The fiery dawn that burns across the sky, lighting the snow-capped peaks of the Arystanne mountains, does not assuage the trepidation I feel as I trek with Azurdinn to the Monastery of the Morning Mages, where I have been sent to begin my training to become a warrior-mage of the Nightsworn.

"How much farther do we have to trek, Azurdinn?" I ask, rubbing warmth into my numb fingers.

"We have at least another two kilometers to go, Oredal," says Azurdinn "you should feel honoured to train with the Morning Monks, not many people have that chance."

"I know it is just that....." I say trailing off into thought.

"Just what?" prompts Azurdinn, urging me to finish.

"It is just that it seems futile, Father will still die even if I train harder than you, Azurdinn"

"Ah, you are scared that you will fail and Draven will win, aren't you?" he asks before continuing "Oredal, remember that while we may not be able to change the whole picture, we can still change the details."

"So you are saying that even though it seems futile because father dies by that accursed spear, I may be able to save the greater part of Vanisgard?"

"Exactly, " he exclaims, "you are wise beyond your years."

We walk in silence for about twenty minutes, until Azurdinn raises his hand and calls "Halt."

I stop and peer curiously at the squalid mud brick hut in front of us.

"This is the Monastery?" I ask, incredulous that this inconspicuous hut is where the Morning Monks live.

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"If you look closely at the door of the hut, there is an inscription. What does it say?" Asks my mentor, Azurdinn.

"Speak 'true' and the way shall appear." I recite in the common tongue.

"Hmm, what does it means by 'True'?" I contemplate while trying to glean the meaning of the inscription.

"In answer to your earlier question. No, that is the monastery"

I would reply, but I am too busy staring as the illusion of an ugly, brown hut drifts away, revealing a beautiful monastery carved from shining white marble.

"Can you hear that glorious music?" I ask Azurdinn who has a smug expression on his face.

"Yes, I can and that 'music' is the Dawnlight Hymn." He replies as my jaw hits the ground, surprised he knows the name of the angelic music drifting from the five shining bell towers.

"Oh, " I mutter "well, we better get going into the Monastery."

"Just one thing Oredal, before we go in I have heard your teacher is one of the stricter ones..."

"Who?" I ask fearfully, scared my teacher is a tyrant.

"Me!" he yells, laughing at my expression.

"Ha, Ha," I say, trying to remove the colour that has spread to my cheeks.

We continue to walk through the shining marble, marveling at the immense beauty of the monastery when I see her.

She is a vision of perfect beauty, with lightly tanned skin and chocolate brown eyes, midnight-black hair that cascaded over her shoulders, she has a lithe body muscled yet supple enough not to be muscled. The unknown girl turns and when she finds me staring, she looks at me and says' "Hi, my name is Talia Wyarratine, what is your name?"

I stride forward to answer, I stop and spread my wings "I am Oredal Khellaphine, the winged warrior, and you are beautiful." I stop and ask "Talia, did I say that out loud?"

She smiles and blushes before answering "Yes, you did."

"Oh, damn it," I exclaim, "usually I wait a while before complimenting someone like that, but I could not help myself, It is the truth."

"Okay, charmer, I have to get to class, bye." she walks off with a smile on her face.

"Heh, heh, heh," Azurdinn laughs in the hallway with a bemused expression on his face. "already flirting are we?"

"Hold your tongue," I say embarassed by his presence "my private life is none of your concern!"

He chuckles quietly before turning serious and saying "Here is your dorm room and you have one hour before class begins" he walks off turning a corner before disappearing.

As I walk to my first magic class with a smile plastered on my face, I wonder what Talia is studying, I think "school is going to be easy"

I do not yet know how wrong I am.