Welcome to Gaia! ::

(nice. only problem is your name is torturing me!!! it's like this one guy I knew, Stephen Amos, except the letters are switched around. It's driving me mad!!! By the way, I applaud you for using a question mark for "That's not English, is it?" people constantly forget that those are in fact questions.)

Shimahamaru had to resist the urge to tilt his head slightly out of curiosity. This girl seems way to shy to be the type of person that would help someone who was wandering aimlessly. he thought to himself. He himself was wearing simple blue jeans and a black t-shirt, despite the fact that it was late November. He was never the type to feel cold unless it was snowing.

When the girl squeaked as he talked, he had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. Definitely very shy. Shima thought in confirmation. "Shi...ma...hama...ru? That's not English, is it?" the girl asked. "No, it's not." Shima answered. "I was originally named something normal, but since I've had to leave my old life behind, I felt that I should make a new name for myself as well." He was one of those people who was able to get over things very easily. He rarely held a grudge, if ever, and was normally the first to say "What's done is done." in a tragic event. "I-I'm Amelia. Amelia Stephanos." She introduced.

Now, Shima couldn't help himself. He was to much of an upbeat person to let someone feel shy around him. "Why are you so quiet? I won't bite! Well, if I'm eating I will, but still!" he said cheerfully. She really needs to be more relaxed. he thought.

The day was over-cast with a slew of grey-scale clouds and within the mind of a young elf the dismal atmosphere foretold the outcome of his journey. Coming up the long walk to the prominent Rian gates was a pointy-eared man clad in hues to match the sky. His head was tilted forward and his eyes fixed at his feet but even as downtrodden as he seemed he marched on. It was the march of a defeated man and it was anyone's guess as to what small glimmer of hope kept him putting one foot before the other. As he approached the wrought entrance he raised his head, bringing a slender hand up to brush the silver hair from his eyes. Ria. This is where he was told he'd find what he was looking for. This is where he'd complete his journey and finally be able to go home.

As he stood at the gates he realized they wouldn't let him in if he wasn't a student. His heart sank for a brief moment when he realized this wasn't average human society so even an elf could enroll. On top of that, thanks to his elven heritage he looked the age of an older teenage despite his real age. He looked around for someone to help him but all he saw were various robotic figures and they were all tied up in conversations with other people. He took his lower lip between his teeth gently, a nervous habit he'd picked up from a gnomish acquaintance several years ago. He didn't want to intrude on anyone but he needed to get inside. Releasing his poor lip he crossed his arms over his waist to wait until someone was available to tell him where he was supposed to go. It then dawned on him that he had no papers of admittance so even if he did talk to one of the automatons they'd just turn him away. There went the lip again. Maybe he could just walk passed and no one would notice. Carefully, the inexperienced elf took a few tentative steps passed the robots.

The elf froze. His plan to sneak in had only been half-cooked but he was sure he would have made it farther than he did. Maybe he could make a run for it. He was likely faster than most students and in his changed state he would be uncatchable. But no, if he ran it would kill any chance he had of peacefully completing his mission. He took a deep breath and turned to the man. The elf was shocked to notice the person who had addressed him didn't look anything like a faculty member but rather an emo student no older than 18. Relieved, he brushed his hair from his eyes once more and nodded politely in greeting. Luckilly the elf's voice matched his looks rather than his age. It was calm and fluid, a little higher pitched then most men after puberty but his kind attributed it to the fact his voice sounded like it was carried on the wind. "Oh, hey. I'm Tainar and I'm just looking for the dorms." An actual teenager probably would have fidgeted or stammered and given up the fact that they were lying with some kind of obvious tell but Tainar was over 200 years old. He was a master of his body and wouldn't let a small thing like nerves ruin his chances of getting inside.

Color flushed to Tainar's cheeks. This guy would actually -help- him sneak in? If this was the caliber of students here then it was no wonder this is where he'd been led. However, he wasn't about to admit he wasn't supposed to be here. "My papers were stolen on my way here. As you can see I have nothing with me which is all thanks to a little man in black back in New Faire." He spread his arms out to his sides to show there were no bags attached to his person. Throughout it all, Tainar's expression remained quite blank but with enough excitement as to not be dead-pan. As a breeze kicked up the elf had to sweep his hand before his face to gather up the stray strands of silver that blocked his vision. If this guy could show him to the dorms, or anywhere in fact, then it would just be a matter of ditching him to begin his search. Perhaps the skies weren't telling of impending doom after all. Maybe sometimes cloudy skies were just cloudy skies.

Tainar kept his act together and gave the guards a small wave as his new friend explained the situation. He didn't remember reading anything about there being guards at Ria but maybe they didn't tell people that to keep the place safer. Still, Tainar could hardly believe this guy would just lie to the guards like that. The elf could have just said he'd lost his papers and needed to go to the enrollment office if he'd wanted to. The idea had been to be noticed by as few people as possible. With the little announcement though it seemed less and less likely. After the guards acknowledged the request they took a few steps through the archway. "Well I guess that you can follow me into the school grounds. You go first and I'll be right behind you." Tainar stopped and turned toward the boy who, he noted, hadn't offered up his name yet. While the elf was prone to give trust before it was earned this guy had sent up several red flags now. Offering to cheat authority figures was small, after all that had been his own plan so he couldn't really fault another for it. The jilted smile he'd gotten from the boy after the offer was out of place too but hey, maybe the guy had some mental issues. The last comment though put Tainar on edge.

The elf quirked an eye brow and leveled his gaze on his 'friend'. "How am I supposed to follow you from the front?"

Tainar began to clench and unclench his gauntlet-clad left hand. It wasn't a sign of aggression or hostile intention but rather a way to ease the surge of adrenaline that had begun to pump itself through his veins. The prospect of someone knowing him generally wouldn't worry the elf; he never went out of his way to make enemies nor had he left on unpleasant terms with anyone he'd met during his long voyage. The only possible reason someone would know him or know of him would be due to the manipulations of the Elven Council. It was the thought that something had happened to his mother back home that riled him up and now they were coming after him. Whether this happenstance helper really was part of a larger scheme or if this was just a case of mistaken identity Tainar couldn't wait around to see. "If I remember correctly, you found me, sir." He nodded his head slightly as a submissive gesture to appease the growing sense that the man in black had a bit of a superiority complex about the situation. "And while I'm thankful for you helping me achieve admittance to the grounds I'm sure we've never met before. I generally keep more... mystical acquaintances. I'd also like to believe I'd remember a human of your dark stature. So, if you could just point me in the direction of the dorms I'll be on my way."

The dark clouds overhead were becoming denser by the minute and Tainar didn't want to be caught out in the rain. He didn't want to admit it bit he was tired and weary from his trek to Ria and wanted to find his quarry before bedding down for the night. His nerves weren't helping him relax and conserve energy either. If he'd just scaled a wall on the eastern side all of this might have been avoided but the elf was mentally drained and thinking in hindsight would just add to his stress. An act the man in black was doing all too well. If he were following the boy somewhere then Tainar would have the satisfaction of keeping his eyes on his guide at all times but he'd lost that option when the boy confessed familiarity. Now the elf would have to turn his back on the human and hope he wouldn't feel the sharp sting of a blade.

Mitoko walked down the street towards the school thinking deeply to himself. He looked around at all the people around the entrance gates and his jaw dropped. man i cant believe all the people here he thought to himself. He slipped a mask on his face and his hair and eyes changed to a brilliant yellow. Fixing his black jacket he headed closer to the gate.

Please hand over your acceptance letter so that I may dispense your school ID

The voice startled Mitoko and he looked around before realizing who said it. He dug into his back pocket and pulled out the letter, handing it over.

Thank you

Mitoko took the ID, hooked it to a string and hung it from his neck. He looked around one more time and headed for the gate.

No time like the present to make one hell of an entrance" Mitoko said just before walking into the gate instead of through it. The force knocked him onto his back.