Sarra walked briskly through the streets, taking a long way home in order to blow off some steam. She wasn't nearly as angry as she was before but Rizahn's words still lingered in her thoughts. She kept going over their unpleasant conversation in her head, coming up with better arguments and wittier things to say. Too bad she hadn't thought of these things when she was right there in front of him. She no longer wanted this long walk home, she would just practice at home to get her mind off of Rizahn. She quickly turned the corner, turning down a long alleyway that would put her on a direct path home. The moment she turned into the ally, a small raggedy haired head slammed into her gut. She tensed her muscles, her left hand instinctively hovering over her soul glove. After a second of fright, she'd recognized this messy hair. It was Ched! A small malnourished urchin boy who was too nice for the street life he lived in. 

[color=00aeef]"Oi! Sarra! watch where you're swinging that stomach of yours!"[/color] he said while straightening his back and rubbing his head. He let out a friendly chuckle before meeting her eyes in the low light of the ally. [color=00aeef]"what's the hurry? someone following ya? I can set up a trap or something, make them take a nasty fall."[/color] he leaned and peeked behind her. He was joking. Neither of the two laughed but Sarra knew he wasn't serious, Ched had a strange sense of humour. 

[color=82ca9d]"Nah. Mayor just got on my nerves... It was nice seeing you Ched."[/color] Sarra said. She walked past him, strutting down the alleyway. The boy had caught up with her and walked alongside her for a while. They'd met some time ago, she was unsure how long ago exactly, but ever since their first interaction, whenever he sees her he follows her until she arrives at her destination. Usually spouting nonsense, but not in an annoying way, more of a 'younger brother trying to be funny' way.

[color=00aeef]"I see you're still wearing that ugly bandage, even though you ain't hurt. I don't know why you hide the tatt, we all know you're a champion. Creati."[/color] Ched kicked a rock as they came to the end of the alleyway, letting it loose on the street. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked by her side with his head relaxing back. Sarra realized that the time Ched spent by her side was guaranteed safety for him, not because Sarra would or wouldn't defend him but because of the fact that she [b]can[/b] defend him, quite proficiently. No street ruffian wanted the trouble of dealing with a champion.

[color=82ca9d]"Ched..."[/color] She started, [color=82ca9d]"I'm not just a champion, I'm a sacrifice."[/color] 

[color=00aeef]"So what? So you gotta give up your power or something or other and become like the rest of us. But until then, why not just embrace your mighty power!"[/color] Ched said, striking a pose that flexed his arm. then dropped his arms and caught up to her again.

[color=82ca9d]"That's not what a sacrifice is. I don't know where you heard that, but it's wrong."[/color] Sarra jogged across the street trying to avoid the horses that traverse it, Ched coming into view beside her a second later. [color=82ca9d]"You probably know of the nine houses, each house being a descendant of a champion who was chosen by one of the old gods? Yeah, well, there was actually ten old gods. the tenth being Prideti."[/color] Sarra paused for a second to step over some boxes that have fallen in her path. they were walking through the market at this point, she could swear that Ched had started walking closer to her side. She let out an exhausted sigh, remembering the teachings of Coyle, [color=82ca9d]"Prideti was supposed to give up his power to a champion like the rest of the old gods, but he didn't. Now, since he's the only god left, he demonstrates his power by demanding a sacrifice from each house at the end of every century... I just so happen to be born closest to the end of the century. That's what a sacrifice is Ched. I have to give myself up to a god."[/color] Sarra looked over at Ched while they walked. It looked like he was pondering something like he was trying to really understand the information he just got. 

[color=00aeef]"I got an idea! Why don't you just have a baby? That way, the baby will be a champion, Parrsian and born closest to the end of the century! By the old gods, I'm brilliant!"[/color] Ched said, louder than he should have.

[color=82ca9d]"Well, Ched."[/color] Sarra said, [color=82ca9d]"You have to pass some trials before you can go to Cobix, the land of Prideti, and you can't do them as a baby. That's why all the houses stop having kids for about 20 some odd years before the end of the century. That way, they have full-grown adults doing this. Besides, I wouldn't want my newborn baby to be sacrificed anyway. I-"[/color]

Ched interrupted her, [color=00aeef]"Newborn? Obviously let it grow up."[/color] He let out a laugh as if he'd just told the funniest joke the world ever heard. He wiped a tear from his eye and kept walking. He didn't know. Ched didn't know that Sarra was leaving for trials the next day, for all she knew this could be their last conversation together and he didn't even know it. 

[color=82ca9d]"Ched...I leave for Cobix tomorrow."[/color] Sarra said, just barely louder than a whisper. She didn't dare look at the expression on the little skinny boy's face in fear of her heart breaking. Ched started to slack behind, but Sarra could still feel him beside her. [color=82ca9d]"I'm sorry Ched, but this'll be the last time we see each other. Unless I live somehow but chances are slim to none."[/color] Sarra could hear little footsteps padding away from her in a jog. She looked to her side to see Ched jogging down an alleyway to her left, his arm wiping tears from his eyes as he went. This is what she was afraid of, all she wanted to do was chase after him and give him a big hug. She needed to be stronger than that. If she didn't have to say goodbye, she could save herself from some emotional pain tomorrow. Had she always been this way? Scared to leave the comfort of the city because it might hurt someone she likes? Sarra started to realize just how emotionally invested she was to people in her life... And she hated it.