Naticai nodded, taking the rusted key from the corresponding hook it hung on. Her fingers slid it across the counter, letting it come to rest near the lady�s hands. "There you are, m�lady," she said, her tone full of respect, even for the one she met but mere moments before. This was just the normal courtesy she usually showed people, wasn�t it? "You can pay in the morning, and come down and tell me if you need anything else." Naticai wasn�t pleased; she didn�t get a chance to ask the woman any of her questionings, and it was assured she was full of them.

"Thank you, kind friend. My name is Hyaline, by the way." She gave Naticai a soft smile, unseen winds sifting through her gold tinted strands as she did so, making the expression she wore seem haunted. Her tall form stepped from the counter, without making a single noise, soon disappearing up the stairs that curved to the left of where Naticai stood, leading up to the eight rooms the Inn offered. She watched as the lady moved out of sight, her departure leaving a feeling of disappointment hampering Naticai�s thoughts. She walked from behind the counter and over to the front door, clicking the lock and firmly pressing on the wood above the keyhole to make sure it was shut securely. Naticai moved over to a chair near the fireplace, falling into it and pulling her knees to her chest. She rested her chin on top of them and settled back further in the overly cushioned chair, the pattering of new falling rain drowning out the murmuring of the flames. Soon she found herself falling into the sleep she knew was needed, her slanted storm-hued eyes falling shut.

The sun�s rays pierced through the slender pane of glass that was directly in front of her, hitting her closed eyelids and beckoning them to open. Naticai made a whimpering noise, not wanting to wake from her wonderful, dream filled sleep. She knew that her aunt would wake her soon anyway, asking her to walk to the market and purchase various things they needed to supply the inn. Even so, she clung to the remaining moments of the quickly fading dreams. Once she was sure they had departed entirely, she propped herself up on an arm and found that she had awoken rather early. The fire had long burnt out, though; only dying embers and charred wood remained in the large stone fireplace. She stood and trudged over the short distance to it, bare feet scuffling across the wooden floor. She stoked it half-heartedly; her manner of going about the task would make one believe it was a horrible chore. Even though, the fire was burning higher then before when she left it, and she now walked toward the unusually partially open door. She quickly came to her senses, knowing for certain that she�d latched it the night before. She set a hand on the smooth surface of the door, fingers creeping around to the other side and easing it open. Naticai leaned forward, sticking her nose through the small gap. Before doing anything else and forgetting her so-called task she breathed in the sea air, loving how it smelt in the morning more then any other time. Her feet carried her the rest of the way through the opening, her tempest-imbued eyes shooting around the mostly empty morning street. Only a few people were out, ropes slung across their shoulders, carrying them in the direction of the docks. A light wind fluttered the leaves in the scattered trees, causing them to shudder in its wake. The feeling of that day, Naticai thought, was hard to place. She�d always attempted to give a single word to how each day felt compared to the one before, and the one before that . . . but this one was mixed. She shrugged it off, soon forgetting and dismissing all of her thoughts about the matter.

She found herself glancing towards the right, a slight shuffle causing her to turn. Hyaline was standing down the street a-ways, looking towards the ocean. Naticai felt her dark-auburn brows raising towards her hairline, finding the glassy gazed woman an esoteric one indeed. She came fully out of the door, sitting on the steps and leaning against one of the posts that held the small overhang up. One of the town�s tavern owners, Cian, passed by her. The lean man waved an equally gangly hand in her direction, shouting a, "Good morning, Nati!" In her direction. She pulled a smile onto her lips; absently wondering how strange the action looked on her. "Have you seen Araya?" He queried, tilting his old head to the side. The young child was a sweet soul, and was known to be a good friend of Cian. Naticai didn�t do anything but shake her head, setting tangled waves of just-slept-on hair about her shoulders. Out of the corner of her peripheral vision she saw Hyaline look her direction, and decided to go talk to the woman in a minute. Cian nodded lightly then walked on down the road, moving out of her view.

Hyaline moved over to Naticai before she could venture to the woman, taking a position in front of the post opposite her. Hyaline didn�t look over but it was apparent her words were directed to Naticai, for who else would they be?

"The sea drew you last eve, didn�t it?" Hyaline asked bluntly, tilted eyes narrowing up at the sun as she spoke. "Before I came?"

Naticai nodded, knowing Hyaline could see her. "Aye, it did. How would you know, anyway? And why would you want to know?" She slipped her eyes over to the woman, though her head remained forward.

Hyaline�s shoulders rolled slowly, shrugging. "I just knew. The waves told me, you might say . . ." she trailed off, her cryptic words making no impression on Naticai. She voiced it, too, in a direct sort of tone.

"You wouldn�t have asked if you didn�t have a reason. And, �the waves told you�? What is that supposed to mean?"

"Ah, Naticai. Don�t be so stern with me, child. Do you wish to learn?" Hyaline asked, sliding her eyes to meet Naticai�s. To this Naticai didn�t respond, trying instead to search the unreadable blue ovals. She found no success there, so turned back away, pretending to be interested in her long fingers. She flicked an imaginary piece of sand off of the back of her hand, then cleared her throat. The wind continued to ruffle the trees, the rustling noise drifting lazily down the gradually filling street, mingling with the scattered conversations that had arisen. Naticai said finally, interest taking hold of her.

"Learn what? I don�t seek to learn anything, if that�s what you mean. What should I want to know, when only running the desk at an inn?" Her words came out jumbled, not making as much sense as she would�ve liked.

Hyaline laughed, the sound as light and as soothing as summer�s breeze. It danced in Naticai�s ears then ended abruptly with a fit of coughing coming from the woman�s mouth. She stuttered around the coughs, managing to spit out a sentence. "Could I g-g-get . . . a glass-ahss . . . of wah-water?"

Naticai stood obediently and slipped through the oaken door, still trying to be quiet so as not to wake the others in the inn. She returned with a chilled glass, handing it down to Hyaline. She drank gratefully then regained her composure, nodding her thanks up to Naticai, who remained standing, looking at the top of Hyaline�s head.

"There are many things you would want to know. Do you not wish to go further then this town? I know you do, child. I know you watch the waves. You have it in you . . . you wish to learn." Hyaline said, in the same enigmatic tone.

Naticai sat down again, legs folded underneath her. She rested her hands on her ankles, absently flicking her tongue across her teeth while considering the woman with tresses of gold. She didn�t quite understand what she meant; she thought she knew that she�d always wanted to stay in S�reeon . . . or did she?

"What could you teach me?" Naticai asked after a moment�s hesitation, wondering if Hyaline would be able to answer a direct question without the words being draped in with mystery, and that others listening would be able to understand them.

Hyaline didn�t seem to hear the question and looked up abruptly, eyes dashing to the sea. A sharp breath was drawn in through her lips, setting her coughing again. She didn�t take another drink but her eyes flew back Naticai�s again. She said in strangled hushed tones, the calm disposition she maintained before torn by her frantic features. "Kind child, you must follow the bridge, should it show itself to you. Don�t question this information, just wait. Keep my words close to your heart, for they will be imperative later in your life. Or perhaps sooner then you might expect . . ." She tumultuously pushed herself from the wooden steps, the glass she was holding rolling from her palms and landing with a crack on the ground. Her gait wasn�t normal; it looked to be a painful task to move. She stumbled, caught herself, then broke into a sprint. None of the people on the streets so much as turned their heads in Hyaline�s direction as she ran, continuing with their palavers as if only the wind licked their ears. Naticai felt the urge to stand and follow her, much like the same feeling that drew her to the ocean. She struggled to remain seated and to fit the pieces together, but failed miserably, ending up more confused then she was before. She stood and cast a glance to the sea, which she was able to see looked normal . . . if you didn�t notice the ominous, dark grey cloud that writhed over it. This was a mystery to Naticai; surely the fishermen wouldn�t be walking to their boats if they knew such an obvious storm was coming. She mulled over this, leaning a frail shoulder against he post she was sitting under.

Later that month, while in the midst of seeing that a disgruntled old woman get a room and leave her be, the sea called her. A piercing note, the one she�d heard many eves before ran a slit through her thoughts, causing her to miss a step. She steadied herself, setting a thin hand on the wooden banister that curved along with the stairs. Her eyes shut, ears ever striving to make the music come to her on her own accord. A harsh snort from the plump elderly lady broke her concentration; so Naticai took her vengeance out by showing her to an undeserved, poorly kept room.

When she started down the stairs, a different note came. This one was joyous, laughing, perhaps teasing. Naticai tore down the rest of the steps and burst through the door, not noticing or paying attention to the annoyed look her aunt shot her, who was scrubbing at a table in the corner of Tymer Inn. A feeling of longing swept over Naticai, making her clench her fingers to her palms and push herself to speed faster. The music turned into a mocking aria, and she could somehow feel that she had a limited amount of time. She didn�t know what made her so engrossed with making it to the ocean�s shores or what pulled the strings to make her lust to reach the waves so pure.

The music now became a clear voice, shimmering in her ears. It was lovely, yet cruelly taunting at her. Her feet beat out the very rhythm the melody was playing out, even though they sank into the sand whenever she stepped, leaving imprints that disappeared in just seconds after she passed. Naticai�s breath came in short bursts, her lungs feeling as though they would explode. Finally, panting, she reached her destination. She let her head fall in a futile attempt to regain her lost breath, watching the silver white foam surge around her ankles. The salt water stung her raw soles, making her grimace. The note sounded again, surrounding her head, piercing into her thoughts. She gritted her teeth together and raised her storm-flushed gaze, the tips of her fire-ebon hair soaked. A gasp flung out of her mouth and leapt into the sea, her eyes going wide with astonishment.

A bridge of dark crystal was extending in her direction, to the very spot she was standing. Naticai couldn�t tell if it was moving slow or fast, it was apparently too far away for her to see. She found herself willing it to become closer, the reflective surface of the bridge as tempting as the music was. The moon seemed lower to the sea then ever before, as if it was lighting the way for the bridge. The waves gushed around it as it formed, seeming to defy the laws of gravity. There were no poles, no pillars to support it, as if it was done by magic itself. The ocean rose, swirling as high as her thighs. Another vibration from the cold waters racked her body, but she ignored it and squinted her eyes to see into the distance, trying to find where the origin of the crystalline bridge was. The foreboding cloud still hung over the sea, as it had ever since she�d spoken with the woman, now shifting ever so slightly, as if positioning itself more directly over where Naticai stood.

Then, the music stopped. The waves stopped, her shivers stopped. The crashing of the waves was back, the same calming noise she�d known all her life. Naticai found her eyes narrowing again, finally seeing where the bridge begun. Three tall spires poked through the mists, strange shapes surrounding them. They seemed as if they were buildings of some sorts� maybe a city?

Naticai�s breath caught in her throat, gasping in disbelief. The legends came soaring back to her, making her realize that she knew what this city was. How could it be? She asked herself, the sudden insight of what had taken place making her blink quickly, to make sure she wasn�t imagining what she was seeing. The city didn�t disappear and neither did the bridge. They remained where they were, as real as Naticai could being to imagine. She looked closer, taking a cautious step further into the now-calm ocean and saw the bridge was still continuing to extend in her region. A recollection of a earlier that month dangled in front of her eyes, and she saw the golden haired woman, Hyaline, again. She�d almost forgotten about her, for it had been so long since she�d visited to the ocean. Something else jarred her thoughts, making the words she�s said to Naticai flow back as well, almost as if she were standing right next to her.

Follow the bridge? Naticai knew she must. A feeling of dread pushed itself into her thoughts, restraining her from taking another step forward to meet the crystal surfaced pathway. The time oozed by her so slowly, yet so quickly. She forced her eyes shut, squeezing out the sight of both the city and the walkway. The soothing noise of the rain that had suddenly come beat against her skin, rolling of off of her still unclothed shoulders.

When she finally opened her eyes, the sun was rising, the cloud being gone, too. Naticai was confused for a moment, not understanding how she could have possibly stood in the waves for that long. To her great astonishment, the bridge was fully formed. It lingered in front of her, the still, glossy color sparkling in her view. It had connected to the sand; some of the grains had fallen across it before she woke. The surface of the bridge was a black stone, maybe hematite, and it reflected the casually drifting clouds in the clear blue sky. The waters formed swirling patterns around the bridge, looking almost as ebon as it was. Naticai raised her left foot, shaking off the beach that hand gathered around her ankles. She set it down, carefully, onto the bridge, raising the other to meet it. She began to walk, always watching her surroundings. The city loomed on the horizon, gaining height with each step she took. The bridge seemed to be moving under her rather her then on top of it, gaining a thoroughly puzzled look. The feeling Naticai got that morning she could only place as strange, and paused to mutter the word to herself before continuing, adding a �very very� to the beginning. Even though, she walked � and would walk until she reached the city in the distance.

Eyrien sucked in a shaky breath. He could not believe what he�d done. Why wasn�t he able to make the bridge stop forming? And now the human was coming across, the one not of Atlantis. There were enough people in the grand city; perhaps even too many had viewed and visited it. He transferred his weight onto the other foot, cracking his knuckles in anticipation. The thought that he must get the child back kept crossing his mind . . . a horrid thought, he believed. She couldn�t dare set even a foot onto the crystal stairs that extended for more then a hundred feet upwards behind him, the very stairs that he stood at the very bottom of. An instinct told him not to venture out onto the shiny black walkway that he had created; perhaps it might even be dangerous. Not that he wanted to, anyway.

There wasn�t a single sound that flew past his ears that moment, as if the whole of the city had quieted for her arrival. He dearly hoped that wasn�t the case, for there was no way that he could even think of how to begin explaining of what had happened, for he couldn�t very well explain it to himself. Eyrien began to pace the length of the narrow area he stood in, pausing and kicking the cursed bridge in frustration. He began to chew on his lower lip; his pacing ceased again, crossing his lean arms over his chest. A shock of a rich brown-gold color fluttered in front of his eyes, the locks of hair obscuring some of the white peeked waves that hissed around the hovering bridge, waves that would cling to the pillars that would�ve supported the bridge, yet the structure seemed to need no supporting. A slight breeze blew, even this far away from the shores, making the day seem perfect save for the previous happenings.

Naticai trudged along the shiny walkway, her environs never changing. Her bare feet were pained and sore from all the walking; it�d seemed like she had traipsed on forever. The wind had long ago died, and she�d almost forgotten about the cloud that had accompanied her, earlier. She wasn�t able to hide the need to sleep, which was making her destination seem further every minute. To take her mind off of this, she began humming a sailor�s drinking tune, the words not coming to her at the moment. It was horribly off key, but kept her occupied for the time. Naticai wondered what had made her want to even come onto the bridge; of course she remembered the music, but didn�t see why the walkway was so enchanting when she first saw it. Now it was just growing relentless. The wave�s crashing didn�t make as much noise where Naticai was, the clear blue waters simply sitting.

The sky gave the effect that Naticai was in a dome of sorts, a large play toy for some God or Goddess. Maybe, she thought, maybe that�s really what it is. She laughed at herself, thinking she sounded like a child again, to be making things up that could never exist. She grew more lighthearted, a bit more intent on tackling the bridge for now. A lonely gull soared over head, the first one Naticai�d seen on her so-called �journey�. It flapped its wings idly, riding on a higher breeze that only touched its wings, and not Naticai. Its beak opened and it sent out a call, the noise bored, announcing its presence and nothing else. She craned her neck upward to peer at it, wondering why it was alone. Oftentimes a flock would fly over S�reeon, but not just one. A shrug this thought was given, and she moved her gaze back to the path.

Sea-spray jumped onto the area of bridge in front of her, making her fall back a step, involuntarily, at the sight of it. For a reason unknown to her, she sidestepped the salty droplets, perhaps not to touch the water that was so pure, this far out into the ocean. The wind had picked up again, the hem of her dress fluttering like a torn sheet of paper, moving itself to the left of her. She pulled at it, straightening the pale hued garment, always moving forward. Naticai squinted in the distance at the three tall spires, seeing she�d successfully made it closer. They were coming a bit more into view, though she didn�t want to imagine how far she�d have to go, now, if it had taken that long for the shapes in the distance to be as close as they were. When she lowered her gaze to a space just up ahead, to the bridge, it seemed different. Whether it was an illusion, perhaps being out into the sun too long had gotten to her, or real, it was very peculiar. It was shifting to the right then the left, not staying in one direction as it had before. The fact that it was moving underneath her didn�t seem as strange as what it was doing, now. It took a while for Naticai to fall on top of this odd vision, but when she did nothing further was figured out. She stood on it as it moved, but it seemed to be more of a fork then a straight line. The glossy finish of the bridge hadn�t changed; it was the same material it was to start out with. After a moment of deep contemplation as to which direction she should take, she picked the left branch, sending a silent prayer that it was the correct choice. She began again, her feet making a clinking noise every time she stepped � but that was the only difference.

In what seemed like forever, Naticai found herself considerably closer to the city, for she was now sure that was what the spires were. The waters flowed like ink about the bridge, though the sky above her wasn�t dark. The sun was setting in the West which was notably normal, leaving half of the sky a pure blue, the other half an orange, dusky color. Scattered clouds scuttled across the sky, a race to see which ones would make it away from the dying day, not to be trapped by the orange hues. The wind sighed around her, her deep red locks twisting gracefully in the breeze, relishing in the fact that they were free from a braid of any sort. She didn�t bother to attempt to remove these, going about that would�ve been hopeless. A glance was cast down to the bridge beneath her, storm-tinted eyes narrowing at the sight of it. Still, her bare feet made a clicking noise rather then a soft thudding when she stepped, the flowing stone material shifting ever so slightly. Without realizing it, she raised a long fingered hand to trap yet another yawn, this one the second or third in but a minute, allowing it to escape only through the cracks between her digits.

Eyrien saw her approaching, a short, finely boned human. She had a simple beauty about her, a stifled elegance, perhaps. His arms were still crossed defiantly across his chest as he watched, the long silky sleeves of his shirt whipping about them. The collar of his shirt was unlaced, allowing the remnants of the sea to jump up and splatter across his neck and face, some of the water clinging to the snug black vest he wore as well. He hardly felt them, his emerald hued eyes trained on the advancing woman. It looked to him she was in a weary state, like she�d been traveling through a desert all day. Her face was drawn into a tight, concentrated frown, staring down at her toes as if they were her keys to survival. He brooded over moving out onto the accursed bridge and offering his assistance, doing his good-deed-for-the-day, but dismissed this idea as easily as one would casually brush off speck of dust. If he needed to, he�d take her into the Temple of Healing later that eve, should she be in such bad condition that she wouldn�t be able to make the journey back to her "world". No, he didn�t want her to perish in the midst of the sea; he could never forgive himself for doing such an act. Might as well wait, he thought, his aforementioned anger having shifted further away from his demeanor, leaving him with a slight calm, though the same sense of danger hung thickly in the air.

The girl finally made it to the steps, grey-blue eyes wavering against his. Her form shook violently then collapsed into a heap, her shoulders trembling, hands as white as spindrift placed steadily onto the hard, ebony material the bridge was made out of, finger tips growing paler with the pressure. She didn�t say anything, keeping her lips tightly pursed together, but Eyrien couldn�t doubt that she needed help. He gave an inward sigh, fighting with himself again. He could not leave her. That was out of the question. But if he took her in . . . what would his consequences turn out to be, to be much worse then her fate? In the end, he took the first step onto the hematite-like material, a sizzling shock flowing through his veins with the contact. Eyrien absently smoothed the sides of his back pants, then crouched down, placing a hand about the girl�s shoulders. She looked up at him with thankful eyes, eyes that showed she wasn�t a weak one, strong in nature and that couldn�t believe this was happening to her. His own eyes widened in response to this, amazed by how much she revealed in one glance. Carefully, he stood up, allowing her to lean against him, and they made their way off of the bridge. As soon as the last foot was placed on the bottom of the stairway Eyrien was standing upon before, a great groaning and crashing was heard. The sky quivered aggressively, massive rumblings coming from over head, like the sounds of familiar thunder, but so much more. Naticai fought out of his grasp, and looked with sheer terror to the bridge, mouth falling open in astonishment. She gasped hard, breath catching in her throat, making her unable to breathe, chest heaving with the strain. Once more she fell to the ground, though her eyes never left the edge of the bridge, so much like when she was gazing off into the horizon from the other side. The bridge was retreating. The material swerved to the side, seeming like a ribbon in the ocean�s churning waves, huge tides spiraling into the air, creating a dizzying dance of greens, blues and greys. The storm cloud had grown larger, filling up the nearing-night sky with dark claps of lighting; a storm simple multiplied by a thousand, taking out its wrath on the people below. A whirring noise, like gears shifting against gears was heard, the bridge having finished its recoiling. It had paused halfway, sitting, waiting in the center of the waves, hissing to itself in contentment. All at once, with a huge splash that could�ve been the sun dropping into the sea, it sank. Naticai yanked her head away, shielding her eyes from the sight, finding her nose sinking into Eyrien�s chest. Silent sobs racked her body, tears flowing like unstoppable rivers down her cheeks. She didn�t know why she was so devastated by the bridge disappearing � what could be better then living life constantly on the ocean? But she didn�t know if she�d be accepted, of if the man she was clinging on to was even a nice one. These last thoughts were pushed away when hard, thick drops of rain beat down unmercifully on her bare skin, thudding painfully against her head, her hair growing soggy and heavy, leaving her to concentrate on these rather then her thoughts. The man fought to stand, his white shirt drenched, clinging to his upper arms, the black vest and pants turning to an even darker ebon. His emerald green eyes were clouded with haste, never fully meeting Naticai�s. He gently yanked her to her feet, muttering to himself under his breath, the words lost in the tremendous crashing of the waves. With him leading the way, they started up the stairs; Naticai stumbling behind a few steps, holding desperately onto the hand he�d offered her.

The stairs were made out of a slippery � even when dry � material, the cool beige color scintillating in the rain. Naticai found her eyes drawn to this, which made her stumble, further, not noticing the quick steps up. Eyrien tugged impatiently on her fingers, squeezing her hand tighter, a silent voice telling her to move her feet faster. The impending cloud over head continued to crash, threatening to shoot down more rivers, making the ocean swell to even more unimaginable depths. Naticai�s world swirled in front of her, daring her to try to escape what she knew was coming. Frightening flashes of times long before and times up ahead flew across her sight, and she couldn�t help but pause. Eyrien, sensing something was wrong, paused his redundant traipsing to steady her shoulders, strong hands holding her up, shaking her furiously. "Woman! Are you mad? We can�t stay out here! I�m going to carry you if I must, but we have to get out of this storm!" He told her, bright eyes narrowing.

She choked on another sob, then nodded, willing herself to move. They continued up the stairs, which in her state, seemed like that took forever, even longer then the trip across the bridge. When they neared the top, her sight swam again, rocking as the very ocean would. She felt sick to her stomach, like she was riding on top of an unsteady wave that was going to crash at any moment. She felt her legs buckle underneath her, then a strong arm lifting her up. There, she blacked out.

* * *

Three large hills sat in the middle of the city, made purely out of crystal. Delicate stairs were carved into these hills, leading upward to the temple that sat on each, lovely structures each serving a different purpose. The overall look of the area was astonishing, one you couldn�t look at less then thrice. Not a soul was outside at that moment, each had hid inside a house or the temples, safe from the storm that raged on outside. A white bird, seeming to be a dove, flew about the city, taking each sight in with a beady sable eye. The first temple it circled, concentrating on whatever lay inside, was a square structure that had large columns standing from roof to floor, each inlayed with beautiful carvings that depicted pictures of either history or stories and impeccable ancient writing, all kept in breath taking quality. The top of this temple was a very flat roof; one constructed so carefully that not even the slightest slant was apparent, even if measure with the utmost accurate tools. A great beacon protruded out of this roof, calling out to the stars above, as if messages could be transferred with a blink of one�s eye. A banner with the same ancient writing was flown above this temple, rain and weather streaked but still in readable condition. In the writing, it was labeled, "Temple of Communication".

Another temple was centered between the last and the next one, a dome like structure completing this one�s feel. The dove let out a soft coo, not finding what it wanted in this one, but paused over it none the less, searching for people that were not seen. This temple was much simpler then the last, the only notable thing about it being the clear glass sunroof that covered the top. It peered down it, seeing shelves upon shelves of books; each stacked carefully upon each other, the bookcases nearing the ceiling. A few word were carved upon this one, minus the banner, reading, "Temple of Philosophy".

The next temple the dove circled was even more spectacular then the last, sitting up higher then the first two. It neared closer to this one, hovering above the huge crystal chamber that was positioned in the exact center of the temple. The chamber�s walls glittered in unseen light, for murky colored clouds, which seemed to disappear when gazing upon the sight of the crystalline room, covered the moon. The rest of the building was constructed of eight sides, each side seeming to be a defined sector, carrying different people and things in each, though as the first two � not one was seen. A beautiful, fathomless deep pool of water circled each section, sparkling with beautiful clarity. It flowed in the circular motion, never stopping in its rotation, gushing smoothly, the surface as still and as clear as glass. In one of these sectors lay an auburn haired girl, a man crouching next to the bed. He moved suddenly from it, to a window that led out to a curved balcony, this made of the same crystalline material. Above this temple was stretched a banner, like the first, reading, "Temple of Healing".

The dove swirled down gracefully, pausing in front of the man�s nose. It flapped its ivory wings a few times to get his attention, and all it acquired was a disdainful swat. Eyrien was gazing out over the sparkling city, ignoring the few drops of rain that found their way down onto his shoulders. An intricately woven overhang covered the balcony; too grand for what weather they were experiencing now, shielding him from the worst of the storm. "All because of that girl," he muttered, hitting a booted toe against the smooth crystal. The dove trilled in response, then perched next to him on the edge of the overhand, black claws clinging to the slippery material. It hopped back and forth a few times then chirruped up at Eyrien, shooting him an inquisitive gaze at his murmuring. He made to backhand it, but it soared upward a few feet, then came back after the hand had passed, fluffing up its wings with a darkened contempt. "What do you want, R�shida?" He asked the dove, sliding his dark green eyes to meet the bird�s own.

It proceeded to hop forward a few inches, shoving a scroll into Eyrien�s hands. He took it, pausing before unrolling the tightly coiled parchment, running his eyes quickly over the words. In courtly looping handwriting was written :

Eyrien M�her�din,

The Triune of Three requests your appearance Tomorrow at Sun Down. Bring the New One, there are things to be asked of both you and her. If you fail to make it to the meeting without a proper absence issued by the Healers; we will have to outcast the New One without any further questions. Thank you for your time, and we are sorry that you both need to make an appearance, especially considering the New One�s health.

Sincerely,
The Triune of Three

Eyrien grumbled to himself after he finished reading it, crumpling up the note in his hand. He�d never had to make an appearance in front of the Triune � the rulers of Atlantis � and didn�t want to have to explain how she�d gotten there. He heaved a sigh and nodded to the dove, which, in response, fluttered its wings and quickly flew elsewhere. A groan floated out to his ears, followed by a thump. He lifted off of the balcony and turned back to the room, seeing the ebon-red haired woman sitting on the ground in a cross-legged position, rubbing at her temples. She looked up to him as he entered, and tugged a smile onto her pale lips. "Thank you, m�lord," she told him, and attempted vainly to push herself up from the ground. Her form fell back down to the richly carpeted ground, hands disappearing in the thick crimson fibers. Eyrien chuckled at her attempts, then went over and offered a hand. She raised a brow up at him, storm colored eyes questioning, showing traces of distrust. Her owns remained plunged deep into the carpet, not rising to meet his. In defeat, he dropped it at his side, and walked over to a marble counter, filling a thin, fragile glass with some sort of dawn hued liquid. This he brought back to her, handing it down with a slight grin. Upon doing this he told her, "Eyrien is my name, miss. You should probably drink this, it�ll alleviate your headache." She hesitated for a moment, then reached up and took the glass between her fingers. In a quick motion, but only a flick of her wrist, the drink was gone down her throat.

"Thank you," she told him, finally meeting his eyes, hers locked onto his own, dancing absently in the lights that were strung about the windows. No candle�s flame was seen though a few were positioned about in random places, simply an arrangement of what looked to be a satin rope was strung about them in an orderly fashion, and which glowed with a golden luminescence that lit the whole area very well. The bed when was sitting next to was pressed against the back wall, the headboard covered with a reflective material. Crimson cloths were draped across the bed itself, matching the carpet and which were pulled about Naticai�s shoulders at the moment. She settled back against the soft coverlets, absent-mindedly spinning the glass between her digits. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him; where was she? How did this city come to be in the middle of the ocean? Why hadn�t anyone found it yet? None of these came out, though, and she settled for studying his face. Strong cheekbones curved out under his exquisitely colored eyes, lips were thin and set in a line. He seemed to be of a nobler ranking, if they had that in the city, because of his clothes. They were still damp, but seemed to be drying. The loose, long sleeves still hung limply about his forearm, tied securely at his wrists. She tossed a glance down at her own garments, a horribly simple cream colored dress that was frayed along the hem, not becoming at all. She sighed at it, then looked up to Eyrien, forgetting that she hadn�t told him her name, yet. "My name is Naticai, m�lord. And I do thank you, very much," she said, her voice cracking in the middle, making her realize how tired she really was. He showed no sign in moving, though, instead sat down in a stylized wooden chair that was set a few feet off. This he moved to the very edge to, leaning his hands against his knees, back hunched.

"Naticai . . . do you know where you are?" He queried, averting his eyes when he found her looking to him.

"No. I have no idea where I am. I know I walked out on a bridge � it was like, like, I was drawn," she said, pausing, unable to express her words. Still, she continued. "The bridge wasn�t there when I visited a month or so before, last time I was called. A woman named Hyaline told me to expect it, that I had to follow it." She ran her tongue across her lips, tasting sea-salt, pondering what exactly he wanted to know. He spoke again, in a calm voice, much like the golden-locked woman, the waves trapped vigilantly in their tones.

"Hyaline, hmm?" He mulled out loud, more to himself then the girl. "The name sounds familiar. Do you remember seeing how the bridge formed? Oh, you�re in the city of Atlantis, by the by." He ended this statement with a slow, considerate tilt back in the chair, leaning his head over the back of it, eyes closed, nose pointed to the ceiling.

"Atlantis . . ." she murmured to herself, unable to respond much else. She remembered his question, and shifted where she was sitting, crossing her arms over her stomach, looking down at her left knee. "I-I don�t remember seeing how the bridge formed, no. I was standing on the edge of the shore, and it just . . . came. I don�t think I did it, if that�s what you�re asking," she said.

He shook his head in response. "Nay, I don�t think you did it, either. I know you didn�t do it, actually," he finished, but said this last in a quieter voice, out of hearing range. The lights above the windows dimmed slightly, then brightened back to their normal intensity, as if they were giving their own thoughts and input to the conversation. "M�lady, you�re going to have to visit the ruling council of Atlantis, the Triune of Three, tomorrow. I�m sorry to inform you . . . but you might not be able to stay. The city was closed off many years ago, to prevent any more from finding out about it, and spreading the word, ruining the pristine quality it possesses. It�s up to them, whether you can stay or not. There�ve been . . . rumors going around, and everyone�s very paranoid, some frightfully scared. You being here will probably stay quiet, and if you could keep to yourself, or at least to this sector of the Temple, that�d be wonderful." He sighed, tilting his head back up to look at her. She wore a surprised and sad look on her simple features, but didn�t say anything in response. Feeling as if he has somehow caused the grief she wore on her face, he said again, "I�m sorry, Naticai."

She bit down on her lower lip, twisting the bedclothes between her fingers. "That�s alright. I�ll be fine," she told him finally, turning and climbing back into the large bed. The burgundy sheets followed, forming a trail behind her, half of them remaining on the ground. She made no move to pick them up, so Eyrien sat up out of the chair and gently tossed them up onto the bed for her. "Call on my if you need anything," he said, "I�ll be nearby." With this, he moved over to the large double doors, which were propped open, though lacking the usual noises of hustle and bustle. Once out of the room, the doors closed behind him, he leaned his back against the outside wall near the entrance. He tiredly rubbed his face, giving another sigh as the thoughts swirled madly through his head. He needed to talk to all of the Healers before the meeting with the Triune the next day; perhaps he�d be able to save him and her both the meeting. It wasn�t something he was looking forward to, that was assured.

Naticai didn�t sleep after the man had left. She couldn�t sleep, not when her thoughts pulled at her so. This was Atlantis? It couldn�t be, she knew that for sure. But everything led her to believe that; the crystal plateaus she was told about, the magnificent architecture, just by looking around the small room she could tell these people were highly advanced. She didn�t bother attempting to cover a yawn, and wondered what exactly was in the drink that he gave her. Perhaps it was her imagination, but she seemed much more tired then she had before, and found her lids feeling to heavy to keep up. Slowly, she faded into a deep, deep sleep.

Naticai awoke with a start, sitting up quickly in her bed, sheets encircling her legs and clinging to her ankles. She wiped a hand across her brow; feeling matted hair and a light, cold sweat. Shifting remnants of the dream lingered about her, the woman�s face, the same longing. She couldn�t begin to guess who she was, though at the back of her mind was the answer, one she couldn�t reach. The room�s surroundings, she found, were more or less the same � she was able to look at these when her head had cleared more. The candles that she had lit before she�d gone to sleep had long since been snuffed out, and the strange lighting above the windows had dulled to a dim, barely there glow. She pushed herself out of the bed, rolling onto the ground with a customary thump, the room spinning about her before steadying enough to tolerate. "Tense," she remarked aloud, the word for describing the day. She looked over at the window, squinting her eyes at the thin tendrils of sunlight wove their way inside, ones of the fiery orb hardly beginning to rise. She hadn�t had a moment to think farther then the word before a loud knocking resounded about the room, penetrating her senses. A still, almost unnatural quiet followed after this, as if the knocker didn�t dare breathe. She rubbed her hands over her face again and wandered over to the door, carefully turning the doorknob and standing back out of the way. Eyrien stood there, wringing his hands tensely, a fine, laced up black tunic clothing his torso. His hair was thrown to the side, as if the ocean itself had chosen its position, yet still looked rather presentable. He took a hesitant step inside when Naticai gestured, summoning a rather tired smile.

"Good morning, Naticai," he began, pacing back and forth by the unmade bed. "You do remember you have to meet with the Triune, don�t you?" She nodded in response to this, still lingering by the door, tugging absently on a sleep-made curl. "Right," he said, and ceased his pacing, instead tapping a booted toe against the carpet. "We don�t have much time, you should probably get ready. I know it�s a hassle, and I really am sorry about this, but �" He paused, hesitating for a moment. "I�ve actually never had to see them . . . thus my awkwardness. Don�t let me make you nervous," he said, trailing off at the end, as if he didn�t believe fully in his words, that perhaps his own seeming fright would rub off on her.

"Of course," she replied, maintaining the smile. "I�m not at all nervous! It�s quite normal to have to visit a council and allow them to decide your fate. But I can�t very well get ready while you�re in here, would you mind leaving?" Her tone was tinged with an edgy sarcasm, yet she tried to add a polite note to the end, trying to stifle her nature for a moment. He seemed taken aback at her words, though he nodded and made his way to the door again. Unsure of what to say, she spat out a hasty, "Thank you," before moving to the other side of the room, where a tall wardrobe stood. His footsteps faltered, pivoting to face her, eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

"You�re welcome," he said simply, then threw out the next words in a long string, not wanting to invade anymore on her privacy then needed. "There should be some clothes in there, hopefully that�ll fit you. And again, if you need any help, be sure to call me, I�ll be right outside, waiting for you. I�d tell you to take your time, but that�s not possible, we have to be there when the sun fully rises."

She chuckled at this, meeting his eyes. A simple bob of her head was all that was given, though, the words trapped inside her throat, not wanting to display themselves. He smiled a lopsided grin, and stepped outside, the door clicking shut behind him. Naticai proceeded to fling open the wardrobe, revealing finely tailored dresses, each, upon careful inspection, fitting her perfectly. No deep contemplation went into this, though she visibly brooded along the edges of the thought the whole while. Eventually, she decided on a deep scarlet colored dress, one leaving the shoulders bare, a style she preferred. It was simple; she was pleased to find, the strange designs bordering the hem being the only decorative part of it. As he had said, he awaited her outside, leaning against the wall beside the doorway, as if guarding it. When she emerged he turned his head, not taking a second glance at what she was wearing, and started down the corridor to the left of her room. She could do nothing but follow after him, bare feet making naught a noise on the slippery marble that seemed to fill the entire city.

Paintings littered the walls, those of strange, unimaginable detail, delineating men fighting creatures of the sea, views of cities of gold, ones Naticai had not a chance to inspect. Eyrien�s pace seemed to speed up constantly, causing her to have to lift her dress from the ground and near break into a run to keep up with him. He spoke not once as they walked, eyes trained intently forward, as if seeing something that wasn�t there. Her heart began to thud faster in her chest, not because of physical exertion, but of a rising fear of talking to the Triune. Did she even want to stay? The ocean had drawn her, yes, but was that a mistake? Perhaps it meant to call someone else, one she couldn�t relate to, and she was similar in some way to them. These thoughts were eliminated when Eyrien halted suddenly, causing Naticai to further tumble over her steps, an innocent smile laced across her lips when she met his gaze, hiding her embarrassment. He quirked a brow at her, then pointed to a painting that spanned from the roof to the floor. It was of magnificent colors, and showed a wide, circular room, filled with grand chairs; a long, oval desk centered in the middle. Paintings covered the walls of this room as well, much more elegant then the ones that clouded the corridor�s walls. She couldn�t understand why he had stopped his relentless walking to show her this. Of course, it was very beautiful, but some of the other ones they had passed were even more magnificent.

"Here we are, Naticai," he told her, beginning to wring his hands together again.

"And where�s here? I thought we were meeting the Triune. This is a painting," she responded, crossing her arms over her stomach, gazing at him inquisitively.

"Aye! Correct. But, it�s what�s in the painting that we�ve come to see." He walked further up to the picture, and hovered his hands over the smooth texture of the canvas, seeming to concentrate; though his lips were touched with a slight smile. The very paint it was made of seemed to convulse under his palms, then shift to the side, as if it was a curtain being parted. This he stepped through, ducking his head, and disappeared soon after. An artistic hand still remained out, apparently for Naticai to take. She sucked in a breath, set her hand in his, and stepped through.

The room they now stood in was exactly like the one in the painting, though some of the chairs were missing. Behind the long table sat three people, two men, and a woman. They each held a very dignified air, seeming to be looking down their noses at Naticai. The wind whistled outside, each window in the room propped open, allowing the salty smell of sea air to waft inside. Eyrien stood behind Naticai, now, a comforting hand resting upon her shoulder for the slightest of moments, before falling to his side. His emerald eyes held the same sense of nervousness they had since that morning, flashing and whirring slightly as the Triune inspected him. It took all the courage Naticai could summon to remain standing tall, taking the gaze they tossed so casually toward her. The man on the right side of the woman stood, lean and lithe, as all the people she�d come across seemed to be. He held a friendly manner about him; this mirrored in his thin smile. When he spoke, his voice danced with the wind that sifted into the room, seeming to be made purely of it.

"Welcome, Naticai. We just want to ask you some questions, and then you can leave. Will that be alright?"

She nodded, wondering why he was asking her for permission, yet knowing if she had shaken her head they wouldn�t have cared. The man waved to a comfortable looking teal blue chair, the mirth flittering about his lips. Another hand was waved to an equally plush chair next to that one, indicating that Eyrien sit, too. The two at the table remained quiet, observing, and nothing else. She seated herself, and Eyrien did the same, the man following suit soon afterward.

"Allow me to introduce myself, Naticai. I am Ardal." He nodded to the woman who sat beside him, directing this introduction to her. "This is Ignemi, and this," another gesture of his head was made to the man on the end, "Is Daire." The woman gazed disdainfully upon Naticai when her name was said, coal black locks shifting as she moved, responding to the glance. Her eyes sparkled with an unnatural fire, seeming out of place in the water-filled realm. The other man, Daire, continued with his silence, both outwardly and inwardly. His silver colored eyes were unreadable, hiding whatever his opinions of Naticai were. The only one that seemed even in the slightest bit welcoming was Ardal, whose smile never died.

"How did you find the bridge, Naticai?" He asked her, the woman sighing as if a long, drawn out tale of no real importance was about to be told, but when she met Naticai�s gaze, she quieted. Naticai rubbed her lips together, then began. She told them of the first calling, then the meeting of Hyaline, and her warning. Their united interest seemed to heighten a step, in synch, when hearing this, yet none interjected with a comment of their own. She told them of her venture to the sea after a month�s time, then of crossing the bridge. Eyrien stayed quiet as well, not explaining how the bridge was made, assuming he�d be asked and punished later, if they so desired. When she had finished, Ignemi seemed only slightly interested, her sitting up straighter in her chair, listening, yet not fully comprehending the words, like she didn�t care to. Ardal was grinning ear to ear, entirely too amused with the whole thing, yet Daire�s silence continued on, being one of an aggravating nature, to Naticai. The soundlessness of the room echoed loudly, the noises of the surf far and distant, barely touching her ears. This quiet was broken with a hearty laugh from Ardal, who stood once more and clasped his hands together.

"Naticai, your story has both pleased and convinced me that Atlantis could only prosper with one such as you amongst us. I would be more then honoured if you would stay! Where are you residing, now? The Temple of Healing? You could continue living there, seeing the room, if I�m correct, Eyrien, is usually unoccupied." He beamed once more, then took his seat again. Ignemi stood, eyes narrowed into slits, the fiery hue seeming more extreme when she spoke.

"This child is nothing but danger! Don�t you remember, Ardal? Don�t you remember the legends? They speak of one coming, when Atlantis is at it�s prime, and destroying it. Aren�t you in the least suspicious? Right time. Right person. You cannot just cast this away, dismiss it as another rumor that was blasted out of proportion, for it�s not." She glared accusingly at Naticai, throwing her words at her as if they were rocks, and she the enemy. "You do not belong here. This is no place for you, child. Go back to your daydreams, go back to your land." Ignemi stood for a few minutes more, then lowered back into her chair, teeth clenched with unspent anger.

Eyrien�s eyes widened at the aftershock, his mouth falling open. He turned his head to look at Naticai, finding she was rigid in her seat, chest raising and falling irregularly with the effort to maintain a steady breath. Ardal rolled his eyes, the words affecting him not.

"You don�t have to be so harsh, Ignemi. Be nice to the girl. And what you speak of are nothing but myths, I have no idea why you�d even use them in reference to Naticai!" He shook his head, clicking his tongue against the back of his teeth. "I don�t know why we couldn�t all just welcome new visitors." He leaned forward so as to look at Daire, who was listening to the conversation with a thoughtful expression. He didn�t stand when he spoke, but his word�s tone had the impact of one towering above the tallest man, and double that.

"The legends, Ignemi, speak of one who is going to save the City, as well. One destined to restore it to its glory after it falls by his or her own hand. Don�t ever forget that important fact, for she couldn�t be that very person. Or, perhaps, you could think of the even older legend, the one holding more truth then any I�ve ever heard. One speaking of the City crumbling under the weight of its own advancements, one fated to its doom. And telling of the person who will come from across the seas, to save it. The person a descendant of one of Atlantis, one able to read the ancient texts, and able to find how to return the City to its aforementioned glory. Could she, Ignemi, be that one? It�s possible, isn�t it? I believe so." Even after his words were spoken, he held no readable emotions on his features. He met Naticai�s gaze, and smiled, a gesture not mimicked in his eyes, of a forced nature. "You can remain, child, if you wish. It is no matter for me, I believe that if you were called here, then you were meant to stay."

Naticai returned the smile, her heart lifting, though still faltering from the woman�s words. Even though the two men were kind, she felt the brutal, uncaring nature of Ignemi forcing the encouraging words to mean nothing. Thoughts and questions came to her in a rush, as they oft seemed to do, mental notes being scribbled furiously, ones she direly needed to remember. Eyrien was watching her curiously, as if seeing her in a different light, his own questions screaming to be asked. Ardal again cleared his throat, and he, too, looking at Naticai.

"Well, so be it! You may stay, Naticai, as ruled by the Triune. Eyrien can help you by showing you around the Temple complexes, the City as well. If what Daire says is true, we�ve got a real gem on our hands!" He ended this statement with a bout of merry laughter, the noise reminding her of the golden haired woman�s. The three of them stood, again, in a synchronized motion, as if their actions were choreographed. Ignemi wore a look of contempt, Daire one of mystery, and Ardal one of pure happiness. Eyrien had to touch Naticai�s elbow before she reacted and stood as well, breathing growing shallow with the sudden elevation.

"Thank you, all," Eyrien said, and nodded respectfully. Naticai repeated the action, forcing herself to take a deep breath of the ocean air. They both moved toward the seam in the wall, where they had entered, passing through that as if it was a curtain, once more. Once outside, Naticai fell against the wall, closing her eyes to stop the world from spinning. Eyrien held her shoulders, allowing her to fall against him. "I know you�re tired," he said, "but we have to go back to your room. We can�t very well linger about the Triune�s hall, and overstay our luck." His sentence ended in such a tone that she believed he wanted to say more, to ask the questions that were playing out in his eyes, but he stifled himself. They moved in reticence down the hall, unvoiced questions piercing whatever thoughts they wanted to express. Naticai fingered the thin sleeve of her dress, arm bent at the elbow, running long digits across the material. She stole a sidelong glance at Eyrien, watching him mull to himself, though no real interest was found there.

They reached her room, the awkward quiet between them never recessing. A wave of their hands, no words voiced, and she slipped into her room. The lights above the window were glowing brightly, a happy glow, not matching her feelings. No candles were lit � the old, waxy unburned nubs from the night before remaining on the desk and dresser tops. She walked over to the large, peculiarly made bed, and flopped down on it, allowing her eyes to close, to run past the day�s events. Was she really talked about in legends? No, that couldn�t be. It was just a coincidence. Yet when she told herself that, she doubted it. She sat up, unable to fall out of her thoughts and into her dreams, and realised that someone was knocking at the door. In a way she was glad, she needed company, now, yet didn�t want it. She shouted a, "Come in," and the door opened to reveal Eyrien. A smile found its way onto her lips, one she didn�t ask to leave her, though could hardly understand why it was there. He stepped inside, nodding to her, before moving to the chair he was sitting in the earlier day.

"Sorry to bother you, but . . . do you want to talk? You seemed rather, oh, I can�t think of the word; upset?" His eyes were full of what might�ve been caring, that or he wanted her to speak so he was able to.

"Upset? Aye, I s�pose. Shocked would be more the word, I can�t really imagine being what they think I am. How would you feel if someone told you that you had to restore a city of this size? It�s rather frightening. To even be able to live up to those expectations, if they were actually true, is hard to comprehend." She settled back on her hands, swinging her legs against the side of the bed, heels hitting against the wooden frame. An absent sounding thud was made each time, muffled by the comforter.

He ran both hands through his sable hair, fingers raking from forehead to neck. "I understand how you feel. I can�t do anything to stop or help you with that matter, but I could give you some advice. There�s a library in the Temple of Philosophy, which you might be interested in. Some of the books hold this history of Atlantis; others are simply good reading. I could take you there, tomorrow, if you�d like, maybe it�d get your mind off of the Triune." He jumped up from his seat, offering his hand to her. "At least you can stay, my lady," he said, his tone covered in mock regality.

She laughed, the tone light, natural, eyes sparkling, forgetting her earlier thoughts and feelings. "Oh, of course! That�s the best part," she replied, placing her palm in his, rising from the bed. He led her away from the sheet-covered ground, and spun her in a circle, auburn locks flying about her neck. This drew more laughter and a wider smile from her, one that kept its position about her lips when she paused. She drew her hand from his and ducked into a curtsey, never loosing the eye contact. He chuckled in response and moved to the balcony again, the moonlight reflecting down onto it, making strange, spiraling patterns on the smooth crystal. Naticai moved up next to him, leaning over the side of it.

"How long have you been here? You seem to be known, but then again, I haven�t that seen many people." She glanced over at him, waiting for his response.

"I�ve been here all my life. My parents were �well known�, as you put it, too. They both ran this Temple, the Temple of Healing. Overseers, I suppose they would be called."

Naticai nodded, looking out at the horizon, listening to the waves crash on the shore to the left of her, unable to see the small town of S�reeon from where she stood. She didn�t feel any homesickness, which she found odd, for she�d lived in the town her whole life, and had never traveled elsewhere. Stories she knew in abundance, despite her lack of traveling, but not any that matched the one she would be able to tell if she ever departed from Atlantis. The future seemed so far away, when she thought of it in a certain sense, one she couldn�t name or place. Daire�s words came back to her suddenly, poking at her thoughts, ushering her to ask. "The quiet man on the end � Daire � do you remember what he said about a descendent of Atlantis? I couldn�t be that. My mother and father weren�t from here, for surely I�d have known by now, if they were, right?"

Eyrien pondered over this, then titled his head to the side, meeting her gaze. "You might�ve known, but I cannot say for sure that you would�ve. Most people, should they have left Atlantis, would not have spoken of it afterward, not even to a very dear loved one. Or so they are asked not to. I couldn�t say how many actually follow that rule, for I have never seen anyone who has left and came back, or have left myself and sought out. Actually, there is only a very small percentage that have departed the City, or so that�s all I know." He took a deep breath in, sucking in the tangy air, eyes closing with this action. His leather bound chest rose then fell, a contented breath, it might�ve seemed. The sky above was clear, the temperature nice, not too hot, yet not too cold, clouds not filling the canopy of orange-blue above, as if a clean paint had been smoothed carefully over the moon and stars. The ocean�s dull lapping never ceased, gently flicking against the crystalline base of the huge city. Naticai watched Eyrien, eyeing him even though he wasn�t looking back at her, following along the faultless curve of his jawbone, hand raising to feel her own. The Atlantians seemed perfect in every aspect, something she hardly resembled. There was no possible way, she concluded, that she could be derived from that blood. Doubts hung heavily, though, like a cloak one couldn�t remove, and that forced to budge even when pushed.

She pushed off from the balcony, turning to move back inside. A slight shuffle was all that allowed her to realise Eyrien was turning around, gazing at her, following her movement. She shifted to face him, simply meeting his eyes for a moment. They stood there, two, mere occupants of the City, hardly making an impact when thinking about the rest of the populace. For his sake alone, she smiled, one from her heart, expressing what thanks she wanted expressed. He seemed to understand, and drew his emerald green gaze from hers, looking at the pure white crests of waves that showered upon the shores in the distance. Eyrien thought only of what a strange and even confusing girl she had turned out to be, one he wasn�t able to figure out easily. The one who was really talked about in legends? Amazing, he breathed to himself.

When Eyrien stepped back through the double doors that lead out to the escarpment, he found Naticai sprawled carelessly upon the bed, still dressed in the crimson gown she�d put on but an hour or so before. He chuckled at this, crossing the distance between doors and strewn about blankets, and draped a loose coverlet over her shoulders. He cast a half-glance to her on his way out, lost in the clouded realm of his thoughts; unable to see her clearly until his eyes came into focus. Red-black hair fanned about her pale skinned face, forming a veil of the rich color, one he studied for a moment, as if inspecting. He sighed partially, for a reason he found himself not knowing, then slid through the doorway and down the hall. Everyone who usually bustled about was stifled by the early hour, perhaps doing what he�d rather be � sleeping. Instead he made a beeline for his own room at the end of the hall, planning to show Naticai around the City when she woke up. His boots made a dull thudding noise as they walked, one seeming to fill the wide hallway, ominous warnings of impending danger. He blocked this thought out, pondering instead on how the Triune hadn�t even bothered to ask him about the bridge. Not something to wish to go back and change, but strange nonetheless. He ran a hand across the thin stubble of hair that protruded from his chin, and scowled at a painting of one of the rulers of Atlantis, a meaty man who glowered from his higher position, looking down sinisterly upon whoever chanced a step by him. A voice called him from the starring contest with the picture, and he squinted his eyes down to the far-left end of the corridor, where he could just make out two human-like shapes. They both waved their arms in the air, and shouted, "Eyrien!" Again, quickening their pace to meet his own.

They met somewhere in the middle, Eyrien chiding himself for not knowing who they were at the start. "Nek�riin! Jesaric! How are you two?"

The woman, Nek�riin, smiled warmly, full lips dancing up with the gesture. Bright red hair floated about her head, streaming down her back in a river of fire. Strangely slender shaped, rather purplish eyes gazed from a long face, one full of grace and elegance. She was fairly tall, resembling a typical Atlantian, one who looked as if they were birthed from the ocean�s floors. A very friendly air twisted about her, one that seemed more then happy to extend to others. "We�re doing great, Eyrien. How have you been? We haven�t seen you for," here she paused, scrunching her nose up in thought, "a long while. Ah, there�s been talk about a new one entering the City, and that you were involved with it, but you know how that is."

The man that stood beside her shared Nek�riin�s smile, his own draped about pale lips. He was short, but very fine boned, looking quite the sight next to the taller woman. Dusty, wavy brown hair covered his ears and most of his forehead, creating a very laid-back look. A large amount of energy seemed to be bottled up inside him, apparent in the golden gaze he wore. "Aye, where�ve you gotten to? And why in Gods� name are you lurking about the halls at this early hour?" Jesaric asked, then took a hesitant step closer to Eyrien, circling him as if looking at a being never before seen. He chuckled to himself then said; "If I remember correctly, you used to have no idea what the sun�s rising looks like. Something change?"

Eyrien grinned and turned in a slow circle, following Jesaric�s steps. "Something changed, you are correct there. Nek�riin? Those rumors? They�re true. We have one that came across the oceans � that�s who I�ve been busy, persay, with, lately." He ran his tongue across his dry lips, moistening the parched skin. "She�s a nice girl; had to meet with the Triune this morning. �Tis the only reason I�m up," he said, winking at Jesaric. "And it�s amazing, how the sun looks in the morn!"

Nek�riin�s eyebrows raised, upon hearing the previous statement. She placed her hands upon her hips, and offered a slight, "Huh," of interest, idly blowing at a stray strand of hair. "What�s her name? I�d love to meet her. You get so tired of the same old people." She feigned a glare over at Jesaric, who was still pacing about Eyrien. He scowled, then turned the look into what resembled a grin.

"Her name�s Naticai. I think you�d turn out to be good friends; you�re both dark and cynical." Eyrien slid away from the flick Nek�riin directed at his shoulder, smiling. "She is actually quite sweet, from what I�ve found out about her. Took the meeting with the Triune rather well." He purposely was scanty in details, leaving out what exactly was discussed, thinking it better to keep Naticai�s identity � should it be true � quiet, for the time being.

"Mm, sounds nice," commented Jesaric, who had taken his place beside Nek�riin one more. "Are you going to show her around the City? Or is she even staying?" He added, making Eyrien notice how much more interested he seemed, then was ordinary for his friend.

"She�s staying, aye. For how long, I couldn�t say. I was planning to take her around, so she doesn�t get lost during her stay, it�s quite easy in the City. If you two wanted to come, that�d be fine, I�m sure that she�d love to have a few more familiar faces about." Eyrien shifted his weight to the other foot, looking from Nek�riin to Jesaric, languidly figuring out what each was thinking. Nek�riin was skeptical in the new arrival; despite her words, she liked having everything stay the same. Jesaric held an innocent curiosity, but then again, he always seemed to.

"Count me in," said Jesaric, bobbing his head enthusiastically. Nek�riin smirked at the over exaggerated response, then nodded as well. "Me, too. I�d be glad to help out a friend. Besides, it�d be an excuse to get me out of re-hanging all the lights in the Western second." She mock shuddered at the thought, then glanced down the way Eyrien had came. "I have to go for a while, there�re some things I have to get done. What time are we going?"

Eyrien rolled his eyes to the high, tiled ceiling in thought, allowing an obscure melody to dance between his lips; one he didn�t even know where came from. He paused it mid-note, then tilted his eyes back to his two friends. "Before sun-down. Perhaps . . . half-sky?" Jesaric and Nek�riin exchanged glances, then nodded at the same time. "Sure, that sounds perfect," said Jesaric. Eyrien stepped around them, nodding back, making a mental note to not forget about it. "I�ll see you then!" He called, not turning to watch them depart. His steps carried him to his aforementioned destination, his room welcoming him; the simplicity a change to the Triune�s richly decorated hall. A large stack of paper sat at a desk in the near right corner, a pen set neatly on top. This he strode over to and sat down at, immediately picking up the writing implement, scribbling various characters onto the paper, recording the day�s events.