it didn't seem long enough for a sword? Paling as he sped up she shoved through the crowd uncaring of the way her messy hair brushed back revealing her ears. There was no way she was losing her meal ticket.

Stepping into the alley she stilled at the unnatural silence that hovered in the area. There was no sign of the man she'd been following nor was there any sign of rats. Lacking rats was the real issue since the creatures seemed to always know when something was going to happen. If they weren't around then this area was dangerous much more so than she'd expected. Paling as the blood drained from her face she almost lunged toward the barrels in the corner hoping that the trap hadn't been set for her. Huddled behind them she hugged her knees as heavy footsteps echoed; she was not going to peak over the edges. Meeting the beady eyes of the rat hiding a few feet away she suppressed the urge to flinch. Even after sharing her food with them for years, the tiny creatures were not something she was fond of.

Catching the way it glanced behind her before backing away she pressed her forehead against her knees to make herself smaller. Why had she thought this was a good idea? Gritting her teeth the girl wanted to scream, instead, she barely breathed.

"Estaba justo aquí!"

"Bastardo cobarde, búscalo ahora."

Heavy accented Spanish flowed through the air around her causing her to pale even further. There was only one rumored Spanish-speaking country in Thedas; Antiva. Had she managed to stumble into a situation with the Crows? Her luck couldn't be that horrible. Unable to resist glancing over the tip of the barrel she noted the glinting mask-like pin on the shoulder of the tallest man's cloak. Well, she was screwed. Brown eyes met her own for a brief instant as the man beside him stiffened. For a second she hoped that he'd ignore her, then he was stalking toward her hiding place.

Flinching as his hand wrapped around her arm, she didn't resist as he tugged her out into the open. There were five men in total both elven and human. The tall leader himself was an elf although to her he seemed more like a titan. Letting her eyes sink to the ground in a show of submission she didn't bother to hope they'd let her go. Hoping hadn't done much to help her.

"Una niña?"

"Qué?"

"Pregúntale dónde está, debe haber visto algo."

Kneeling in front of her, the man with curly brown hair had forced a smile on his face. Even a normal child would have noticed the fake nature of the expression. There was no way someone with such cold eyes might be able to fool her. Shivering she leaned away from him as much as possible which wasn't much with the tight grip on her arm. She was defiantly going to bruise. Biting her lip when he reached out to gently grip her chin her stomach twisted with disgust.

"Girl, have you seen a limping man?"

Moving to shake her head she stilled when the grip on her chin tightened in warning. Swallowing back her fear she hated the fact her eyes were stinging. The amusement in his gaze brought back too many memories.

"No."

The effort from keeping her voice from shaking was enough to make her dizzy. Tuning them out as he released her chin she let her eyes fall back to the ground. In this type of situation, she didn't have many options other than to pray they'd leave. From the growing dread pressing against her shoulders, she knew a plan B was needed. Letting her eyes flicker to the waist of the man holding her arm, she noted the dagger on his hip. Something cold rushed through her body for only an instant causing a light flicker of lightning to brush over her skin.

Shivering she hated how distant the world seemed as they talked in Antivan. Cotton seemed to cling to her ears while she eyed the hilt of the dagger. The instant she reached for the weapon they'd kill her. If she did nothing, they'd kill her. She'd already died in a dark alley once, at this point she'd burn the world to avoid dying the exact same way twice. Sucking in a trembling breath, pulled at the ice flowing through her body hoping that something would happen. Wrapping her hand around the hilt of the dagger a flicker of barely visible lightning rushed up her arm attacking the hand of her captor.

Hissing in pain the man tossed her away drawing the attention of the others. Laying on the ground limply she barely breathed as her mind spun in circles. Apparently, she had magic. A rush of childish glee mixed with terror as the situation sank in. She had magic; the templars would find her and stuff her away in the circle like an animal. Tightening her grip on the knife she'd stolen the girl struggled to shove the terror to the furthest part of her mind. Right now she needed to focus or she'd be killed.

Pushing herself up slowly, she held back a finch at the dark glare aimed at her; at least, now she wasn't the only one unhappy with the situation. The leader's paling was the only warning she had before a gentle hand was resting on her head. Catching the unease in the other elf's gaze, she started to glance up only for the hand to move down and cover her eyes. Something inside her uncoiled at the simple action.

"Don't look."

The heavily accented voice sent a shiver down her spine as the man moved away from her silently. If not for how warm his hand had been she'd have thought him nothing more than a ghost. The darkness of his cloak caught her attention before she processed his order. This man had wasted his chance at escape. Golden brown met crimson as he glanced back at her for only an instant. Tightening her grip on the dagger she studied his eyes that lacked malice. Deciding to trust him, for now, she closed her eyes slowly. She couldn't do anything to stop herself from hearing what followed.

A warm chuckle hung in the air and something inside her connected it to the man in front of her. Holding the dagger in front of her although she knew it would do nothing, she stayed completely still despite the cries of pain that reached her ears. Rustling of clothing followed by the clang of blades echoed around her. A tangy copper scent hung in the air as a body dropped with a heavy thud. Being unable to see left a bad taste in her mouth.

Wind rushed against her skin followed by a loud crash behind her seconds before a pained scream met the air. Slamming her hand over her eyes just in case she had any urge to open them, she held the weighted dagger despite knowing just how useful it would be if she was attacked. Something warm pooled against the tips of her shoes causing her toes to curl. Just who was this man that he went against five Antivan Crows without hesitation. Panicked pleas filled the air reminding her of a cowering dog for only an instant then it was silent. Honestly, the silence was much worse than anything else. Lashing out with the dagger on instinct when a hand rested on her shoulder, she earned a small smile from the man although she kept her eyes closed.

"Easy Pequeña, battles over."

Opening her eyes slowly she noticed the flecks of green in his eyes as he kneeled in front of her. Dark wavy hair flowed to the tips of his shoulders reminding her of a river, it almost covered the scar stretching across his cheekbone. By appearance, he seemed to be in his mid-thirties however ages in Thedas were weird. She didn't dare glance behind him at the remnants of his battle. Handing over the knife when he reached for it, she was more than a little surprised when he sheathed and returned it to her. Holding the weapon against her chest, she flinched when he brushed back her hair to reveal her ears.

"Name?"

"Clair."

Her immediate yet shaky answer brought a smile to his lips. Unclipping the cloak, he threw it over her shoulders with a smooth motion that kept him directly in her line of vision. Reaching one hand up to pull the cloak tight against her, it was hard not to note the tattered dark armor he wore. The twin blades on his hip held the insignia of the Crows. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that the brown pouch on his side held vials of poison. This man was an Antivan Crow being chased by his own order. He'd betrayed the Crows or spitted them enough that they wanted his head. Had he failed a mission or gone directly against his superiors?

"Are you alone," he asked softly. Her nod drew a thin frown from the man. Sighing out a breath that seemed to carry the weight of the world he asked, "do you have anywhere to go?"

Shaking her head she was more than aware this man was dangerous. If he decided to simply kill her then there was nothing she could do about it. Staying silent as he thought over the situation she cringed as the blood pooling at her feet began to sink into her thin shoes. Noticing immediately he tried to look guilty; if anything he seemed to be more sullen than anything else. How long until the city guard discovered this situation? How long until the templars found out she was a mage?

Gripping the cloak tightly she shrank back wishing that her soul siblings were here. What if she was locked away? Trembling she tried to stop herself from spiraling into the terror she'd pushed away before. Instead, the world seemed to fade away as she spiraled. Soon she'd be forced into a circle without anyone or anything to keep her breathing. If this world tried to cage her she'd let it burn. Her soul siblings would burn it to ashes before they even considered another option.

She wanted them here.

"We need to get out of here," he mumbled drawing her back to reality. Peering at him through blurry eyes, she started to plead with him not to leave her only for him to speak, "I'm going to pick you up now."

Nodding slowly, she jerked back when he moved toward her a little too quickly causing him to freeze. Giving her a moment to calm, he eyed her closely before repeating the action at a much slower pace. Picking her up easily he held her off the ground with one hand as he easily plucked the blood-tainted shoes off her feet and tossed them away. Watching them land a few feet away, she hid her face against his shoulder the instant she caught sight of the corpses around them. Closing her eyes tightly, she didn't dare touch him as he carried her away from the massacre.

"Name's Dominico, I'm from Antiva," he said hoping to distract her from the blood around them. The nod against his shoulder was enough to show the girl was listening. Rambling about Antiva in a soothing voice he relaxed when the girl slumped against him. Then came the second problem, what was he supposed to do with a little girl?

A girl that looked suspiciously like an old friend of his. Would the bastard pay him if he took in his daughter or would he rip out his heart? Most likely the elven man didn't even know he had a child if nothing else it might cause a stir. Perhaps she had her presumed father's talent in battle, Fade knows if that man would ever be beaten in battle. What if he raised an assassin better than any the Crow's could ever produce? Grinning at the thought he knew such an action would be more than enough revenge against those that discarded him so easily. One day he'd return to Antiva and tear the Crow's apart for throwing him away having an apprentice sounded like rubbing salt in the wound.

There was also the debt he owed the elven man.

All the excuses in the world couldn't change the fact he was taking in a child without any real money. He'd already sold everything except his weapons and the girl needed new shoes. The shoe issue was sort of his fault however he'd never admit that to anyone other than himself. Slipping easily into the rundown hotel room he'd rented through the window he finally allowed his guard to drop. Laying the girl on the bed, he eyed the way she immediately curled into a ball. She was far too small even for an elven child.

Looking at the list of contracts on the corner table he sighed before deciding it was more than time to go to work. Vanishing out of the room through the same window, mainly due to the chair pressed against the wooden door, he locked it behind him. That day more than five bodies fell to the ground.


Hi guys, here's chapter 3. I don't know what language Antiva speaks (it was a coin flip between Spanish and Italian).

Let me know what you think of this chapter and the characters

- Stay safe and have a good day

Shyla