[hider=Flashback]

[color=fff200][b][h3]A mark of destiny.[/h3][/b][/color]

[color=fff200][b][i]Part 1 of 3.[/i][/b][/color]


[color=fff200][i]"...it was said the lynx held a grudge against mankind, keeping dangerous knowledge from human hands..."

"...the tincture, the philosopher's stone, the cure of all ills. The lynx swore to ward it from hands impure, even it's own…"

"...it beheld the precious gem from afar, it was planted in a garden amongst other things, hoping that it would conceal it's true nature and allow it to remain pure…"[/i][/color]




[color=fff200][i]Approximately twenty years ago…[/i][/color]





[b]"Paladice!"[/b] The stern loud voice echoed through the library, the wooden bookcases would have shook, were they not nailed to the stone walls.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Ah... and here comes our glorious leader, here to bark and howl. How exciting..."[/b][/color] Gadez spoke out to the other two monks sitting and reading, the blond young monk rose gradually from his wooden bench and took on a smug smile to greet the monastery headmaster, whose metallic steps could be heard from quite a distance.

[b]"Wipe that grin off your face, or I will have you tossed into the Atonement chamber again. I have a task for you."[/b] The slightly grey-bearded headmaster said with an irritated and scowling manner. Motioning the then young blonde man out of the library and down the stone stairs leading to the first floor of the monastery.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Oh goodies... I can hardly contain my excitement."[/b][/color] The blonde said in a mocking manner as he rolled his eyes, but nontheless followed the far older man.

[b]"If you did not perform the way you did with the sparring, the lore tests and the other challenges, I would have you whipped, dragged out into the mud, and tossed into the nearest river. In any variation of the order. If I knew it would work. However I do not have the time, nor the energy to waste trying to fix something which is broken beyond repair! So keep your mouth shut we are going to the capitol outskirts."[/b] The headmaster said with a smirk now shaping, hidden partially under his mustache and beard.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Keeping quiet isn't quite my thing."[/b][/color] He said in amused manner, his mind however were sounding warnings. The capitol. That is where that man were. The one who had to die. Perhaps this were an ample opportunity. The blonde followed, and when the time came to enter the outskirts. The ghostly eyed young man, found out where they were heading. To a shrine.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Guh."[/b][/color] Gadez said upon seeing the headmaster stop in front of it.

[b]"After hearing your last preaching in the study-hall, I felt this would be a good learning opportunity for you."[/b] The older looking man raised his arm to wave at someone as the gates to the shrine were opened. 

[b]"Aelios be praised, fair day, priestess!"[/b] The headmaster called out as a young woman clad in white and blue, her dark long hair a stark contrast to her pale skin.

[color=662d91][b]"Welcome to our shrine."[/b][/color] She said softly and courtisied to the two men.

[color=6ecff6][b]"A priestess? You really must hate me. Good to know my words have hit home however."[/b][/color] The blonde said flatly, his enthusiasm out of the window.

[b]"Pleasure to be of assistance priestess, this is Gadez, he shall be assisting you from now on until I return to relieve him."[/b] The older looking man glanced over his shoulder at Gadez. [b]"It may take awhile."[/b] He grinned and then turned back to the priestess.

[b]"I shall leave him in your care priestess."[/b] The older man placed his fisted hand on his chest as he excused himself, the cloak flickering after him. And only after seeing the older man turn a corner did Gadez speak.

[color=6ecff6][b]"What am I? A golden retriever? Tch."[/b][/color] He gritted his teeth and set his gaze on the priestess, having ignored even looking at her to begin with. The young woman smiled softly, her grey eyes met his, the gentle wind carefully blowing a few strands of her dark hair over her silky smooth and pale skin.
[color=662d91]
[b]"Dogs are man's best friend they say. I am quite fond of them. Gadez was it?"[/b][/color] She smiled and leaned on her wooden walking staff. Motioning with her free hand towards the shrine. The blonde young man inspected her face, she was the perfect candidate of Aelios clergy. Beautiful to behold and as deadly as the most venomous snake no doubt.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Yes, Gadez Paladice. At your..."[/b][/color] He chuckled. [color=6ecff6][b]"...disposal."[/b][/color] He stepped up next to her. This feeble looking priestess made his skin crawl. He had to do his best to make her despise him so he could get back to the monastery. This was all a waste of time, he had training and planning to do. 
[color=662d91]
[b]"That's an odd name. But it isn't bad. I'm Cymbaline. Priestess, alchemist, painter and humble gardener. Welcome to our shrine, let me show you around."[/b][/color] She winked and then turned around, placing her foot on the stairs. Before the woman even had realized she had slipped on the stairs, she found herself falling but then held unto by the blonde man. Their eyes met again. Silence. The warrior-monk could hear a soft thud coming and going. He could hear her heart? His eyes fell down on his hands. Just where had he grabbed her?! He withdrew his hands as her gaze fell down on his hands. She moved a few strands of hair from her face. 

[color=662d91][b]"Thank you."[/b][/color] She said softly, raising her head to assume a dignified pose before continuing her walk. Gadez felt his hands and then tightened them into fists. This was such a dumb assignment. What would he even be doing? If he would be subjected to enough preaching about Aelios, he would torch the place. 

[color=6ecff6][b]"What exactly is it that requires talents such as mine? I certainly hope it isn't going to involve praying. I guess I could always pray for it to be over..."[/b][/color] He scoffed and crossed his arms, looking at the inside of the shrine, the statues and paintings depicting the goddess. Cymbaline had raised her hand to her mouth and giggled. [color=662d91][b]"Grumpy."[/b][/color] She said while holding back a laugh.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Who wouldn't be? I take it the former one assigned to this task was driven to insanity and I happen to be the replacement?"[/b][/color] Gadez asked as he prodded a statue bust depicting Aelios. Perhaps with some chisel he could make the statue look like a snake.

[color=662d91][b]"Not quite, dear Gadez. It's just my health isn't what it used to. I am ill and it will not get better, so I want to spend the remainder of my time doing what I can in this shrine. Tending to others, this garden here and find peace. I used to be doing much with alchemy, I also come from a noble house here in the capitol. But even with my knowledge in alchemy and available coin, there is no cure for all kinds of illnesses."[/b][/color] She said in a soft way, her face displaying a certain sadness but she beamed a smile regardless to him. Their eyes met again. She had hope still. Perhaps that the divine would save her from whatever illness that were affecting her? The blonde man bit his teeth together under his lips.

[color=6ecff6][i]'Resigned to fate have you? Then why carry that smile? How can you smile knowing your hopes and dreams won't come true...? Who is this girl?'[/i][/color] He thought, what could he possibly say or do? He wasn't going to tell her to trust in the divine, he had as much faith in them as he had in drunks keeping their hands off the barmaids. No he needed to tell her something else.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Have you ever heard of the tincture? The philosopher's stone. It's a thing of myth, a formula to attain immortality, to cure all ills and turn things into gold. A gemstone I hear."[/b][/color] He said, trying to place what hope he could into the girl.

[color=662d91][b]"A gemstone you say? I am a simple girl, I don't have much gemstones or jewelry save for this opal ring."[/b][/color] She said and held up her hand, showing a gold ring with an opal in it. 

[color=662d91][b]"I don't think this stone you speak of exist."[/b][/color] She said with a soft smile on her lips, seemingly still appreciating his efforts.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Yet you believe Aelios does?"[/b][/color] He retorted.
[color=662d91]
[b]"I do believe in the goddess and that there is a reason for all things, why I am ill, why I am here. And why you are here. It's fate."[/b] [/color]She explained and reached down to pick up a can made for watering plants.

[color=6ecff6][b]"Fate? Hmph. I am a believer in destiny. The choices we make forge our future. It's not preordained."[/b][/color] He said defiantly as he walked alongside the woman, eyeing her staff.

She then dropped her can on the cobblestone leading out into the garden outside the shrine, the metal can hitting her ankle in the process.

Gadez lowered himself to move the can away, from reaction alone. Why was he helping her? She was clearly weak and it was better to not do a thing so he could return to the monastery. But despite it. He felt an odd feeling. Admiration. She knew she was ill and meek. Yet still moved forwards. There was strength there and beauty. He steeled himself, he couldn't afford to get sentimental about some servant of the presumed divine. It would all lead to ruin no doubt.




[i][color=fff200][b][To be continued][/b][/color][/i]
[/hider]