Reunion

"Karin?" Arissa thought for a moment. "I want to say that she went back to Earth. I think she said something about being promoted."

Daniel nodded. "She's the head of the Relic Chasers now. She doesn't leave Earth."

Arissa gave Tiko a pained look. "I'm sorry, dear. She's quite a ways away now."

Daniel looked at Arissa. "So, what's this about summoning Masquerade?" he inquired.

Arissa grinned. "That's right. I actually did send out an invitation. We're going to be holding a reunion here in the Blade. I must have sent out over fifty invites, but there's no telling who will receive them, let alone who will actually come back." She looked over at Varlet and Orryn. "Did you two get yours?" she asked.

Tiko's face dropped, he did have a reason to see her. He reached around his neck and handed a silver stopwatch to Arissa. "You are very well adept with magic. I was wanting to know why this item is beginning to lose its power. It was a gift from Karin a few years back. A way to help me use the full potential of my abilities. She told me that it works as long as it's not abused. I use it sparingly and only to help in small ways. I mean, wouldn't Karin know if there was a problem? I'm so confused. I wish Teryngale was here. He would know what to think."


Varlet on the other hand tuned the entire conversation out. She grew bored at the word: "Magic". She was very content with talking to Daniel about said reunion. "Yeah we got ours. I would ask how you knew where to find us but of course i already know. I am not sure who else is coming I rarely talk to anyone from the old days. Occasionally I make a trip to Dephnir, but I mostly spend my time in the "underground". Psychological studies on werewolves. i'm close to a treatment. But i still have a long way to go."

As if just realizing Tiko turned to Daniel and nodded, "Yes I got mine. No sooner had I come back from a very fun vacation an invitation just appeared."

There was that name again: "Masquerade." It sounded so...

Cool. Confident. Powerful.

Not like Mum at all.

Well, not the usual Mum, anyhow. She did have her moments. Like that one time Damien had used "summon water" over the sitting room carpet.

Damien perked up at Tiko's conversation.

"Magic?" he said aloud, not noticing that his head had been peeked around the corner of the stairwell. He shrunk back and covered his mouth, as if he had been trying to be sneaky, which he wasn't sure if he should be or not. This was "grown-up" conversation, wasn't it? The kind his parents didn't like him butting in on.

He held his breath, a tad excited at the mention of such mystical powers, but not sure if he should've been listening in the first place.

What did Psiander call it?

"Eavesdropping."

Oh, dear.

People made their ways in and out of the Blade at a steady pace, as they would any other day, so it could be expected that an unassuming man in a long navy-blue trench coat and hat would not draw much attention. Just another businessman, coming in from a hard day of work. Perhaps it was even a vacationer, come to enjoy the finest B&B in Zarack. The man, however, wasted no time in walking up to Arissa.

Ten years of aging, hair pulled back in a ponytail and trailing out from the back of a fedora, sunglasses perched on his nose - none of this mattered. Arissa could recognize the accent immediately, and she only knew one man with a Chondathan accent.

"I'd like a glass of that rum they make on those islands off of Delnar Port, if they still make it. I'm here to bury my son, just as soon as I find him, but I figured I'd give him a head start to make it sporting."

At the mention of werewolves and treatment, Orryn felt uncomfortable. It was not something that he liked to discuss, especially with many people around. It could very well be the one thing that he felt embarrassed or self conscious about. Though Varlet was sweet enough not to mention him directly, he was fairly certain that most people who had any sense knew who she was talking about...at least those that were familiar with the curiously looking samurai.

All the same, he nodded, "I have mine...but for the life of me I cannot find it." He sighed and shook his ragged head. He was indeed very disorganized...often loosing track of things. His swords and scars were the only things that he managed to keep with him at all times.

"Oh stuff it Mala.... Or.. Cyrus. Give the boy a break, he barely got here." Cyrus turned around and saw the short, petit yet bustious ninja standing before her. Before he could say anything she set a pile of velia on the table top, all made legitimately of course. "Perhaps you should consider laying off the sauce for a while. It is 'liable to kill you one day. But I'm sure you've heard that enough in one lifetime. So instead I'll do my part to aid in your death, all the while giving you enjoyable conversation.

Varlet laughed, "Of course that's my style, smile and shake your hand with one hand and stab you in the back with another."

The woman giggled at the thought of old times, uncaring of the rough past the two had. "So what would it take to convince you to stay on mona for the festivities." said varlet as she payed for the drinks and already ordered another for Cyrus when he finishes the first.

Orryn looked at Arissa, nearly eye level despite the fact that he was sitting down, "Erm... Perhaps you could remind me as to why we are all gathering here today? I just cannot seem to remember right now..."