Aspasia emerged from a long tunnel into a narrow valley on the far side of Mt Karza. She walked slowly thinking about all that she had heard and seen, without thinking of where she was going. Luckily, her feet knew the way and they took her to place that she came too often when she wanted to relax and think. She sat on a large rock and stared into the crystal waters of a large lake. This place always made her feel peaceful and calm, and it did not fail her now. Yet her mind still rolled over the events in Rome.
Zevella walked slowly along the edge of the lake. She felt at peace which was unusual for her, but it felt good to be out in the open. She walked slowly along humming to herself when she spotted Aspasia. She slowly made her way over to her friend, and sat down quietly besides her. "You seem troubled?"

"Oh Zevella!" Aspasia replied, "You startled me. You walk so quietly, and I was so deep within myself, that I didn't notice your approach. Anyways, I was just thinking about the world. I just came back from Rome where I witnessed a few things that have left me in this grave mood."

Zevella looked at her friend questioningly. "What is it that you saw?" she asked with great interest.

"Well... there is something very strange going on in Rome. As soon as I got there, I used my senses to seek out the presence of any angels, exiles, or demons present in the city. Normally, I could feel at least a couple of angels around, but this time I only felt the presence of demons. That strikes me as really strange, because the angels normally have such a strong presence there. I haven't seen an angel in so long. It's almost like they are dormant. It worries me. Naturally I thought it strange that there were demons in Rome so I set out to find out what they were up to." Aspasia replied.

"I see." Zevella said as thoughts roamed through her head. "It seems that the demons are growing very strong." Her heart raged with torn emotions as she wondered where her loyalties would lie this time. Would she be able to make the right decision when the sands had run out? She looked back to her friend. "Does it scare you to be so surrounded by the demons like that?"

“I confess at the time I was so consumed by curiosity that I didn't have space in my heart to feel any fear. Perhaps that was foolish now that I think about it. Either way I followed them to an old abandoned chapel and tried to listen in to their conversation, but one of them discovered my presence, and froze me there. But I was at least able to protect my mind and conscience, and thus I was slowly able to gain control of my body. That was when I began to first feel a bit of fear. They could have killed me. The two of them.... A female and a male demon. Even so, I don't think it would have really been to their benefit to hurt me, and risk angering the other exiles. But the important thing was what they were saying. The first demon, the male, had a battle with another female demon named Jezzel... I think... and he had gone in search of a demon who could heal her. He was trying to convince the female demon in the chapel to come with him and help this Jezzel. In the end she decided to help him and they left without hurting me. What do you think of that?”

Zevella thought it over a while before replying. "I don't know what to think. In all honesty I am a bit envious of your ability to hold it together." In the back of her mind she wondered if Aspasia had any further dealings with these demons, or more of account if they had further dealings with her? She let out a sigh. "It's surprising they didn't fight harder to kill you... they could have used the opportunity to show off their strength. I feel there may be more to them not attacking you harder then we are seeing." She paused a moment considering what to say next, but there was something that kept pulling not only at her mind, but at her heart. "Do you think they will come here next?"

“If they do, I don't think it will be to attack us. I think they want to convince us to join them. Otherwise they wouldn't have hesitated to kill me. If we don't join them... then we might have a slight problem...”

Zevella thought a moment on this. "Problem, or not aside... who will you chose?" She asked. Her heart reeled with possibilities, but deep down she knew she didn't have the courage, or the strength to choose the one she should.

"Oh" Aspasia said while pausing to think for a moment, and then replied , "Surely God would be the right choice... I know Jaras still hopes that we will some how gain forgiveness for our indecisions. Sometimes I wonder myself if that is even possible. I suppose that this upcoming war will be a good chance to prove our loyalty to God. If we don't try, then we will lose our chance forever, but there really isn't any guarantee that by trying, we will be forgiven. Even the humans required the sacrifice of God's only son to save them. Perhaps that is what we need."

Tristan arrived near Mt.Karza 3 hours later, after his interview with Lucifer. He felt motivated and this new mission helped the escalation of his spirits. "All I need now is to find a good prey for my needs." He said with a snicker. His level was suppressed to the minimum, so as not to alert the exiles of his presence. Tristan took out something from his coat. It was a transparent crook-sealed bottle, about 6 cm with a transparent almost fume like liquid. As he drank its contents, his body started turning transparent too. Tristan smiled as he became one with the surroundings...

"I suppose you are right." she said with a bit of a sigh. She looked out over the view trying to calm her nerves. "Maybe we should go hunt something to eat." Zevella stood stretching, but all she could feel was a deep desire to move, to run, or ... just to escape. She wasn't sure, but something made her feel like she needed to get away from the air around her.

Tristan moved around the area until he heard voices, two female exiles where discussing something. One seemed somehow disturbed, not entirely sure of what the other was telling her. She wasn’t comfortable and that made a thought to spark in Tristan's mind. She's ideal. Someone prone to fall in temptation. He smirked and inched forward only to stumble and make a twig to creek.

Zevella's head snapped in the direction of the sound. She waited a few moments, but when Aspasia didn't seem to notice the sound Zevella stood, and went to investigate it herself. She moved through the brush silently looking around for any traces of confrontation, her knife pulled.

Tristan went behind a tree. He was invisible though the potion would start to wear off soon. He took out his sword that became invisible too at his touch. If the exiled tried anything he'd be prepared.

"I must be going out of my mind." Zevella said sadly. "There is nothing out here." She put away her knife. She turned, and made her way back towards where she left Aspasia.

Aspasia watched as Zevella seemed to squirm in her seat. She did not think it odd when she had gotten up to walk around. "I suppose she needs some time to process what I just told her." she thought, as she continued to stare into the water lost in her own thoughts. Absentmindedly, she stroked the crescent shaped part of her staff not paying much attention to her surroundings. Normally, she would have noticed the danger lurking so close to her, but now she was searching through her own mind, secretly wondering if Jaras’s plight was really worth it.

Zevalla felt irritated. She could have sworn she saw something, but what she didn't know. She let out a little sigh, and looked over to Aspasia. "You've become quiet. What's on your mind now?"

Aspasia startled from her thoughts looked up at Zevella puzzled. "Nothing." she mumbled. "What's wrong with you? You look kind of mad."

"I'm not mad." she nearly growled. Something was getting to her, but she didn't know what. She let out a sigh, and tried to calm herself.

"What the... is wrong with this girl" Aspasia thought. "Gee Zevella you sure are weird sometimes. I didn't do anything to you and now you are being rude to me," she retorted, while crossing her arms over her chest looking irritated.

Zevella looked over at her a moment, and then down in thought. "I hadn't meant to be rude." she answered emotionlessly.

"Honestly, you are so cold sometimes. It's a wonder that you were ever an angel."

Zevella turned an evil glare upon her. "Funny. I'm not the only one sitting in the outcast area." she replied as she started to get up. "I'm going for a walk." she said in a tone harsher then she had meant.

Tristan observed everything with a keen eye. "This is the chance I've been waiting and also the ideal candidate." Tristan rubbed his hands together as his potion loosed its effect definitely. Walking through the thick greenery, Tristan followed Zevella as he thought the best opportunity to approach her.

Aspasia didn't bother to give a reply to Zevella. She got up and extended her long wings, gliding up over Mt Karza. Normally she enjoyed the view of the valley below, but she didn't pay much attention to the world below as she flew into the clouds.