Disclaimer….

Ragnarok Online is property of gravity…blah, blah, blah

However:

The characters and story are mine, but the characters are representations of real people…..

Ah whatever….

Enjoy!

Kirono stared blankly at the bunk above her, worrying. She glanced around the room to see that only she was awake. They were safe, for now. She wondered for how long. There were numerous talismans placed around the room as a precaution, but Kirono still worried. Lately, it seemed as if the charms were ineffective. Either the monsters were becoming immune, or her powers were waning. Just the night before while everyone was asleep, a mandragora had found its way in and nearly killed Shinjii. She sighed. If I lose him, then what will I do?

She reached under her pillow and pulled out a picture. She peered at it, trying to see in the darkness. It had been more than a year since she had last seen them. Aian was probably a knight by now. Aqua was most likely struggling as a mage, and Casper might not be a very good tutor. Her gaze drifted to Dual. The thief had always been a good friend and had never once let her down. But she had abandoned all of them. Now, the only one that she had left was Shinjii. She turned her head to the side. Even in the blackness, she could still make out his sleeping figure as he lay sprawled on the next bunk. The time hadn't changed him much. He still had an energetic youthful aura about him, unlike Kirono. Time and events had changed her. In only one year, she had matured well beyond her years. Countless deaths had nearly turned her bitter, but Shinjii had kept her from falling apart. She looked at the picture again. There was one unfamiliar face. Sitting in the middle was a friendly, naïve acolyte, her smile shone like a candle in the obscurity of the night. Was that really her? Had she really changed that much? She replaced the picture under her pillow and lay her head down. She needed sleep. Tomorrow was another day of training. She had to make it to tomorrow, if not to live for herself, then to protect Shinjii and the fallen angels. She closed her eyes and drifted into a dreamless sleep.