1 The Girl from the Western Desert

The halls that were once silent was filled with footsteps rushing towards the practice hall as a young girl runs in hurry to find the one she needed to relay a message. She pushed through the crowd and shouted,

"Esmeralda!"

"Yes?", a seductive alto voice sounded as the room went silent just in time to hear a crunch followed by agonising cries of a male.

"The elders has requested your presence.", as the young girl drew a sharp breath before continuing, "Now."

"No, Esmeralda! Come back I want a rematch! It wasn't fair!", said the fellow apprentice still grabbing his wrist.

The strong-builded-hourglassed girl stopped in her tracks and swerved around with her toes and with her large eyes staring to his very soul.

" I am sure you still remember the reason for these rigorous assessments.", she questioned . When no answer came, she continued, "To test both our wills and astrological abilities, no? And how many chances do we have at that?"

The young man stuttered then said nothing.

"I have thought so too.", she smiled and turned away.

"Sly.", he muttered.

"Cocky.", she shot back.

The young girl stood before the door that hardly any ever walked through; in hopes of antipation of being summoned even once was already lucky enough but twice. Now, that was something. The little one who followed her had already left without a word, she was on her own. Still, she never faltered once and push it open gloriously.

"Have you summoned me, my lords?", the girl bowed down as soon as the door closed from behind and light shown on each of the five elders' shadows in a bench high above her.

"Esmeralda of the Western Desert, come into the light so we may speak in clear. Your people had come to known that you have succeeded on numerous tests and has sent a message for us to relay.", they all spoke continuously before showing the hologrammed figure of one of the high elders from the tribe of astrologers.

"You have shown your worth again my child as have you shown us when you became an astrologer and enrolled the school for mages, the Academy of Magic with high honours. We hope to congratulate you with your success by giving you an option of entitling you as the guardian of the Starmoon Casket, but beware my child for it holds powers that others covet and you might need to take on the journey to Minos' Labyrinth. Make your decision wisely, my child for it will lead to what we call future."

The hologram fizzes a little before disappearing back into the shadows.

The young girl was in deep thought while walking slow pacedly in the silent halls of the night until, "Esmeralda!", a familiar voice resonates through the halls.

"Eudora, how and why are you here? I thought you were on a mission with Odette and the others."

"Yeah about that, we finished early. Ignore that. Would you like to have a drink with me? I remember we still have a score to settle and since you are going on a journey soon too.", she grinned while holding up a bag which clinked as she did.

"So, Minos' Labyrinth? ", she asked casually.

"Yes. Apparently more and more people are trying to get this power for their own I just couldn't sit and watch others attack what could possibly be the last home of the tribe of astrologers. Not after what had happened like the elders had said. We couldn't afford to lessen our numbers any further." Esmeralda said pulling the door to the pantry open and taking out mugs and goblets.

"Wine, beer or ale?", she asked waving the cups in mid-air.

"Ale.", Eudora said with a smirk before she grabbed one from one of the stashes she kept. "Right, the Tyrant. They still haven't found the one who locked him though.", she said as she took a mug from her and popped off the cap of a bottle of Perial Ale with a bit of electricity.

"Cool."

"Yes, it's called friction. Physics? Electrical energy comes from heat and light energy. Got it from a book, might as well give it a try." said as she took a swig.

"I thought the books were for Gord and Estes when Harith brought them back from the supposedly future."

"Well, it won't hurt to know a little more information from the future wouldn't it? Isn't that what you astrologers do? Predict the future. Besides, it's not like the professor would find a few books missing from his libraries anyway."

"But look where it got us."

Eudora clicked her tongue and continued, "Well enough of this sad stuff, Rafaela has already drawn the map to Minos Labyrinth for you."

Esmeralda chuckled, "Who said I ever needed one? The stars are already my beacon. But still, thanks again for the equipment. It was hard enough for me to find authentic arcane boots."

"Don't thank me, it was all Alucard's doing. He said he bought an extra pair and thought you might need it."

Esmeralda chuckles again. "I see he's still trying."

"Failure is not an option for him I guess.", Eudora said teasingly.

The both of them laugh into the night, having their last drink competition before toppling over at their beds for the last time before one of them leaves tomorrow.