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Evan didn't know what the situation was, but he knew that the condition of the man that the young miss carried on her shoulders was not as desired at this point. He secretly wondered why the hell he cared, but shook it off as concern took over. "Damn... this guy looks like he hasn't eaten in days. No wonder he passed out- just ran out of steam. All the more reason to head to the Temple, though. Besides, we have to sort all this out, no?"

He begins to head in the general direction of the temple, not waiting for Espa and the other people to follow. The thing he needed right now was to think, and that place would do for now.

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Lao smiled to the woman who seemed to have no malice towards him at the time, and stood to introduce himself. "Forgive my lack of a proper introduction, then. My name's Lao Fei Zhu, from the east. I happen to be the captain of the shogunate's guard, though I don't really have anything to do at this time." He did not say his title with pride or any kind of arogance- it was what it was. He bowed afterwards, his eyes still facing forward, looking at the woman's every move.

After rising from the bow, he folded his arms across his chest and casually asked- "May I have yours, miss? That is, if you want to give it."

He smiled genuinely at this. Losers, huh? Well then, she didn't fight like one. His eyes had a laugh in them, though his smile remained. As he looked over to Tsai however, his smile faded. He really was out of it, like the man who was quickly distancing himself from them in the direction of the temple said. He seemed to know what was going on, as did Lady Monroe.

He smiled again as he looked at Espa with a pleading look in his eyes this time. "Please take care of him until we make it to the temple. We have to do something for him as soon as we can- otherwise, he could be like this for a while." That was bad for him- he needed his questions about the young girl awnsered. Questions that still nagged and ate at him. He waited paitently for her, ready to leave when she was.

He raised his hands in defense. Stalking? He was merely following her, that's all. It's not like he was obsessed- just worried, and not just about her. If she had his bokken, which he carried around most of the time, then something was wrong. Very much so. He had to know why his former teacher was in Laburnum all of a sudden, when he would much rather be back in Koukiyo with his family, and why he had left the school in the first place all those years ago.

Though her doubts and fears were evident in her voice, he would simply watch over Tsai along with Espa, just to see with his own eyes that he would be all right. That, and ask a few questions when he was well and whole again. He would have to go back for a bit and ask for a temporary leave from his duties, but he would stay for the time being. If the ambassador's entourage passed this way, so be it. He would join them as they rode, and come back when he could.

If not, then he would stay for as long as he could, or until he was retrieved. In any case, he would not just leave- not yet. "I'm sorry... but I cannot. Not now. He's family to me, and I have to watch him for a while longer." He bowed to her again, lower this time, asking her forgiveness and her favor without saying anything. "Please allow me to come with you..."

Fifteen years? It fit with the date that he had left the school... and the fact that her family did not wish to keep such a one as her who was so gifted disturbed him. Besides, if he were to be anyone's guardian, he would have to be appointed as such by Lao's father. On top of that, she had the eyes and hair of his family... he knew nothing of another sister besides the two he already had. Unless...

It clicked. The one who was presumed dead was not dead at all- she was standing right in front of him, staring at him with a very cold gaze that was full of disdain. Unfazed by her frozen glance, he simply meets hers with his own soft gaze and responds, "Interesting. Fifteen years ago, he left the school, not a word or trace. I remember waking up that morning- he was nowhere to be found, even in his meditation chamber. I wondered if father had granted a few days' rest to him.

I didn't think much of it though; something else was bothering me. Father had told us all that our little sister died before she was even born... I was in shock, so I forgot all about Tsai leaving. I assume that you have never had a brother or sister die before they were even granted their first breath, so I can't imagine how you would feel.

I wanted to meet her at least once, just to know what she looked like, what her name was... but I never got the chance. I got over it though, and life moved on. Years later however, I ran into a little girl in the Water Temple, not far from Koukiyo. She was a quiet little one, with hair like the raven's wings and eyes as the mirrored surface of a lake. They were just like mine, though I knew nothing of anyone from our clan who practiced magic. Not that I minded that she did, I just minded that I wasn't told.

When I asked her name, she just ignored me. I left without knowing it... may I have the honor of knowing it now?"

He finally smiled for the first time since he began speaking. He had to stay now- Tsai had some explaining to do, and if his best guess was right, he had a little sister who was presumed dead to meet. Things were slowly getting better...

Espa understood what the woman was asking and leaned down, trying to ease Tsai onto her shoulder to better carry him. She nodded her head to the right, indicating the direction of the temple of Light.

Normally, Espa didn't mind helping other people. They usually thanked her and then went about their way, which was fine. Espa didn't like to get too involved but a nagging feeling in her gut told her it was a bit too late for second thoughts. 'Oh well, if this gets out of hand again, I'll have to call the guys to rescue me,' she sighed mentally.

Hoshimi stood up carefully and helped the woman as best she was able. Letting them slowly make their way to the Temple. As they reached the Temple, she realized she hadn't introduced herself and tried to do so then "Hoshimi...." pointing to herself then to the man they were carrying "Tsai" trying to be polite to the woman but a bit uncomfortable about doing anything until she had gotten Tsai seen to. Lao was pushed compeletely from her mind. Looking up in a bit of amazement at the temple. The Water Temple was large but nothing this eleborate.

(( Now where did I...? Oh, yeah, right, there... xp ))



"Like... this?" the Initiate said self-conciously as he stood in front of his class in the darkened room; able to see only a few inches in front of his own nose, and guided only by the confident hand upon his shoulder as he stood upon the small dais, stretching his hand out into the darkness.

The young boy's fingers curled in around his palm, as if he were cradlig a nonexistant ball within his hand, and, though he couldn't see it, he could feel that there actually was something within his hand...

Suddenly, but with a growing glow, rather than a bright flash, the space within his cupped hand sprung to life with light; bathing the darkened room in a gengle pale-green glow that originated from an, apparently solid, ball of light that the boy held in his hand.

"Perfect," Sol spoke over the boy's shoulder, looking down at the side of the lad's brightened face, both with the light of his achievement and the thrill of having achieved it. "Now, can you send it back?"

"I..." the boy muttered, trying to close his hand around the ball to snuff it out, but finding that his fingers simply passed through the illusionary object and the light persisted, "...I... help?"

The light melted away, as if it was a lantern being dimmed, until eventually it simply vanished altogether, leaving only a small whisp of pale light that flittered off through the air for a moment longer and then vanished into the darkness. From the blackness surrounding, a pull at the young boy's shoulder prompted him to the side, and down from the dais, back into the group of innitiates that was seated upon the floor in the closed room.

"Congratulations, Jeremy, you get an A for effort... but, unfortunately, the spell simply burned itself out and the spirit left of it's own accord," Sol's voice rang out through the darkness of the room as clear as it could possibly be.

In another sudden burst of light, though this one as quick to spread through the room as it would be to flick a lightswitch, the sealed and windowless room was illuminated even to the most seculded corner by a thin sheet of luminous energy which coated the main section of the ceiling and cast a pure, white light down onto the occupants.

"Remember, if you don't put effort into it, you'll never achieve it. Practice makes improvement, so if you don't practice, you won't improve. ...class dismissed."

*He nods to Rigel* Nice to meet you, Rigel. *He turns back to Tiel* Now, Tiel, what is it that you wish for most in the world? *He retains his composure, though he knows what the outcome of his question may be.*