The room that the Dark Ace led me to was the size of a master bedroom. A twin bed was up against the far wall, a night stand was next to it. In the opposite corner were a desk and a bookshelf. The bookshelf was filled to capacity and the desk had drawing and designing supplies. A door was on the other wall, it led into a master bathroom.

The master bathroom was a jaw dropper. Where the bedroom was rather plain, the bathroom was extravagant! A deep marble tub sat opposite of the door, and a stand up shower was next to it. Behind a short wall was the toilet and on the same wall as the door was a duel marble sink. The bathroom was bright and looked as if it was a newlywed's bath.

I looked over at the Dark Ace, who was leaning on the doorframe to the hall. "What's with the honeymoon bathroom?"

"The room use to belong to a couple," he said in his cool voice, "but they are… no longer with Cyclonia."

"In other words they did something to make Cyclonis angry." I closed the door to the bathroom, staring at the knob for a moment and then glanced sideway at him. "It doesn't seem like a hard feat unless she likes you."

"She likes you."

"Forgive me for not seeing that as a complement," I told him, walking over to the desk. I looked over the supplies and ran my hand over the desk. "The only reason she likes me is because she thinks I can make her things that will make the rest of the Atmos bend to her will."

"That is not the only reason."

I laughed and leaned against the desk. "Really? Then do enlighten me, Great Dark Ace, on what other reason she could possibly have for liking me, a simple commoner from a no-name terra."

He walked into the room now, closing the door behind him.

My throat and chest tightened slightly.

"First, never insult me, Skylar. Master Cyclonis will take your insults, solely because she likes you, but I won't take being insulted lightly. Second, you're far from simple, in fact you're complicated. Third, and final, Master Cyclonis does like you for more than the reason you believe." He looked over at the door for a moment, as if trying to decide if there was anyone listening at it. He looked back at me. "You understand what it's like to have no one understand you, for no one to be able to talk to about whatever goes through your head and for them to understand it."

I just stared at him. He was right just as his master had been before. That didn't mean however that I wanted to get friendly with her. Neither of us spoke for several moments, finally I spoke. "What does that have to do with Cyclonis liking me?"

"She shares the same problem," he said simply. "I have known her for a long time and I can only understand some of what she says. Besides me no one could even come close to understanding her. But you can."

I raised an eyebrow. "I don't think I can. I don't understand her fetish with taking over Atmos."

"No, you wouldn't. But that isn't what I meant. I meant ideas and intelligence." He glanced at the door again then looked back at me. "You think that Master Cyclonis is just a twisted evil person and though she is, she's also a lonely 14 year old girl who never had a real friend."

I was speechless at those words. Many words came to mind to describe Master Cyclonis but lonely wasn't one of them.

"I'm sure you're hungry." He started to the door. "Follow me, I'll so you to the mess hall."

I stood there for a moment and then followed him. I never believed that someone would understand what it was like to not be understood like I did. But now Master Cyclonis fit the bill. Maybe we could be friends… Man, my life is messed up!