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Unsettling Tension
Stage: Teen
Stage: Adult




At last, Raphael woke again; the room was much darker, and he knew it was late evening. Hey lay with his eyes closed for a long time, but he couldn't sleep anymore. Or avoid thinking...which was really the point of it all.

He felt for his clothes in the shadow-filled room. Picking the robe up, he realized it was much too small now. His cheeks flamed red. What was he going to put on?

He padded barefoot to the door of his room and opened it a crack.

"Sari? Are you out there?" he called through the opening.

Moments later Sari peered up from the foot of the stairs. "I'm here, Angel," she called up. "How are you feeling?" No emotion registered on her upturned face; but inwardly she was still trying to adjust to the shock of this new, older Raphael.

"Uh...I'm fine," Raphael called back. "But I...need some clothes."

Sari giggled in spite of herself, and the unsettling tension between the two was broken. "That why you're hiding behind the door like that? Well, we'll go have you some made tomorrow. Till then, I found some of Baird's old clothes that you can wear. They'll be a little big, but better than what you've already got." The impish smile was back on her face, and Raphael returned it in spite of himself, feeling...relieved? "I'll bring them up in just a sec."

She was as good as her word, handing them through the door to Raphael while keeping her face averted. The tension was back; but he WAS older now; it was just something she'd have to get used to.

Raphael had his own reasons for feeling a bit awkward around Sari; but she thought it was only because if his age. He dressed hastily and trooped downstairs, but only to sit moodily by the fire long after Sari had gone to bed.

Deep Sleep
Stage: Wooden Shield




Night fell over the great temple in the Crystal City, and the rooms were cloaked in hushed emptiness. Only a few silent priests drifted like spirits beneath high ceilings and wide windows that let the moonlight spill in.

The lower levels, with their storage rooms and secrets, lay dozing in malcontent under a blanket of dust and darkness. Urns and chalices were shouldered up against faded carpets and other trappings the Temple no longer needed, but was loath to throw away.

One item was incongrous: what place did a shield have in a temple of worship? It leaned drunkenly against the wall, a large eye on the front in white paint. Paint? Had a light been brought in, the "paint" would have sparkled and shimmered in an almost unearthly fashion. But no one every came down here, did they? And no one would ever see.

Dirt had been scuffed loose on the floor beneath it; it hadn't been there long, the clean trails were still crisply visible. The shield, too, slumbered...

...didn't it? The white eye glared wide.

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<Mysterious artses by the talented Sunstrike! *hugs*></center>


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A Gathering in the Street
Stage: Teen




The moon rode high in a sea of clouds, and a sudden sharp breeze caused Raphael to shiver. A loose shutter banged against the side of a house somewhere in the darkness, and the small hairs on the nape of his neck began to prickle. A flash of lightning seared the sky, and for one brief moment, everything around him was illuminated in a harsh blue light. The darkness that followed seems even deeper than before.

Then Raphael squinted. Were his eyes playing tricks on him, he wondered, or was that really the dim glow of lantern-light on up the street? The curiosity was too much.

He left his perch on the front steps, and gained his feet quietly, to make his way toward the gleam. He sensed a furtive attitude; and he didn't like it.

Several figures seemed to be hovering around a lantern, long cloaks preventing much light from escaping beyond the tight circle. Snatches of hurried conversation drifted to him on the wind, but the voices were low and Raphael could only guess at the words.

He kicked a loose stone, and inwardly cursed himself for his carelessness. Because for an instant they faced him, and he could vaguely discern that there are two men there, and one woman - though the hoods and yards of fabric swirling around them didn't let him see much beyond that.

As if agreed upon beforehand, the three separated. The woman turned swiftly to his right and broke into a run, boots pounding over the cobblestones, her panicked path without thought or direction.

One of the men turned in the opposite direction, and bounded off as well, as Raphael stood stock still. He could have sworn that some sort of creature had been running at the man's side. It ran on all fours...but there the resemblance to any creature he'd ever seen before ended.

And finally, the man directly in front of him extinguished the lamp, and seemed to melt away with the snuffing of the flame.

Well, at least his intuition had been correct; something was definitely afoot. Raphael stood like stone, wind whipping his touseled hair into even more rambunctious formations. But his mind raced. He had only seconds to decide who he wanted to pursue before they'd all be too far ahead to catch up with. Who posed the most threat?

Giving up on logic, Raphael gave in to gut instinct, and lunged headlong after the last place he'd seen the man with the lantern.

He didn't know...just something about him gave Raphael the creeps. And he didn't like the idea of someone like that hanging around his neighborhood unwatched. After all, Sari was out very late tonight; she told him she would probably spend the night with friends. But what if she decided to return tonight after all?

He flinched midstride as that same frightening moment from his dreams floated in his mind's eye. Gah! Will that image never cease to infect my thoughts whenever they turn to Sari? he demanded of himself.

With sheer force of will, he shoved it brutally aside. She may not be quite what he'd once thought, but she had always stood by him. She was all that he had for now, and he would do his best to make certain she was safe, he decided, as the houses along the narrow lane flashed by.

Unsure if his own footsteps had slowed or if the cloaked man's pace had quickened, Raphael realized with a jolt that he was quickly losing ground. Redoubling his efforts, he toyed briefly with the idea of exposing his second set of wings that, with effort, he could make fade from view. Thanks to them, unlike most teens he could fly very well...but he couldn't explain them away should a pedestrian catch a glimpse. Aye, that was the rub.

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Spoken Command
Stage: Teen



Raphael's wooden shoes clip-clopped over cobblestones that were actually still cemented down! After his promenade through the less desirable part of town, he'd learned to take nothing for granted.

The sound was loud along a street where most of the rooms were dark behind the curtains, and where most of the residents slumbered soundly, awaiting the start of a new day's honest work.

Raphael couldn't have cared less how loud he was being. The night, already dark, had grown pitch black. He'd always heard it got darkest just before the dawn...if it was nearly dawn already he was going to be furious. He took most things with equinamity; but sleep was something he didn't like to compromise on.

In a move unusually un-calculated, Raphael strode purposefully up the steps. The house wasn't opulent; but it showed a good deal of care, as though whoever owned it had done their best with a modest income.

Balling up one fist, the Angelic pounded loudly and rudely on the front door. It was that kind of reaction that made Sari insist he be in bed by 10 when she was around... she flatly refused to put up with him otherwise.

The man who answered the door looked a little timid and clearly bewildered. He adjusted his spectacles, giving him a scholarly air.

"I-I'm sorry young man, can I help you?" he stuttered, taking in Raphael's obviously expensive clothes and jutting jaw in a glance.

"Look," Raphael began. "I have travelled, on foot, over half the city. I've been up all night looking for the man that just came in here. All night," he stressed, as if everyone would share his horror of being up late. His fair skin flushed a ruddy, furious colour.

"You must be mistaken-" the grey-haired home-owner began, but Raphael cut him short.

"Open that door."

Raphael's voice was always compelling; somehow when he spoke, those around him turned to listen. But this was different. His words flew sharp and bit deep, reverberating in the utter, tangible silence that followed.

Wordlessly, the house's owner turned, thinning hair ruffling in the bitter breeze. He threw the door wide. His face was bowed; Raphael could read no expression.

The young Angelic's anger disappated, even when he caught the tail end of a cloak swirling beyond in the interior. He felt...empty. Drained. His mind teetered on the edge of analyzing what he'd just done; but at the last minute his resolved weakened, and his thoughts veered away.

I'll just go inside... he told himself numbly, and passed beneath the door.

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Decisions, Decisions...
Stage: Teen



Surprised, Raphael turned to look at them once more. His eyebrows were were surprised half-moons over eyes as smooth as blue glass. Sari's words rung in his mind:

"I don't know if he should be involved.."

He realized, now, that it was simply concern that had kept her from telling him, not mistrust. But he wasn't a child anymore; why couldn't she see that?

Still, when he smiled at her this time, it was far more genuine. In fact, it looked almost...awkward? Raphael, awkward? Now there was a rare phenomenon.

"Well..." His gaze shifted from Sunstrike and his cat-like pet (those red eyes...why was there something familiar about it?) to Sari, who still sat perched on the couch in her dress and her high riding boots. "I don't mean to be rude, Sari...but if I had to pick, I'd say Sun was selling the more interesting thing."

He took a couple of hurried steps in his guardian's direction, and his eyes were earnest.

"It's just...I mean, you're always with your books and your herbs..." He left the comment hanging in the air.

Sari, while perhaps the tiniest bit miffed, found herself more glad that he was acting normally around her again than anything. Ever since he'd grown, Raphael had...changed. Inside, as well as out. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she frequently had caught him watching her with an odd expression; and when they spoke, he seemed so withdrawn.

And so she winked at him cheerfully. "Well, I don't sell what you'd expect; but then, I do think Sun's wares will suit you better anyways. The two of you should get going, it's almost sunrise. Have fun, Angel."

As Sunstrike made for the door and Raphael prepared to follow him, the angelic realized that Sari was letting him go on his own. She hadn't asked him how he'd get back, and she hadn't asked him when.

There was perhaps a slight swagger in his step. She wasn't still going to treat him like a child after all.

"Are you going home now? You really probably shouldn't be out at night by yourself," he added, turning the tables.

She laughed. "I'll make sure someone walks me home, Angel," she promised, clearly amused and knowing he'd done it on purpose. "So shoo!"

"Alright, see you at-" Raphael called as he left. Sari didn't catch his last words; the door had already shut behind him.

Look What Followed Me Home
Stage: Teen
Stage: Adult


A steel blue dawn lay on the horizon as Raphael finally found his tired footsteps had brought him at last to his own front door. He tried the handle and found that it turned easily. It was unlocked! Sari should be more careful, he thought to himself, as he softly eased open the door, intent on not disturbing her. She had trusted him enough to let him be out by himself; he wasn't going to repay that with waking her up after an already long night.

But she was not abed. Sari sat in the floor in front of a slowly dying fire, her hands curled around a mug of hot cocoa. She smiled sleepily at the Angelic, and made some joke about him living up the nightlife.

"You should have gone to bed!" he exclaimed guiltily. "I didn't mean to keep you up."

Sari waved that aside. "I would have still been awake anyway most likely," she returned, taking another sip of cocoa. "Want some? There's more in the pot." She gestured.

Raphael shook his head, his touseled curls flapping crazily. "No thanks, I'm more just tired than anything."

"Too tired to show me what you bought?" Sari watched the quick spark of liveliness in his clear blue eyes, and smiled a little to herself. She had guessed, correctly, that he'd want to talk.

"Not at all!" Raphael eagerly produced the box filled with straw that Sunstrike had handed to him, and held up the bluish twisting object.

"What is that thing?" the woman asked curiously. She didn't often deal with Sun's side of the business, and rarely saw his stock. "You got that from Sun?"

"Yep, it's an egg!"

"How interesting!" Raphael proudly handed it over for Sari to examine. She turned it over and over, wondering what sort of creature could possibly emerge from so strange an egg. "You should put it near the fire, so it'll stay warm."

Raphael swiftly complied, his dextrous fingers arranging the straw better into a neat little nest. Sari had no misgivings about him having a pet, no fears that she'd end up caring for it herself. She was simply happy to see the Angel so excited over something other than his music.

He was talented, yes; unfathomably so. But his notes and his lyre could not return the ardour like something living and breathing could.

Raphael yawned hugely, and Sari laughed. "I think it's past your bedtime," she teased.

He chuckled, no longer cranky since the purchase of his pet. "I think you're right." He bent to drop his customary quick goodnight kiss on Sari's cheek before he mounted the stairs to his room and tumbled into bed fully dressed.

It was the first time since he'd grown that he'd done that; the first time since he'd watched her with such strange, solemn eyes when the thought she could not see.

She pulled the blanket tighter around her with a smile that beamed relief. She did not know what had caused the change, or if it was simply an overflow of goodwill after his pet purchase...

Perhaps now that he was not so withdrawn she would find the courage question him more closely about that night that he'd grown. But not right now. No, now she would curl in front of the fire (too lazy to climg the stairs to bed) and claim a few brief hours of rest.

Reacquainted... and Strange Forebodings
Stage: Teen


***Raphael, Kasaru and Brifin have all met before; but the RPs for that have been lost.

Kasaru
Raphael
Brifin/Mashiro




Kasaru lounged beneath the favoured tree outside the head quarters, examining the draconic clamp that often held his hair back in a loose pony tail - how long was hegoing to have to wait until he laid his hand upon that plant again so that he could restore it to order?


Raphael wandered into the HQ, a small paper package tucked under one arm - fertilizer that Sari was sending to Sunstrike for Lanse.

"MIght as well keep him as healthy as possible while he's like this," she'd said.

His eyes fell on a teen he hadn't seen before...or had he? The black robes and the streak of white hair were certainly familiar. Maybe if he just stood there long enough it would come back to him.

"Have you seen Sunstrike? Sari sent me with a package for him," he commented to the teen instead.


Kasaru raised a brow as he was addressed and pushed his glasses further up his nose. For a long time he observed the malepharin before shaking his head slowly and grimacing, "Alas no, despite the urgency in which I wish to see him I haven't," he replied gently, leaning back against the tree trunk and frowning.

"I will however tell him that you were seeking him," He offered, raising a brow ever so slightly as he continued to observe the being - he was evidently having a hard time distinguishing who Kasaru was but perhaps this wasa good thing.


When the other young knight spoke, something clicked in Raphael's mind. The tones, the phrasing...Kasaru, of course! He'd met him before, but he hadn't looked quite so mature - and he certainly hadn't been wearing glasses.

"I would apprecaite that Kasaru," he responded with a polite smile. "I'll wait a little longer; but if he doesn't come soon I'll take you up on your offer."


"Aha, so you do know me -" The wry smile curled up onto the mage's lips and he calmly rose to his feet. He had definately gone through a growth spurt while he was at home and as he straightened, his staff illuminating half of his face he for once...was significantly taller than he had been, but no doubt he would still be smaller than most.

For a long while, he had concentrated his studies upon his magic and perhaps the result had been a growth more in mind than in body though he had to admit (no matter how vain it sounded), he did look suitably attractive.

"You know if I have my way you may not need the fertiliser soon."


"Yes, I recognize you," Raphael laughed. "But I'll admit, it did take me a moment. You've certainly grown!"

Kasaru was still not as tall as Raphael, who looked as though he would be unusually tall when he was fully grown. But he was definitely taller.

"And I see your staff is different; you'll use it to change Lanse back to normal?"


"Ah, the staff was a gift from my 'mother' - she made minor alterations to it along with my robes in order to ensure that they would continue to fit me," He flashed a wry smile at this and shook his head as he remembered his 'mother' cursing at his robes. Despite being velvet they had been charmed to be virtually impossible to break and that made them virtually impossible to adjust.

"However I will be harnessing my magic in more effective ways in order to restore him to his former glory, although I may use it from a distance so that I have a suitable head start when I retreat from the furious demon but he did request to be hidden from sight and I DID hide him..."


Raphael laughed outright at that - a warm musical sound somehow, despite his deepening and slightly throaty voice.

"Now that's an aspect I hadn't considered. Perhaps he won't remember what happened? I know little about magical manipulation."

He had been known to cause an unusual thing or two himself; but it had been purely instinctive, and he still did not fully understand it.


"Perhaps, although I will admit that I misjudged the magic and it is therefore my fault in that instant. I will not abuse my magic to control the mind when I have not practiced such an art but perhaps at a later date I may consider it - for now I must hope that he will not beat me to a bloody pulp and will possibly understand that I was a very young child," He grimaced as he thought of this and then began to chuckle, it was a lilting sound - it was strange and one that masked a hidden danger but perhaps if he had been older it could even be viewed as a method of seduction.

"And you use magic?" He continued, pausing briefly as he shifted his weight towards the slightly taller being (one day he would outgrow him...or at least create illusionary magics to make it seem so), "Of what sort?"


Raphael's brows rose momentarily, as he pictured Lanse in a rage. He didn't know the knight well, but he had seen him; and the thought was a disturbing one. Inwardly he sighed; he felt somewhat compelled to stay and attempt to diffuse things, should they turn ugly. But as usual, he didn't feel particularly inclined.

He was startled out of his reverie as Kasaru questioned him about magic. It was a subject he was very uncomfortable with, and it showed in his glass-clear eyes.

"I don't know if I would call it magic," he hedged, frowning a little. "Just odd things happen sometimes, that I can't explain."


A flash of irritation flashed through the mage's eyes as the loud knight entered the Headquarters. He fought with his facial muscles for a very long time until at last they relaxed into a stoic expression and he turned his attention fully upon Raphael once more.

"You are not aware of what it is," He mused and shook his head, "And yet it happens - what sort of odd things occur?" he enquired calmly, tightening his grasp around his staff as the only indication of his growing irritation at the presence of the new knight.


Raphael glanced briefly at Matt and Haikari's noisy entrance; but politely turned back to Kasaru as he was addressed once more.

"It may be nothing, really," he replied. "Mostly it's dreams that feel...well, like memories I suppose is the best way to describe it."

He neglected to mention what happened the night he'd unknowingly chased Sari, Sunstrike and Male over half the city. He didn't mention how the man at the house had followed his spoken command almost like an automaton.


"Ah most peculiar, premonitions perhaps?" He appeared to be musing almost to himself and quietly began to circle the knight, canting his head to the side as he took in every aspect of the angelic malepharin before shaking his head - had the malepharin been another creature he may have invested it upon catching and studying the being further...but he doubted an angelic being would be greatly welcomed within the Metropolis.

"And tell me, how often do these dreams or flash backs occur?" He continued, raising a brow as he cleared his throat and returned to facing the knight once more.


Raphael shifted his weight to his opposite foot as Kasaru circled him, glancing quickly over his own shoulder to make certain that his second set of wings were, indeed, hidden still. Ah, relief! They were...but where they to Kasaru?

He hoped so.

Resisting the urge to retreat to the couch with Matt, he spoke up. "The dreams I've had only once...the night I grew." He was a bit sorry after he'd said that; what if the others hadn't grown all at once, as he had? "Still, sometimes I look at people, and for only an instant I see them...differently."

Uncomfortably, he thought back to Sari, and how she had looked.


"Differently?" Kasaru's tone turned from distant to almost guarded as he observed the angelic being, he hadn't seen the double wings but he did approach the malepharin with a furrowed brow, "In what way?" He continued in a sharp, almost curt manner, his own wings tensing within the depths of his robes - what could he see...?


Brifin walked in a bit sad that Salem had gone so quickly the day before. He looked around and spotted Kas. He still remembered the remarks Kas made. He looked at the teen with a blank state of mind. He would try to talk to him again, it wasn't like him to hold a grudge.

Walking up to the teen he smiled.
"Hello Kas. I see you've grown and you look amazing."

Mas walked in and saw Kas. Now he was a teen, great. Even better insults and mean remarks towards him. Maybe he was different if Mas acted different to him. Mas had lightened up a bit....He'd wait until he saw how he acted to Brifin's greeting and compliment. Mas had to agree on one thing, he did look pretty cool.


But Raphael only shook his head. "I don't remember exactly; the visions have faded in my mind," he said slowly but truthfully. "The more I look back, the more certain I become that it was just the lingering threads of a particularly vivid nightmare. It is not something I care to dwell on."

Kasaru did not seem to be staring at his wings; so perhaps he could not see them after all. He had great respect for the mage's abilities. To be able to exercise such an enormous transformation at such a young age bespoke real potential.


Kasaru quirked a brow at the initial compliment from Brifin before at last bowing low in reply, he had been practicing his 'mannerisms' a great deal more and his 'mother' had been teaching him how to dance to certain types of music - nevertheless, he was beginning to mature at a more rapid pace and found himself lost in his magics to such an extent as he wasn't terribly concerned with encountering many of the rest society...let alone females.

"My thanks for the compliment," He replied calmly as he straightened once more, his brow lowering as the stoic expression returned to his features once more and he regarded Raphael with what appeared to be a slight ounce of concern within his eyes, however this quickly vanished and he shook his head.

"Sometimes avoiding such things can spell disaster - and please excuse the pun."


Brifin smiled, he was getting better. Maybe it was his young innocence of others feelings? Who knows, only Mas could sometimes read peoples inner thoughts which was quite disturbing on occasions. He nodded and stood off to the side as he didn't notice that Kas had been talking to Raph first.
"Sorry for the interuption, but you're quite welcome." He blushed a bit for interupting again.


Mas raised an eyebrow, so he had changed with his attitude. Or at least his manners. In his inner thoughts he could probably be thinking of all sorts of mean things. He would go into and see, but that wouldn't be very polite of Mas. Besides he could probably feel Mas prodding around in his head.

Mas slowly made his way around to the two teens and Brifin. He didn't have a stone face appearance this time but rather an interested expression of Kas.


Raphael watched the exchange between Brifin and Kasaru with interest; after stumbling across Rosse and Tsu the other day, he wondered momentarily how much that "amazing" meant.

But of far more interest and importance to him was Kasaru's quiet comment to him. That, and the odd but undefinable expression that had flitted across his face for a brief moment.

"What do you know about these...dreams?" he almost hissed at Kasaru, feeling equally as tense. He did not want to announce his business to Brifin and Mas if he could help it; but he wanted to know what knowledge Kasaru posessed on the subject. He had not even bothered to greet the other two.


Kasaru's gaze flittered towards Raphael as he hissed towards him however, he had now begun to juggle both conversations and shook his head somewhat slowly his expression refusing to change and his eyes distant to hide his true thoughts - his inner feelings; it was a dangerous expression and had there been an enemy it would have been viewed with caution.

"Your interruption is not regarded with any sense of annoyance, rather - you are welcome to enter any conversation if you so choose," He offered at last, his gaze flicking towards Mas for a short while; he said nothing and instead returned his gaze to Raphael - why speak to a child who regarded you with such distaste?

After a brief silence his hands began to flow through the air as they traced a number of arcane runes and he placed one hand to Raphael's forehead and another to his own. For another moment, arcane runes flickered upon both foreheads but he was entirely unaware of whether or not his spell had worked on the opposing teen, he had never tried it on another except an animal before.

'Can you hear me...?' He questioned towards Raphael, his eyes narrowing as he attempted to directed the thought towards the Malepharin in the form of a gentle prob. It was designed to keep the conversation secret; but then again...that would only be possible if the spell worked, it may have been simple but some minds were guarded.


Mas looked down a bit, it seemed he had not changed his feelings towards Mas. Should he even attempt to say anything to him. He raised an eyebrow at the...connection between him and Raph. They were talking telepathically. Should he listen in? He knew he shouldn't, but even if he did would Kas noice him? Maybe if he entered Kas's mind he would, but he couldn't tell if he was in Raph's mind....

He thought better of it and decided not to. Raph meanted earlier about some dreams or something. It didn't matter anyways. His attention turned back to Kas.


Brifin thought of Kas's words and this was true. But some people didn't like it when other's butted into the conversation, especially something so...personal? He guessed. Something about a dream.

Mas saw the Kas thought he had a distaste for him. Which was true...once. Not anymore.
"I dont' have a distaste for you,you know." He looked at Kas with innocence, something that had not really been expressed by this malepharin child.


"It's not a problem," Raphael made himself also say to Brifin, with a forced smile plastered on his face. He even managed a small wave to Mas - hadn't he been the odd child with the hair in his ears?

Perhaps against his better judgement, he allowed Kasaru to put a hand on his forehead after tracing strange shapes in the air. He watched as a symbol flickered on the other teen's forehead; then physically jumped as he felt a presence in his mind.

"Can you hear me?" flashed into his thoughts. He had never been so startled, or felt so vulnerable, in his life; and with reflexive action, he pulled his face away and with a mighty effort, forced Kasaru's presence out.

"I-I'm sorry," he gasped aloud. "I was not prepared for that."


Kasaru closed his eyes briefly as he felt a wave of pressure smash against his temples and allowed himself a few moments to recover from the rush of pain that came in the form of a throbbing headache. Even so, after time ti did dim and as he released his concentration upon the unrequited spell he calmly shook his head and allowed his eyes to open once more.

"Simply a means of continuing without being heard," He replied gently and turned his gaze towards Mas once more, allowing his eyebrow to quirk at the peculiar actions that the child was performing - hadn't he been like granite the previous time they had met and now; he had raised a brow as soon as Kasaru had unleashed a telepathic message.

It was with this in mind that he knelt down to place his ear against the young child's ear and whispered, "I wonder, how much can you hear - hm?" It was more for the reaction than anything...if he received the reaction he needed then he would know.


"I understand that; it's very effective, at least," Raphael said with an ironic smile, unaware of Mas's unusual talents. He glanced up at the sun. It was getting late.

"But I'm afraid I don't have time to let you try it again," he said, truly sorry that he would not be able to hear what Kasaru had to say that day. "It's time I head home. I'll leave the fertilizer here - just in case."

With a nod in everyone's direction, he set the paper package down and turned his footsteps back toward the home he shared with Sari.


"Farewell Raphael," Kasaru responded with a slight nod as he clasped his staff in his hand again.