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Cressa hugged her student tightly, even petting the top of her head as she gradually calmed down. As she slowly quietened, the elf took a step back and held her out at arm's length, meeting her eyes solidly to continue her motivational speech.

"Courage." she began, "Be strong. Have the strength to surrender your fear to the universe, look life straight in the eye, and kick it in the balls. I know you have it in you, Evie."

Adeline gave Evelyn a hug, whispering in her ear that she understood. When she released her, Jessie lightly touched the bare part of her forearm, and spoke for her ears only.

"Whenever you're ready, Evelyn... we'll escort you and your father's cronies out."

Lowering his voice even further, he added: "They won't mistreat you further if I have anything to say about it."

Somebody up in Heaven must have been looking out for her, because the composer was able to gather all of her strewn papers without anyone noticing. Taking advantage of her isolation, she arranged them in an orderly fashion and ensured that they wouldn't fall out of her book like that again.

Looking around for people, she saw that the room was fairly empty and decided to make her way to the Music Room.

It wasn't like she had anything to hide. The girl had a squeaky-clean reputation and was harmless...usually. The only time she had ever wanted to cause physical harm to someone was many years ago. The day she watched one of her dreams go up in flames and couldn't do anything to stop it. A day she wanted to forget; a day she knew she could never forget. It still burned her up inside every time she thought about it. However, that day was over now; time had passed, she had healed and moved on, things were better. But that didn't mean the scar had gone away. Nope. In fact, it manifested itself as a hatred between two people: the composer herself and the attention-starved musician, Glee Harmony.

Slipping into the music room, the girl closed the door behind her and sighed deeply. She was alone. And what stood in front of her majestically, as though they were awaiting her arrival all night long, were the organ and the piano.

"Why hello there," she said cheerfully, greeting the two of them. "I've written up a new composition, but first, I think a warm-up is in order. Can't play well without warming up, that's what my old piano teacher used to say."

The girl sat down at the piano and began to play. Her fingers fluttered across the keys effortlessly, playing the soft melody in an expert fashion. As she played, the girl thought about what she should play next: her new song or another one to warm up with.

"Oh, why don't we show you 'round right now, since you're so keen?" Lorika beamed. "Let's start through this hallway. Here we have the grand banquet hall. We only really use it for special ocassions, I think you'll agree it's quite superb..."

They spent some time in the banquet hall, Lorika sharing interesting information about the construction of the new Temple and its facilities. Evelyn and her escorts - friend and "foe" alike - made their way through the main hall while they were out, taking the main entrance rather than a back way. (How had the three brothers gotten in in the first place...? If there was a broken window somewhere, Adeline would be even angrier at them than she already was.)

"Take care of yourself, Evelyn," said Jessie, as they got to the door. "And come back as soon as you can. You haven't forgotten, have you?" he smiled, "We haven't even started your training yet."

The elves silently watched Evelyn and her escort tramp away down the beach. Jessie looked worried. He was afraid that the moment they were out of his sight, the men would resort to hurting her again. Before his very eyes, she was practically being dragged away... it was hardly acceptable, but what more could he do?

With a small, fluttering noise, Adeline disappeared from Jessie's side. Or, rather, she was still there - she'd shifted forms, into a beautfiul long-tailed bird of paradise. Unlike a magician such as Cressa shifting forms, it was less a "transformation" - a visible changing of the body, as the shapeshifter pushed itself into the shape of its new form. Adeline, as a druid, took on a spirit form; a form that was simply another part of her. She wanted to be a bird - she was a bird, as if she had always been a bird. She flew off after them, and within a few moments, a coconut had dropped out of the sky straight onto Aloisius' head.

Jessie relaxed slightly as he watched her circling above them as they boarded the boat. It seemed she trusted them as little as he did, and was going to follow them... as Evelyn's guardian. She wouldn't tolerate any funny business. Evelyn was in good hands... erm, claws.

To his right, he suddenly became aware that Cressa was shaking. He looked at her. "What...?"

Her silent shaking broke out into all-out cackling. "Ohhh, ohoho, nothing."

"What have you done?"

"Just a little... 'practical joke'..." she smirked, "That the big, nasty one won't be rid of for weeks."

Andreas was the big, nasty one. He would also be the last one to find out exactly what trick Cressa had pulled on him. It started off as a faint glow, radiating, apparently, from underneath his coat. When he was clear of the island, the spell would activate fully, and bright, red letters would shine from his skin, through any clothing on top, for as long as it took for Cressa to remember to lift it:



After the sending-off they'd been given, hopefully the three brothers would never voluntarily darken the Order's doorstep again. They'd have to be really stupid if they did!

Atlae did like the workmanship of the temple. It was clean, intricate, extravagant and most importantly to him, very unique. However, what grabbed his attention more wasn't the building itself. Rather, It was the care that the people had for it that he noticed. Even as Lorika was explaining information about the building, which he found interesting as well, he could tell how devoted she was to the temple and what it stood for. All the while he wondered if he would turn out to be the same way eventually and what being here actually meant. He wasn't having second thoughts, just over analyzing his situation like normal.

Atlae watched as Lorika called out to people, still in his half daze in his mind. It wasn't until they came over that Atlae took notice of them. It was the strangest thing he had seen yet, and it almost shook him to the core. He had heard the rumors of the dark skinned creatures that were known to roam about the temple, and he had his hopes that they were like him of course. However he really had no expectations of meeting them, or that they did in fact, look just like him. He stood silently and stared as they talked with Lorika, obviously they were friends, and obviously they didn't have to cover their skin to fit in. Looking at the woman told him that much.

It wasn't until they spoke that he completely came to his senses however. "It's a pleasure Cressa, and Sir captain." He said as casually as possible, bowing in return to the captain, trying to avoid Cressa's scrupulous gaze

Atlae looked over to Cressa at her statement. "Well, living in a mansion will teach you a few things." He said, putting off the comment about being human.

Atlae followed Lorika's gesture and returned his gaze to Jessie "Thank you for the compliment. I will try my best to meet your expectations."

After their little conversation, Lorika looked at Atlae once again She explained that Jessie was the one behind the teachings of the warriors of the First Sentinel War. He had heard of it from his tutor. It was an amazing tale. Atlae did believe that he would have a good chance to be a better fighter here.

"I do have one more question though. I have also been training in enchantments and enchanting. Even if i'm not too fond of it, I was wondering if there was a teacher who could further my teachings in that as well." He said looking to Lorika for an answer.

Evelyn shook her head rapidly as Andreas pulled her along. No one from the temple was insight. Armin was a good two football field length away, with Aloisius trailing further, rubbing his head for some reason. A beautiful bird flew overhead.

Andreas was mumbling something incoherent to her, looking back at her for a few seconds just to look forward again. It would have been funny if she wasn’t so scared. Why did Andreas have to be the one who could cover as much ground as a race horse on speed in the time it took a normal person to walk ten feet? At least—that’s what it felt like. Sometimes she hated her life.

“Rey!” Armin screamed, distantly, attempting to cause his brother to slow.

He didn’t.

The pair reached the boat, and quick as ever, he was pulling her down the stair to the lower part of the boat and throwing her into a room. He quickly slammed it closed and locked it. GODS, he wanted to throw a punch.
He ran up to the upper deck and paced. Quickly. He did everything quickly. Always.

DAMMIT, his mind screamed. He was breathing heavily. THINK OF SOMETHING.

Boat. He was in a boat. Drive it, he ordered himself. It took him all of three seconds to comply. He was out on the ocean, full speed.