I do not own Dragon Age (I do own my Ocs)

(Kalcult – Joseph – age seven – seventeen years until the blight)

Learning he could control Dark Spawn was enough to kickstart his obsession with finding anything with even the smallest value in the Deep Roads. Part of his mind likened it to a dragon hoarding gold but he hated the comparison to that rat dragon who couldn't answer a single question. Knowing that a Blight would start eventually turned his mind to weapons and armor rather than money; although he wasn't about to turn it away. Knowledge was also something he'd never toss away despite the fact he couldn't exactly use it at the moment. Old tomes could be traded to Dwarven scholars or sold for profit; either way, they were useful to have. Still, the idea of someone finding his pets hoarding knowledge and items was enough to make him chuckle.

Since the slaughter of the last adventure group, most visitors had decided to cut off their pursuit of fame and glory leaving him free reign of the Deep Roads. However, he wasn't foolish enough to dive in without considering the consequences. Vanishing to chase profit would do nothing but worry his parents and his elves, so he stayed relatively close to the surface. He'd have time once his body was mature enough to put up a decent fight instead of relying on his pets. There was also the fact he didn't have to be present for his pets to find valuables. More than once he'd returned to find more items stuffed into barrels; they were most likely trying to earn rewards by pleasing him.

Considering that the only creatures Darkspawn tried to gain favor with were Archdemons, had the rat dragon passed on that title to him. It was a watered-down version at least given that he could only control a set number at a time. The seven he currently had were more than enough for his goals, especially since they had some manner of intelligence, or were they simply gaining intelligence the longer they stayed around him? Both were options, however, he doubted he'd be able to ever find the answers right away. Observation and time were the only ways to discover if his theory held any weight. He'd rather have a few loyal pets than an entire army of idiotic fools.

Tossing one of the daggers they'd found into the air he could almost feel the magic clinging to the blade. Or maybe that was the runes he sensed given that Dwarves were unable to do magic. Perhaps his hybrid blood or connection to the Darkspawn was what allowed him to feel the power lurking in the weapon. Just another question to add to the growing list. Sighing, he tossed the weapon back to Lance who caught it with a chitter. The envious glances from the other Genlocks brought an amused smirk to his face.

Sliding off the crate he'd been using as a chair, he stilled at the sudden warmth that flashed through his chest. It took a moment to recognize the emotion as fondness however it took a lot less time to trace it back to Flare. Eyeing the Emissary, he tilted his head without noticing the toxic glow that emanated from his green eyes. The creature was brimming with affection aimed toward him; it was a bit strange. Trailing along the invisible threads that connected him to his pets, he wasn't too surprised to feel Lance's satisfaction and devotion nor was Tank being bored a shock.

Finding the thread for Carnage was both easier and harder since the Alpha was farther away. Lips tugging into a frown he stalked toward where his Hurlock was guarding the entrance to his territory gaining the creature's attention. Crossing his arms in a silent challenge, he wasn't all to surprised to feel the amusement leaking from his pet. He'd be amused to if a half Dwarf child tried their hand at intimidation.

"You're an ass," he stated causing the Hurlock to grin. Which wasn't pretty given the razor-sharp teeth that seemed poised to rip apart flesh.

He hoped his soul siblings were finding less gruesome companions. Stretching for a moment he knew exactly what he was doing baring his throat to the creature beside him. It was both a test and a challenge. Blinking at the chitter that followed the action he stared at the Alpha trying to examine the emotions that barely let him notice their existence. There was something bright flickering across the Hurlock's gaze that his ability refused to translate. Frowning, he shoved it to the back of his mind before turning to head home.

"I'm heading back to the surface, start looking for intact ruins," he ordered gaining a grunt.

Somehow his ability was evolving with prolonged proximity to his pets. It was likely his body was adjusting to using more of the dragons left behind power; if that was the case then he needed to learn more about the dragon. Lore and legend weren't exactly something he had access to. It was likely he'd have to fumble his way through learning to use the ability he'd been given, but that wasn't exactly the fastest way to mastering it. Maybe meditation would help. Sighing he ran a hand through his hair before resolving to ask his parents about the Darkspawn. Both would have a perspective due to their experience.

At least it was him with this ability, not Red.

Exiting the Deep Roads, he found Ash waiting yet again. The Dark haired elf had taken to stalking the entrance every time he went to check on his pets. It was likely the teen wanted something from him, but he'd never asked. Tilting his head when a flash of black caught his attention, he barely had time to brace himself before Eve was clinging to him. Relaxing instantly he pretended not to hear Ash's exasperated sigh.

"Evening," he greeted the instant she released him. Taking a step back, he noted the lingering scent of Elfroot clinging to her clothing. Pouting at the amusement in his gaze, she huffed like an angered kitten when Ash ruffled her hair.

"Joseph," he stated managing to sound both amused and annoyed. Raising an eyebrow in silent question he caught the wary glance Ash sent at the tunnel entrance.

"Be nice, so what's down there," Eve questioned catching both their attention. Looking away at her scolding, Ash tugged on his gloves.

"I'll tell you later," he promised gaining a sharp glance from Ash.

Staring down the older boy, he barely noticed when Eve nodded and started skipping back toward the village. Although he wouldn't really tell her everything, not until she was ready, he idly wondered what her brother could do to stop him. Rolling his eyes, the elven boy motioned for him to follow as they began trailing after Eve. For a moment he was a bit disappointed at the easy victory, then he noticed Eve was out of hearing range.

"Find anything good," Ash questioned bringing a smirk to his face.

So it was money that the teen wanted. It wasn't much of an issue, since he did owe him.

"Lots of Armor and Weapons, some tomes," he said keeping his tone even. Catching the almost violent tug that the elf gave his glove, he almost frowned. Stomach clenching he decided not to tease the teen.

"Gold?"

"Yep, I'm looking for a good hideaway now," he admitted. Once he found a Thaig close by, he'd be able to store his loot for later. Part of him wanted to push into the Deep Roads for something more than a few scraps. Pushing away the greedy thought as Ash finally released his glove, he tried not to show the way tension left his shoulders.

"I'll join you soon," the elf announced.

"What?"

Choking on air, he frowned openly as the teen grinned. The completely fake expression was more than a little worrying. If someone had threatened his elf, he was going to skin them alive. Trying to push through his violent thoughts he barely kept from refusing outright. While he did need friends outside his pets, it was unknown how Ash would respond to his Darkspawn. There was also the fact he didn't actually trust the teen to have his back. Before he could question the teen, Eve was dancing back into sight. At least she wasn't planning on following him into the Deep Roads.

"Eve has a surprise for you," Ash announced unknowingly ruining what little peace he was clinging to. It took him a moment to force down his instinct to growl; there was no way Ash would allow his little sister into the Deep Roads. Still, the grin worn by the teen was more than a little annoying.

"Oh, I asked your mom to teach me," Eve announced regaining his attention. Pride clung to her words as she waited for his approval.

"You want to be a Healer," he asked ignoring Ash completely. At least that explained the scent he'd noticed earlier.

Sharing a glance the two elves were silent. Eye twitching, he considered the possibility someone was bothering them. There were few elves in the village, but most were skilled enough to take care of themselves. Picking at the hem of her shirt, Eve looked anywhere but at him as Ash tormented the fabric of his gloves. Narrowing his gaze, he sent a sharp glance at the village trying to pick out anyone who might be foolish enough to make them uncomfortable.

"I'll be useful," she admitted causing him to stiffen.

The instinctive urge to comfort her was shoved down by the fact he needed useful people. It might be years from now but a Blight would happen. There was no way he could refuse their help, even if it meant telling them about his ability. Shifting on his heels, he wanted to comfort her; both of them really. Her voice was so small that it hurt to hear. If he was this protective now what was he going to do when she was old enough to date. Almost bristling at the thought of her dating anyone, he focused on the sudden anger rather than the concern someone was hurting them.

"We're both going to join you," Ash explained. Latching onto the words, Joseph raised an eyebrow at the teen gaining a sheepish smile. Releasing his gloves to run a hand through his hair, the elf expanded, "Well eventually."

"Lucky me," he taunted gaining matching grins from the siblings.

Letting Eve latch onto his hand, he didn't ask about their home life. From what he knew a human couple had taken in the two a year ago. Both were traders so they weren't home often leaving Ash in charge. It was unlikely the couple was responsible for the discomfort of his elves. While it was possible they'd simply been nervous today, it was also telling that Eve chose to hang around the 'creepy-Dwarf-kid' instead of the other kids. If they were bullying her, there was a chance Ash was being singled out too.

Trailing behind Eve he barely noticed Ash until the teen was grabbing his other hand. That was new. Glancing to where their hands met, he mentally noted that Ash needed new gloves; he'd send Lance out on that errand later. Tightening his grip on Ash's hand he pretended not to see the way his shoulders slumped. Whatever protective instinct he'd chased off earlier came back with a vengeance at the sight. Tugging Eve closer when she almost tripped over her feet, he sighed. Neither of the two were ready for the Deep Roads. They were less ready to meet his pets. Relaxing when soft humming filled the air, he ran a thumb over her hand.

Glancing upward, he eyed the sun for a moment. It was almost time for afternoon training; if they were going to join him, then they needed to know how to fight. Especially Eve, it wasn't only Darkspawn that posed a threat. It'd be better for them to start training now, rather than later. Nodding to himself, he took the lead almost dragging them into the small sparring area behind his house. For once the area wasn't empty. His dad was going through easy motions allowing the dull dagger in his hand to appear far more dangerous. Stilling the man met his eyes before sending a glance at the two elves.

Tightening his grip when Ash started to pull away, he dared his father to raise a fuss. They were his elves. He wasn't going to abandon them or allow them to feel uncomfortable with him around. Smirking, his father laid the training blade back on the weapon rack before moving to ruffle his hair.

"You brought friends."

Pouting he huffed. It wasn't that shocking that he had friends, was it? While he might not be the most social child, he did know how to navigate social interactions. The glee in his father's gaze was earned though since this was the first time he'd brought home anyone. Part of him wanted to slap away the man's hand, but he had no idea if Ash would run away or not, so instead, he suffered the insistent petting. He was more than a little thankful that it was his father not his mother that he'd found first. Cuddles were not something he needed right now.

Glaring he tried to convey his annoyance without releasing his elves. All it really served to do was remind the man of an angry puppy. Still, he got the hint and moved away giving his son room to breathe. Rubbing his thumb over Ash's hand Joseph tried to soothe the teen who looked one word away from fleeing. This might've been his least sensitive movement ever. At least Eve seemed okay with the situation.

"We plan on exploring the Deep Roads."

The announcement caused all three of them to freeze. Meeting his father's gaze he refused to back down even when the man stepped closer. It wasn't as if there was a chance his father would hurt him, at the most he'd receive a bit of disappointment. Flickering his gaze to Ash who almost bleed tension, he knew the action was enough to gain his father's attention. Humming softly, the man stepped back giving the elven teen room to breathe.

"Dangerous."

Tilting his head, he considered the warning. Did he mean the Deep Roads were dangerous or that somehow his elves were a threat? Of course, the Deep Roads were dangerous, however, his ability to control Darkspawn negated that threat even just a little. There was almost no chance he'd die in the tunnels, but his father had no way to know that. Eyeing the way the man moved to sit on the bench beside his mother's garden, he allowed a frown to show on his face. It was more likely the man referred to his chosen companions.

Ash had already proven tense and flighty while Eve seemed too innocent. Both were risky companions in a place like the Deep Roads. There was also the fact neither of them had training, but that was why he'd brought them here. Did his father think the two would betray him? While he wished to immediately reject the idea, he wasn't foolish enough to do so. Everyone had the possibility of turning against him especially considering how he'd died the first time. He didn't know much about their situation either nor did he have any blackmail to use as insurance.

None of that mattered.

"I trust them," he stated causing both elves to freeze. For a moment the smirk on his father's face fell then he was hoping to his feet.

"Good, they can join us for dinner then," he taunted only to gain a solid nod in return. Resisting the urge to cackle the man rubbed his hands together saying, "But first training."

"I'm training to be a Healer," Eve mumbled barely heard over the dwarven man's cackling.

"Self-defense is important," he said gently.

He could understand her wariness at being trained by the man currently dancing around the area gathering dull daggers and swords. Nodding slowly, she squeezed his hand before letting go to pick up a small throwing knife. Following her movement, for a moment he relaxed when she started questioning his father. Time to deal with his other elf. Glancing up at Ash, he stilled at the piercing gaze the teen aimed in his direction. Had he gone too far? It probably would've been better to discuss with the two before dragging them here. Shoving the sudden insecurity down as much as possible, he tilted his head silently baring his neck.

Idly he wondered if the other boy was simply going to turn and walk away. Resisting the urge to tighten his grip he hated the part of him that trembled at the thought. He hadn't been lying when he professed his trust in them, but the silence hanging in the air made it a little hard to breathe. Looking away when the tightness around the elven boy's eyes became too much, he expected Ash to leave. It'd make sense given how foolishly he'd rushed into this. In a way, he might've betrayed the teen's trust so him leaving wouldn't be much of a shock.

"I can use a bow."

Tightening his grip for a moment the teen offered a strained smile before gently untangling their hands. Brightening Joseph motioned to the assortment of bows his father had hoarded over the years. Making a mental note to actually discuss his plans with his friends in the future, he went to grab his daggers. Depending on what type of weapons they chose it'd be better to start sending his pets to look for those weapons.

(Kirkwall – Amara – Age ten – sixteen years before the blight)

Her mentor was a sadist, not that she minded very much considering she needed to become strong as quickly as possible. At least his brutal training regime had produced results much to her father's dismay. According to her father, the man was a filthy Rivani pirate weaseling his way into their fine household. Given that Sebastian was scheduled to join their household she didn't really think it could sink much lower. Part of her was a bit annoyed that she hadn't managed to end her engagement to the Starkhaven prince but it was only a matter of time. Neither of them were very invested in their betrothal; she was also sure that if they managed to actually get married one of them would die within a year. It'd be Sebastian.

She'd learned a lot in the last year, mostly how to bend shadows to her will. The ability from Dumat was a lot like magic except it didn't need mana. Her mentor had stated it reminded him of a Wraith; she loved the idea. Despite learning more about her ability, which they passed off as her being a natural-born prodigy, they also focused on her weapon skills and social skills. Well her mentor focused on her weapon skills while her grandfather taught her how to navigate a party. Apparently, there were more politics involved in a ballroom than a council meeting. There were a lot more assassinations as well.

Given her status, she could get away with a lot more than a lower noble or commoner. Using the political power she was born with wasn't something she particularly liked the idea of, but it was a tool. To have every option available, she'd shoved down the part of herself that believed in fair play. Everything was a tool and everyone could be used. While not a mindset that she particularly liked, it was one that her mentor encouraged. She and her soul siblings didn't have the option of waiting for power and influence nor could they wait for the Blight to begin. If she was able to turn the political climate in their favor by gaining enough power to be feared, then she'd do anything.

Free Marcher politics were a bit strange as well given that every city looked out for itself. They'd go to war over the simplest things and more than once there'd been squabbled that almost crippled an entire city. Starkhaven and Kirkwall had an alliance that was mainly verbal but there was a treaty in place with Ostwick. The ambiguous nature of their contract with Starkhaven was due to the ever-changing power climate of their ally. There was a new family in power every few years making it impossible to keep up with; that was part of the reason she wanted to drop Sebastian. His family wasn't going to hold power forever. If she was lucky they'd fall out of favor soon enough and she'd be able to break their engagement; it was that or he did something foolish enough to upset her grandfather.

Politics aside, her mentor had tasked her with making friends. Apparently, they were good for mental development or something; it wasn't like she could admit to being an adult reincarnated as his student. That obviously would not go over well. So, instead, she was exploring the city hoping to find someone who wasn't a complete fool. The other noble children were too sheltered to keep up with her and those that could were too arrogant for her to stand. Mainly because she wanted to beat them back into their place.

It said a lot that she was more willing to go into unknown territory than spend time with her fiancé. Given that her mentor had taken one look at the arrogant prince and scoffed, she felt vindicated in her opinion. Someone else had finally agreed that he wasn't much of a warrior much less a good match for her. Until the older boy grew up a little, she couldn't trust him nor did she want to. It was hard to trust someone who although her elder acted like a child. Although that was mainly her past experiences comparing him to the husband of her former life. Sebastian could never hold up to her former husband, she doubted anyone could.

The streets of Lowtown were almost a completely different city when comparing them to Hightown. From the dirt and filth layering the street, it was hard to see the two places as part of the same territory, but that didn't change the truth. For a long time, Lowtown had gotten nothing more than Hightown's scraps and it showed. It most likely wasn't the best place for a noble child to find a friend. Children who grew up in Lowtown were bound to be more cynical than those in Hightown, they'd be open to a mutually beneficial relationship.

Bribery probably wasn't the best way to start a friendship but she'd honestly rather have someone use her for money than deal with one more whining noble spawn. Shivering at the thought of having to play nice at another party, there was one coming up in about a week, she tried not to dwell on how easy it would be to stab them. It hadn't helped that her mentor had been chuckling the entire time he played bodyguard. She understood that not every noble was training their child to take over a trading company, but honestly, they could at least teach them common sense. Even worse was the manners and treatment of their servants they were inheriting from their parents. Treating a servant like a dog was nothing short of foolish given that they prepared the food. One brave servant would be enough to kill an entire family.

So, friends. She'd already tried to make friends with a few street urchins but they'd hissed at her. Quite literally hissed at her, so that wasn't an option. She had no desire to spend time with children that emulated cats. It wasn't worth the work to gain the loyalty of those that didn't even give her a chance. Plus if she'd wanted a pet, she would've asked for one. Her friend had to have intelligence, she needed to be able to trust them to have her back in the future. More than that they needed to be willing to look past her noble origins.

Avoiding the Hanged Man, which she'd probably buy at some point, she headed toward the Alienage. Taverns were good for learning gossip; ale loosened lips enough to gain information and sometimes patrons didn't even realize they were sharing secrets until it was too late. Also, a fair amount of Templars hung out there making it a good place to spy on them. That was an idea for another time; maybe she could toss a hint or two at her grandfather. A tavern would be a good birthday present.

Glancing toward the shadows, she couldn't keep the innocent smile from her face as they whispered to her. Apparently, she was being followed. The idea was far more amusing than it should've been given her kidnapping last year. Not only was her mentor following from the rooftops, but she had enough knives on her person to put an armory to shame despite the only visible weapon being a hunting knife strapped to her back. Hidden weapons were far more fun than visible ones. It was nice to know her ability was evolving as well.

It had taken a bit to get used to the whispers that only she could hear. Honestly, it had been pretty creepy.

Pretending to be lost, she walked into an alleyway making a show of not knowing where to go. Her mentor had forced her to memorize the entire city from the sewers to the paths up Sundermount; there was no way she could ever get lost. If she'd been a true child she most likely would've broken under their expectations. Luckily she was the chosen of an old god making her the furthest thing from normal. Blinking at the sudden echoing of footsteps, she turned to face the less than impressive force that had chosen to ambush her.

They weren't the weakest thing she'd ever seen but it was obvious from the quality of their armor they held no affiliation with one of the bigger mercenary groups. From the unmarked hilts of their weapons, they weren't Carta either. Part of her almost felt disappointed, but she forced it down. Not every thug could be someone interesting. And they were thugs or petty thieves. Shifting on her heels, she let her gaze drift to the weakest parts of their bodies before jolting back as a canister landed between her and the thugs.

Throwing a hand over her mouth as it began to smoke, her first thought was some kind of poison gas. Flickering her gaze over the alleyway as it rapidly filled with smoke, she could tell it wasn't a trick of the thugs given that they were scrambling. It was almost comical how they shouted and waved their arms. The hurried orders, did nothing to help them either since the leader started coughing. Putting them from her mind she searched for the third party that had chosen to interfere.

Twisting to grab a gloved hand before it could touch her shoulder, she met the brown eyes of a boy just a bit taller than herself. Despite the way he blinked at her action, he pressed a finger to his lips before motioning to the other end of the alley. Nodding she shifted her grip to hold his hand in her own, from the quality of the cloth gloves he wasn't a noble or even a wealthy commoner. Why would a street rat risk their life to help her? There was no logic in his actions. Even worse was the fact he didn't have the body mass to take a solid hit and keep going. If he was caught all it'd take was one good hit and he'd be down most likely for good.

Letting him tug her along, she noted that while he didn't have mass he had speed. There wouldn't be many other children or even adults that could keep up with him, especially with how easily he navigated the alleyways and backstreets. Dropping her hand from her mouth, she didn't even glance behind them as the panicked shouting faded. Her mentor could more than keep up with their pace so there was no need to slow down either. The boy had definitely been on the streets for a fair amount of time if he knew them this well.

His lanky build either meant he wasn't getting enough food or he was an elf. The cloth hat covering his ears made her elven theory even more possible. His clothing was a mess of patches making the only intact parts of his outfit the boots he wore. If nothing else he was good at sewing or he knew someone with the skill. It was possible he was part of a group, but her instincts didn't like that idea. Maybe her trip to Lowtown hadn't been a complete bust. If he was willing to risk his life to help her, then maybe she was going to make a friend today. At the very least, she could repay this favor. It was easy to ignore the part of her that whispered she hadn't actually needed his help. In times like this, it was the thought that counted more than the circumstance.

"They aren't following," she said.

The sudden sprinting hadn't even left her winded. It was hard to be affected by running when her mentor ordered her to make laps around her estate at one in the morning. Either that man had no sense of time or he didn't sleep. She was willing to bet it was the second one given that she'd found him looting the kitchen more than once. Given how young her body was it didn't need much sleep to function although she really did wish he'd wait until dawn to start her training. From the mumblings of adding knives to her run, she was going to start working on dodging soon.

Slowing to a stop the boy glanced behind them warily before nodding. He wasn't very assertive either which could be either a good or bad thing depending on the situation. While he'd already proven able to run into danger there was the possibility of him running when the tide turned. She needed to learn more. Shifting on her feet, it was almost adorable how quickly his attention snapped back to her at the movement. Basking in the attention for a moment, she was a noble after all, she offered an easy smile. Unlike with Sebastian, she didn't have to fake the positive emotion.

"I'm Amara," she greeted. Tilting her head she watched him shuffle on his feet before matching her smile. His expression was far more hesitant than her own.

"Vern."

Repeating the name, she let it linger on her tongue for a moment before nodding. It suited him although it'd suit him better if he wasn't dressed as a beggar. The tightness of his tone was quickly ignored as well. While he might not know it yet, she'd already decided he was going to be her friend. Getting him new clothing and a decent meal was now on her list of priorities. Crossing her arms she met his gaze with what she hoped was authority.

"Let me treat you to dinner," she demanded instead of asking. First, she'd ease him into the idea of being her friend then she'd start spoiling him. It wasn't as if she didn't have the money to give him whatever he wanted. Now that he'd saved her it would be easy to convince her grandfather as well. Catching the tightness around his eyes and the frown on his face she narrowed her gaze.

"Tha-"

"For saving me," she explained before he could refuse.

The heavy frown on his face did nothing to stop her from grabbing his hand. Dragging him behind her toward Hightown it was easy to pile away his arguments for later. She'd worry about his fears and concerns later, right now she was hungry. If she acted like having him here didn't matter then he'd relax. There was also the fact that if anyone tried to stop her she could just throw her family name in their face forcing them into submission. Somehow she could already hear her mentor's exasperated sighs. From the obvious tension in his body, he'd never been to Hightown. He'd get used to it soon enough.

Stalking through the streets like she owned them it was easy to ignore the whispers and pointing. Her status made her above their petty issues. While her actions might affect her family the random extras on the street had no say over her life. From the moment she was born she was above them. Honestly, she was just channeling her grandfather's easy arrogance; given how much her new friend was shaking he had none of her confidence. She hadn't expected him to. If anyone challenged his presence then all she had to do was snap at them. No one could afford to upset her family making her almost untouchable. Plus what was the point in forcing their way into her life?

She resolutely ignored the fact that her foolish fiancé was wandering the streets today. To be honest his prejudice against both the lower caste and elves only served to widen the gap between them. The Starkhaven prince would never accept her new friend; honestly, that only made her more determined to get her way. Nodding internally, she didn't hesitate to head toward a restaurant that her family frequented. With them knowing her they wouldn't be able to reject her presence without offending her grandfather.

Cutting her gaze toward the rooftops when a shadow nudged her foot, she noted that her mentor was missing. Focusing on the inky whispers that reached her ears, she smiled. Apparently, the man had decided to take care of the thugs from the alley before they could share their experience. It was a brutal action that she agreed with on principle. Letting potential enemies live was never a good idea. Much less so in a city like this. Part of her whispered the fact everyone could be an enemy in the future which made it a little hard to keep from smirking.

Entering the restaurant earned them more than a little bit of attention. Truthfully it earned them all of the attention, after all, it wasn't every day that a noble girl dragged a street rat into a well-known restaurant without hesitation. If she'd been older this would cause a different sort of scandal. Her age was the only thing that kept this innocent. Offering the owner an innocent smile, which according to her fiancé caused her to appear to be a demon, she didn't hesitate to demand her family's usual table.

Maybe being reborn as a noble had caused her to be arrogant, honestly, it wouldn't surprise her if she pushed too far one-day causing problems for her family. Still, she knew when to rush forward and when to back down. Power couldn't be accumulated by standing still. There was also the fact she'd never been a very patient person. Keeping eye contact when the man moved to follow her order, she didn't hesitate to tug her new friend behind her.

Looking back at him, she almost felt guilty for the tension in his shoulders. It was only for an instant but her smile dropped at the idea of him being uncomfortable. Well more at being the cause of his discomfort. If this was Sebastian, she wouldn't really care, but this was her new friend. Her first friend to be exact, letting him feel anything but comfortable in her presence wasn't an option. Relaxing her body, she offered him all of her attention as they reached the table. Releasing his hand, she let him take the time to examine the situation.

While it might be a boon for someone of his station to have a noble friend, she was a bit much. Flickering his gaze between her and the table for some sort of hint, he seemed wary. It made sense that he wasn't going to trust her easily. What kind of person with an ounce of sanity would trust a random girl that dragged them to a restaurant without hesitation. Keeping the smile on her face when he finally took the chair beside the window, she brightened. It was the chair that kept his back to the wall and allowed him to see everything; usually, it was her favorite chair. Sliding into the chair across from him it was easy to offer him a brilliant smile.

Humming softly as her shadows whispered that her mentor was on his way back, she also noted that Sebastian was close by. Honestly, as long as he stayed out of her way she didn't have an issue with her fiancé. The boy across from her was far more interesting than the Starkhaven prince. His almost obvious panic was adorable, especially considering that he'd charged into an alleyway full of thugs not even an hour ago. Well, she supposed social situations were a bit different than combat. She herself hated the ridiculous social tango that she'd been born into despite knowing how to use it to her advantage.

Cutting her gaze to the waitress who seemed almost unwilling to hand over the menu to her new friend, she narrowed her gaze just enough to be a warning. It was a testimony to her grandfather's influence that the woman immediately changed her tune. One day she was going to wield her own power rather than his. She already had ideas to expand the trade agreements her family held into Ferelden despite the fact it'd be the location of the next Blight. it was easier to hold power over desperate people with no other choice than to follow her orders.

"You can order whatever you want," she stated as he looked over her own menu despite already knowing what she wanted. Well, truthfully she was only pretending to look it over as she took the chance to study her new friend. From his furrowed brow he was either having a hard time deciding or he had no idea how to read the menu. It wasn't as if the Alienage provided a great education system.

Fixing such social issues wasn't something she'd be able to do in her lifetime. At least when the world started burning those restrictions were going to hold much less importance. Kirkwall itself was a barely held together powder keg that only needed a spark. Still, it was better than some of the more lawless cities. At least here there weren't visible cannibals; she was vaguely sure they lived in Darktown. Humming softly she waited for him to voice his issues with easy patience. If it was for her friend she didn't have an issue waiting.

"I-"

It was hard to keep from cooing at the way he nervously looked away from her. Why couldn't Sebastian be this adorable? Tilting her head she waited for him to gather his courage. Forcing him to talk to her would only have the opposite effect. It was moments like this she wondered if being a noble was really a good idea. Manipulation came way too easily to her in this lifetime. It wasn't like she tried to openly influence those around her either, but it happened anyway. Either her noble heritage was to blame or she'd just lowered her morals during rebirth.

"I can't read," he said. Although the words were barely more than a whisper they still carried easily. The admission was followed by him looking away from her. Despite the fact, his ears were covered she was willing to bet they were the same scarlet color as his cheeks.

"Want me to order for you," she offered keeping her voice light. Acting like the situation was normal would help lower his guard.

She really needed to talk to her mentor about her manipulative tendencies. Making sure that she kept her expression open when he nodded, she ignored how sharp his eyes were as he took the chance to study her. Given that he most likely hadn't eaten in a while she put in a light order of soup for them both along with bread and water. It was better to keep seasonings and spices to a minimum since she didn't know how he'd respond to heavier flavors. Laying both their menus on the table, she glanced out the window sighting the man waving at her from the rooftop.

It was nice to know that he'd disposed of his prey and returned so quickly. One day she'd love to have his efficiency. Right now though she had a long way to go. Trailing her eyes to the street, she pretended not to notice Vern staring at her. It was simply a waiting game now.

Letting her thoughts wonder she couldn't keep from thinking of her soul siblings. Had they also been reborn as nobles? Red had stated that they'd most likely be reborn as a member of a different race than one another. If that was the case then it was possible she had a Qunari sibling. With the animosity aimed at the horned giants, it'd be a bit amusing to introduce them to her parents. Part of her hoped that green had been reborn as a Dwarf just because he'd wanted to be human. Red was the one she was most worried about considering how young she'd been.

It also begged the question of what abilities they'd gotten. Her ability was almost sinister, however, she doubted that she was the only one with such a skill. It was possible that her former life had influenced her ability in this life. If that was the case then maybe their abilities were composed of more than just the lingering power of their patron gods. Unless she turned out to be a mage there was no way to know the truth. Given that mage abilities manifested usually in the first twelve years, there was still a chance.

"What do you want?"

Perking up at the question, she offered a bright smile. Despite the barely concealed distrust in his gaze, he kept his tone polite. It was more than she could stay for the nobles she was forced to interact with at parties. For a street rat, his manners were pretty good although that might be more out of fear than anything else. She didn't blame him considering how easy it'd be to ruin his reputation and drive him from the city. Right well, honesty was the best option here.

"I was in Lowtown looking for a friend," she said noting the flicker of surprise in his gaze. Keeping her innocent smile, she idly wondered if he'd noticed anything off about her little act, but she doubted it. The only people able to see through her were her mentor and her grandfather. Sebastian didn't count due to the fact he refused to acknowledge she was a person with emotions not the freak that beat him into the ground during spars. Just another reason why their marriage would never work out.

"Someone like you should have friends," he stated like he'd said the sky was blue. Leaning forward, she couldn't keep the amusement from her gaze. If all elves were this cute she might start collecting them; not in the Teventer slavery way.

"Someone like me," she questioned wondering if he'd compliment her.

"A noble."

Blinking at the deadpan tone, she stilled for a moment before giggling. If he knew how annoying noble children could be, he wouldn't be this shocked. Honestly, she'd rather befriend the children that hissed at her than spend five more minutes listening to the Viscount's son talk about his new Antivan rug. She didn't care that it was imported, it was made of white thread and would stain if he dropped wine or blood.

"Be my friend," she offered. It should be easy to gain his loyalty considering she'd just shown off her wealth and influence. Tapping her fingers on the table when he stared at her she almost pouted. Was it that shocking that she wanted to be his friend or did he think he wasn't good enough for her?

"You want an el-street rat to be your friend," he asked unknowingly confirming her suspicions. Right well, she needed to work on his self-esteem.

"No, I want you."

Him specifically. Showing a smile, she pretended not to notice him tense as their food arrived. The clear disgust on the server's face made it a bit hard to keep her calm. Flickering her gaze to the man who quickly looked at the ground, she considered ruining him. It'd be easy to destroy his life; easy as crushing a grape, although a bit messier. Letting her smile become a little sharper, she took a small drink of her water allowing the server to retreat. Playing her hand now would lead to nothing, it was more fun to wait.

Of course, he was more than a little wary of the food; she didn't really blame him. Saving a random girl then having her treat him to food seemed to be a little more than he'd bargained for. If she wanted to poison him, she'd do a much better job of it. Tilting her head, she pointedly sipped at her soup. Sighing in defeat, he took a small bite only to freeze. The one good thing about this restaurant was the food, although she preferred a much different meal than simple soup.

Watching her new friend eat at a rapid pace, she didn't even consider the possibility of him refusing her. Considering his station in life, this was the best offer he was going to get. There were far worse things than being offered a place at her side. He gained far more siding with her than staying a street rat. Part of her whispered that this wasn't the right way to make friends, but she ignored it easily. Even in her past life people had used each other every single day. In a world like this, the only people exempt from that rule were children and her soul siblings.

Humming a random tune, she stilled noticing the dark-haired boy running past the window. Of course, Sebastian would show up just as she was getting comfortable. Maybe she'd get lucky and he'd simply walk past. Dealing with Sebastian really wasn't something she wanted to do today; it was annoying enough that he visited every few months. Apparently being around one another was supposed to make them more likely to bond or something. She honestly thought that her father was simply blind to how much she didn't enjoy the raven-haired boy's company.

She was sure he'd be a lovely person in a few years, but at the moment he nothing special. Even if he did grow and mature, he wouldn't be her type. She preferred men who wouldn't try to control her or call her out for beating them at a spar. Her current fiancé had no chance of ever matching those two qualifications. Resisting the urge to groan as he glanced through the window to meet her eyes she frowned. Of course, he had to notice her; he noticed Vern too. Catching the sharp glance he sent to her companion she tensed before muffling a curse as he started storming to confront her.

That was what she couldn't understand about the boy. He despised her yet wanted all her attention. Be it at a party or out on the street he couldn't stand being ignored. It must burn that she was here with another person rather than him, but she had no reason nor desire to spend time with him. There weren't many who'd want to be around those that constantly antagonized them. If he'd been a soldier or subordinate she would've gotten rid of him, but he was her fiancé. Even if he didn't respect n her or her limits, she respected her grandfather enough to keep from making a scene.

"I'm sorry for what's about to happen," she said just loud enough her new friend could hear her. Meeting his gaze, she tried to show her genuine regret before pushing aside her empty bowl. It was likely Sebastian would drive away her friend before she even got a chance to know him.

Straightening as heavy footfalls reached her ears, she placed a perfectly polite smile on her face. It was easy to turn and face her apparently angry fiancé; honestly, if he didn't treat her like trash, she might care about him. Right now she needed to focus on keeping his attention away from Vern even if she wanted nothing to do with him. Pretending not to notice the elven boy tense as Sebastian got closer, she silently prayed to Dumat for patience. Until he committed an offense large enough the Starkhaven prince was her fiancé. Harming him outside of sparing was both illegal and ill-advised considering the alliance her father was trying to create.

The Vael family although royalty were devoted to the Chantry. Her Father wanted the fame of marrying into Starkhaven royalty and being Andrastan himself he didn't mind the idea of his grandchildren working for the Chantry. Personally, she disagreed. If the world changed as Red described, the Chantry might not matter. There was also the fact she had no desire to lose her children to religion.

"Harimann."

He was smirking as if he'd caught her in the middle of some scandalous affair. Resisting the urge to roll her eyes, she waved away the server who'd been returning to collect their bowls. If only she was able to dismiss her fiancé as easily. Keeping the polite smile on her face she motioned to the chair beside her although she knew he wasn't going to take the offer.

"Vael," she greeted with polite ease. If she acted anything less than the noble her grandfather trained her to be she'd be nothing but a disappointment.

"I'm shocked you're spending time with vagrants given your status," he stated while moving slightly toward Vern. The tension radiating from the elven boy was enough to cause her fingers to dance on the surface of the table.

"I've yet to find something that doesn't shock you," she said earning a small, almost invisible, smile from Vern.

"And what is that supposed to mean," he snapped. His eyes were already lighting up with familiar anger. The fact he fell for her taunt only served to solidify how pathetic he was. Sighing she shook her head making sure to keep the prince in her line of sight. Although they had the same lessons on nobility he still couldn't deal with teasing. He played to open with his thoughts making him easy to read and manipulate.

"Nothing more than how you interpret it," she stated keeping her tone light. The annoyance that crossed his face was exhausting. There was no point in arguing with him, neither of them could exactly win without damaging their reputations. Even now all it would take to keep gossip to a minimum was bribing the workers.

"Stop talking in circles freak."

The demand was expected but she still stiffened before shifting to hide her tension. Leaning against the table she rested her chin on her palm appearing to be entirely relaxed. Appearances held power, the longer she kept her composer the more easily he appeared to be a fool. At the moment she was the innocent victim of his actions. Her family kept a great reputation while his family would hold the shame of having such an antagonistic son. Causing him to lose face with Kirkwall nobility was a great idea, however, he was a child. Despite how much she hated being around him, the boy held a lot of power in Starkhaven. It'd be better to keep him from exploding.

"I see your parents still haven't corrected your manners," she said lightly. The hint was lost on the boy who growled at her. Had he slept through their lessons on subtlety?

"Don't talk about my parents!"

"Calm down," she ordered waving away another server. This one looked ready to toss the boy out of the building. Flinching when a tight hand wrapped around her wrist, she barely noticed Vern shift closer.

"Shut up! This kind of behavior is why no one wants to be around you."

Narrowing her gaze, she tried to pull her arm back only to wince when his grip tightened. Letting her mask drop, she dug the nails of her other hand into her pants. She couldn't hurt him, but she also didn't want him to touch her. Sebastian Vael had no right to lay a single hand on her.

"Let go," she ordered hating how much her voice was shaking. She was supposed to be strong enough to protect herself. Sebastian Vael wasn't going to be the reason she lost her composer or at least that was the plan. Blinking a bit as her vision blurred, she hated herself for feeling this way.

For a moment it wasn't Sebastian holding her but an enemy. The restaurant faded away as her mind drifted back to the bunker she'd died in. Low mumbles reached her ears as if underwater, as she tried to ground herself. It was too much, the entire situation was too much. Biting her lip to hold back a whine, she gave a tug only to fall back when the grip on her wrist vanished. Gentle hands laid on her shoulders steadying her before vanishing. She needed to open her eyes, honestly, she had no idea when she'd even closed them, but right now she didn't want to. If she saw Sebastian again she might run away; that of course would impact her grandfather's reputation.

Taking a deep breath, she held her wrist close to her body hoping that maybe the older boy would be gone when she finally worked up the courage to face the world. Tapping a finger against her wrist she mentally counted to thirty. Sebastian wasn't her enemy; if he tried to hurt her, her mentor would easily get rid of him. There was little chance the boy was going to harm her at all. Despite knowing that it all vanished in the face of dealing with a person that hated her and was willing to show it. That was why she wasn't willing to marry him.

Opening her eyes slowly, she half expected Sebastian to be waiting on her, after all, he wasn't one to give up. Instead, it was a tanned cloth that caught her attention. The tattered fabric made it a little easier to breathe. Tracing the center seam up she eyed the puff of visible blonde hair that quickly vanished into the dark-colored hat. Had he defended her?

"Vern…"

Turning to face her, the elven boy frowned before shrugging. What about the servers, had they witnessed the exchange? Shifting to look past him, she stilled when he matched her movement. He was trying to limit her field of vision and keep her from panicking again. Breathing out heavily when he slowly sat down in the chair directly beside her, it was hard to keep from twitching. Vern was an unknown and she was currently in a weakened state. Keeping control of her emotions was a lot harder now than it usually was. Resisting the urge to move away when he bumped his knee against her own, she took a calming breath. He had no reason to harm her.

"Your friends an ass," he stated like it was a universal fact. Choking back a laugh it was hard to keep from bolting when he reached out to touch her wrist.

"Not my friend," she said just loud enough for him to hear. Letting him hold her wrist, she eyed the way his fingers moved over her skin checking for injuries other than the light bruising. Part of her wanted to ask where the other noble had gone but even thinking about Sebastian was a little more than she could take right now. Noting the specks of blood that clung to his knuckles she tried to relax. It wasn't easy to fall back into the role she played after almost having a panic attack.

"Are you… do you feel better," he asked once he knew she wasn't seriously injured. It was the softness in his tone that let the tension fade from her shoulders.

"I think I want to go home," she admitted hating how weak she sounded. Like she'd shatter under the lightest pressure.

Her words hung between them like a noose for only an instant before he nodded. Shifting his grip to help her stand the elven boy tensed when she leaned into his touch. Relaxing, he hoped that she hadn't noticed. Releasing her once he knew she wasn't going to fall, he stayed close letting her lead the way. Had she noticed the blood on his hand from punching the other boy? The other noble hadn't thought him a threat until he'd been moving. Even then he'd been fast enough to land a solid hit to the dark-haired boy's nose.

Until she'd started to tremble, he'd been more than willing to sit back and let her handle the boy. Trailing behind her, he pretended not to notice every time she flinched or how she'd shrank in on herself since being confronted by the dark-haired boy. At least he hadn't been alone in his dislike given how eager the servers had been to toss the noble out. Stiffening as a dark-skinned man slid from the shadows, he barely had time to realize what was happening before she launched herself forward. The easy way the man caught her caused him to relax so did the hand that immediately moved to soothe her shaking shoulders. He wasn't really needed here.

"See you around Princess," he said more than a little amused when she twisted to face him. Winking he enjoyed the flush that spread across her face at the nickname. Before she could argue he was moving toward the stairs to Lowtown. Why did he feel like being her friend was going to be a bit of trouble.

(Neer – Terrence – Age nine – sixteen years until the blight)

To the world outside of Neer, he'd either be seen as a brainless mercenary or an invader coming to convert their society. Even to other Qunari, he'd never be part of their society. Sure he could allow himself to be converted, but they'd never truly accept him. There was part of him that refused to even consider the option of joining the Qun due to his mother's death. That was the least he could do since they'd killed her. On the more logical side, if he joined the Qun there'd be no way to help keep the Blight from taking over Thedas.

Speaking of the Blight, how was he supposed to know when that started if he stayed isolated. It'd be better to leave, but leaving would require actually being strong enough to survive outside the village. Right now all he had going for him was his size and nothing else. Making matters worse, he was still a child. No one would listen to or believe a child if they started spouting information about a Blight that wasn't even happening right now.

Groaning, he leaned back against the cavern wall waiting for his teacher to show up. It was the fifth time in a row the woman was late. After the second time, he'd given up on questioning her and simply accepted that she'd either show up at least fifty minutes late or that she wasn't going to show up at all. Most of the time she appeared by the time his warmup had finished but today wasn't one of those days. He just hoped she wasn't out getting drunk again; it was bad enough that she'd earned a reputation for downing every bottle of liquor that crossed into the village.

He was starting to regret agreeing to being her student. There was no way she was taking this seriously. Then again it wasn't like he had much of a choice. Looking down at his hands he couldn't stop his thoughts from turning to the others. He'd assumed they'd all be born close to each other but there'd been no sign of them at all these last few years. What if they were in danger? He knew they were strong enough to take care of themselves at least Blue and Green, however, Red was different. She'd been the youngest of them when she died.

It wasn't her ability to lead them that he doubted but her ability to make hard choices. Maybe he was wrong but when they'd met she'd seemed like a child. Would knowing the future of this world push her into making reckless choices? He had a feeling that even if he brought up his points to the others they'd ignore them.

Kicking away from the wall, before his mind spiraled, he grabbed the practice blade and began running through a set of motions that his mentor had drilled into his head. It was so different than his father's style that he'd been a bit wary at first but it was easy for his body to fall into the movements. Just like the ease he'd learned self-defense in his last life, not that it had really helped. Part of him still wondered why his partner had betrayed him; even now he didn't know if trusting his former partner had been a mistake. True he'd died but everything before that moment had felt like a dream. Was it worth dreaming if nightmares came from those dreams?

Switching his grip on the sword, he wished that guns existed in this world. Just why were they put into a world without guns? It was almost enough to make him pout.

"That suits you."

Turning slowly to face his father, it was a bit hard to ignore the deep frown that rested on the man's face. Either the man was annoyed because he was training or he'd guessed what his son was planning. It was likely the second option. Still, he'd been expecting his mentor not his father.

"Really," he asked knowing just how different the fighting style was to his fathers. Nodding the man dropped the bag he was carrying before grabbing the spare practice sword from the ground. This wasn't going to end well. Glancing behind his father, he expected his teacher to be hiding at the entrance snickering or smirking.

"If your wondering, that teacher of yours is passed out on our couch."

"Of course she is."

Rolling his eyes at the woman's antics he barely had time to dodge his father's attack. Why did both of the adults in his life rely on surprise attacks? Were all mentors unwilling to voice warnings before they attacked? Parrying the next strike, he frowned when his arms ached from the force.

"Are you planning on leaving?"

Seriously, was now the correct time for this conversation. Bending to avoid being slapped with the dull iron, he didn't allow his annoyance to show. So, his dad had figured out his plans. Was that why he'd chosen to fill in for his mentor tonight?

"My destiny isn't here," he stated despite knowing it wasn't the best explanation. It wasn't like he could explain about the upcoming Blight or his soul siblings.

"You could be happy here."

The words were less important than how much it hurt to be kicked across the cavern. Rolling to avoid being hurt, he barely held back a growl. What kind of person decided to talk about feelings during training? Sucking in a breath to calm himself, he stood slowly. Losing his temper wasn't going to help anything. Besides, it wasn't like he had a right to be angry with his father. The man had already lost his wife, if he didn't try to stop his son he couldn't be called a parent. While he knew his father's feelings on the subject, after all, he wouldn't allow his own son to go running off unprepared into the world; that didn't mean he wanted to talk about this right now.

"When you can beat me in a fight, I'll let you go," his father offered.

That was a trap. They both knew the man didn't think he'd ever be able to win. If he was the child he appeared to be then the man would be right. Grinning at the challenge he couldn't stop the chuckle that left his lips. It might not be today but he'd win eventually and having another person around to help him train was a good thing.

"Deal."

(Frostback Mountains – Clair – Age seven – sixteen years until the Blight)

Shivering in the snowfall around her, it was hard to keep her eyes from wandering to where she knew Haven laid not even twenty miles away. One day she might sneak in to undergo the trials and earn a pinch of the ashes but today was not that day. Breathing into her palms, she rubbed her hands together hoping to keep from freezing. It wasn't a good sign that her breath created a small cloud in front of her. It was hard to keep from whining; she'd never get used to the cold, but it was better than being killed by Antivan Crows.

Logically she knew they weren't after her specifically, yet that didn't stop her mind from thinking about all the ways she knew they could kill her. Just from Zevran, she knew that the Crows were both lethal and persistent. She supposed if her mentor was skilled enough then the Crows might offer him amnesty depending on what he'd done to earn their ire. That probably wasn't going to happen given how many of their assassins he'd killed. Letting her fingers trace the hilt of the dagger on her hip, she wondered just how many lives it had taken at the will of its former wielder.

Flickering her gaze to the tent behind her, it was hard to resist diving inside to escape the snow. Instead, she shifted closer to the fire waiting for Dominico to return. They'd left Denerim about three months ago after running into another group of assassins. Honestly, with the reputation of the Crows she doubted there was anywhere they could actually hide for long periods of time. Reaching out a hand as the flames began to fade, she allowed a small flame to flow from her fingers to the darkening wood. The fire needed more fuel not flames but she'd been ordered to stay beside the tents. From the occasional wolf calls, she didn't really want to venture into the dark forest anyway.

Letting the fire linger in her hand, she sighed before rubbing her palms together extinguishing the flame. Magic was a gift although a dangerous one. A single wrong move could lead to her losing control and killing someone. There was also the possibility of being found by the Templars and carted off to the Circle. A Circle that might fall prey to either demons or the Chantry. While the chance to learn more about her magic was tempting, she couldn't trust the Circle. Shoving herself off the ground she moved away from the tents; Dominico didn't like when she practiced magic around their camping gear. From his stories about losing gear to errant sparks, she didn't blame him.

Tugging on the furry cloak he'd given her, the girl eyed the snowbanks for a moment. Honestly, this wasn't a bad place to hide, there were even villages scattered around; however, there was something about being near a Dragon Cult that set off her instincts. Ideally, she'd never have to meet the cultists of Haven, but their dragon wasn't confined to the tunnels like they were. Holding out her hands she tried not to think about the winged lizard that could tear her to pieces. It wasn't easy now that visions of sharpened teeth flowed through her mind.

Cold lighting drifted over her fingers in response to the fear that ran through her mind. Instead of trying to shove down the emotion, she let it flow basking in the ice trailing through her veins. Hiding from her emotions wasn't going to keep her from losing control, it'd only make it easier to fail. She had to feel them not run from them. Eyeing the pale lighting wrapped around her fingers she let it linger for a moment then breathed out allowing it to fall from her fingers and melt the snow beneath her. Steam hit her legs letting warmth flow through her for a moment.

Fear wasn't easy to accept nor was it easy to fight. Accepting the emotion was the only way to gain control of herself. This magic was a part of her, it wouldn't hurt her. Magic was a connection to power; that power might be enough to change the course of this world. With Solas sleeping, she had time to build her own place in this world. She had time which was all that counted given how long it took to gain the skills needed to stand a chance of changing fate. Well, not changing exactly. There was no way to preserve the Veil that separated the Waking world from the Fade. Instead, she was going to ensure her people were able to survive. It'd be foolish to try saving everyone; that didn't mean she wanted to let people die.

Rationality did not kill her empathy just dulled it a bit. Which was horrible; the idea of just letting things play out made her stomach twist. So many people were going to lose their lives or suffer fates worse than death. She wasn't designed to go around deciding who lived and died nor did she want to. Of course, there were people she'd already chosen to save in the future, but what about those whose lives were falling apart right now. Letting a bit of lightning brush over her fingers, she shivered. Was she doing enough?

"Loud thoughts invite nightmares."

Twisting to face Dominico she wasn't too surprised that he'd approached without her noticing; it'd be a while yet until she actually heard his footsteps. Part of her was a bit afraid of the day when she got good enough to actually hear him. Tossing the rabbits he'd killed beside the fire pit, he eyed her closely never letting his gaze drop to the magic curled around her fingers. Having him unafraid of her magic caused her nerves to settle a little. Dropping the lightning, she shivered again as it melted through the snow. She already had too many nightmares.

Rubbing her arms, she moved to stand beside him as he unsheathed the hunting knife on his hip. Flinching a bit when he grabbed one of the rabbits, she pushed down the part of her that felt empathy for the rabbits. Sitting down across from him as he began skinning the rabbit, she tried to memorize every movement. He was making sure not to harm the fur which was a little important seeing as they had no other way to make money besides his 'jobs' and stealing.

They'd made quite a bit of money selling furs, which honestly caused her to feel a little horrible about how many animals she'd killed. Shifting she caught the rabbit he tossed in her direction wrinkling her nose just a bit before she unsheathed her own knife. In truth, she wasn't very good at this. Not as good as him at least, but she was pretty sure this was simply a way to get her used to holding a knife. That and it was always good to know how to provide her own food. Still, she didn't really like cutting up woodland animals.

Taking a life was never easy, and animals were far different than humans. One day she'd have to take the lives of people not creatures. Would she really be able to kill someone? There was little in Thedas that wasn't marred in lies and cruelty, but those acts were carried out by people, not monsters. Sure she could lie to herself and pretend they were just like the Darkspawn but that would be just an excuse. To save this world she'd have to become a murderer just like those she'd kill. Even if she did nothing she'd be allowing people to die.

"What do you know about the Antivan Crows?"

Blinking at the sudden question, she tilted her head. This wasn't the first time, he'd asked her a random question during these quiet moments. Catching the cold glint in his gaze, she fought back a shiver. If she was a child, that expression would give her nightmares.

"They're an organization of Assassin's based out of Antiva with a hand in the political climate," she said softly. Maybe it'd be better to pretend to know nothing, but she needed to trust him, or taking his hand that day would mean nothing.

"I'll be teaching you techniques unique to the Crows," he stated. Finishing off the pile of rabbits, he began laying out the furs with easy movements. The small smile on his face was a bit intimidating but she had a feeling her soul siblings could copy that expression perfectly.

"What about my magic?"

Were there mages in the Crows, she had a feeling that they'd make good assassins. Still, how could someone without magic teach magic? Without learning properly she'd put other people in danger.

"I'll find you some books."

Nodding, she moved away as he took over her self-appointed task. Maybe spirits could help her control her magic. It might be reckless to rely on them, but she didn't really have any other options. Besides not all spirits were bad, she just needed to keep control of herself and she wouldn't fall prey to demons. With enough control she might become better than circle mages, however, that was a long way away.