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[color=skyblue][h1]Ariella Taraman[/h1][h3]The Ballroom; Castle[/h3][/color][/center]
Arielle watched as people began to dance and look like they were having fun. She shook her head, blonde curls falling out around her face and softly brushing her cheeks. She couldn't believe how people were having fun at this time. Not all the Guards were in. There were still some out in the Outlands, fighting to protect those that were inside the walls. She still forced a smile when one of her friends from her grid smiled and waved at her, dancing with one of their crushes. As soon as she turned away, though, she sucked in her cheeks and took a deep breath. 

She heard soft footsteps approaching her and she turned to see Nau, a grave look on his wizened face. Sky Carlson, the Weapons Instructor, and Cru Nuella, the Defense Instructor, were both with them, decked out from head to toe in Guard gear. She turned immediately and stood at attention. It was rare to see all three of them together in one place, though it had been said that they used to all be in a Guard group together before Nau partially lost his eyesight. Now Cru and Sky were partners and were considered Elite Guards when they didn't have a Recruit class to train. 

"You can relax, Ariella," Sky said with an exasperated tone. "You aren't in trouble. In fact, it seems to be quite the opposite." His voice was very forced and she noticed him exchanging glances with Cru almost every few minutes. Both of their handsome faces were drawn and quite pained, whereas Nau's was forced blank of any emotion that he could muster. 

"Ariella, the Anomalous problem is arising very quickly," Nau said. "We need to get you guys some real world experience as soon as possible, and we are losing too many Guards to take out many at a time. You and Noah will leave with Cru and Sky tonight, on the midnight shift. You will run a normal tour, like a normal Guard, going six hours, and you will come back. This will happen multiple times over the next few days, even weeks, until Cru and Sky believe you and Noah are ready. It will be you four that will take out partners and train them in the real world, outside of those walls. This is the safest way we can assure that no one will die immediately." 

Ariella was silent. She was a little surprised, but she had been noticing the decreased number of those who returned from tours. Many of them came from Recruit classes that were only a few years ahead of hers. They were trying a different way to see if they could be safer. She looked at them and nodded. "Good," Cru said, an answer to no question she asked or thought. He had a package in his hands. He handed it to her carefully, his hands shaking very slightly. "Take these and go change now, then go and find Noah and tell him the same. His are already on his bed." Cru paused snapping his fingers. "Oh yeah. Your rooms have changed as well. You two are now on the sixteenth floor, right next to each other. Your rooms are right next to the elevator." 

Ariella nodded, taking the package from his hands. She then proceeded to walk out of the ballroom, looking around for Noah. She saw him walking outside and, kicking off her stupid high heels, she took off after him, running barefoot. She pushed open the door and said, "Noah!" Her voice echoed in the silent night air. "We're going on a tour. They need us to head upstairs and change. They've changed our rooms from our Recruit rooms as well." She waited for a response.