-- James --

I left the training with a lot to think about, and feeling a lot more limber. I was both excited to keep going and finding what I'm going to be able to do after all this strange movement, and apprehensive at the exercises Hawthorn we're having me do, though I did feel that they were working.

All of the exercises were designed to teach me to move at what seemed like impossible angles, and be able to contort in crazy poses. All to be able to be completely unpredictable but in complete control. Though some of the exercises were so strange, I felt like Hawthorn was just making things up half the time. Especially, when he pulled out a tarp and soap, saying that it would help with balance.

It might in fact do that, but I felt like a fool the entire time, barely able to keep my balance while Hawthorn would skat all around me striking from all angles. I looked down at the sliced-up pieces of cloth around my ankles a reminder of the day.

I was half a step away from passing out when Hawthorn ended the training, and I made my way up to my room on the top floor. Only to be greeted by Violet shouting, as soon as I stepped out of the elevator.

"Stupid bitch! Who the fuck does she think she is?" Wow, she's really pissed off what did her trainer do? "Proper lady this proper lady that." She continued grumbling.

"Is that what they're teaching you?" I said jokingly as I walked into the common room, "You could be a little more ladylike."

She whirled on me so fast, I thought she might lunge at me, "So help me, I will beat you to an inch of your life, then heal you, and do it again James."

The way she said it made me take a step back but I couldn't resist adding, "That right there, is what I'm talking about."

I suddenly felt something yank my leg forward, pulling me down to a knee. "Ass." She said as she sat angrily in one of the chairs next to Bay.

"He just doesn't get it," Bay said consoling Violet.

"Yeah and he should know better," Violet said glaring towards me.

I blinked, "Bay when did you get here?" Wasn't she stuck in some wizard tower or something?

She shrugged, "Couple hours ago."

Violet just went back to stomping around cursing her trainer. As I asked Bay, "How was the tower?"

Bay scrunched up her face before answering, "Weird."

Odd reaction, "How so?"

"It was the filter so it was like nothing." She tried to explain.

"The filter really?" I asked shocked. How could the thing that kept all the secrets be in this one city we happened to be in?

"Yeah, that's what those towers are." My jaw dropped, and I had no idea what to make of it. When I heard Aster yelling just as loud as Violet.

"Fuck that guy and his fucking cheating ways!"

"Looks like Aster had just as much issue as Vi" Bay commented as Aster stomped his way toward the common room.

"Who knows?" I commented wondering what his trainer had done to cause a reaction like that from Aster. I've never seen him angry like this he's almost always calm and collected.

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"Using some kind of fucking skill to make me fall! What kind of messed up storyline is that fucker doing?" Aster continued as he stomped into the room.

"So how's it go?" I asked cheekily.

"Asshole is using some kind of skill to make my muscles spasm every time I move. Then he goes on about how the sword is a grand weapon and berates my skills. I'm going to stab him." Aster exclaimed to no one, as he fell into a chair.

"Well, the sword is a grand weapon." I like the sword what's wrong with it?

"Don't care." Aster just waved away my comment, "Fucker didn't even listen to me when I told him I wasn't any good with the thing. He just went on and on about how I would be good by the end of his instruction." Aster scoffed, "I can't figure out his angle."

I was a little hurt he just waved off swords. They were cool and very useful.

"Angle?" Bay asked curiously.

"Oh." Aster turned to look surprised, "Hi Bay, surprised you made it here."

"Yeah got out of the tower. Figured out the trick." She seems tired of answering the same question.

"Nice, what was it like?" Aster asked excitedly. All his annoyance is gone. I might get whiplash from his sudden mood shift.

Bay shrugged, "Boring and lot of shin bashing. But angle?" She asked directing the conversation back.

"Oh yeah. You know how these guys are playing up some kind of story to be on the show, as some sort of mentor, or something." Aster began.

Bay blinked, "Is that what's going on?"

"Pretty much. Gather us questers in one place so we don't make trouble. Anyway, I'm pretty sure James trainer wants to get his style out there." Aster paused turning towards Violet, "Not sure what Violets is."

"Proper lady angle," Violet said helpfully.

"Really? That's so cliche." Aster said surprised.

"I KNOW RIGHT! Why couldn't I get a barbarian or something would have been fun." Violet said surprising me. Was she actually annoyed by the storyline they chose, and not that they were trying to make her more ladylike?

"You'd fit right in." Aster snickered.

"What does that mean?" Violet glared.

Aster didn't flinch, "Your angry and prone to smashing things."

"And don't you forget it." She declared proudly.

"And Rowan..." Aster continued only to trail off looking for Rowan. "Any of you see his?"

"Nope."

"Not at all."

We all answered in the negative. None of us had seen him since. Last I had seen he was just kind of standing there.

Aster shook his head, "Ok, then he has his own thing. Mine dresses like a ninja. Calls them workout clothes, and spouts the virtue of the sword."

"Seriously?" I asked surprised. Who dresses like a ninja then claims they're workout clothes.

Aster laughed, "Yeah. I thought it was going to be ninja stuff, with his outfit, and me being a rogue it made sense. Then he just..." he leaned forward hand running through his hair, "It's like he's trying to play the senile old man."

"Maybe it's a long game, where something you don't expect he's teaching you." I tried to reassure him.

Aster let out a long breath, "I don't know just seems like an ass."

As Aster sank deeper into the chair, I finally got a good look at him. His eyes were sunken and he looked pale.

"Aster you look like shit."

"Well, thanks," Aster said sarcastically.

"No, seriously." He shouldn't look like this, with the extra power in the air healing should have taken care of this already.

"Well. I was just beaten and berated for like eight hours. Not sure what else I'd look like."

"Yes. You and everyone else needs a shower, but you look like you've..." Bay was struggling to find the right words.

"What?" Aster asked annoyed.

Even Violet turned to look at Aster, "Now that you mention it."

"What?" He was starting to grow concerned.

"You look sick Aster," I said plainly.

That just seemed to confuse him.

"You're pale and you've got bags under your eyes," I explained

"...uhhh but..." Aster stood and left for the bathroom. I think he was looking for a mirror.

"I just thought he was tired," Violet commented.

"Same, but when you said something..." I trailed off letting the implication linger.

"What the blight? The fuck did he do to me?" We heard Aster shout from the bathroom. Could the man really be doing something to him? What could possibly cause someone to look tired like that?

"I don't know, but you looked frustrated when I walked in though," Bay commented.

Then something hit me, was this a disease of some sort. Something that could affect us in the building? "Do I look sick?" I asked slightly panicked. Wondering if it might be something in the building.

Violet looked me over for a way too long, before answering, "No...just look a little tired."

"So it's just me?" Aster threw his hands up, "Great!" His voice lowered angrily, "I won't let them try to teach me wrong again."

"Yeah stand up for yourself!" I cheered him on, but I wasn't really feeling it. What aster described felt like an excuse. Why would the Man do something like that? What I've seen Aster might just be that bad.