"Evia!!!" Alexa screamed as she flung herself at her friend. Evia smiled and patted Alexa's head. She looked behind Alexa and saw Adriane and another girl, that she recognized as another competitor in the exam.

" I'm so glad you are alright. You are alright, aren't you?" Alexa said, cupping her cheeks and examining her face. Pushing Alexa's hands away teasingly. Evia did a little spin

" I'm fine, don't be so worried." She said laughing.

Alexa laughed too and then turned toward the pair behind her. Adriane came up and patted her on the head. He had found her so scary when they had first met. But, he felt more comfortable, now that he knew her and he was truly worried about his friend.

Marissa stepped forward and held out her hand.

" You must be Evia, Alexa's told me a lot about you. I'm Marissa, and I hope we can become friends."

Evia shook her hand and nodded. Even though she wasn't sure Marissa deserved to be her friend. She still made an effort to be friendly. They began walking back to the inn together.

" They should have the results of the entrance exam up by tomorrow."

Marissa informed them.

" They put a list of the names the accepted applicants and their scores, all over the city. They put it on TV. Exactly at 12:00 am, all of the channels get interrupted for the showing of the list."

" Won't people be bothered by that?" Alexa asked. It seemed rude to interrupt someone's program with something like that.

" Well, the only ones who's complaints would ever be listened to are the nobles. But, most of them don't care because a lot of them make bets on which applicants make the list." Marissa explained.

Evia nodded. They reached the inn and Marissa peeked in and said in a sly voice.

" How about a drink?"

" Absolutely!" Evia said moving forward. A fierce hand pulled her back.

" umm...Absolutely not. Your only 14 and you.." Alexa said turning to Marissa.

" can be no older than 16." Marissa, looked put out as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Nearly ten minutes later.

-------

Marissa and Evia looked down at the drinks the bartender placed in front of them.

" Milk!?" They exclaimed in unison.

Alexa nodded as she sipped her drink, which itself looked very much like a bottle of beer. Adriane himself had gotten a glass of water and was watching with faint amusement.

" But...But..!!" Marissa sputtered. Alexa cut her off with a glare. Marissa gasped and looking back down at the cup she took it in both hands and chugged it. It was at this time that group of about half a dozen came into the bar.

Evia looked up at the group, as they walked in and took up a table. There were two girls and the rest were boys, all looked about Adriane/Alexa's age. One caught her attention. His eyes seemed familiar, blue like an endless ocean. He must have felt her stare because he moved his head and looked at her. His eyes narrowed. They stared at each other until he finally broke eye contact when one of the other boys began talking to him.

------------

Eric watched as the beautiful girl and her companies parted ways. The small girl with overly-sized glasses left, presumably to go back to her own accommodations. Then the red-haired guy and the two women said their farewells and made their way upstairs. The dark haired girl turned back for just a moment and glanced at him. He pretended not to notice. Instead, he looked back at his friends. Louis was flirting with Serina. while Claire and Jessie chatted merrily with each other. Hanna sat across from him, staring.

" So are you gonna tell us, who exactly was that girl you were making googly eyes at the entire time? " Louis asked leaning over to him and smirking. Eric smiled too, but he wasn't quite sure how to answer.

He had caught a glimpse of her the earlier that day, before the entrance Exam. There was something about her that captivated him. Her black hair was much like his own. But, her eyes they seemed to transport him into another world. A world he knew all too well.

" As If Eric would ever stoop so low as to fawn over some lowlife whore."

Hanna said abruptly. Her tone was laced with something akin to Jealousy and they all looked over at her. Hanna was normally very quiet, and she was the last they would have expected to say such harsh words.

" WooW, someone got up on the wrong side of the bed," Louis said, trying to lighten the mood.

Just as normal conversation started again, Eric heard something. No, he didn't hear. He felt it. The change was so subtle that if it wasn't for his years of training he would have never noticed it. Slowly he waited for the presence to exit and then stood.

" I'm afraid I've got something I've got to do. Please excuse me." Smiling he made a curt nod to his friends and then swept out of the room. As he exited the inn he immediately changed position and hid in the shadows. The presence was almost gone, but his instincts told him to go forward. And so he did.

Eric made his way through the crowded streets of the city. Filled with people bustling home to see their families. Ducking into an alleyway, he stopped abruptly and lept back a step. Just in time. Because a second later, a dagger flew by Nearly taking off his ear.

Looking up Eric saw his three attackers. He recognized them immediately. In front of him stood three of some of the most notorious assassins in the city.

--------------

Evia slipped out of the inn with the use of an invisibility spell. Moving calmly through the streets and finally reaching the Pear tree atop a hill overlooking the city. She sat down on the soft grass and waited. She could hear his footsteps, and as Arculous walked up the hill he sat down beside her.

" Well?" He asked.

" Let's start with you." She said straightening and turning to him.

" How did you pick up that elf?" Arculous made a long tired sign.

" Two years ago she somehow summoned me and placed me under contract. She was following instructions from an accent tomb. She is of little concern. Her power is decent, but she is spoiled and a petulant child." He paused as if re-thinking his words.

" Well, not all the time. She's a sadist. Loves punishment and has a deep lust for power. But it wouldn't be the first time one of my masters had that sort of pleasures."

Evia nodded taking in the information. She turned back to the sunset.

" The changes of this world are quite interesting." She said.

" What do you plan to do?" Arculous asked, probing.

"Go to school of course." She replied. Arculous shook his head.

" But why?" Instead of answering, Evia looked up at the sky. She could just about see the moon.

" The blood Moon approaches." She said.

" Every time the Moon turns Red, I lose a bit of my power. My magic is already weak and I'm afraid that after two years it will all be gone."

Arculous gapped at her. He had never heard of this.

" No!" He shouted.

" There must be something I can do!!" He said frantically. Evia just shook her head.

" It's an old curse...It's true that every curse has a cure. But, the remedy for something like this. Creating it is something only I can do. In order for me to prepare for the trails to come. I hoped that this school would be able to provide me with what I need to survive." Evia explained.

Arculouse's mind was reeling, but he could focus on this new information later.

" We will have to come up with a suitable cover story." He said. Evia nodded and began to explain her conversation with the doctor and the assumptions of Alexa about her past.

Arculous thought for a moment.

" I think it would be best if you said you lost your memory. But, it would be expected for you to have bits and fragments. So, how about you were born into a wealthy merchants family and suffered great abuse as a child. Then, after an accident were your parents were killed and you lost your memory. You fled into the forest and that's where you met that Alexa girl. You can fill in the details as you like. And I'll vouch for the story, which will also allow us to meet without suspicion. "

Arculous nodded, pleased with his plan. Evia still didn't respond. Arculous looked at her.

" Mother?" He asked. Evia smiled sadly and said in a soft tone.

" I hope...I hope that one day we can all be together again." Arculous nodded and for the first time in decades allowed himself to think of his kin.

The two sat there, facing the sunset under the side of the pear tree. Both drifting through memories. But neither would ever admit how very much their hearts ached for the family they once had.