-- Aster --

It was strange looking down from the building. I had jumped down from higher places. Blight, I had fallen from greater heights. Back in An La Notre, I had climbed the tallest building in the city and jumped from it, for a delivery. Not to mention when I ran from the city itself. But, something about looking down over this misty city made me feel small and afraid. I didn't understand it. Why was I feeling this way? I looked over to the group of boarders wondering if it was because they were watching me. Maybe. But the support in their eyes was so strange. They had just met me. Why would they care how I do?

I didn't want to disappoint them, and I didn't understand why. My grip tightened on the board, as I stood over the precipice. I closed my eyes and took a breath, as a hand landed on my shoulder.

I jumped a little as I turned to see Mullein's sympathetic smile, "We can do a few practices jumps on the roof if it will make you feel better."

I looked at the man feeling embarrassed and almost said no. But, when I saw that the others. Each one immediately piped up offering advice or help, some were even offering to show a few tricks. Seeing that I decided to listen taking a step off the edge.

Thus they began to teach me how to ride. How to do tricks for turning, how to flip, and when I asked about constructs they even showed me how to do it. It was a tag like I thought but it was one with a pit of power funneled into it, fueled by a spell. They weren't sure if I could do it as without an open channel I might not be able to pull enough power. I decided not to try in front of them. Thinking I might be able to pull it off with my level. There were no secrets, no sophistication. They were all excited to teach me their sport.

We must have spent an hour or two, of them just teaching me. The group was so supportive that when I finally stood atop the ledge again, my only fear was, of anticipation.

Mullein stood with me at the edge giving me some final advice, "This is your first run. Just let yourself glide, and try a few turns when you're ready."

I smiled turning towards everyone, "Thanks. You all didn't have to do this."

"No, we always welcome new riders. It's so rare and not many want to learn. And besides, you seem cool." Mullein added.

I couldn't help but blush and turn away at the compliment.

I heard playful snickering from the group.

I focused out onto the city and grabbed my beat-up piece of wood. I took a deep breath and pushed power over the board. Letting it flood completely over it. Then, I jumped.

I felt the tingle that comes with every jump over a precipice. That moment it takes for your brain to catch up to what you've done. Flooding your entire body with adrenaline. Then my feet landed on the wooden board. The difference was so sudden I wobbled and nearly fell right then and there. But somehow I stayed up, the thick air, and forward movement kept me from fully falling. My feet were firmly stuck to the board as I moved, it was like standing on something sticky. If I pulled hard enough my feet would come off.

Eventually, I was able to reach an equilibrium, as I started to just feel the air around me. It was cool and clear, not wet like my eyes told me it should be. The power just drifted through me, as I traveled through the sky. I felt free as I opened my eyes wide to see the world I traveled, eyes circulating power.

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I found myself alone in a silver eternity of mist. The flowing streams of power all through the city glistened in the midday sun. I stared out into the eternity, as the wind whipped through my hair, I just let myself glide on the board for forever. I forgot I could turn, or to even try a cool trick or two. I was just absorbed with the ride.

Then like all things They must come to an end. My ending started with a scream as I didn't realize how fast I was moving until a tall building suddenly appeared passing right by me. I had finally reached the height of all the other buildings and I wasn't confident in even trying to maneuver.

I let out a shout as a building grew closer, and I did the only thing I could think of. I bailed jumping off the board. I quickly covered my body in mana to slow my fall. I slowed the circulation so I could see everything. The first thing that caught my eye was I was still a good distance from the ground but below I saw a group of, armed guards holding someone down, with someone in a white caught surrounded. They look familiar, I was feeling hot and it wasn't till she looked up did I realize who it was. Violet? Then that's James.

Shit! They were captured again. How many times am I going to have to save them? Thinking fast I stopped the flow of surrounding mana and drew my sword. The glint of steel reflecting off the sun must have given me away as they all as one looked up, and I screamed, "GET AWAY FROM THEM!"

I had failed to realize that falling from the sky and shouting my intentions was not a good idea. The men I was falling towards stepped out of the way, opening my landing spot to just be stone ground. I only had a few seconds to create a small bubble below me to cushion my fall. I hit the ground the bubble popped, creating a loud bang, and throwing dust in the air. Despite my cushion I still hit the ground hard, I felt a sharp pain in my ankle and set my mana to heal it as I kicked off the ground with my good foot launching towards the man holding James down.

I flared mana through my arms through my swing, as the man lifted his sword to block. Even I was surprised by the force I unleashed knocking me back through the air. I hit the ground and rolled to my feet. The man was forced a few steps back and looked at me in surprise. I saw James begin to stand, oh good he's free. Wait he's not free yet. I shook my head, confused as I looked around locking onto Violet, and the men holding her.

I needed to push, create a distraction. I ran towards the men swinging wildly. It wasn't till I was closer than I realized they weren't holding her at all. She was just standing there. When I was in range I swung my sword, the man easily blocked it, but his eyes widen as he was pushed back, at the same time I was. They're putting up more resistance, why are they doing this to us. I was starting to get angry as I began to push and wildly swing my sword at the men until they cleared away from Violet. Or I tried to only to be stopped by the man with multiple blades.

"WHY!!" I screamed as I felt the heat boil over and reason leave. I swung with all of my might at the man, pushing the man back. But with every strike, I was flung back and sometimes to the ground. After one strike I hit the ground and stopped wondering what I was doing, and why I was angry. It was when I saw James looking on that I remembered and felt anger take back over me as I flung myself at the man. This time he parried my swing, and I lost control. My own sword strike sliced deep into my leg.

I stopped and just stared down at the weapon deep in my thigh. Curiously I pulled it out and stared at the crimson liquid in fascination.

In the distance, I heard a concerned, "Sir?"

"Just grab him. Where did this idiot come from, the sky?" A commanding voice said.

I wonder who there talking about. I turned to look and saw the man I was fighting. I attacked, only for my leg to give out. I needed to defend myself. I lifted my weapon and swung at nothing.

"Aster stop!" I heard a woman yell. I froze. That voice sounded familiar, I looked over to see Violet Looking on concerned.

"But I'm saving you," I said.

"What is wrong with you?" She yelled, "We are fine. We are just going with the city leader here."

"Oh..." It took a minute for me to process what she had said, "Thought you were captured again."

"And you thought you could save us?" She asked incredulously.

"Yes."

Violets jaw dropped, stunned.