Role

Chapter 4

Tia returned from her adventure with Arsaiya and Aiya. They had went their
separate ways and she now stepped into the fortress walls alone now.

She had just walked the shadow plane! What was THAT about!? And fought all
sorts of horrible and strange demons before finally they were thrown into the
most wicked of battles against a two-headed devil!

She walked up the stairs of the eastern wall and looked off across towards
the river, reflecting on her life. She had come so far so fast, yet rose in a
period of relative calm. Was she ready? Here she was walking on planes and
creating her own adventures as grand as some of her favorite childhood books.

Yet real enemies were out there waiting. They were far more trained, far more
vicious, and far less green than she.

Her last wakening alone, two squires and two acolytes had exclaimed "Tia,
you made it into the fortress!" as if it was the biggest surprise in Thera.
She sighed and pulled her new devilskin cape closer about her body, warding
off the chill coming across the redhorn mountains.

The comments reminded her of her childhood. Any success she had was always a
surprise to everyone else. Every victory met more with shock than congratulations.

Did they all see what she would not accept? That she was not yet ready for
the trials ahead? She could not accept that. And if it was true, she could
not allow it to be the status quo. For her failure was not hers alone. It
would be the downfall of those mages she save in the crypts. The downfall of
her companions who journeyed with her to the shadow plane. The downfall of
the squires and acolytes who would depend on her in what would be harder
times ahead.

She sighed and turned from the ramparts. She would return to her room and
light two candles tonight. She had so much to read on the fighting techniques
of her adversaries. She would reread stories of ancient duels and combat
studies. If she must work harder into the night to make up the difference for
the battles ahead, what else could she do? Her life didnt just depend on it,
her friends depended on it. She narrowed her eyes in dedication, determined
as she always was in life, not to accept anything close to defeat until all
options were exhausted.