10 Chapter 10: Family

There were seventeen of them waiting for her and Zane to enter. Some wearing robes, others casual garments. They had traveled deeper in the tombs until reaching the opening. On an even slope a grand pavilion had been carved into the earth and was exposed to the open sunlight. Vast tree branches provided a ceiling that captured most of its harmful rays. The dim light revealed architecture that was too well designed to have been made by any human. The carvings on the walls showed ancient depictions of people crowding around a central figure garbed in pure white. Mosaics stained with age had been ruined from the nature that had grown into the walls that housed them.

The people in the pavilion were all looking at her. They were all human except one. She noticed the elf instantly, a slender and short figure that looked at her with a mixture of expression. The other humans seemed to be studying her as she approached, she didn't like that.

She stopped short of crossing into the dim light, it was a barrier that brought only the traumatic memories of agony. Zane noticed that as he looked back at her.

"It's alright, we can handle a little sunlight, here let's just take it slow," he crossed into the room. He flinched just a little but kept walking to the group in the center, "It's better to learn how to handle a little sun than shield yourself in the dark."

The others all watched her as Rain just stood there. She extended her hand until it crossed the barrier, she felt an immediate stab of pain and withdrew it.

She swore while clutching her hand and looked at them all with a sour expression, "Im not following."

Zane looked at her and shook his head, "Its going to hurt, but it gets better. In time you'll be able to walk uncovered when the sun is low. This is just a way of helping you get used to it." He advanced toward her.

"Stay away from me!" She walked backward a few steps. Zane continued to get within arms reach. His hand touched her shoulder, "I said back off!" She pushed him hard, and while doing so the air lit on fire.

Instincts are what saved him from being burnt alive as he dodged the cone of fire, his arms shielding his face. The air suddenly became overwhelmingly hot as moisture from the roots turned to steam.

Rain collapsed feeling a wave of exhaustion, she suddenly felt dizzy and without recourse regurgitated on the broken stone. She coughed for several seconds until collecting herself.

When she lifted her head she expected to see Zane infuriated at her, instead his grin had turned to a wide smile. The silence then shattered as the seventeen behind him started clapping, "Impressive!" He declared to the audience.

"I'm really getting sick of your laughing! Is this some kind of joke!" Rain said the words weakly as she slowly got up, "I'm done trusting you, you get near me again I'll...I'll," she found herself stuttering again.

Zane just looked at her playfully, "it's good to see you stick up for yourself for once, and duly noted." He turned around to the group, "I trust your all satisfied?" Some of the group shrugged while others seemed to be thinking amongst themselves.

One of the members jumped from the root she was sitting on, a slender girl with cropped raven hair and...green eyes. She had an angular face and the rest of the group parted to let her pass. She seemed young, but the confidence in her stance spoke of experience that was acknowledged by the others. As she approached even Zane gave her distance.

The woman studied Rain, the mark had covered her cheeks with intricate slim lines. She had a stern face, one that could catch anyone's attention. She extended her open hand and a bright red flame danced in her palm.

"We gave the mark a name, we call it the vellum. In an older tongue it means poisoned magic," her voice was clear and well spoken. She was no commoner, in fact she sounded like she had come from the city. "The vellum can awaken any sort of magic, you and I are the only elementals so far."

Rain watched the fire in her hands as it danced, "Zane is what we've come to call a compassionate which means he can alter peoples minds and even persuade them to his will, we don't have a name for Maxine's magic but she has tremendous strength." The woman continued.

"So everyone here has the...vellum," Rain wondered from what language the word originally came from.

"Yes, the seventeen of us, plus the two that rescued you. And you of course are the twentieth." The woman looked at the people behind her and then back to Rain, "but I guess I didn't properly introduce myself, my name is Fiala Du Blackwyl," she walked into the shade and looked Rain in the eye, "I've been waiting to meet you, cousin."

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2 hours later

Sweat covered Rains body as she refused to lose the duel. Upon meeting Fiala, who claimed to be her cousin, the first thing the noble girl wanted to do was get to know her. Apparently it was common practice to duel with new members with the mark when they arrived.

The pair were alone in a lamplit room large enough for a crowd. Weapon racks sported all assortments of gear and practice equipment. The place looked like it used to be an old library as old wooden shelves had been stacked to the corners of the room. A few old books remained amidst the pile of aging remains.

Rain had removed the vest, wearing her plain tunic and leggings. She danced around the circle with a wooden dagger, the hilt was heavy in her hand. Fiala meanwhile wore a short cloth wrap around her chest and a skirt which allowed her to move swiftly. She was strong, and her reach was longer. Instead of a blade she sported a wooden pike.

Fiala offered her a sword or stave before, but Rain wanted something comfortable that she was used too.

Rain was only given one rule, not to use the vellum. She was fine with that.

Rain lunged forward, her legs covered the distance with speed, and just as her opponent moved to counter, Rain lunged to the side. She landed on her feet and dived forward. She was used to fighting taller opponents, there overconfidence often their undoing. With one hand she grabbed the pikes wooden pole and dislodging Fiala's grip she pulled it away exposing Fiala for a finishing strike.

Fiala had stopped this attempt three times before, this time however she knew there was only one way to dodge the attack. She let go of the pike in mid pull, making Rain lose any resistance. The sudden change made her lose balance and caused her to lose her footing. It was a brief second of losing her balance that allowed Fiala to strike back this time with her fist. Rain fell backward hard, landing with a thud that echoed. Had there been a crowd she imagined they would be cheering Fiala to finish her.

"Not bad cousin, but had you used the sword you would've got me that time," Fiala offered her a hand to stand. Rain refused it, brushing it aside and stood on her own, "Zane told me you were feisty, but I think the word he should have used was stubborn?"

Rain ignored her, picking up the dagger on the floor, it had chipped in the fall and no longer was reliable.

"Stop calling me that, we have the same eyes that doesn't mean were cousins" Even as Rain spoke the words she knew they were false.

"I recognized you the moment I saw you, my families blood run through your veins," Fiala looked at her with the same green eyes, deep oceans of emerald star light. Rain studied her face for a moment before turning away, it was impossible to ignore the similarities. It wasn't just her eyes that seemed familiar, "You had to have known?" Fiala continued.

Rain looked at her, part of her felt numb to the whole idea. But of course she had wondered, the sigil on the ring she kept at all times had the very mark of blackwyl. However her mother had acquired it remained a mystery to her. Rain was comfortable with the idea that it was purely coincidence, the other option was to accept a darker truth. One that made her feel nothing but hatred for the arrogant woman who stood in front of her. Rain stared at her with rage in her eyes, "You don't know what your talking about." Her words were like ice.

"It's the truth, and you know it. Do you know what that means?," Fiala asked as if excited. She was acting like she had found a long lost sister, something that only pissed Rain off.

Rain charged her, this time her attack landed and it was she that forced her opponent down. Rain was on top of her wanting to scream.

"All that means is some noble raped my mother!" Rain pinned her down, "I've thought about it before you know, I've always wondered but didn't want to admit it! But that's what it means, some noble brat claimed her and then discarded her...it wouldn't be the first time!" Rain was no longer in control.

"You don't know that, and neither do I..." Fiala said with remorse.

"Shut up! You have no idea what she went through just to raise me, I've been cursed since the day I was born and she died sick and alone because of it," Rain didn't realize she had been crying, she didn't care. She punched Fiala in the face. She wanted to use every ounce of strength to fuel her thrashing, but her muscles held back. She wanted to keep going, but as she saw the crimson drops of blood on her knuckles she froze.

"It's ok," Fiala spoke undaunted with a cut and swollen eyebrow, she sat up as Rain no longer held her down and embraced her, "Your here now and that's all that matters."

She let Rain sob for a moment until she collected herself.

Rain hated her, as much as she appreciated her random kindness. When Rain seemed in control again Fiala stood up and offered her a hand to help stand. Rain still didn't except it but she didn't brush it away like last time, Fiala assumed it was a start.

For a moment they stood in an awkward silence, Fiala patted the dust off herself and felt her eyebrow. Rain looked at her hands, they were shaking. She then looked at her opponent and after a few moments decided she wanted to continue.

"Shall we go again," Rain asked as she picked up a wooden short sword from the rack of practice weapons.

Fiala picked up the pike and looked at her eagerly, "Of course, when you're ready."