Xavia awoke to darkness and whimpering. Her eyes shot open, and she realized that she was in a house, staring up at a ceiling. Wait... that's not right. She frowned as she sat up, still in some pain- but now that she thought of it, not nearly as much pain as she should be feeling. What happened? Xavia frowned, touching her temple gingerly as she tried to remember. The dragon knocked me down... and spoke... what did it say? She couldn't help but think it was important. Maybe more important than anything else. She looked down, trying to focus, and noticed something else- her shirt torn open and bloodied, revealing a large, white scar down her chest, as if from a very old wound that had long healed. That's impossible. She thought in shock, reaching down and gingerly touch it.

She only touched the scar with her fingertips, but it was enough- searing, white-hot light seemed to blind her.

"If you would face me-" With a gasp, Xavia yanked her hand away. The light vanished, and the voice disappeared, as if it had never spoke. She looked around the room, suspicious. There were many other injured people in the room, but they all seemed to be asleep, unconscious, or... something else. She forced herself to avoid thinking some of these as mere bodies now. She glanced down at the scar again, and after taking a deep breath, placed her hand on top of it again.

"If you would face me..." It was a male's voice, clear yet rough, as if from being unused. "...Take up arms, newly Arisen."

Xavia frowned. What does that even mean? Newly Arisen? She didn't want to think of it. She just wanted to go home, and pretend that it had never happened. That it was an ordinary day. It wasn't, but she wanted to pretend, even if just for a bit. As she looked around the room, she saw a table, new clothes and old weapons laying on it. No... I don't want to do this. Xavia had always taken the easy way out, avoiding big confrontations, but there was a dragon on the loose, and no one was doing anything about it! Once again, her body moved, as if of it's own will, and she was standing in front of the table, looking over the various weapons there. There was an old iron staff, and as Xavia ran her hand along it, she realized that it was probably Quina's. She remembered that her old childhood friend had always been practicing magic when she was younger, healing Xavia when she returned from particularly bad 'trips' with her father. Does she still practice? Xavia wondered, then decided to leave the staff... just in case. There was a sword and shield, but those were so heavy, and hard to carry. They were out of the question. She then found a pair of daggers, old and rusted from years of neglect. However, under those rusty stains, they were fine weapons, still strong and sharp. With a sigh, Xavia took the change of clothes first, changing out of her bloody and tattered shirt, then finding a belt and attaching the daggers to it. Next, she picked up a quiver of arrows and slung it over her back, then the old bow that was leaning against the table there, as if waiting patiently for it's next hunt.

Well, I'm armed... now what? Should I just leave and see what happens? Xavia guessed the next step was to find the dragon. Or help the army? She walked toward the doorway, about to push the curtain out of the way before she heard a voice.

"You say it left a glowing scar?" It was Adaro's voice, suspicious and worried. He was Quina's father, and a kind man... if a little old-fashioned at times.

"Yes..." Quina. Xavia held her breath as her old friend spoke. "The wound has closed, and it seems that the worst has passed, but... her heart lies silent."

Xavia instinctively rested her hand against the scar again. "If you would face me-" This time, in addition to the words, she saw the dragon hovering over her again- felt the searing pain in her chest as his claw punctured her like paper again, and saw her still-beating heart being taken. Impossible. I can't-

"Are you sure 'o this?" Xavia moved the curtian, peeking out just in time to see Quina's head bob in a short nod. "Ill magic... the work of some curse! The world's already gone mad for fear 'o the dragon... won't no good come of this!" Xavia shifted where she stood, uncomfortable. She couldn't just reveal herself now, if he thought she was cursed, what would he do? She looked over when she heard him sigh. "I must go see to the others, Quina." There was silence for a minute or two, then Xavia heard the door close.

Slowly, she came around the corner. Quina just turned from the door and jumped with a gasp, clearly startled to see Xavia. "You should be in bed!"

Xavia frowned and shook her head. "I feel fine..." She knew that Quina was ever the worrier, and would continue to be that person no matter what she did. She was kind, but maybe that was also a weakness of hers. "Look, Quina, I have to go."

Quina then took her in- really took her in, looking up and down. When she met Xavia's eyes, she could see the fear there. "You're leaving? With weapons? Xavi, you said-"

"I know what I said." Xavia lifted a hand, hoping that she'd stop fighting. She looked Quina in the eyes, hoping that she'd realize how serious she was. "But listen to what I'm saying now."

"But you can't-"

"I can, and I am." Xavia looked down at her childhood friend. She loved Quina like no one else, and while she wasn't sure about what kind of love exactly it was, she knew that she wasn't going to let Quina stop her. "I don't have any idea what I'm doing. Not yet." She didn't know how, or why, but she knew that she had to try. "If no one does anything about that dragon, we're dead, anyway."

Quina's face changed, going from afraid to as if she was talking to a stranger. "You're going to start fighting again? Xavi, you're going to get hurt, or killed. I don't want to be a part of this."

"Then don't be." Xavia took a deep breath. "I'm not asking for help. Just don't get in my way or try to stop me. If you help is up to you, but frankly, I'd prefer it if you stayed here." She brushed past Quina. "I don't really care to watch more people die. If I can stop it, I will." She felt a pain in her chest that had nothing to do with the dragon. I am not going to repeat past mistakes here. There was a certainty this time, that she could do what others couldn't, although she had no idea why.

Despite that certainty, she would still rather go fishing.