*  *  *  *

        I cleared my mind, then focused my energy at the candles flame. reaching out with my hands I felt it's heat. I closed my eyes. Fire was a difficult element to control. Adept at magic, I slowly formed the flame into a ball.  lifting the ball from the candle, I changed the the ball into a ring of fire.
        I knew many spells, control over the elements and my ability to heal sickness in humans had grown stronger when I had become an adult.
        Hearing a noise in the next room, I let the flame die out. I opened the door to Satrina's room. She was sitting on her bed she was lost in thought.
        "What's up?"
        She looked up."Oh nothing."
        I blinked in surprise, sure she was lying, I reached into her mind with my own, She immediately closed her mind.
        "Satrina, I..." I began. "You and I have been together since the beginning."
        "Yes, we have." She agreed.
        "I am worried about you. You might get caught."
        "Caught what?"
        "Get caught training for the tournament."
        She jumped up. "How did you know?"
        "I followed you."
        "How? I knew I was very careful."
        I hesitated. "I also have a secret Satrina....I'll tell you, if you take me with you tonight."
        Satrina frowned but smiled. "Ok, tell me"
        I smiled as I produced a ball of glowing energy in one hand. Her eyes widened. "M-magic?"
        I smiled more broadly. "Yes, I can do magic."
        "Magic, the use and learning of magic is forbidden to women, sister."
        "Just as it is forbidden for a woman to learn combat"
        We stood, looking at each other.
        Satrina threw off her cloak. "I guess that we'll have to keep each other's secrets then."

   *  *  *  *

        "Where are we?" I asked, doing my best to avoid another fallen archway.
        "You don't know?" She squeezed through a narrow crack "We are in the oldest part of the city farther up the mountin." She rounded a conner "Here we are."
        I gazed around. I have only seen this place from afar. that one time I followed her, But to be up close....how beautiful!
        "This place... the flowers. It's the perfect place."
        "Yeah, and I want you to met someone."
        "Your lover?"
        "No."
        "Then who is he? I remember seeing a man."
        "He's my mentor." Satrina said sitting on a stone bench "He should be here soon."
        I inspected the flowers, wondering how they could grow in the choking smog...
        "The smog doesn't reach up this high," Satrina smiled.
        "Uhm, No wonder. You almost never see flowers in Nosgoth."
        I sniffed the roses's marvelous scent.
        "Uh, Kali? could I ask you something?"
        "Yeah, what about?"
        "How does it feel like? You know...Turning into a adult."
        "Uhmm..." I thought for long moment. I didn't want to lie to her. "Well, for me it was like a sudden fever... But they say it's different for everyone."
        "Fever? You get all hot and stuff?"
        "Yeah." I nodded. " And...and you get this urge to...." I stopped.
        She leaned a little closer. "Urge to what?"
        I blushed. "The urge to....be with someone."
        She looked at me curiously. "Meaning?"
        I tore a blade of grass out. "You know back when we were human what they do...."
        "Oh! That!" She blushed. "I remember now....It has been along time since when we were human....right?"
        "Right."
        The wind shifted, carrying with it a scent of... "Human! I cried out. My hand forming a orb of lighting. The man in armor had his sword drawn.
        Satrina leaped in between us. "Wait! Don't attack Brent. She's my sister"
        The Armored man didn't lower his weapon. I kept my stance, the ball of lighting crackling. The man pushed Satrina out of the way, I pushed the orb at him. He took the hit staggering back. I formed another when Satrina pushed through the haze of anger and fear in my mind, telling me to calm down, this is a friend.  The orb disappeared. I stepped back, unsure of what to do.
        He pulled off his helmet and turned to Satrina. "What are you doing Satrina? Bringing another person here?"
        "She already knew, she followed me here one night. And she has a plan to get me into the tournament."
        "Satrina do you know how dangerous it is? If you are found, then she could be executed as well." He said.
        I spoke up, "I know of the dangers human." I looked down at him. "But she is my sister and I won't let her go though that alone."
        He stared at me."How is that you know magic girl?"
        "I-I taught myself."
        "You taught yourself?...." He shrugged. "How interesting."
        Puzzled, I said nothing.
        "This getting very interesting." He continued. "What is your plan miss..?"
        "Kaliliah. I'll tell you my plan if I can trust you."
        Satrina smiled, "Kali, This is my mentor Brent, Royal Guard of the Clans. Brent, my sister Kaliliah."