"It's pretty isn't it." I was startled, thinking Arin had actually followed me, but instead a new face appeared sitting to my left. I had to reposition myself in order to see him with my one good eye, so I moved to where my legs were facing him, while he dangled his legs off the edge of the cliff.

The thing that drew me to him first was his golden yellow eyes which were quite a contrast from Arin's grey eyes. He was human, and wore a similar outfit to me. Green chainmail over a black long sleeve shirt, with brown linen pants instead of my dark red ones. His hair was a jet black curly mess, almost as if he never brushed his hair.

"You're the new blighted right?" He asked. "The one who arrived yesterday." He stared off into the ocean below us.

"Yes." I said, studying the guy with my good eye. "Who the hell are you?" I asked, still angry about my situation.

"Me? I'm Zach. I'm from Massachusetts." He said, and I became more interested in him.

"You're from Earth?" I asked. "I'm from Maryland!" I got a little excited.

"Guess we're neighbors here and there." He joked. "I'm in the room next to yours at the Temple." His demeanor was kind but he acted like nothing was serious.

"Drop the emo hair kid, it's not suited for combat." He said laughing to himself, as if the joke had only been funny to him. "To be honest, I'm surprised a Blighted came in so young. Usually they're about 16. You look no older than 13." a fire boiled within me, I lashed out.

"Hey!" I shouted, getting to my feet. "First of all, I'm not a child! I've graduated highschool and planned on competing professionally in martial arts and fencing!" I started to gloat to this guy, just because he picked on me. "Secondly." I said with more of a grim tone. "There's no reason for me to cut my hair. I can't see out of my left eye." My tone drooped down into a sad one.

I hated my dead eye, and I wish I didn't have to deal with it. I'm handicapped, and barely have any depth perception, but somehow keep my will and striving to be the best I could be.

"You don't get it." I snapped at him. "You don't even know me." I was furious at him, taking out all my pain and anger at this guy I had just met. I held back tears. "I-..." I trailed off, lost in thought about being lost in this place. An idea sparked in my head. "I need a weapon." I looked down at the guy who had been nonchalantly staring at me as I had my outburst.

"Oh?" He said. "You're a feisty child aren't you." he laughed.

"I'm not a-" I trailed off knowing that he wouldn't listen to me anyways. "Whatever.." I spat. "Zach was it? Where can I get myself another Sabre or Rapier like I had in the cemetery." I asked sternly. I was going to find my way home even if it killed me.

"A weapon like that?" He asked. "That's an odd choice for a Tempest."

Again with the word tempest. I didn't know what it meant, but I was too focused on this idea to even bother to ask.

"I don't care." I said sternly. "I need to get another one. Maybe-"

"Tell you what, if you want a weapon to go and search for the Lords of Terror in order to return home. I'll recommend against it, but hey it's your funeral." He said extremely sarcastic, almost mocking me.

"What do you mean?! I'm a strong fighter!" I said, overestimating my skills. Zach stood up, looking down on me from only about half a foot.

"You might be strong, but the Lords of Terror have killed armies of soldiers that you wouldn't be able to even face one of." Zach's tone turned serious for the first time. "The Lords of Terror's followers are even a match for some graduates." he laughed.

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"Huh?" I said appalled. "How do you-" He lifted up his shirt, revealing a large scar running lateral across his stomach. "I was in your situation when I arrived last month, I rushed out into the open world outside of the Temple with little to no training. I was barely able to make it out." He put his shirt down. "I know how you feel, and I saw you rush out of the Tavern after making a fool of yourself." He said seriously, I was quite embarrassed from the scene I made in the Tavern so it's understandable.

"Look here. Ms.?" He asked my name.

"Anna." I answered him.

"Look, Anna," he began. "I might not share the motive you have to get home, but understand that this world is dangerous. You're not going to be able to fight the Lords of Terror. Learn to defend yourself before you go off and die like so many others have." His words touched me. I understood him.

"I-.. You're right." I admitted defeat and calmed down slightly. Zach smiled at me.

"Look here sweetie, we'll get home eventually. However, now isn't the time to run off and die. Don't give up the second chance you were given." I scowled at him for calling me sweetie. I couldn't tell if he was flirting with me or treating me like a child.

"I won't stop you." he began again. "But if you go off alone, and search for a way home. You'll die. It's impulsive, and borderline stupid." he paused for a breif moment. "Yet I understand why you feel the need to go." He reached his hand out and gestured for me to follow him back to the Tavern as he started walking that way. "Come on, let's go back inside."

Reluctant at first, his words had persuaded me. He was more down to earth, and more like myself than Arin was. I got up from the cliff-face, and followed him back to the Tavern.

"So Anna." He began. "We're friends now right?" he asked jokingly. I didn't know what to say. I had just met him, but he did seem okay.

"Uhm. Sure." I said, putting little thought to it and just agreeing in case he was sensitive. He turned back to me smiling.

"Well.. I should let you know I kiss all my female friends." He smirked at me, and I became red faced, almost infuriated at his notion.

"Fuck off." I said and punched his arm. I walked directly past him, pushing him out of the way and I crossed my arms. He laughed hard.

"That was the best response I've ever gotten!" His laugh made me smile a bit. "You are one fiesty woman," he said, catching his breath.

We arrived back into the Tavern, and Arin hadn't moved from his seat. I entered with Zach following behind me. Zach gulped from behind me when he noticed I was walking towards Arin. He put his hand on my shoulder.

"Please tell me that isn't your Guardian." He said pointing towards Arin as I turned around to face him with my one good eye.

"That's him." I said nonchalantly.

"He's scary as hell." Zach said kind of laughing to himself. "I'll let you deal with this o-"

"Zachary." Arin said to him and I as we approached the table. I heard Zach mutter 'oh shit' under his breath.

"Lord Arin my man!" Zach put his arm around the battered knight. "How've you been?" He sounded quite fake in his speech. Lord? I thought to myself.

"I see you've brought the Blighted One back to me." Arins tone of voice was so weird to listen to. "Thank you." he sounded so un-human when he spoke.

"Yeah man no problem!" Zach kept a happy go lucky attitude. "Don't worry about it!"

"Zach." I said. "Can Arin and I have some privacy to discuss a few more things?" I sort of met his fake attitude and the wave of relief that went over him was great.

"Sure thing hon!" He smirked at me again and I was tempted to kick him in the shins but decided against it. "I'll see the two of you later. I need to go get me something to drink!" he waddled off to the bar and I sat back down in my seat.

"What inquiry did you have, young Blighted One?" Arin questioned my previous statement.

"Zach is uncomfortable around you." I bluntly told him, which almost got a reaction out of Arin. "So I gave an excuse in order for him to have a chance to leave and do what he wishes."

"Why wouldn't he just say that?" Arin questioned my logic.

"He thinks you're scary, and would hate to be rude to you." I bluntly stated again. "Maybe you should work on your attitude a bit." I laughed softly to myself. I was barely threatening a tall muscular man in a full suit of armor. It was kind of hilarious, but I trusted him.

"How should I adjust my attitude?" He asked, as if it was an order I had given him.

"It's not an order Arin, it was only a suggestion." I smiled.

Moments later, the food arrived. I had a large meal, and devoured it quickly. I felt full for the first time since arriving in Crosta. I was starting to understand my place here. I was a blighted one, my task was to defeat the three Lords of Terror in order to return back home. I was getting a second chance. I felt like maybe, just maybe I could make it home.

Arin was an odd old man, but he was kind. He did everything I asked him to do, and never disobeyed me. Which I found quite odd, but I understood the system in place here now. He had informed me that I was to start my training tomorrow, and he was going to introduce me to the other blighted ones and guardians. I was excited, and hoped that this place was not too unfriendly. This is a strange new world of Blighted and Guardians.

It was so surreal... and yet it felt so unbelievably real.