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It was a normal winter day, with powder like snow drifting downwards onto trees and bushes. The sun was only noted by the rays casting through thick clouds that covered the sky.

Chilly as it was, Kaylee enjoyed her time outside. Being couped up in the small hut all night made even this time a blessed moment. At least she could practice her magic skills without risk of destroying her only shelter.

This was because her level was so low, trying to form a small flame would be most exhausting. Not that she didn't practice as much as she could. She just didn't have the right mentor to guide her along, and most of the people around here where scared of it.... thus was where her problem laid.

(Certainly)

((Thank you very much!))

Falen strolled down the old dusty road. His dual rapiers strapped to his thighs bobbing up and down clinking together. As he carelessly walked down the road he flicked little fireballs from his fingertips without and form of struggle. The other hand was covered with a glove clenching a decorated scroll. For a few moments he just stood there then wiped his brow from sweat. He unlaced a canteen bottle from his waist and chugged the remains. He looked around then spotted the cabin.

"Aye! They we are! Some shelter for ye ole Falen to stay!" He began to walk in the direction of the cabin. "Wait." He stood pondering an inspecting the cabin. "There could be others inside." He mumbled to himself. He unbuckled one of his two rapiers. He clenched it feared in his gloved hand, the other had a blazing fireball hovering above it. "Hello?" He shouted at the cabin. "Any residents in ye old cabin I should be acquainted with?" He took a few cautious steps closer. "Come out," he eyed the cabin. "Now."

She wasn't far from her little cabin so could hear a bit of a voice echoing its way toward her. Was someone trying to get in her home? Kaylee made her way slowly through the small patch of trees that had grown up behind the little cabin.

"Come out...now!" Was what she heard before she could holler out a 'hello' but the command in the male's voice startled it back in so that all that came out was garble.

Light caught her attention and realizing that it wasn't a lantern or candle but a flame that hovered above his palm, excitement replaced her fear. Unfortunately, her feet hadn't came to that conclusion just yet.

He sighed a sigh of relief. "Well, I guess no one's home." He then sheathed his rapiers and re-strapped them. He then distinguished the flame by closing his palm. He then strolled of to the cabin and placed himself inside on the mildly dusty floorboards. As he sat down he whistled as he took the scroll and un-raveled it, his eyes light up. He then laughed gingerly. "Ya know, I've always wanted to try that." He stepped back outside the puffed. "Okay then, lets do it." He only his palm and a flame appeared. He put the enraged ball of fire into his mouth then swallowed. He then counted in his head then blow out furiously, fire shot every which direction from his mouth. "Nice." He closed his palm then opened it again. This time his hand became frosted. He jumped up the. Slammed it into the dusty ground and froze a ten foot radius around him. He then created ice spears and shot them in random directions blindly.

Spikes just came out of nowhere and she ran, she tried shooting flames at the thing but her her flame would sputter out. So doing the only thing she could in a situation like this; she dropped down in the snow and covered her head.

When all was clear and no spikes where trying to kill her, Kaylee sat up on her knees and couldn't help a small pout of disappointment. No matter how many times she tried the flame or any other magic, she couldn't get as good as what he had just done. Of course now he would she her and how embarrassing it was for her. A true master and...and...well there wasn't any name for her lowly level.

Falen noticed the girl. He immediately sprinted toward her. "I am so terribly sorry m'lady." He crouched down near her, as he slowly moved forward his rapiers scraped against the road. "I meant you absolutely no harm, I am dearly sorry." He took off his fedora revealing his lusterous eyes and lush brown hair gingerly spiked up in the front. "I see you attempt at the art of Magic." He used a smooth, soothing voices attempting to reassure her. He held out a hand and placed it gently on her shoulder. "How old are you?"

He, the closest to 'master of magic' she ever came in contact with was saying he was 'sorry' and on top of that was asking how old she was?......wait. How old was she again? She had been so consumed with learning magic she had forgotten her age.

Looking up at him for the first time was a mistake. Because first he was a guy and second he was touching her. Then came the blank stare followed by stammering. "Uuuuh.. huh...I-I believe. I mean I think I'm seventeen , no...no huh eighteen . Yes, definately eighteen...." she bit her lip to shut herself up. Stupid, stupid girl. Stupid.

He laughed charmingly. "Sorry I startled you," he stood up and offered a hand to her to assist her in getting up. "I must have really shaken you up." He gestured for her to enter the cabin. "Oh and I'm Falen by the way, and I'm twenty one." He then stopped at the doorway leaning up against it. He held his fedora in one hand before tossing it onto the floor. He held out a hand to be shaken.

She laughed a little. Yes, he definately did. "Its...a pleasure to meet you Falen. Your welcome to my little cabin if there is no place of rest for you." Kaylee took his hand and lightly shook it. The contact was little, but she couldn't help wanting to hold it a while longer before letting go.

She had such little contact with anyone these days. Exspecially one of the opposite gender. Really rare for even greetings. "Mmm, ah you... how long have you done magic?" She tried to wait to be polite and ask later, but she had no clue if Falen would stay even with her offer.

He grinned. "Thank you, I would love to stay here. I say the cozier, the better." He stepped in and stood in the middle of the room. His ears perked at the question. I learned to shoot my first fireball at seven." He smiled as he recollected his memories of younger years. "Ever since then I have practice Magic and about any self defense art you could think about." He glanced down at his shoes pretending to inspect them. "I specialize in self-defense." He sat down then crossed his legs.

"My turn." He grinned very charmingly at the girl. "So when did you start and what is your most interesting move?" He was slightly intrigued by this girl living alone, in the woods, in a dusty old cabin. Only thoughts that come to mind is witch. But by know a witch would be attempting to rip his heart out.

She sighed. "Ten years of age. That's when my...I became to be alone. The only thing in magic I am good at is illusion, but that wont always help me. Like I can start a campfire if I can learn a simple flame....but also to defend." She liked illusion magic a lot of the time because it was fun to make things appear from thin air. She blushed a little when she remembered they usually took form of imaginary friends.

She sat. "I really want to learn it, but its so hard. I get drained to fast." Her foot swung back and forth while she spoke as if to prove a point."Other than those, my basic skill is stealth and my weapon choice would be bow and arrow along with some throwing knives."

Falen nodded approvingly. He quirked a brow about how it was hard for her to create fire. "Hard for fire?" He covered his mouth as fast as the words came out. His eyes immediately darted to hers. "Sorry." He looked down and cleared his throat. "Illusion aye? I am fairly good in that section as well, but that is not really my forte." He sighed. "Do you have any type of bath around here?" He gestured at his clothing and skin. "I have gone six days without bathing." He made purposeful, cheesy pleading eyes.

A shout was heard in the distance. "Ifensterd!" Falen immediately unsheathed both rapiers and retreated to the far corner of the house. "Come, now."

She was about to reply to his question about a bath when he suddenly started moving to sit in the corner and wanting her to follow. "What is it?" She whispered. Now being so close to him she could see why he wanted a bath so bad, but she kept that to herself as she waited.

Did she need to throw an invisible spell up to hide them? Did they need to hide? She did hear a voice before she moved. What did it mean?

Falen laughed. "I'm kidding!" He stood and sheathe his rapiers once more. "That is jut a code word my messenger and I use, in case he is in the wrong area no one will think it mail, but as if he was calling someone by name." He brushed himself off and walked out of the cabin receiving yet another scroll. This time not decorated but yet rather bland. "Very sorry." The messenger bowed then began to walk away. Falen entered the cabin once more this time his face had gone white he slid down on the floor just staring blankly at the piece of paper held in front of him.

"Their all gone..." He furrowed his brow then stood up. "Gah!" He opened his palm and set the scroll ablaze. "Those damn bastards!" He burst through the cabin door nearly ripping it from its hinges. "Those rotten fiends!" He yelled once more hurling fire through the air. He whipped around sharply on his heels then ripped through the door. He walked up toward the girl, noses almost touching. He pointed and finger at her and touched it to her chest. "Do you wish to learn from me?" He growled. "Do you wish to learn how to scorch someone? To freeze then and then smash them to pieces?"

He was so close to her that she could tell how his once happy face had diminished and looked so fierce and cold. The sudden change had terrified her and now he wanted to kill people, or teach her how. "W-what?" Her breath had caught in her throat. "I-...I do want to learn from you sir." That she really wanted, but not to harm someone unless circumstance called for it, and to top it off, he almost set her house on fire. She pushed away his finger.

"...but if you can't control your magic when your angry, then you no better than me..." she said sadly and turn away to clean the mess he made. She was shaking with raw emotion because here was a man who could teach her the magic she had tried so hard to learn for years. Turning away the chance...had made her so close to crying.

He sighed harshly. "Very well then." Picked up the fedora from the dusty floorboards and placed it on his thick brown hair. He went wide-eyed at her remark for him not being good under maddening circumstances. He furrowed his brow and gritted his teeth. "My life, was ruined by these people, and yet again, they murder more of my companions." He turned sharply with his brown boots. "Ever since I was five I was alone. Left on the streets." He sighed. "The captain of the battalion that had been murdered savagely by those barbarians was the only one who cared enough to take me in. He saw what potential I had in magic, and with a sword." He clenched his eyes shut trying to block out memories. "At the age of ten I was better than most soldiers at magic and swordsmanship. I could fight almost any man in the battalion and win." He opened his eyes. "Two years later, on my twelfth birthday my home town had been burnt to the ground and everyone in it brutally murdered. I was sent two my first battle three months later. I had grown a connection between the men of my battalion, I was the youngest, yet most skilled." He huffed, a glimmer in his eye revealing the start of welling tears. "In the midst of the battlefield, my squad was surrounded on all sides. I did the best that I could to defeat the barbarians, what I didn't realize is that thy were trying to save me." He sat down again, placing his fedora down and running fingers through his hair. "Barbarian archers fired volley after volley, the men if my squad protected me from every arrow from every side. When they were caught off guard by a volley, they didn't have time to bring up their shields so they used themselves, the died from saving me.

"Two years later when I was fourteen the military found my uncle, and was told I was still alive. He brought me in his custody. He treated me well, provided me with the largest room in his house, he prepared whatever food I requested. But only seven months later our village was marauded by the sane barbarians as before. My uncle and I fought beside each other. Both skilled fighters, both watching each others back. But when I was evading an attacker I forgot to check behind me for my uncle. He had been impaled by a spear. In rage I scratched every barbarian around me. I had refrained from magic because my uncle sought it unnatural. As he lay bleeding on the battlefield I held him in my arms, pleading to God not to take him, he bled out in my arms, I never had the pleasure if saying goodbye."
He looked up at the woman. "Now do you see why I despise these men so?" He stood up brushing himself off.

"They killed off my family members and destroyed almost every town I have lived in." He held gestured toward the pile of ashes in the floorboards that had once been a scroll. "Now they have slaughtered and humiliatingly publicly executed all remained survivors." He gritted his teeth. "They beheaded the captain last and sent it to the Commander, 'as a gift'." He glared at the ashes. "But if you do not wish to learn from a 'brute' like myself, so be it." He looked at her straight in the eyes. "If not, I suggest you speak up."

She listened as she spoke, still cleaning everything back to the way it was. "I want to, then." She sighed. His life had been rougher than hers, but the end result was similar. "...and I don't think your a 'brute' by the way. More of a....matchstick that only lights when someone strikes them the right way." She added with a smile and put the rag away.

"Why don't you go get washed up while I pack. Its behind the house. Its covered by planks of wood." She brought him something to dry off with. " Then I will wash these..." she pulled at the side of his shirt. " and if you are hungry, I will cook, then you can decide if you want to rest here or leave afterwards." She was excited. Kaylee only hoped she would become someone important to him too...and not lose her. Neither to his temper or her death.

Falen nodded. He pulled up from the hem of his shirt and yanked upward wrenching his shirt off. She tossed toward her. He blushed lightly. "Please tell me you have a towel?" He looked down at his pants and sighed. "Would you mind washing these raggedy things too?" He hit the side of his pants and a poof of dusty shot out. "It is just as dirty." He had far tanned skin from long days of traveling and rough hands. As a boy he had always loved adventure, no matter where he went or how dangerous it was he would always accept, just part of his nature.