New world, New Chapter

[Arin]

Business at Thomas' Tailor shop was heavier than usual, both Thomas and Arnon working overtime and Arnon even having to do more than his usual tasks to keep up with the orders that came in. All in all, it was a fairly productive day, and they were only behind by about a dozen orders that were a bit more detailed.

Satisfied with their work, Thomas wiped the sweat from his brow, pocketing his magnifying monocle and stretching his back "Well, that was a busier day than our normal runs. I'd say you earned a bonus for today, let me close up the shop and then I'll get your day's pay."

Before he could walk to the door to lock things up, however, the door was opened, and in popped a trio of women. Two of them seemed to be very young in appearance, mid 20s at best, but one woman had shining silver hair. The third woman, was not a woman at all, but a young girl, still in her adolescent years. It took a moment for Thomas to register who these three were, before letting out a soft laugh "Aria! Alicia! Ciel! it's been a while!"

The silver haired woman stepped forward, smiling and leaning in to Thomas to gently hug him and give him a peck on the cheek "Well, we have been busy, I've been training these two in honing their talents. Alicia and Ciel are rather quick learners, but master level is still beyond their reach...For now anyways~" She then noticed a newcomer standing in the back, waiting, and she gave Arnon a soft smile "I didn't know you took up an apprentice, Thomas. Please, introduce us to your new protege!"

[Lance]

Ciel ran up to Thomas, nearly knocking him from his feet as she tackled him, hugging him around the waist tightly. "Daddy!~ Hehe...It's so good to see you!~~~" Alicia just snickered and fiddled with her blades, unsheathing them and looking them over, despite having oiled, sharpened and honed them just an hour before. "Yo...good to see ya Tommy boy."

[Arin]

Thomas laughed and picked Ciel up when she tackle-hugged him, hugging the little girl tightly, but not enough to cause any harm to her "I'm happy to see you too, baby girl. You haven't been too much of a problem child for your mother, have you?~" He poked Ciel's nose playfully, smiling at the child before turning and giving Alicia a grin "Hello again Alicia, congrats on your training progress...And I'm assuming that's an outsider thing, I've heard that a few times from people who came from the human realm."

Keeping Ciel in his arms, he led the two women over and nodded to Arnon "Ladies, this is Arnon Rhew. He's a recent arrival from the human realm, and he's been working for me for the past two months." Aria smiled and offered a hand for Arnon "It's a pleasure to meet you, Arnon, I am Aria Delas."

[Arnon]

Arnon smiled back and approached the woman with respect, taking her hand and placing his other on top. "A pleasure to meet you as well, Madame Delas." He looked at Thomas and smiled warmly, seeing someone with family was always of a comfort for him. He never was close to his own family but he knew he'd make friends. Sooner or later. "To you as well Ciel, Alicia."

He looked back to Aria "Thomas has been very kind, i've learned a lot and he saved my life. I owe him a great deal. Tell me, what is it you are teaching these two young ladies?" His eyes glimmer with curiously.

[Lance]

Ciel waved cheerily to Arnon, "Hi! It's nice to meet you too!~" Alicia was more subdued, simply nodding at Arnon and giving him a small smile. "The pleasure is all mine, apologies if I'm not the most chatty, I'm a bit anti-social."

[Arin]

Aria smiled at how civil Alicia was, despite her social skills with strangers "Alicia is also an outsider from the human realm. I sent for her out of a request for a close friend of hers, who like you, wound up here against his will." When Arnon asked her what exactly she was teaching the two, she let out a cheerful giggle "Magic, my dear. I assume Thomas has told you the environment that you now reside?"

Thomas decided to try and do some explanation, so Arnon wasn't too confused "Aria is a powerful witch. One of the ones who fought for the survival of this society and helped separate it from the human realm, when we were once faced with extinction."

[Arnon]

Arnon's eyes grew wide in excitement. This was news to him, history no less. "One of the original? I've heard stories from the townspeople but I assume that was legend. Yet here you stand before me. I wonder if time flows different between this realm and my old one."

He shook his head and smiled. "I am sorry, I am always full of questions, and I never stop asking them." He laughed. "However, I have never yet seen anyone use magic. I am quite interested to learn more."

[Arin]

Aria giggled when Arnon started complimenting her about who she was, and started speculating about things in the lost nation "No need to apologize, I don't mind. I can prove your theory about time, if you like: We share a 24 hour day, just like your world, though there are a few extra days in the year. Days where the moon turns crimson and some where the moon turns blue. You'll want to be on guard when the moon is blue, that's when the werewolves are most...'heated' during the year."

When Arnon started showing interest in magic, she seemed to approve of this "I suppose we could give you some examples. Ciel? Alicia? Would either of you wish to show off a little, maybe practice your spells in a controlled environment?"

[Lance]

Ciel nodded eagerly, hopping off of Thomas' shoulder and closing her eyes, her tongue poking from the corner of her mouth in concentration as a silver colored figure started to appear behind her. The indisitinct being began to solidify...only for it to suddenly waver and collapse in a burst of silvery white starbursts and motes of light.

Ciel stomped her foot and huffed in frustration. "Shoot! I nearly had it this time!" Alicia smirked, "Hey kid, you're better than me..." Alicia held out her left hand, a small ball of dull blue energy, almost like liquid fire, sputtering in her hand. "I can barely make an arcane candle, let alone a blast of arcane fire."

[Arnon]

Arnon looked eagerly at the two and ran up to Alicia and looked at her palm. "Amazing... and you to Ciel! You looked as if...you were trying to will something into existence...and this manipulation of the elements...astounding!"

He almost wanted to jump in excitement. "H-how long are you all in town? Are you taking more apprentices? I would love to..." He stopped himself and immediately bowed. He was embarrassed by how excited he got, almost like a child.

'Damn it!' He thought to himself 'I need to keep my cool, I would love to learn magic but I need Thomas' work too! Maybe...I have enough to go with them for awhile..' He was internally distracted while still clearly bashful of his actions.

[Arin]

Aria smiled and walked over to Ciel, kneeling down and resting her hand on her daughter's shoulder before pulling her into a hug "You did amazingly well dear, and only after a few months of perfecting your channeling skills. We'll keep practicing, you'll get it eventually!~" She looked up at Alicia, a confident smile on her face as she had a sudden thought "You've come a long way in a short amount of time, Alicia, I'm proud of your progress...You're more of a hands-on person, from what I've seen. Perhaps there's a skill I could teach you that will benefit how you do your everyday tasks that will be easier for you to master?"

When Arnon suddenly started rambling, quite specifically about Aria's group and how long they were staying, Aria thought over some of what he said, and deduced what he might have been trying to say "you want to learn how to use magic, I assume?"

[Lance]

Ciel huffed a bit, hugging her mother back, she didn't feel really deserving of praise, given the fact that she wasn't able to actually CONJURE the summon, but it did make her feel a little bit better. "Thanks momma..." Ciel nuzzled into Aria's bust, hugging her a bit tighter.

Alicia was silent for a moment when Aria told her that she knew of an alternative kind of magic, one that would suit her more "Hands-on" combat style. "I'm game, thanks Aria."

[Arnon]

Arnon looked to Aria and sheepily nodded. "I would consider it an honor. Though i'm not sure where to start or what I am good at."

He smiled at the two apprentices making note of their quite different styles of magic.

[Arin]

Aria lifted Ciel into her arms, smiling when Arnon confirmed her suspicions. Happy to share her knowledge with others, she gave a soft nod "I can stay long enough to help you discover your natural element, and show you how to form your own spells. But I cannot take you with me to continue your training in depth. I do know of some friends just outside of town that might be able to help you learn more, and some who are even running the town."

Thomas cleared his throat when Aria suggested Arnon learn from other people after she showed him the basics "Would that really be a good idea? Tharja's with child, and might get emotional with the hormones going through her. And Mary does have a history of anger management issues." "Then I can ask Robin or Lambert, I'm sure they won't mind sharing some of their knowledge and helping a newcomer learn."

She looked to Alicia next, when she agreed to take her up on her offer for a new spell lesson "Once we get back home, I'll show you what you'll be trying next."

[Lance]

Alicia nodded, "Got it, thanks again Aria." Ciel smiled, her face beaming. "Oooh, Mrs. Mary is suuuper nice! She makes amazing cookies too!~~~"

Alicia laughed, "Heh, yeah, she's a damn good cook, and her Son is a bigger loon than me, so you be nice. Cause if she and her hubby don't kill ya, he will..." Ciel pouted at Alicia, "Don't scare him sis! She's not that bad!" Alicia chuckled, "Not as long as you're polite and nice, no...but he should know of her temper if he's gonna learn from the lady."