My apologies to the list for the (very) bad copy of SS3. I was not aware of what my mailer did to it.

I hope that this time it will make it through without problem.

-- Attached file included as plaintext by Ecartis --
-- File: Ioveteaser3.txt

Disclaimer: Some characters copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi, Toei 
Animation, and Kodansha. I'm still not idiot enough to claim them. Some 
elements were taken from the game Lords Of Magic, copyright Sierra 
Games and Impressions Studios.

Sorceress's Soul
Chronicled by Dro'gan, called NiteFlier

I heave a great yawn as I place the tome back on the shelf.

My eyelids blinking closed in sleep, I stumble into the next room, and 
onto my bed. The mattress creaks familiarly, and I do not bother to 
even take off my clothes or pull the covers over me.

My master is a hard taskmaster, true, but I am like to think that I am 
even harder on myself. Like all novices here at the Tower of Air, I 
must help my master in his tasks, and as Sandoval is the Chief 
Recorder, and sits on the Council himself. All the notes and 
transcripts he makes must be copied down from his shorthand script, and 
made into more legible writing.

Tedious, tiring, and most especially, time-consuming work.

Even after being his apprentice for three months, Sandoval remains a 
mystery to me. I know that he is somewhat sympathetic to the cause of 
Cirrus and Mochal, but other than that, I know nothing of the Giant�s 
disposition.

Well, other than that he can make quite a lot of words seem like little 
with his shorthand.

Sleep, sleep for tonight. Soon it will be dawn.

* * * * *

I pull my cloak tighter around me as I continue swiftly walking across 
the dunes of snow. I can see other Giants and fairies going in the same 
direction as we, and for likely the same purpose.

In the distance, through the clear air I can see it, jutting up from 
the highest peak on Urak.

The Great Temple of Air.

Its twin spirals helix up into the air, the top of which holds several 
great spheres. The sun glimmers through wires that I can barely see, 
but are each probably wider than I am tall. No one knows who created 
each of the eight Great Temples, but to each Faith, they are a beacon.

Master Sandoval�s great strides eat the distance between us and the 
Temple, and had it not been for Wind Walk, I would have been left 
behind long ago. The spell is draining to use, but it is good practice 
for me.

�Master!� I call. �Will we make it by the noontide?�

Sandoval looks down to me, not ceasing his steps. �Yes, Apprentice. 
There is still much time, for the Calling does not start until the 
Alignment is in place. Most of those you see around us are not speeding 
in their stride, it merely seems so because of the distance.� He 
pointed to a band of fairies, �They, for instance. They are moving not 
a quarter as fast as we, although they could match us if they chose. Do 
not worry, Apprentice. We shall be there in time to help set up the 
Crystal formations, much less the Calling itself.�

I shivered as he fell silent. The prior week I had been studying the 
Calling, and all that it entailed.

Once every five years, save only in times of war, all those of the 
Faith came to the Great Temple to worship, and to see if the great 
Frost Drake would awaken from its thousand year sleep. A multitude of 
Crystals were procured using tithes to the Temple, and were set into a 
specific pattern, sometimes to keep the Drake peacefully sleeping, and 
in others, in an attempt to wake the Legendary Creature.

It was that purpose that made me vastly uncomfortable, for I remembered 
another place of Crystal formation, and the summoning of a different 
creature.

Sandoval left me to my thoughts, and I let him be. Our relationship was 
an odd one among the Tower, for we did not communicate with words. An 
odd thing for the Chief Recorder, but true: He did not speak unless 
necessary. I was truly surprised by his loquaciousness in answering my 
question. But then, for the teaching of spells, there was not much to 
say, only to be shown. Too, we were comfortable with each other, the 
great Giant and I, the seemingly human girl.

That was something that still surprised me. Not one of the Sorcerers at 
the Tower had even inquired about the illusion that kept my appearance 
as a human. Perhaps they found the slight stirrings of Life magics 
beneath their notice, or perhaps they thought it was some spell that 
Sandoval had placed on me.

I don�t really care. It keeps them from asking questions, and that is 
all that matters.

Sandoval has seen me without it, I believe. I have taken to dropping it 
on occasion, trying to tweak the spell to be less noticeable, and to 
add certain triggers to it. In the early days, as well, I could not 
hold it up while I was sleeping, and if he had checked my bedroom 
during those weeks, he would have seen golden hair instead of brown.

I look up at the Great Temple. It seems that we are almost there, for I 
can only see the top if I crane my head near back. As I look at the 
base, however, I can see that it is still a few miles off, for I can 
just barely see the small moving dots on the ground that are Giants. I 
sigh, and continue walking steadily beside my master.

The dots of Giants slowly grow larger, and I see that other dots up in 
the air have appeared. Fairies, either arriving or making ready some of 
the Crystals that must be placed in special holders some ways up the 
towering Temple. Perhaps still a mile off, I can see the grouping of 
Sorcerers that direct them, as well as their apprentices who work on 
those holders nearer the ground.

It takes a bit of work and coordination, for there are a multitude of 
holders, for all kinds of rituals, only a few still remembered, and 
even fewer that the diagrams are available for.

Sandoval and I finally reach the gathering of Sorcerers that are 
handing out Crystals and directing their helpers. I see Mochal helping 
with the wagon that brought the load of Crystal. He waves back and 
strides over.

�Lord Sandoval, please accept my greetings.� Mochal bows to my master, 
and Sandoval nods in return. Sandoval eyes me for a moment, and I nod, 
accepting his decree. Mochal watches confusedly as Sandoval turns and 
walks to the main grouping of Sorcerers.

�I have the strangest feeling that something went on and it passed me 
by.� I laugh at Mochal for his interpretation.

�No, Mochal,� I tell him. �That�s just the way that Master Sandoval is. 
He hears enough words spoken, he doesn�t need to add to the babble.� I 
smile and turn to him. �And how are you, Lord Mochal?�

Mochal gives a short laugh. �None of that now, Krystal. I am pleased 
that you have taken a liking to your teacher. I am wondering though, 
how much has he taught you?�

I grimace. �In every letter from Talapin, he asks the same thing. I am 
progressing well enough according to my Master, and at a breakneck 
speed if you would listen to Lord Erath and his party.� I shake my head 
and shrug. �There is no pleasing that idiotic fool! At every turn, he 
is either complaining to the Council, or tying up the spell grounds so 
that I may not practice!�

The Giant shrugged as well. �How has your master been taking such?�

I grin. �Let me put it this way: Master Sandoval�s duties keep him in 
the Tower nigh constantly, but he has an amazing hunger for some sweet 
or other that the people down in Ka�Otica make.� I wink at Mochal. 
�Since he does not believe that he should tie up Tower resources for a 
personal desire, he sends his apprentice to town to fetch it.�

Mochal snorted, trying to conceal his mirth. �And I suppose that since 
the road from the Tower to the Capitol is already saturated with magic, 
no one notices a bit more?�

I roll my eyes, and place my hands behind my head. �Well, the only 
spell I don�t get much practice in is Wind Walk, and I had to use 
*that* all the way here!�

Mochal did laugh now. �Ah, but a Sorcerer, or Sorceress, must be well 
accomplished in all the spells of the Way!�

I nod in acceptance. �I know. But the spring games are only a few weeks 
away!�

Mochal nodded. �Yes, and I am sure that you shall take the Wind Scepter 
this year.�

My eyes widen, and I turn to Mochal. �Are you *insane?* I�ve barely 
been four months in the Tower, and to take the Scepter, I would have to 
beat those who are almost ready to pass through the Storm Ritual!�

Mochal nodded. �Yet you shall win it. I am sure!�

I sigh and shake my head. There is no convincing him. �Is there 
anything new that I have not heard from Talapin?� I ask.

Mochal pauses for a moment. �Yes. I received a scroll containing a 
spell that the Tower claims to have just unearthed.�

I groan. The Giant looks to me. �Are you sad because they did not put 
it in your name? You did create this spell.�

I nod. �It's not that. I had hoped to be able to keep it for myself, 
but it seems that it was not to be.�

Mochal shook his head. �You should know better. If it is a spell of the 
Way, then it belongs to the Tower. You could not keep it to yourself.�

I nod. �Are you able to perform it?�

Suddenly the Giant has a sickly grin on his face. �Er, Oh, Talapin 
sends his... Um.�

I look up at him, my arms crossed and my foot tapping the ground. �Um?� 
I ask.

Mochal deflates. �No.� He shakes a finger at me. �But you should not be 
surprised! I am well past my learning days, and you, child... What 
now?� I am grinning like a maniac.

�Not one! Not a single Giant that I have asked has been able to 
complete the Breeze Blade!� I am ready to jump for joy, for if Mochal, 
who was the first Sorcerer to know me, could not do it, then perhaps I 
will be able to keep it for myself!

Mochal shakes his head. �Krystal! Do not be that glad, for what if a 
Sorcerer were fighting our enemies and could not use that spell to cut 
them down? Would you take up his death merely because you would not 
have another able to complete it?�

I stop grinning. I had not thought of it like that. �I...�

We both look up as the wind whispers. �It is time.� Mochal intones. I 
nod, and rush off to my master.

* * * * *

At precisely midday, light from the sun strikes through the helix 
formed by the Great Temple. Reflecting off mirrors and Crystal, it is 
shed in a rainbow down to the ground, and the device waiting there. The 
device again reflected the light upwards to still more Crystal, and 
finally came to rest on one of the giant spheres at the tip of the 
Temple.

For a full minute and a half, the light remained, until the sun moved 
out of position, and it winked out.

The assembled, a vast multitude of those who worshiped the Air gave a 
great sigh of awe, and slowly began to break away from the Temple, 
moving to the grounds nearby that had been set up for the Festival.

I am told that when the Calling and the Spring Games occur on the same 
day, it is truly a sight to behold. But for now, the two events are 
separated by half a moon. Half a moon for me to prepare to take the 
Wind Scepter, the highest trophy any novice of the Way can attain.

But for now, the Festival!

* * * * *

I am happily stuffed as I lay back upon the thick roof of the pavilion. 
Sandoval had rented it out for us two for the night, for tomorrow we 
will be going back to the Tower, where I am determined to look up the 
charts for the Crystal placement in the Great Temple. An Idea had 
pricked the back of my mind, but would not yet show its totality to my 
consciousness.

Something soft and cold touches my face. I open my eyes to see snow 
falling from a low lying cloud. A *very* low lying cloud. I concentrate 
for a moment, and see that both the cloud and the snow have been 
conjured up. I sit up, and look around.

There, about fifteen feet away, is a young Storm Giant. I can tell by 
the aura of magic he gives off that he is the cause of the cloud and 
snow. He doesn�t bear a staff, so he must be a novice, like myself. I 
really, really don�t like the smirk on his face.

�Is there something you wished?� I call out to him.

His smirk grows bigger. �Oh, just that you would catch hypothermia and 
die, but it will probably take more than a little cloud to do that.�

I finally recognize the overgrown moron. He is Mugsil, the apprentice 
of Ugreth, who himself was once the student of Erath. It seems that the 
Giant that had so opposed my entrance to the Tower was now moving the 
game onto different footing.

�I�m afraid that you are correct, snow like this will not do me in.� I 
pause, looking up at the cloud. �In fact, it reminds me of a real 
blizzard.�

Mugsil�s smirk has died a painful death. He obviously wanted to scare 
me, but my nonchalant reply diffused that weapon. He growls out a few 
words, then turns and stalks away as the cloud dissipates, leaving the 
last few flakes of snow to fall on my head.

This would bear careful watching.

* * * * *

For the first time I can remember, Master Sandoval is mad.

�What do you mean that it was *canceled?*� he roars at the Sorcerer 
before him. �I made those reservations before the Calling! Now you tell 
me, a week later, that someone *else* canceled them?!�

�B-b-but sir!� the younger Giant quakes, �I was told that you don�t 
make reservations to the Spell Grounds, for you had no need!�

Sandoval leaned over, getting right into the unfortunate keeper�s face. 
�I have not made reservations before, because whenever I have had an 
apprentice before, there was no *need!*� He withdrew himself to a 
reasonable range. �Now you will proceed to tell whoever else has taken 
*my* reservation that you had a previous holder!�

The keeper started stuttering, �B-b-b-but th-th-th-that w-w-w-w��

�That will make you look *incompetent!*� Sandoval bellows. �As it 
should! No Sorcerer has the right to cancel another�s reservation for 
the Spell Grounds, not even if it were a Novice against the Chairman of 
the Council!� He thrust the head of his staff into the keeper�s face. 
�Are you telling me that I am *less* than even a *novice?*�

The keeper scrambled back, then turned and disappeared away into the 
Grounds.

�Master?� I ask.

Sandoval takes a deep breath, and slowly stops shaking in rage. 
�Apologies,� he says.

I nod. �Thank you, Master.�

Soon the keeper returns, and we are escorted into the Grounds. We pass 
by several others on our way to the one Sandoval reserved for us, and I 
notice that all have wildly different terrain than the next. One is 
even covered in water!

The keeper finally stops at the gate to one of the Grounds. He hastily 
unlocks it and waves us inwards. Sandoval proceeds in without a single 
glance to the other Sorcerer, and I follow quietly. 

I gasp. The terrain in this part of the Grounds is...

Swamp. Not like the seaside tidal swamps, or like the one I crossed 
while climbing the mountains, ones that are filled with living, growing 
things. This one has nothing, merely dark, polluted waters, with no 
grasses or fish.

I shiver. Although I do not worship the Faith of Life, my natural 
affinity for it is crying out at this sight.

Sandoval proceeds to the edge of the water, then turns and gestures me 
forward. I hesitantly pick my way to him, but as I near, my legs lock 
up, and I cannot go farther.

Sandoval nods. �Drop the illusion, Krystal.�

I swallow loudly, then release the complicated spellwork that cloaks my 
form. Brown hair lightens to gold with silver sheen, features shift 
from hardy to delicate. I am still as I am, for I have released the 
magic of Life that I used.

The instant I end the spell, I feel less threatened, and within a 
minute, I feel there is nothing wrong. I look at my slight hands, then 
up at Sandoval. �Master?�

He nods. �This part of the Grounds has been cultivated to appear as 
that most favorable to the worshipers of Death. Your illusion uses the 
magic of Life, so you were naturally adverse to it.� He waves to the 
west. �Over there are the Grounds that resemble Earth, and it is that 
that we Giants have the most trouble with. I shall simply train you 
here as I will there.� He looks down to me. �You have the unfortunate 
position of having two weaknesses, even though you only employ one type 
of magic. I only hope that you will be able to overcome them.�

I take a breath, then let it out. �Master, what do you wish?�

Sandoval nods, then gestures for me to emulate him.

* * * * *

In Sandoval�s study, he had set up a smaller desk and chair, like he 
had for my bedroom. I sit there now, the lights that I formed not 
flickering in the draft from the window. On the desk are a multitude of 
charts and diagrams, each depicting the Great Temple, and the various 
placement of Crystal that could be formed there. Off to the side are my 
personal notebooks, written in shorthand, and so small a Giant would 
need a magnifying glass to see.

It is nice to know that they won�t be stealing my ideas.

But for now I am memorizing all the diagrams, even though not all of 
them have labels. That is why there are only four or five different 
placements that are in use today, for the others were lost to time and 
poor bookkeeping. I have nearly two score diagrams, and only half dozen 
I know what they do. The rest are a mystery to me, but I still commit 
them, for I never know when I shall find a use for them.

I hear a soft scuffing sound, and look up from the diagrams.

Master Sandoval is standing in the doorway, watching me. I quickly 
stand. �Master?�

�It is late, Krystal.� He intones. He strides to my desk, and looks at 
the diagrams, and my notebooks. �An Idea, Apprentice?�

I nod. �Yes, Master. Only, not so formed yet. It lacks something.�

He looks carefully at me. �Sometimes inspiration comes through hard 
thought and patience, and sometimes through desperation. We leave for 
the Great Temple and the Spring Games tomorrow, Krystal. Sleep now, you 
will have a chance to ponder while we trek there.� He turns, and leaves 
the study.

I sigh, then begin putting up the scrolls that I have taken out. Maybe 
Sandoval is right. I yawn, �Time enough, later.�

* * * * *

We reach the Great Temple much faster than before, or mayhap the time 
passed quicker when I was not paying attention to it, preferring to 
think on the problems and spells that my mind toyed with.

When we reached there, Sandoval escorted me to be registered for the 
Games. I was surprised when I saw a human with waiting in the line. 
�Master, the Games are open to those not of the Way?�

He nods. �Yes. As long as they enter the competition that they are 
qualified for, any Faith may come. There was, nigh a hundred years ago, 
even a Gnome Wizard that came.�

I blinked. For one of the Earth Faith to come to a competition hosted 
by those of Air was brave indeed.

I looked over the battlegrounds, noting the three areas. There were six 
competitions, two for each guild, Warrior, Thief, and Mage. Each guild 
had a Master and Novice competitions. The human in front of us moved to 
the side, and I saw the staff in his hands. �A wizard of Order,� I 
wondered.

Then Sandoval and I were before the Registrar. The Fairy looked up and 
asked, �You will be competing in the Sorcerer�s matches?� she asked 
Sandoval.

Sandoval shook his head. �No, she,� he gestured to me, �will be 
competing in the Magic Novice�s competition.� The Fairy looked shocked, 
and I was as well when a loud bray of laughter erupted from beside us.

The three of us turned to see the Wizard of Order chuckling. �I know 
not what your Faith is, but I doubt that a Storm Giant would lead 
around a dwarf. That makes you human, child, and how old? Twelve years, 
thirteen?� He snorted. �Against well trained Giants and others? HA!� 
The wizard resumed laughing.

Sandoval turned to the Registrar. �Well?�

The Fairy blinked and quickly wrote out a ticket, signing it and 
handing it to me. �Here. This afternoon, third line.� With that, she 
returns to business, and waves us away.

Sandoval and I walk away from the Registrar and the still laughing 
Wizard.

* * * * *

Not too later we come across Mochal and Talapin, the Warrior�s face 
breaking out in a grin upon seeing me. He had not been able to come to 
the Calling, for he had been on border patrol at the time. I was glad 
to see him, and was happy to embrace him.

When Talapin and I were finished greeting each other, I turned to see 
that both Sandoval and Mochal had grins on their faces. �Apprentice, 
take your time.� With that, Sandoval disappeared into the ever-growing 
crowd.

�Well!� exclaimed Mochal. �About time for a bit of refreshment, yea?� 
He led us over to a food stocker setting up his shop. After purchasing 
drinks for the three of us, we sat down on the hill overlooking the 
grounds, the battle areas still going through final setup. �So you are 
competing, Krystal?�

�Of course she is, Mochal!� Talapin said. �And she shall be sure to 
make top rank, if not the Scepter itself!�

I shook my head at them. �Not you too!�

Both Giants smiled at me. �But of course, my daughter. We believe in 
you, and you shall be as none other here!�

�I�m already like none other here,� I claimed. �I�m the only one to 
have crossed Faith!�

The two of them chuckle. �Be that as it is, you have an edge against 
your opponents. You will do well, Krystal.� Mochal said.

We spend some time there, watching the activity below us. Sometime 
after noon, we hear the call, �All lines, one through five, please 
return to the Registrar�s tables!�

I smile, and get up to go. The two of them wish me luck, and I am off.

* * * * *

�No artifacts, no potions, no deathblows. Loser is the first to step 
out of the ring, or to surrender.� It is the fourth time today I�ve 
heard those words, but I am ready.

Unlike my previous bouts against those who practice the Way, this one 
is against a novice of Chaos, so I must be on my toes.

The Shaman-in-training shifts her stance, and gestures. I feel a 
strange sensation, but recognize it as a foreign influence, and quickly 
work a counterspell, shielding myself. I can almost *see* the chaotic 
forces rebounding from it, and returning to their master. The older 
girl squawks, and the spell settles on her.

Before I can release the bolt I have prepared, she falls over, 
paralyzed.

I can see the judge blinking as he walks over to her and checks her. I 
also see her Master in the crowd, hand to face and shaking her head.

The judge proclaims me the victor, and hands me another chit.

I wander out of the ring as it is set up for the next pair of 
contestants. Sandoval is standing there, as well as Mochal and Talapin. 
�What happened?� I ask him.

He shrugs. �Chaos magic is very hard to control because it is variable. 
She might have been intending to do anything from locking your magic, 
to putting you to sleep. When you repulsed her magic, it just settled 
on one form and went back to its originator.� Sandoval sighs. �A truly 
hard art to master.�

Mochal looks at the two Chaos Shamans. �It is quite good that she did 
not decide to summon something. That could have been disastrous.�

I blink. �Summon? Like at the Tower?�

Sandoval shakes his head. �No, Apprentice. Not quite. The summonings 
that we do there are stabilized through the use of Crystal, but it is 
possible to summon say, an Air Elemental, temporarily.� He looks at me. 
�I believe a demonstration is in order. Come, your next fight is not 
for a time.�

The four of us wander away from the battlegrounds, towards an 
unpopulated area.

* * * * *

After Sandoval and Mochal had impressed Talapin and myself with 
summoning different magical beings, I asked my master about the 
summoning rituals that took place at the Great Temple. He told me that 
Ice Dragons could be summoned with the use of Crystal, but not without, 
and not anywhere but at the Great Temple.

I was pondering this during my fifth and final match of the night, but 
did not let it distract me. I was given a chit for the semi-finals on 
the morn, and went with the others for a bit of fun before sleep. I 
needed to pick something up from one of the shopkeepers as well.

* * * * *

I am glad that Sandoval and Mochal gave me Mana Potions, for even if I 
cannot use them during the fight, there is no rule that says I cannot 
use them *between* fights.

Right now, that is the only reason I am still on my feet.

I had to pull out every spell, trick, and theorem I know to win the 
semi-final match, and it drained me. But, I am now quite popular, and 
quite disliked, for there is only one fight left in my competition.

Mugsil and I, for the Wind Scepter.

I hear the call for us, and I look at my three supporters. They each 
smile in encouragement, and Mochal says, �I told you. Now go and bring 
back the Scepter!�

I stride with confidence to the ring.

* * * * *

Spell and counter, block, dodge, avert. Mugsil has a deeper reserve 
than I, and he uses it mercilessly. For every spell I throw at him, he 
gives back three. I am nearing my last, but I know that he is as well.

It is perhaps worth it, to see the look on not only his face, but 
Erath�s, who is standing behind him.

My breath comes in short gasps, my legs burn to hold me up. My head 
feels as if it will explode if I cast again.

Mugsil�s face is twisted in rage, and he screams at me. �You filthy 
human! You defile the Way with your spells! FALL, DAMN YOU!� He draws 
in a breath, and throws his hand across his body as he yells, �BREEZE 
BLADE!!�

My eyes widen as I see the blade of compressed air racing towards me. 
There is no spell that I can cast fast enough to deflect it, but...

My legs bend, screaming pain at me, then I leap, somersaulting over the 
deadly spell. I barely hear it crash into the hillside behind me as I 
struggle to stay standing after I land.

I steady myself, then scream at my opponent. �You say something like 
that; you claim that I am unworthy of the Way, yet you use MY OWN SPELL 
AGAINST ME!�

I scarcely hear the crowd of Sorcerers at this, for they did not know 
where the spell came from. I can see the judge waving his hands trying 
to get us to stop.

I care not for that, as I hear Mugsil yell again, �BREEZE BLADE!� This 
one comes at me vertically, and I dodge to the side. The judge and 
others and yelling at us now, for it is obvious that he is not dulling 
the blades. I lift my head to see Mugsil, but instead, look behind him.

The Great Temple stands there, helixing up to the sun, which stands 
almost at zenith. I see the reflection of light off of one of the great 
spheres hanging at its tip.

I take a breath. That�s it.

All this thought takes me less than a second, but I can see Mugsil 
preparing another Blade. I turn away from him suddenly, and pace two 
steps.

I feel the magic from him stop. He is confused, and perhaps he holds 
enough decency to not kill me from behind.

I concentrate. Spells and diagrams from my notebooks come to my mind, 
and I pick out four: Lightning, a Crystal formation, Elemental Summon, 
and from my secret scrolls of Life: Gift.

Concentrating the last of my reserve, I begin working, blending, 
taming, forging a spell. My arms cross as I raise them, coming to rest 
above me, and with a *crack* not heard but felt, a ball of lightning 
forms between my palms.

I can hear nothing now, and do not pay attention to anything but the 
spell. To lose sight of it now would most likely kill me.

The ball grows, until my palms are forced away, yet the still contain 
it above my head. The spellweave is almost complete, all that is needed 
now are the words.

My voice is ragged as I cry out, �*Thunder-!*�

I snap my hands down to my sides, releasing the egg straight up, and I 
shout with all my strength, �DRAGON!!�

The egg of lightning bursts from the inside, and as the shell is thrown 
away it reveals...

Lightning formed into scales, claws as sharp as a light itself, the 
great maw filled with shining teeth. It is huge, three times as high as 
Talapin, its great wings beating the air as it floats.

I halfway turn to Mugsil, and can see the blank look of shock on his 
face, and on those behind him. I point to the ground in from of him, 
and am beset by a curious double sense, as I suddenly *feel*

* * * * *

Wings beating, claws outstretched, crackling coming from my scales, the 
crowd around the two looking up in awe. One of the two with a look of 
panic on his face, the other, smaller, pointing near him. I open my 
mouth, and a roar of thunder escapes as I blast the innocent land 
before him.

He staggers back, falling, crawling to get away, several in that part 
of the crowd not only letting him out of the ring, but running with 
him. It is good.

* * * * *

I gasp, as I see Mugsil running from two viewpoints, then fall to my 
knees, feeling/hearing, the dragon land above me/over my mistress. I 
stare at the ground, on my hands and knees/I look around, as I protect 
her. I hear the roar of thunder/I cry out my challenge to those who 
would harm the one that I protect.

* * * * *

I see that the crowd is cowed, either rooted in place by fear, or 
wonder. But wait! There are three who are approaching! I hiss at them, 
crackling my warning, but strangely, I feel kinship to each of them. 
The largest spreads his hands, showing that he means no harm, despite 
the great sword on his back. The other two copy him, and one holds out 
a flask.

A part of me desires what is in the flask, trusting implicitly in the 
one holding it, and his companions. I rear back my head and nod them 
nearer.

The one with the flask has an aura of old magic, and I feel great 
respect for him. He starts to walk around my leg, but I growl, and he 
takes a step back. He gestures with the flask, motioning that he wishes 
to give it to my mistress.

That same part of me that trusts/respects this being *wants* what is in 
that flask, and I realize that that part of me is my mistress.

I move my leg, letting him pass, and but watch him as he gently picks 
up my mistress and cradles her, putting the flask to her lips. A 
feeling of strength now flows from the part of me that is her, and I 
acknowledge that the being is friendly. I am suddenly touched by

* * * * *

I feel Sandoval�s arms around me as I look up into the eyes of the 
creature I had created. I am still seeing/hearing/feeling/smelling what 
the dragon senses, but it is dimmer now, and I realize that while I had 
asserted a barrier between us, the bond we now shared was unbreakable.

�Sandoval,� I whisper. He leans over to hear me, but does not block my 
sight of the dragon. �It is *me*. I took a part of myself and made it 
into it... No. Her.�

�Can you take it back?� He asks. I shake my head. �Well, what shall we 
do then?�

I blink, and my mind drags up the completed spell I had forged then 
cast. I smile, and Sandoval looks at me curiously. I get out of 
Sandoval�s lap, and wobbly stand. Sandoval moves near, in case I fall 
again, but I will not need it. I hope.

I stretch my hands out to the dragon, and she brings her great head 
down. I cradle what I can of her head, and place my eyes near hers. 
�Come back to me now, come back.�

There is a crackle of ozone, and a inrush of air as the dragon 
disappears.

I blink, and realize that Sandoval was right to stay near, as I fall 
into darkness.

* * * * *

     Who am I?

A creation, but one created by me, and one holding a part of me.

     Will you care for me?

Of course. To be otherwise would forsake those I promised before.

     Mother?

If you want, my great one.

* * * * *

I wake slowly, my body feeling too small for me, especially after the 
double sense of being her as well. I open my eyes to four faces I know 
well.

Wait. Four?

Talapin, my father. Mochal, my first teacher. Sandoval, my Master. 
Cederic, my old Wizard friend.

CEDERIC??

I groan and try to rise, but feel the Wizard of Order�s hands press me 
down. �There, there, Chrys, you�ve used up quite a bit of you magical 
and mental strength. It is better that you rest for now.�

�Cederic! It is you. But how?� My mind is ajumble. The last time I saw 
Cederic, he was wandering through Winged Haven, years ago.

He chuckles. �That is a story indeed! I�m surprised that I did not 
recognize you when we met earlier, but I see now that you did not 
realize that it was I, either.�

I remember now. Cederic had been the Wizard that laughed at me when 
Sandoval had entered me in the competition. �But why are you here?� I 
ask, curious.

�Ah!� he begins with a twinkle in his eye. �Every few years I come to 
the Games to see if I can make a few coins, either betting on gamers or 
competing myself. When I first saw you, it took me almost an hour to 
realize where I had recognized you from, and believe you me! That took 
me for quite a spin when I matched you to the precocious little girl in 
the Elven lands!�

Talapin leaned over. �He claimed that he knew you, but until he told us 
the name �Chrys� we would not let him near you.�

�And well you shouldn�t have!� exclaimed the Wizard. �For all you might 
have known, I could have been sent from the poor loser�s sponsor, to 
make sure that this girl wouldn�t be up for the awards ceremony!�

Talapin grinned. �So you say we should throw you out? Come here then.�

As the Wizard scrambled back from the Giants grasp, the other two burst 
into laughter at their antics. I tried to keep myself from laughing, 
for it hurt too much now.

Eventually the Wizard and the Warrior settled down, giving each other 
mock glares. If I didn�t know better, I could swear that the pair were 
old friends. I noted this, and was a bit surprised by Cederic�s answer.

�Not quite old friends, but acquaintances, certainly. We were part of a 
joint effort to drive away a band of raiders some years ago.� He 
sighed. �Not all of our comrades came back from that, unfortunately...� 
He suddenly straightened, and the glint returned to his eye. �Enough of 
old times though. High time to celebrate our Champion!�

I blinked. �What do you mean?�

Sandoval laughed. �Mugsil broke the rules by attempting a killing blow. 
Thus he forfeited the Championship to you, and your actions after that 
were considered self defense.� He grinned and nodded out of the tent. 
�You took nearly every Sorcerer there for a spin, when you claimed 
ownership of the Breeze Blade, but when you summoned that dragon, they 
had no choice but to believe you.� His face darkened. �Erath and his 
cronies are making a fuss, as usual. But you should not worry about 
that now. The GameMasters have declared you the winner of the Wind 
Scepter. And if I am not mistaken, it is almost time for the awards 
ceremony.� He and the others stood. �Can you make it?�

I lever myself out of the bed. �To see the look on their faces? Of 
course!�

* * * * *

Erath was perhaps even more pissed to see me able to not only accept 
the Scepter, but able to hold the massive artifact up.

When I returned to my friends, they gave a cheer, and many others near, 
echoed it. I felt happier than I ever had before.

We returned to our tent, but then Cederic asked a curious question. 
�Chrys, you look a bit different than when I saw you yesterday. A bit 
more delicate, more Elven, if you would.�

This caused the Giants to look at me closely, and they too made the 
connection.

I smiled, twirling a finger around a lock of my brown hair. �I knew 
that I would likely need all of my magic, so I went to a shopkeeper 
last night and bought a bit of hair dye.� I looked up at them. �The 
illusion spell hasn�t been in effect since dawn.�

The Giants looked at each other, nodding that from their perspective, 
they were not like to notice something so small as the individual 
features of my face if there was naught different. Cederic smiled 
himself. �That was quite clever my dear.� He hesitated. �May I ask, 
will you ever again take up the name Chrysanthemum?�

The Giants are not the only ones to be shocked. �How?! How did you know 
that I was--?�

The Wizard smiled. �One hears things, my lady. Odd things, like the 
daughter of one of the Great Houses preferring the company of travelers 
of other Faiths to her own kind. Like curious news of bands of 
Priestesses searching for one girl, who escaped from their Faith�s 
Tower. Like hearing that the one girl was but a ruse, when even more 
had fled in the Priestes's inattention. Like a complete investigation 
of the Priestesshood, by the Elven King, to find out *why* such 
measures were necessary for a single girl.� His smile turned sad. �Why 
were they, Chrys? I can feel something different about you now, 
something that was there when I first met you all those years ago, 
something that I noted missing when I first saw you again with Sandoval 
here. What is it, Chrys?�

My heart closed, and I turned away. �How do you summon a Unicorn?� I 
asked softly.

I could almost see them looking at each other, wondering what I was 
talking of. �How?� came from one of them.

�Do not... Do not... Don�t make me remember!� I shouted. I collapsed to 
the ground, curling into a ball, tears running down my face.

I feel giant hands lift me up, and soothing words spoken to my closed 
ears. I care not to hear what platitudes they can offer, for what is it 
compared to what was stolen?

* * * * *

     I can take it back! I can take it back for you, for it is also me!

But what would that matter, when the Unicorn itself is not at fault?

     I will make it return what it has taken, then search for those who 
did it!

One is already gone.

     Yes! By your/my hands/claws!

Others? Could perhaps the Priestesses cleanse themselves?

     I will make sure of it!

No.

     Mother?

WE will make sure of it.

* * * * *

I open my eyes to see Talapin�s face near mine. He says nothing now, 
merely looks at me with unshed tears, for he knows that no sympathy he 
offers will be enough.

I nod, and take a breath. �I have a mission now, and I still must 
avenge at least one of my sisters.�

He frowns slightly, then nods. �In time, daughter, in time.�

I slowly get up, and pick up the Scepter. �You know, if you change the 
balance on this thing, it might make a pretty good warhammer.�

Talapin snorts, as the three magic-users look on blankly. �I see that 
since you have crossed Faiths of Magic, you think it would be no 
trouble to cross guilds as well!�

�Well,�  I grin. �Shouldn�t be that hard.�

End part three


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